JP2002265130A - Conforming device for sheet-shaped medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can make not only longitudinal arrange ment by a simple constitution improving a return means but also lateral arrange ment even for a curled sheet-shaped medium. SOLUTION: A return roller 121, while it is rotated in a direction counterclockwise in a condition making the return roller 121 come into contact with an upper surface of loaded paper, is moved in a lateral direction d, and only uppermost paper of the loaded paper is made into contact alternately with a side fence 131 and a butt member 102b, 102a, is arranged and sorted in each part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus, a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this specification, sheet media handled include copy paper, transfer paper, recording paper, cover, interleaf paper (partition paper), computer foam, special paper, OHP sheets, and the like. Then, these are represented by paper names as representatives.

[0003] In an image forming apparatus, a punch unit for punching filing holes on an image-formed sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as stapling means and stamping, The paper discharged from the discharge unit is stacked on a tray called a discharge tray, a stacking tray, or the like, which is a stacking unit. The sheets stacked on the stacking means are automatically aligned by the sheet-shaped medium alignment device for subsequent use.

For example, a discharge unit (hereinafter, referred to as a discharge roller) for receiving and discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed from a pre-process unit such as an image forming unit, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet post-processing unit, and the discharge roller A tray on which sheets discharged one after another are stacked, and which is controlled to move up and down so that the distance from the sheet discharge roller (accurately, the nip portion) to the stacking surface is substantially constant according to the stacked amount of the sheets; An upright wall (hereinafter referred to as an end fence) is provided at the upstream end of the tray in the sheet discharge direction (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical direction) by the discharge roller and against which the vertical end of the sheet is abutted. )When,
There is known a sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus having return means (including return rollers) for transporting the paper toward the upstream side in the vertical direction while contacting the upper surface of the paper on the tray and abutting the end of the paper against the end fence. Have been.

[0005] The above-mentioned conventional return means has a fixed position support structure which does not displace in the horizontal direction, and mainly aims at so-called vertical alignment for aligning the longitudinal ends of the paper. In other words, although it is configured to be able to contact / separate from the loading surface, the contact / separation operation itself is not performed automatically, and the return roller pivotally supported by the other end of the arm whose one end is pivotally connected to the immovable part. Is merely brought into contact with the stacking surface by its own weight, and is mainly configured to return the sheet discharged onto the tray until it hits the end fence, and there is no horizontal alignment function.

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-45862, the side of the paper is regulated by an openable / closable jogger member, but the side of the paper is curled or the rigidity of the paper is reduced. If the sheet is small, it is difficult to control the side of the sheet because it is not possible to move the entire sheet just by bending the end of the sheet, and it is difficult to align the sheets.

There is also a method in which the tray is shifted in the horizontal direction and the stacking paper is shifted in the horizontal direction for each set, and the stacking mechanism is large in size.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus, a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus, and a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus capable of horizontally aligning a curled sheet-like medium by a simple structure with improved returning means. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0009]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. (1). Discharging means for receiving and discharging the sheet-formed medium on which the image is formed, and loading the sheet-shaped medium discharged from the discharging means, and setting the distance from the discharging means to the loading surface to be substantially constant according to the loading amount of the sheet-shaped medium. A stacking means which is controlled to move up and down so as to be provided at the upstream end of the stacking means in a sheet-like medium discharging direction (hereinafter referred to as a vertical direction) by the discharging means. The vertical wall against which the end of the sheet is abutted, and the sheet-shaped medium is conveyed toward the upstream side in the discharging direction by the discharging unit while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet-shaped medium on the stacking unit, and the end of the sheet-shaped medium is In the sheet-like medium aligning device having a return means for abutting against the upright wall, the return means is driven toward and away from the upper surface of the sheet-like medium on the stacking means, and the sheet-like medium in the longitudinal direction is driven. A rotary member is rotated in the direction to send, and was to be reciprocated in a direction (hereinafter referred to transverse.) Perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (claim 1). (2). (1) In the sheet-shaped medium matching device according to (1),
The return means is mounted on the frame capable of reciprocating in the lateral direction, and is reciprocally driven by a power means so as to be capable of reciprocating simultaneously with the return operation of the sheet-like medium by the return means. (3). (1) The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to (1) or (2), further comprising: abutting means on the lateral direction of the stacking means, against which the lateral end of the sheet-like medium abuts. ). (4). (1) In the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), the abutting means includes a pair of abutting members facing each other with the lateral center therebetween. The two butting members approach each other,
It is movable in conjunction with the direction of moving away (claim 4). (5). (4) In the sheet-like medium matching device according to (4),
The striking member is a plate-shaped body, and is fixed to one and the other of the parallel portions of the stretched body stretched between the two pulleys (claim 5). (6). (5) In the sheet-like medium matching device described in (5),
The striking member has a striking surface that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and has a vertical facing surface, and a guide member that guides a side surface portion of the sheet-shaped medium to the striking surface is provided at each of the striking surfaces. (Claim 6). (7). (3) In the sheet-like medium alignment device according to any one of (3) to (6), the rotating body is rotatably supported by the shaft portion having a length in the lateral direction and is slidably supported in the axial longitudinal direction. The pressing means is pressed from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the shaft by an urging means so as to be supported in a float shape (claim 7). (8). (3) The sheet-like medium aligning device according to any one of (7) to (7), wherein the return unit has a rotational movement, a lateral movement operation, a contact / separation operation with respect to the sheet-like medium,
A configuration is provided in which control means is provided for sorting sheet-like media by combining the lifting and lowering operations of the loading means (claim 8). (9). (1) The post-processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (8), further including a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the sheet-shaped medium and a conveying unit that conveys the post-processed sheet-shaped medium. The apparatus is provided with a sheet-shaped medium matching device (claim 8). (10). (1) to (8) in an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming an image on a sheet-like medium and conveying means for conveying the sheet-like medium on which the image is formed.
A sheet-like medium processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is provided (claim 10).

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention can be constituted as a single apparatus, or can be used as another apparatus having means for discharging a sheet-like medium, such as an aligning function and a sorting function. , An image forming apparatus that does not have, an aligning function, a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus that does not have a sorting function, or the like, which is used in combination with or integrated with,
Further, after being integrally combined with the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus can be combined with the image forming apparatus to form an image forming system, and the sheet-shaped medium can be aligned on the tray by the aligning function and the sorting function, and can be sorted. it can.

In the following, first, a configuration related to the present invention,
That is, for a sheet-like medium post-processing device provided with a sheet-like medium aligning device as an example, a discharge unit for discharging a sheet-like medium, a tray as a stacking unit for stacking the sheet-like medium discharged by the discharge unit, and a return unit are described. After explaining the mechanical configuration and operation, the configuration around the return means directly related to the present invention and the alignment procedure using the return means will be described.

1. Sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus, sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus [1] Outline of sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus Sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus integrally formed with an independent sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus Will be described as an example. The sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention is mainly composed of a sheet discharging roller 3 and a tray 1 except for components related to the post-processing in the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus described below.
2. Since the configuration mainly includes the end fence 131, the return means 121, the horizontal movement device 200 of the return means, and its accompanying members, etc., the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus will be described with reference to the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus. Instead of the description of the device.

1 to 3, a sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 as post-processing means for performing post-processing on a sheet.
Are connected to the image forming apparatus 50.

In the image forming apparatus 50, the sheet S on which an image has been formed by the image forming means is sent to the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 in accordance with the post-processing content instructed by the operator.

When the image forming apparatus 50 is a copying machine, the post-processing contents of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 include the following modes. Normal mode in which sheets are simply stacked in the order in which they are discharged. In this mode, processing is executed by designating the sheet size and the number of copies. Staple mode for stapling. In this mode, the process is executed by instructing the number of sheets, the position of the sheets, and the like in addition to the sheet size and the number of copies. Sorting mode for sorting. In this mode, the process is executed by designating the paper size and the number of sorts. Punch mode. In this mode, drilling is performed. In addition, other modes can be set and processed as necessary, as described later.

These work instructions for post-processing are transmitted to the control means including the CPU by key operation from the operation panel of the copying machine, and are transmitted between the control means and the image forming apparatus 50 and the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51. Signals for performing post-processing are transmitted and received, and post-processing is performed. It should be noted that the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus is integrally formed with a sheet-like medium aligning device having a return unit and an abutting unit, which will be described later.

In the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51, it is possible to select whether or not to execute post-processing. The post-processed paper is selected when the post-processing is selected, or the post-processing is performed when the post-processing is not selected. The sheets that have not been subjected to the above-mentioned operations can be aligned on the tray by the aligning function (horizontal aligning function, vertical aligning function) or the sorting function of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device.

The sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 is used in combination with another apparatus having a means for discharging sheets, for example, an image forming apparatus 50 having no aligning function. 12 can be aligned.

The sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming apparatus 50 reaches a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51. The presence or absence of post-processing can be selected, and the paper that has been post-processed by selection or the paper that has not been subjected to post-processing by selection is discharged by the alignment operation of the sheet-like medium alignment device combined with the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51. The sheets are aligned in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical direction) a and a shift direction (hereinafter, referred to as a horizontal direction) d orthogonal to the discharge direction a, and are stacked in a sorted state where the positions are shifted by a predetermined number of sheets as necessary. You can also. These alignments are performed by feeding the paper in the vertical and horizontal directions by the return means.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 has a tray 12 as a stacking means which can be moved up and down, and a proof tray 14 whose position is fixed and which does not move is placed at the top of the apparatus. Have.

An entrance sensor 36 and an entrance roller pair 1 are provided in the vicinity of the sheet delivery portion with the image forming apparatus 50, and the paper taken in by the entrance roller pair 1 is set according to the post-processing mode. It is transported along the transport path.

A punch unit 15 for punching holes is provided downstream of the entrance roller pair 1.
A transport roller pair 2a is provided downstream of 5. A branch claw 8a is provided downstream of the transport roller pair 2a.
The paper is selectively guided by the branch claw 8a to a transport path toward the proof tray 14 and a transport path that travels substantially horizontally. When the sheet is conveyed toward the proof tray 14, the sheet is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 60 and is discharged to the proof tray 14 by the sheet discharging roller pair 62.

A branch claw 8b is provided downstream of the branch claw 8a, and the sheet is selectively guided to the non-staple route E and the stipple route F by the branch claw 8b. The positions of the branch claws 8a and 8b can be switched by on / off control of a solenoid (not shown).

The sheet guided to the non-staple route E is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 2b, and is discharged to the tray 12 by the discharge roller 3 as discharging means. A return roller 121 configured so as to overlap with a lower portion of the pair of paper discharge rollers 3 or at a lower position as a part of return means to be described later.
Is provided. As described later, the return roller 121 includes return rollers 121a and 121b. The left side surface in the figure of the apparatus main body is an end fence 131 as an upright wall for aligning the sheets in the tray 12 in the vertical direction.

The discharge rollers 3 include an upper roller 3a and a lower roller 3b.
The upper roller 3a is rotatably supported by a free end of a support member 66 that is supported on the upstream side in the vertical direction a and is rotatably provided in the vertical direction. The upper roller 3a abuts on the lower roller 3b by its own weight or urging force, and the sheet is nipped and discharged between the rollers. When the stapled sheet bundle is discharged, the support member 66 is rotated upward and returned at a predetermined timing. This timing is determined based on the detection signal of the paper ejection sensor 38. Paper ejection sensor 38
Is disposed immediately upstream of the paper discharge roller 3.

The sheet guided to the staple route F is
It is transported by the transport roller pair 2c. Transport roller pair 2c
Is provided on the downstream side, and the sheet is selectively guided to the main staple route G and the retreat route H by the branch claw 8c. The position of the branch claw 8c can also be switched by on / off control of a solenoid (not shown).

The paper guided to the staple main route G is detected by the paper discharge sensor 37 via the transport roller pair 4 and is stacked on a staple tray (not shown) by the paper discharge roller pair 68. In this case, the hitting roller 5 aligns the sheet in the sheet conveying direction for each sheet, and the
The same alignment in the paper width direction is performed. Job breaks,
That is, the stapler 11 is driven by a staple signal from a control unit (not shown) between the last sheet of the sheet bundle forming the set and the leading sheet forming the next set, and the binding process is performed.

If the distance between the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 50 is short and the next sheet comes during the binding process, the next sheet is guided to the retreat route H and temporarily Evacuated. The paper guided to the evacuation route H
It is transported by the transport roller pair 16.

The sheet bundle on which the binding process has been performed is immediately sent to the sheet discharge roller 3 via the guide 69 by the discharge belt 10 having the discharge claw 10a, and discharged to the tray 12. The predetermined position of the ejection claw 10a is detected by the sensor 39.

The hitting roller 5 is given a pendulum motion by a solenoid (not shown) about the fulcrum 5a, and acts intermittently on the sheet sent to the staple tray to hit the sheet against the end fence 131. Although not shown, the paper discharge roller pair 68 has a brush roller, which prevents backflow of the rear end of the paper. The hitting roller 5 rotates counterclockwise. The above is the outline of the configuration and operation of the essential functional parts of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

The sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 can perform post-processing, which is an essential function, and can sort and sort sheets stacked on the tray 12 as described below. There are two types of alignment, a vertical alignment that aligns the ends in the vertical direction a and a horizontal alignment that aligns the ends in the horizontal direction d.
This is done by the original function of the return roller 121 as a part of the return means for abutting against the roller. The latter horizontal alignment is performed by means for reciprocating the return means in the horizontal direction.

In FIG. 4, the sheet-form medium post-processing apparatus includes a paper discharge roller 3, a tray 12 on which the paper S discharged from the paper discharge roller 3 is stacked, a tray elevating means for elevating and lowering the tray 12, and a lifting and lowering of the tray 12. Positioning roller for controlling the position in the direction, a return roller 121 as a part of a return roller for abutting the sheets stacked on the tray 12 against the end fence 131 and aligning the return roller 12
1. A frame mounted with a displacement unit for displacing 1 in the discharge direction a, a reciprocating unit in which the return unit is mounted and reciprocating in the horizontal direction d, a reciprocating unit for reciprocating the frame in the horizontal direction, and a butting unit for aligning the sheets in the horizontal direction Butting members 102a, 1
02b and its driving means.

Among them, the means for raising and lowering the tray is shown in FIG.
(A) is denoted by reference numeral 95, and the detecting means for positioning in the vertical direction is denoted by reference numeral 96 in FIG. 4 (b), and details thereof will be described below.

[1] -A. Tray and Elevating Unit In FIG. 3, the sheet S is conveyed from the branching claw 8b to the tray 12 via the sheet discharge sensor 38 by the pair of conveying rollers 2b, which is a sheet conveying unit.
Will be sent to

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper surface of the tray 12 is inclined such that the height of the upper surface increases in the vertical direction a. An end fence 131 formed of a vertical surface is located at a lower base end of the inclined surface of the tray 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 3 and 4, on the upper surface of the tray 12,
The concave portion 80a is formed in the portion facing the portion a, and the concave portion 80b is formed in the portion facing the alignment member 102b.
It is partially lower than the upper surface of the tray 12. At least when no paper is loaded on these recesses 80a and 80b, the abutting member 10 at the receiving position
The portions 2a and 102b are configured to partially enter the recesses 80a and 80b and to maintain a state of overlapping with the tray 12. This is to ensure that the abutting members 102a and 102b abut the end face of the sheet S in the sorting and aligning operation.

In FIG. 5A, the tray 12 is moved up and down by the tray elevating means 95 so that the upper surface of the tray 12 maintains a predetermined distance from the nip portion of the sheet discharging roller 3. ) Is controlled by detecting means 96 for detecting the upper surface of the tray 12 shown in FIG.

That is, the sheet is discharged from the discharge roller 3 to the tray 12.
When the stacking surface of the paper stacked on the tray is raised by being discharged upward, the tray 12 is lowered by an appropriate amount by the elevating means 95 and the detecting means 96, and the position of the uppermost surface of the paper is set to the nip portion of the paper discharging roller 3. Is controlled so that the paper landing position is maintained at a constant level.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 (a), the paper discharge roller 3 is in a fixed position because it is attached to the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51. Therefore, in a configuration in which the tray 12 does not move up and down, the height of the sheet bundle is increased by discharging and stacking the sheets S on the tray 12, and the sheet bundle interrupts the discharge of the sheet to cause a jam. The paper S cannot be discharged.

The provision of the elevating means raises and lowers the tray 12 and moves the tray 12 from the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 3.
The distance from the upper surface or the distance from the nip portion of the sheet discharging roller 3 to the uppermost surface of the sheet S on the tray 12 can be maintained by the detecting means 96 at an appropriate interval at which the sheet is properly discharged. Thus, the sheet S can be discharged onto the upper surface of the tray 12 with a small variation in the landing position.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the tray 12 is suspended by a vertical lift belt 70 via a base 18. The vertical lift belt 70 is driven by a vertical motor 71 via a gear train and a timing belt, and is raised or lowered by forward or reverse rotation of the vertical motor 71. These vertical lift belt 70, vertical motor 71, gear train, timing belt, etc.
Are the main components.

In FIG. 4A, return rollers 121a and 121b (these are collectively referred to as return rollers 121) are located near the paper discharge rollers 3. The paper S sent out onto the tray 12 slides down along the inclined surface of the tray 12, and when the rear end side is sandwiched between the return rollers 121a and 121b, the paper S is fed by the return rollers 121a and 121b to be end fenced. The vertical alignment is performed by abutment with 131.

As described above, the sheets S on which images have been formed are sequentially discharged and stacked on the tray 12 so that the uppermost surface of the sheets S rises. Return rollers 121a, 12
In the vicinity of 1b, one end of the paper surface detection filler 120 swingably supported by the shaft 73a comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the stacked paper sheets by its own weight as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The paper surface detection filler 120 is provided as follows.
Is detected by the paper surface detection sensor 130a or the paper surface detection sensor 130b composed of a photo interrupter,
Control is performed so that the height of the tray 12 in the vertical direction becomes a constant level.

The discharge condition is different between the case where the sheets are discharged one by one in the normal mode and the case where the stapled sheet bundle is discharged in the staple mode. The proper discharge position is different.

In any of the normal mode, the staple mode, and the post-processing mode, positioning of the paper surface detection sensors 130a and 130b, the paper surface detection filler 120, and the like is performed so that the reference height of the tray 12 suitable for each mode is maintained. The height of the tray is set by the means.

The paper surface sensor 130b is for controlling the vertical position of the tray 12 in the normal loading mode, and the paper surface sensor 130a is in the staple mode.
This is for performing the same control, and the discharge position of the sheet is made different depending on the mode.

The paper lever 120 is adapted to rotate about the fulcrum shaft 73a by a moment due to its own weight. When the paper is stacked on the tray 12 and the upper surface position is raised, the leading end of the bent portion of the paper surface lever 120 is pushed up by the loading surface, is rotated about the shaft 73a as a fulcrum, and the paper surface sensor 130b is connected to the other end of the paper surface lever 120. The fan-shaped plate formed on the side is detected and turned on. At this point, the vertical motor 71 is driven to lower the tray 12. By lowering the tray 12, the paper lever 1
The lowering of the tray by the vertical motor 71 is stopped at the timing when the paper surface sensor 130b is turned off by the rotation of the paper surface sensor 130b.
By repeating such an operation, the interval between the tray 12 and the nip portion of the discharge rollers 3 is controlled to a predetermined interval.
In the normal mode, control by the paper surface sensor 130b is performed, and in the staple mode, control by the paper surface sensor 130a is performed.

Here, since the mode is the normal mode, the paper S
When the sheet S is discharged one sheet at a time, the loading surface of the sheet S rises, and each time the free end of the sheet lever 120 overlaps with the sheet sensor 130b, the up / down motor 71 is driven to drive the sheet sensor 13
Control to lower the tray 12 until 0b is turned off is performed. Accordingly, the condition of the landing position of the sheet S on the tray 12 is determined by the discharge roller 3 and the tray 12 (the top surface of the sheet).
Is controlled so as to be an appropriate distance so as to land at a fixed position on the tray. The paper surface sensors 130a and 130b, the paper surface lever 120, and the like are main components of the tray positioning means 96 for controlling the height of the tray 12 to a constant height, and detect information for positioning and send it to the control means. .

The tray 12 is lowered every time sheets are stacked, and the lower limit sensor 76 finally detects the lower limit position.

[1] -B. Returning means B-1. Return Roller and Displacement Means The return means is mainly configured to include a return roller and a displacement means provided to accompany the return roller and displaces the return rollers 121a and 121b in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, examples of the return roller and the displacement unit will be described. For convenience of explanation, the two return rollers 121a and 121b may be collectively referred to as return rollers 121. FIG. 5 is a view showing the main part of the displacing means together with the return roller in an assembled state, and FIG. 6 is a view showing the displacing means disassembled together with the return roller. In these figures, the components are attached to the frame 200 and assembled.

The return roller 121 has a cylindrical shape whose basic shape has a central axis in the horizontal direction d. In the present embodiment, a sponge-like elastic body having irregularities at regular intervals on the circumference of the basic shape is formed, and a state in which the sheet is in contact with the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the tray 12 and a state in which the sheet is not contacted Possible.

The contact pressure is such that only the uppermost sheet currently in contact with the return roller 121 can be moved. The return rollers 121 have the same diameter in the horizontal direction d, and in this example, two return rollers 121 are provided at intervals in the horizontal direction d.
Since the sheet is composed of the two return rollers 121a and 121b and is configured to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the horizontal direction d, the paper in contact with the return rollers is directed toward the end fence 131 in parallel with the vertical direction a. Will be returned.

The return roller 121 is located on the upstream side in the vertical direction and is controlled in height by the detecting means 96 so that the paper discharged on the tray by the paper discharging means can be reliably caught. A first position (I) that is not in contact with the upper surface of the sheet, and a second position (I) that is downstream of the first position (I) in the vertical direction a and is in contact with the upper surface of the stacked paper.
I) and can be displaced to these positions.

The means for displacing the return roller 120a and the means for displacing the return roller 121b have exactly the same configuration in common parts. Therefore, in order to avoid the complexity of the description, the configuration of the common portion is not
The relationship will be described by attaching the letter a to the reference numeral of the member, and the description of the return roller 121b will be omitted by adding the letter b to the reference numeral of the member.

The basic structure of the displacement means is as follows.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, a first member (hereinafter, referred to as a drive lever) 123a is a vertically long member.
Is pivoted to. Here, the shaft 129 is connected to the drive lever 12
The shaft 129 is rotatable with respect to 3a, and both ends of the shaft 129 are supported by the frame 200 via bearings 520 and 521.

The portion of the drive lever 123a penetrated by the shaft 129 is a pivot portion, and this portion is referred to as a first pivot portion 522a. The drive lever 123a is swingable within a range of a fixed angle around the first pivot portion 522a.

Second member (hereinafter, referred to as a driven lever) 1
Reference numeral 22a denotes a vertically long member, and a shaft portion 524a projecting at an intermediate position thereof is connected to a second pivot portion 523a on one free end side of the first lever portion 522a on the drive lever 123a. It is pivotally mounted by fitting. The driven lever 122a is capable of swinging around the second pivot 523a within a certain angle range.

The second pivot 523a of the driven lever 122a
A shaft portion 525a is integrally formed on an arbitrary free end side shifted from the rotation center (center of the shaft portion 524a) at
The return roller 121a is pivotally attached to the shaft 525a.

The first pivot 5 of these drive levers 123a
Swing about the center 22a and the second movement of the driven lever 122a.
The return roller 121a, which is pivotally attached to the free end side of the driven lever 122a, is displaced to a different position in the longitudinal direction a by a combination operation with the swing around the pivot portion 523a.

As a result, the return roller 121a can be displaced to a long distance in the vertical direction.
The bendable configuration of the lever 23a and the driven lever 122a can provide a more compact configuration than other configurations for achieving the same stroke.

The driving lever 123a is connected to the first pivot 522a.
The bracket 1 made of sheet metal is provided on the free end side opposite to the side where the driven lever 122a is provided when the
24 are fixed by screws 526a. Thereby, the drive lever 123a is integrated with the plate-shaped bracket 124.

The peripheral surface of an eccentric cam 125 for swinging the drive lever 123a is in contact with the side surface of the bracket 124 on the upstream side in the vertical direction a. The eccentric cam 125 is configured to be integrally rotated with a shaft 528 supported by a support plate 527 formed integrally with the frame 200. A torsion coil spring 529a is provided as first contact means for elastically pressing the cam surface of the eccentric cam 125 against the bracket 124. This torsion coil spring 52
9a, one end of the torsion coil spring 529a that is loosely wound around the outer periphery of the boss-shaped first pivot portion 522a is hung on the side of the drive lever 123a, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 529a is It is hung on a hook 530a configured as a part.

Due to the elasticity of the torsion coil spring 529a, the drive lever 123a is urged to rotate about the first pivot 522a in the direction of the arrow, and is elastically pressed by the eccentric cam 125. Therefore, by rotating the eccentric cam 125, the drive lever 123 is driven in accordance with the amount of displacement of the cam surface.
“a” swings about the first pivot portion 522a.

Since the eccentric cam 125 has an endless cam surface, a periodic displacement can be given to the drive lever 123a and, consequently, the return roller 121a by its rotational movement.

The torsion coil spring 5 as the first contact means
The first oscillating means is constituted by the eccentric cam 125 and the eccentric cam 125, and the eccentric cam 125 and the free end side of the drive lever 123a (bracket 124) are slidably contacted by the first oscillating means. Drive lever 1 according to the rotation of 125
23a can be swung at a predetermined angle according to the amount of eccentricity.

As described above, when the drive lever 123a is swung by a predetermined angle by the first swing means, the driven lever on the drive lever 123a is returned by the return roller 1a.
By moving the return roller 121a together with the return roller 21a, an arc-shaped displacement in the vertical direction a can be given to the return roller 121a.

A shaft 528 to which the eccentric cam 125 is fixed has a shielding plate 531 in which a part of a disk is cut out in a semicircular shape fixed at its axial center. The part has been fixed. A gear 533 is meshed with the gear 532, and the gear 533 is rotatably driven by a vertical displacement motor 126 fixed to a support plate 527. A sensor 127 is fixed to a portion of the shielding plate 531 through which the notch passes.
, The amount of rotation of the eccentric cam 125 can be detected based on the detection information of the shielding plate 531 to control the stop of the driving of the vertical displacement motor 126. The combination of the sensor 127 and the shielding plate 531 forms an encoder, and the amount of rotation of the eccentric cam 125 is controlled by the encoder using the longitudinal displacement motor 126 as a drive source. Thus, by employing the configuration of the combination of the stepping motor and the encoder, the position of the return roller 121a can be properly managed. For example, the return roller 121 can be positioned so as to be at the first position (I), the second position (II), or the like as shown in FIG.

The first position (I) is a standby position in which the return roller 121 is located near the end fence 131 and above the tray 12 or the stacked paper on the tray 12, and is set as the home position. It is a position that can be. The second position (II) is located downstream of the first position (I) in the discharge direction a, and is a position in which the tray 12 or the paper loaded on the tray 12 is lightly contacted.

The driven lever 122a is connected to the driven lever 1
22a and the second pivot portion 523a (the shaft portion 524a)
And the second swinging means provided to act on the free end side 534a opposite to the side on which the return roller 121a is provided.

The second swinging means includes a drive lever 123a
With this swing, the driven lever 122a is swung by a predetermined angle around the second pivot 523a. By providing the second swing means, the second lever 523a is centered on the second pivot 523a. Follower lever 12 for drive lever 123a
By displacing the angle of 2a, the return roller 121a can be moved between desired positions along a desired trajectory. Further, by combining the swing operation of the driven lever 122a and the swing operation of the drive lever 123a, the return roller 121a
You can earn a stroke.

The second swing means is a projection 5 formed on a free end 534a on the driven lever 122a opposite to the side on which the return roller 121a is offset from the center of the second pivot portion.
A flat cam 53 having a trapezoidal projection 536 formed on a part of the circumferential surface having an infinite curvature.
7 and a second contact means for contacting the projection 535a with the flat cam 537. The second contact means is configured by winding a torsion coil spring around the shaft portion 524a, hooking one end of the torsion coil spring on the driven lever 122a, and hooking the other end of the torsion coil spring on an immovable member. be able to.

Since the contact state of the projection 535a with the flat cam 537 is obtained by the second contact means, the return roller 121a can be periodically moved up and down in accordance with the swing of the drive lever 123a, and the drive is performed. The return roller 121a can be displaced in a locus of a chevron in combination with the swing of the lever 123a and the driven lever 122a, so that the sheets stacked on the tray 12 are not pushed out in the vertical direction a, and the second position (II) is not pushed. ) Can be moved to.

As shown in FIG. 10, the flat cam 5
37 is located above the free end side 534a of the driven lever 122a. In such a positional relationship, the return roller 121
The tray 12 is located below “a”.

As described above, in order to keep the distance between the upper surface of the stacked sheets and the discharge roller 3 constant, as the tray 12 is discharged and the height on the tray 12 increases, the tray 12 becomes higher. The motor is driven so as to descend.

At the upper and lower limits of the tray 12, a limit switch is provided as a safety measure. The limit switch is controlled so as to stop even when the motor for vertically moving the tray runs out of control, but before reaching the limit switch. Even if the tray 12 rises due to an abnormal situation for some reason, the flat cam 537 moves the driven lever 1 as in this example.
If it is configured to be located above the free end side 534a of the second lever 22a, even if the ascending tray 12 pushes up the return roller 121a, the second lever 523a is driven by the driven lever 12
2a can escape from the flat cam 537, and the driven lever 122a simply rotates, so that there is no interference with other members, so that damage to the members can be avoided.

A power transmission system for rotationally driving the return roller 121a will be described. The power transmission system is mainly composed of pulleys around the respective pivot centers of the first pivot portion 522a and the second pivot portion 523a as rotation centers, and a belt wrapped around these pulleys. Here, the pulley and the belt include a gear and a chain as similar power transmission means.

In FIG. 6, a pulley 538a that rotates integrally with the shaft 129, a pulley 539a that is pivotally attached to the shaft portion 524a, and these pulleys 538a and 539
There is a combination consisting of a belt 540a wrapped around a.

A pulley 541a pivotally attached to the shaft 524a and a return roller 121 pivotally attached to the shaft 525a.
a and a belt 5 wound around the pulley 541a and the pulley 542a.
There is a combination consisting of 43a. The pulley 541
When a and the pulley 539a are fitted to the common shaft portion 524a, they are integrally rotated by the meshing portions formed on the side portions meshing with each other.

A gear 556 is provided at the shaft end of the shaft 129. A gear 556a with a pulley meshes with the gear 556, and a timing belt 556b is hung on the pulley. The timing belt 556b is driven by another driving unit. When the shaft 129 rotates, the pulley 538a → the belt 540a → the pulley 539a → the pulley 5
41a → belt 543a → pulley 542a → return roller 1
Power is transmitted in the order of 21a, and the return roller 121a is rotated, and rotation for return is performed.

As described above, the pulleys are arranged at the respective pivot points of the driving lever 123a and the driven lever 122a, and the power is transmitted to the return roller 121a via these pulleys. Since the shaft is shared with the pivot shaft for roller displacement, the power transmission system can be easily configured, and power can be easily taken in from the outside of the drive lever 123a, so that the displacement means can be made lightweight and compact.

As described above, in FIG.
The power for rotating 21a is generated by a pulley 538a provided integrally with the shaft 129 concentric with the first pivot 522a, a pulley 539a pivotally attached to a shaft 524a concentric with the second pivot 523a. , These pulleys 538a and 539
This includes a configuration in which the power is transmitted via a belt 540a wound between the belts a.

In FIG. 7 showing a cross section of this power transmission system, a pulley 538a is fixed integrally with a shaft 129. The pulley 539a is pivotally mounted on the shaft 524a.
In the present embodiment, in particular, these pulleys 538a and 539a
By appropriately selecting the tension of the belt 540a stretched between them and pressing the pulley 539a against the shaft portion 524a by this tension, a suitable frictional force acts between the inner diameter portion of the pulley 539a and the shaft portion 524a. Let it. The rotational force of the pulley 539a is also transmitted to the shaft portion 524a by this frictional force, and the driven lever 122a is urged to rotate about the second pivot portion 523a.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the direction of rotation when the return roller 121a performs the return operation of returning the sheet to the end fence 131 is counterclockwise. When the return roller 121a is rotated in this rotation direction, the rotation direction of the pulley 539a is counterclockwise,
The rotation urging force applied to the driven lever 122a by the frictional force at the time of rotation in this direction is also the second pivotal connection portion 5
The rotation biasing force biases the protrusion 535a of the driven lever 122a in a direction pressed by the flat cam 537.

As in the present embodiment, the protrusion 535a of the driven lever 122a is caused by the rotational force of the driven lever 122a utilizing the frictional force between the pulley 539a and the shaft 524a due to the tension of the belt 540a and the rotational force of the pulley 539a. The function of the second urging means for pressing the flat cam 537 can be fulfilled, and the configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where a torsion coil spring is used. The tension of the belt 540a is set appropriately so that the pulley 539a and the shaft 524a slip with the projection 535a pressed against the flat cam 537 with an appropriate pressing force.

In this embodiment, the return roller 1 made of a rotating body is operated by a combination of the swing of the first member and the swing of the second member.
21 can be reliably displaced to different positions in the discharge direction, and the return operation can be performed. Since the return roller 121 comes into contact with and separates from the stacked paper by the displacement of the displacement unit, the displacement unit is also a contact / separation driving unit, and the return roller 121 is driven to contact / separate.

B-2. Returning operation Here, the returning roller 121 is moved to the first position (I) and the second position (I) by the displacement means having the structure described with reference to FIGS.
The return operation of displacing between I) will be described. FIG.
In FIG. 10, the return roller 121 is located near the lower portion of the sheet discharge roller 3 at a first position (I) and separated from the stacked sheets, and has a center in the horizontal direction d (the width direction of the paper) orthogonal to the vertical direction a. It is arranged facing the part.

In order to catch the sheet that has fallen so that the rear end is located on the downstream side in the vertical direction so that it does not catch on the return roller 121 at the first position (I), the return roller of the present embodiment is used. 121 is moved from the first position (I) to a second position (II) where the trailing end of the protruding sheet can be captured and brought into contact with the trailing end of the sheet. It can be returned until it hits 131.

As already described with reference to FIG. 6, the return roller 121 is formed by the shaft portions 525 of the driven levers 122a and 122b.
a, 525b, and these driven levers 12
The shaft portions 524a and 524b opposite to 2a and 122b are
The shaft 52 is inserted into the drive levers 123a and 123b.
Driven levers 122a, 122b around 4a, 524b
Is adapted to rotate.

The drive levers 123a and 123b are inserted through a shaft 129 on the opposite side to which the driven levers 122a and 122b are pivotally connected, and rotate about the shaft 129. Further, the drive levers 123a and 123
3b, a bracket 124 is joined, and by displacing the bracket 124 with the eccentric cam 125,
The drive levers 123a and 123b are pivoted about the shaft 129, and the driven levers 122a and 122b pivotally mounted on the drive levers 123a and 123b are pivoted,
The return roller 121 is displaced.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the return roller 121 is moved from the first position (I) (standby position or home position) to a second position (II) (return position) indicated by a two-dot chain line. To the end fence 131 by the rotation force of the sheet, and the rear end can be aligned.

The eccentric cam 125 for displacing the bracket 124 joined to the drive levers 123a and 123b in the vertical direction a is provided by the stepping motor 126 and the gear 53.
3 and 532, the rotation is performed, and the rotation causes the above displacement. You.

The eccentric cam 125 has a semicircular shielding plate 531
The stop position of the eccentric cam 125 is regulated by detecting the shield plate 531 with the sensor 127, that is, the stop position of the return roller 121 is regulated. In FIG. 10, the first position (I) of the return roller 121 is shown.
Is the position indicated by the solid line, and the second position (II) (return, press position) is the position indicated by the two-dot chain line.

Next, a description will be given of the timing of displacement when a simple return operation is performed by the return roller 121.
Normally, as shown in FIG. 10, the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge roller 3 immediately after the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge roller 3 and immediately after the rear end of the sheet falls onto the tray 12 along the outer periphery of the lower roller 3 a. , Second
Displace to position (II). The return roller 12 displaced along a locus of an angle according to the cam shape of the flat cam 537
1 comes in contact with the trailing edge of the paper from above, stays at that position for a certain period of time, and pulls the paper back to the end fence 131 with a rotational force.
Is rotated to be displaced to the first position (I). By such an operation, the ejected sheet can be reliably pulled back, and the alignment accuracy in the vertical direction a can be improved.

Next, an example of the configuration of the rotary drive system of the return roller 121 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows the return roller 121a.
The pulleys 542a are integrally formed as described above, and these pulleys are connected to the pulleys 541 on the shaft 524a.
a and a belt 543a. Furthermore, pulley 5
The pulley 539a is coaxial and integral with the belt 41a.
Oa is connected to the drive side pulley 538a.

A belt 540a is rotated by a pulley 538a which rotates integrally with a shaft 129 connected to a gear 556 as a driving system, thereby rotating pulleys 539a and 541a, thereby pulley 542a via belt 543a.
Rotate and the return roller 121 rotates. The same applies to the pulley 542b.

The return roller 121 waits at the first position (I) until the sheet passes through the discharge roller 3 and falls on the tray 12, and the second position immediately after the sheet falls on the stacking surface on the tray 12. By displacing the sheet to (II), the sheet dropped on the stacking surface is reliably caught and the end fence 131
Can be returned to

B-3. Lateral reciprocating means of return means Corresponds to Claims 1, 2, and 9. A description will now be given of a frame having a return unit mounted thereon and capable of reciprocating in the lateral direction d, and a reciprocating unit for reciprocating the frame in the lateral direction.

In FIG. 12, the return means comprises a return roller and a displacement means as described with reference to FIGS.
These are provided on the frame 200. Frame 2
00 at both ends in the horizontal direction d.
1b are formed, and rollers 202a and 202b are pivotally attached to these folded portions, respectively.

The U-shaped brackets 300a and 300b are fixed to the main body of the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 with the U-shaped opening facing upward. These rollers 202
a, 202b and the folded portions 201a, 201b are located in the brackets 300a, 300b. Roller 20
The lower portions of 2a and 202b are folded portions 201a and 201b.
And is exposed from the lower part of the
0a and 300b are in contact with the bottom of the return means under their own weight.

The brackets 300a and 300b are
This is a guide plate that rotates 2a and 202b and guides them in the lateral direction d. A rack 400 is provided below the frame 200, and a pinion 450 is provided on the rack 400.
Are engaged. The pinion 450 is formed integrally with the motor 450M.

The frame 200 is moved in the horizontal direction d by activating the motor 450M and rotating the pinion 450. Therefore, the return roller 121 is driven to reciprocate in the lateral direction d. The gear 556 has a length in the lateral direction d,
The length is set so that even if the return roller 121 is moved with the required amount of movement in the lateral direction d together with the frame 200, the engagement with the gear 556a does not come off.

The paper is fed from the paper discharge roller 3 and the vertical displacement motor 1 is synchronized with the time when the paper lands on the loaded paper.
26 to return the return roller 121 to the first position I.
To the second position II, whereby the return roller 121 comes into contact with the sheet just landed. It is assumed that the return roller 121 is constantly rotating in the return direction. Thereby, the sheet is returned to the upstream side in the vertical direction.

If the transport center line of the paper discharged from the paper discharge rollers 3 is denoted by OO, when viewed from above, the intermediate point in the horizontal direction d of the return rollers 121a and 121b is the transport center line. A position that matches OO is defined as the home position of the frame 200. If the motor 450M is driven at the same time as the sheet is being fed to the end fence 131 by the return roller 121, the return roller 121 is in contact with the uppermost sheet by frictional force, so that only the sheet is held and held horizontally. It can also be sent in direction d. By controlling the rotation of the motor 450M so that the frame 200 moves by the stroke necessary for sorting the paper, the frame can be moved forward by α from the home position as shown in FIG. Can be fed to a fixed position in the lateral direction d, a position shifted forward by α from the transport center line OO.

When the sheet is fed to the predetermined position in the horizontal direction d as described above, the motor 450M is rotated in the reverse direction and the return roller 12 is rotated.
1 is returned to the home position in the lateral direction d, and the return roller 121 is returned to the first position I to prepare for alignment of the next sheet.

When the next sheet is discharged, the return roller 121 is moved from the first position I to the second position II in the same manner as described above.
, And by driving the motor 450M accordingly, the alignment can be performed so as to be on the previous sheet.

By repeating the above operation for a predetermined number of sheets constituting an arbitrary part, alignment is performed by the end fence 131 at least in the vertical direction, and the accuracy of the motor 450M is adjusted in the horizontal direction. The paper can be aligned according to.

When the next sheet is discharged,
By rotating the motor 450M in the opposite direction to that in the above example, the sheet is moved from the transport center line OO to a certain position in the horizontal direction d.
It can be sent only to the position shifted to the rear side. By performing this operation for the number of sheets constituting an arbitrary set, it is possible to sort the previous sheet with a step of 2α on one side in the horizontal direction d.

The driving timing of the vertical displacement motor 126 and the motor 450M can be controlled by the control circuit 250 as shown in FIG. The sheet can be fed in the horizontal direction while sending the sheet in the vertical direction d. By feeding the sheet in the vertical direction, the sheet can be sent to the end fence 131 and then sent in the horizontal direction. After that, the sheet can be made to strike the end fence 131. One of these controls can be selected by setting the start timing of each motor by the control circuit shown in FIG. In at least the control described above, the sheet is fed obliquely, so that it can be said that time efficiency is high.

In this example, since the return roller 121 can be moved in the horizontal direction d, the sheet can be moved in the vertical direction by the basic function of the return roller 121 without shifting the tray 12 in the horizontal direction d as in the related art. Send to a and end fence 1
It is also possible to perform sorting by vertically aligning the sheet 31 with the sheet 31 and moving the sheet in the horizontal direction d while pressing a portion near the center of the sheet. FIG. 29 shows an example of the state of alignment by such sorting. In FIG. 29, from the bottom, the first part SS1, the second part SS2, and the third part SS
The third, fourth and fourth sections SS4 and SS5 are stacked with a step, and can be sorted in this way.

The return roller 121 is not only vertically aligned due to its basic function, but also captures a portion near the center of the sheet where the influence of curl is small, and moves and aligns the sheet with the sheet as it is in the horizontal direction. Horizontal alignment of paper can be performed relatively accurately. As will be described later, the use of the abutment member can further enhance the alignment accuracy.

[1] -C. Butting means C-1. Basic configuration Corresponds to claims 3, 4, and 5. As described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, there is a limit to the alignment accuracy when the paper is aligned in the horizontal direction d by moving the return roller 121 together with the frame 200 in the horizontal direction d only by the control of the motor 450.

Therefore, the abutting members 102a and 102b as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are provided, and the abutting members 102a and 102b are positioned at desired alignment positions to abut the sheet. The sheets are aligned in the horizontal direction d.

The upper ends of the abutting members 102a and 102b are supported in a case 90 shown in FIGS. The specific contents of this support will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18, a toothed pulley 91a is pivotally supported on the front side of the case 90, and a motor 92M integrated with the toothed pulley 91b is fixed on the rear side. The pulleys 91a and 91b have the same diameter, and a stretched body 93 formed of a timing belt is wound between the pulleys.

The stretched body 93 has pulleys 91a, 91b of the same diameter.
, Two parallel portions are formed. By driving the motor 92, the upper and lower extending portions of the parallel portions move in directions opposite to each other, that is, move closer to or away from each other.

The transport center line O shown in FIGS.
A line segment on the vertical plane passing through -O is shown by a transport center line O'-O 'in FIGS. The pair of abutting members 102a and 102b are positioned at equal positions around the transport center line O'-O 'so that the abutting members 102a The abutment member 102b is fixed to a lower portion of the stretched body 93, respectively.

When the pulley 91b is rotated clockwise by the motor 92M, the abutting members 102a,
102b move toward each other, and pulley 91
If b is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the abutting members 102a and 102b move in directions approaching each other.

A sensor 20 for detecting the abutting member 102b is provided at a position on the moving path of the abutting member 102b and near the pulley 91b. This sensor 20
Is a sensor for detecting the home position of the abutting member 102b.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the sensor 20 detects the contact member 102b, the contact member 102
By setting the open positions of the a and 102b as home positions and driving the motor 92M with reference to this position, the positions of the abutting members 102a and 102b can be positioned at target positions. If a stepping motor is used as the motor 92M, accurate position control can be performed. In FIG. 16, the abutting members 102a and 102b are closer to each other than in FIG.

The lower end portions of the abutting members 102a and 102b, the lower opposing surfaces constitute abutting surfaces 102a1 and 102b1 which abut against the edges of the sheet.
In the sorting operation, when the frame 200 is moved to the rear side in the lateral direction d, the sheet is aligned to the front side by abutting the sheet against the abutting surface 102a1 which is in a state of intersecting the end of the sheet moved by the return roller 121, Frame 2
When the sheet 00 is moved to the front side in the horizontal direction d, the sheet can be aligned rearward by abutting the sheet against the abutting surface 102b1 that is crossing the end of the sheet moved by the return roller 121.

As shown in FIG. 18, the transport center line O'-O '
From the paper transport center line O′-O ′ to the front side of the paper S discharged around the center of the paper S, １ ／ of the paper width + α
Abutment surface 102a at a position shifted outward by a distance of
1 and the abutting surface 102b1 is previously positioned at a position shifted outward by a distance of 1/2 + α of the sheet width from the conveyance center line O′-O ′ to the rear side of the sheet. The abutting surfaces 102a1 and 102b1 are located at positions where there is room for the outside of the sheet discharged around the transport center line OO.

If the abutting surface is positioned outside the side surface of the discharged paper, the end of the paper may ride on the abutting member and the stacking property may be reduced. There is no.

As described above, the sheet is abutted against any one of the abutting surfaces 102a1 and 102b1 stopped at the home position and aligned. By alternately abutting the papers against these abutting surfaces for each set and aligning them, it is possible to obtain a stacked paper having a sorting step of 2α.
Since the positions of the abutting members 102a and 102b are variable, it is possible to sort and align sheets of various sizes.

C-2. Guide member Corresponds to claim 6. As shown in FIG. 2B and FIGS. 16 to 18, for each of the alignment members 102 a and 102 b, the inner surfaces of the abutment surfaces 102 a 1 and 102 b 1
Plate-like guide members 102a2, 102b2 having a gradient that tends to rise as they approach the transport center line O'-O 'side can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 18, the guide member 102a
The height of 2, 102b2 in the horizontal direction d is smaller than α. This is to allow the paper S discharged around the transport center line O′-O ′ to naturally drop onto the tray or the stacked paper without causing interference.

When a sheet whose horizontal end is curled upward is discharged, the guide member 102a2,
102b2 guides the curled portion and holds the edges to align. 19 to 22, the guide members 102a2, 10a
A state where 2b2 guides the curl portion will be described.

FIG. 19 shows a state immediately after the sheet S has been discharged onto the tray 12, in which the rear end of the sheet S has an upward curl, and the return roller 121 is in the first position (I).
And is separated from the paper S. In FIG. 20, the return roller 121 moves to the second position (II) and returns to the second position (II).
1 is catching the paper S. At this time, the return roller 121
Is rotating in the return direction, so that the sheet S is sent out toward the end fence 131.

In FIG. 21, as described with reference to FIG. 15, the frame 200 starts to move rearward in the horizontal direction d, and accordingly, the return roller 121 also moves rearward in the horizontal direction d. Along with this, the curled end of the sheet S is guided by the guide member 102b2, and the edge is abutted against the abutting surface 102b1. In FIG. 22, the return roller 121 returns to the first position, and the frame 200 also returns to the home position that matches the transport direction center OO, and is in a state of waiting for the next sheet to be discharged. As described above, the end of the curled sheet is guided by the guide member 102b2, and the end of the sheet is aligned in a corrected state. In the above description, the rear side has been described, but the front side can be similarly considered according to the rear side.

C-3. Float-like support structure Corresponds to claim 7. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the return roller 121 as a rotating body is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 525a having a length in the lateral direction d, and is slidably supported in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.

In this embodiment, the return roller 121a is supported in a float shape by pressing the return roller 121a from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 525a with the extensible coil springs SP1 and SP2 as the urging means. Although not shown, the return roller 121b is also supported in a float shape by the urging means.

When the amount of movement of the return roller 121a on the shaft 525 is β, the frame 20
0 is moved to the tray 1
The minimum moving distance from the discharge drop position onto the abutment surface 102a1 or the abutment surface 102b until it abuts against the abutment surface 102b is set larger than β in a range less than β. The elasticity of the coil springs SP1 and SP2 is large enough to move the sheet in the horizontal direction d by the return roller 121, and is set to a size that does not cause the sheet to bend. The moving amount β of the return roller 121a is larger than at least the variation in the horizontal direction d of the position where the sheet falls onto the tray 12.

With this configuration, even if there is variation in the falling position of the discharged paper, or even if the paper has a curl at the lateral end, extra paper is fed in the horizontal direction d to securely hit the paper. The sheet abuts against the surfaces 102a1 and 102b1 and the end of the sheet in the lateral direction d
02b1, the coil spring SP2
The return roller 121 moves in the horizontal direction d while bending the sheet, thereby preventing the paper from being damaged.

This situation will be described with reference to FIG.
Returns the sheet S immediately after falling onto the tray 12 to the roller 121
a is in contact. From the state shown in FIG. 24, the return roller 121a and the return roller 121b (FIG.
When the sheet S1 moves to the rear side in the horizontal direction d together with (not shown in FIG. 25), the end of the sheet S comes into contact with the abutting surface 102b1. It is set so that the frame 200 is slightly further fed from this contact position to perform the overfeed. This causes the spring SP to bend. FIG. 25 shows a state in which the spring SP2 is deflected due to such excessive feeding. By doing so, even if the drop position of the sheet has a variation or the sheet has a curl, the sheet does not touch the abutting surface 102b. The sheet is fed until the spring SP2 is bent, and at that time, the sheet is reliably butted against the abutting surface 102b1.

In order to move the sheet S laterally, the distance between the lateral end of the sheet and the abutting surface 102b1 and the amount of movement of the frame 200 (that is, the amount of movement of the return roller 121) are determined in advance. In order to reliably abut against the abutting surface 102b1, "the distance between the sheet end surface and the abutting surface 102a1 or the abutting surface 102b <the moving distance of the frame 200". Therefore, the amount of movement of the return roller 121 in the lateral direction is slightly overrun, and the overrun is absorbed as in the present embodiment.

[2] Sorting control by control means Corresponds to claim 8. The rotational movement of the return roller 121 as the return means, the lateral movement by the frame 200,
A description will be given of a control unit for sorting the sheets by combining the operation of moving toward and away from the sheet and the operation of moving the tray 12 up and down, and a control procedure by the control unit.

In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 is connected to an image forming apparatus 50, and the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 is attached to the sheet-like medium according to the present invention. The present invention relates to control for aligning sheets on a tray under the overall configuration of a device provided with a medium aligning device.

FIG. 26 shows a control circuit of the control means.
U700 is a ROM 710 storing a control program.
The information is transmitted and received, and a clock signal is input from the clock 720 to execute the control shown in the following flowcharts.

The CPU 700 sends and receives signals to and from the control means 52 of the image forming apparatus 50 to and from the image forming apparatus 50, and inputs information from the sensor group 730 to the stepping motor control driver 740 and the motor driver 75.
0, outputs information to the driver 760.

The sensor group 730 collectively expresses various sensors used in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 and the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention. Various sensors come into play.

The stepping motor control driver 740 controls various stepping motors used in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 and the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention. The various stepping motors described in the above are applicable. In FIG. 36, this is exemplified by reference numeral M.

The motor driver 750 controls various types of DC motors used in the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 and the sheet-like medium aligning device according to the present invention. Coming various motors are applicable. In FIG. 36, this is exemplified by reference numeral M.

The mode designating means 53 is a means for carrying out the horizontal feed operation of the paper by the horizontal movement of the frame 200 in addition to the vertical feed operation of the paper by the return means, and selectively specifying whether or not to perform the sorting mode. It is configured by a touch switch and the like provided on a control panel (not shown) provided in the post-processing apparatus 51.

The driver 760 controls various solenoids used in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 and the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention, which are illustrated by SOL in FIG. CPU 700 in FIG. 26
Is the main part that executes the flow described below, and forms the center of the control means in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

In FIG. 3, when the shift mode for sorting the sheets is selected for the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 provided with the sheet-like medium aligning device, the sheet conveyed from the sheet discharge roller 560 of the image forming apparatus 50. Is received by the entrance roller pair 1, passes through the transport roller pair 2 a and the transport roller pair 2 b, and is discharged to the tray 12 by the discharge roller 3 as the final transport means. At this time, with the branch claws 8a and 8b kept at the default positions, sheets one by one are sequentially discharged through the similar transport path to the tray 12. The following flowchart relates to the sorting control performed by the sheet medium aligning device incorporated in the sheet medium post-processing device 51.

This will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. In step P1, a copy button for instructing start of image formation is pressed. This copy button is provided on the control panel.

At step P2, the mode is determined. Here, description will be made assuming that the shift mode for performing the sorting process is selected. When the shift mode is not set, the process returns to step P2, and a normal process of stacking sheets without moving the frame 200 in the horizontal direction d is executed by a flow not shown.

In Step P3, the tray 12 is lowered by a predetermined amount. This will be done in a subsequent process with the butting members 102a,
Since the moving member 102b is moved in the horizontal direction, the abutting members 102a, 102b contact the stacked sheets already stacked on the tray 12.
This is to prevent b from interfering and disturbing the alignment. Therefore, the predetermined amount of tray lowering here is a lowering amount to such a level that the abutting members 102a and 102b do not interfere with the stacked paper.

In Step P4, the butting members 102a,
102b is moved to a predetermined position according to the paper size (for example, the position shown in FIG. 18 described above). In Step P5, the tray 12 is raised by a predetermined amount. That is,
The tray 12 is raised until the paper surface detection sensor 130b is turned on. Due to this rise, the height distance from the upper surface of the stacked paper on the tray 12 to the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 3 becomes a desired value suitable for paper discharge.

In step P6, the timing belt 556b, which is the rotation motor of the return roller 121, is driven. When the timing belt 556 is driven by the other drive unit, and the drive and non-drive of the timing belt are switched from the other drive unit via the clutch, the clutch is brought into the connected state. Alternatively, when the shaft 129 is directly driven by a dedicated motor, the dedicated motor is started.
As a result, the return roller 121 starts rotating in a direction to return the paper discharged onto the tray toward the end fence.
Thus, the preparation for discharging the paper onto the tray 12 is completed.

In step P7, the paper discharge sensor 38 waits for the arrival of paper. The sheet on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 50 is sent to the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 by the sheet discharging roller 560, and further, follows the transport path to the sheet discharging sensor 38.
When the leading end is detected, the paper discharge sensor 38 is turned on from off in step P7, and the detection state changes from on to off when the rear end of the paper passes the paper discharge sensor 38.

In step P8, the sheet is completely dropped onto the tray 12 via the sheet ejection roller 3 from the detection of the passage of the rear end of the sheet by the sheet ejection sensor 38 (at the point when the state changes from ON to OFF). After a predetermined time elapses, the longitudinal displacement motor 126 is started. As a result, the return roller 121 starts moving from the first position (I) to the second position (II).

In step P9, it is determined whether the paper to be matched is an odd-numbered copy or an even-numbered copy. Whether the odd-numbered copy or the even-numbered copy is transmitted or received from the image forming apparatus 50 by the CPU
If it is an odd-numbered copy, the process proceeds to step P10.

If it is determined that the odd-numbered part is set, the process proceeds to step P10, in which the longitudinal displacement motor 126 is turned on and then the return roller 12
After 1 reaches the second position (II) and comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet just discharged, that is, after the return roller 121 reaches the second position (II), the vertical displacement motor 126 is turned off. At this time, the eccentric cam 125 rotates １ ／ from the start, and the return roller 121 is located at the most downstream position in the vertical direction a (second position II). After turning off the vertical displacement motor 126, the motor 450M is turned on in the normal
With 0, the return roller 121 is sent to the rear side in the horizontal direction d. Thus, the sheet is sent toward the end fence 131 in the vertical direction a by the return roller 121 and at the same time, is sent to the rear side in the horizontal direction d together with the frame 200.

In Step P11, it is determined whether the motor 450M has rotated a predetermined amount. When a predetermined amount of rotation has occurred, the return roller 121 moves in the horizontal direction d together with the sheet, and strikes the sheet against the contact surface 102a1 to align the sheet.
After the predetermined amount of rotation has been performed, step P12
As a result, the motor 450M is turned off, and the movement of the frame 200 stops. Since the rotation of the return roller 121 in the return direction continues, the sheet abuts on the end fence 131 and the return roller slips on the sheet surface. In terms of timing, it is preferable to set the balance of the rotation speed of the return roller 121, the rotation speed of the motor 450M, and the like so that the sheet first contacts the abutting surface 102a1, and then contacts the end fence 131. .

At the stage of step P12, the sheets are aligned in contact with the abutting surface 102a1 and the end fence 131. Next, in step P13, the longitudinal displacement motor 1
26 is turned on, and the return roller 121 is started to return from the second position II to the first position I. When the return roller 121 moves from the second position II toward the first position I, the return roller 121 is mechanically separated from the upper surface of the stacking paper.
In step 4, the motor 450M is started in the reverse rotation direction, and after a predetermined amount of rotation of the frame 200 to return to the home position centered in the transport direction OO, the motor is stopped. In addition, the vertical displacement motor 1
26 from the on in step P13 to the first position I
It turns off after a predetermined amount of rotation that can return to.

If all the predetermined copies have been completed by arranging the sheets for the odd-numbered copies, the process proceeds from Step P20 to Step P21, in which the motor 92M is driven to reach the home position detected by the sensor 20, Exit to return. If the predetermined copy is not completed due to the alignment of the sheets for the odd-numbered copy, the process returns to Step P7.

If it is determined in step P9 that the number is not an odd number, that is, if it is an even number, the process proceeds to steps P15 to P19. Step P15 corresponds to Step P10, Step P16 corresponds to Step P11, Step P17 corresponds to Step P12, Step P18 corresponds to Step P13, and Step P19 corresponds to Step P14, respectively, in the case where the rotation direction of the motor 450M is in Steps P10 to P14. The other is the same, except that the sheet is abutted against the end fence 131 and the front abutting surface 102a2.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the state of alignment by such control. The first part SS1 ', the second part SS2', the third part SS3 ', the fourth part SS4', and the fifth part SS5 'can be sorted for each of the parts sorted from below.

As described above, the sheets can be automatically sorted and aligned with high accuracy by alternately abutting the sheets against the end fence and the front side and the end fence and the rear side abutting member. 2. Image forming apparatus Mainly corresponds to claim 10. This example relates to an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet and a conveying unit for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed. The image forming apparatus 50 'shown in FIG. An image forming unit common to the apparatus 50 is provided. The image forming apparatus 50 ′ includes a return roller 121 and a frame 200 and a motor 450 M that are driving means for the return roller 121 in the sheet-shaped medium aligning device configured in the sheet-shaped medium post-processing device 51, ancillary members thereof, butting members 102 a,
02b and its driving means. However, the drive frame 200 of the return roller 121 and the motor 450M
The accompanying members, butting members 102a and 102b, and their driving means are not shown.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 50 ', FIG.
3 has the same members as those in the sheet-type medium post-processing device 51 shown in FIG. 3, and those portions are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 and description thereof is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 31, an image forming section 135 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body, and a sheet feeding section 136 is disposed immediately below the image forming section 135. Paper feed unit 13
Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper feed cassette 210.

A document reading device (not shown) for reading a document can be provided above the image forming apparatus 50 ', if necessary. An upper part of the image forming unit 135 is provided with a roller RR as a conveying unit for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed.
And a guide plate are provided.

The image forming section 135 is provided with an electrical unit Q for electrically driving and controlling the apparatus. A drum-shaped photoconductor 5000 is provided. Around the photoconductor 5000, the photoconductor 500
0, a charging device 600 for performing charging processing on the surface of the photoconductor, an exposure device 7000 for irradiating the surface of the photoconductor with laser light, and a developing device 800 for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by exposing the surface of the photoconductor 5000. And a transfer device 900 for transferring the toner image visualized on the photoconductor 5000 onto paper, a cleaning device 1000 for removing and collecting toner remaining on the photoconductor surface after transfer, and the like.

The photosensitive member 5000 and the charging device 60
0, exposure apparatus 7000, developing apparatus 800, transfer apparatus 90
0, the cleaning device 1000 and the like form a main part of the image forming means. The photoconductor 5 is located substantially above the photoconductor 5000.
A fixing device 140 is disposed at a downstream position on the sheet conveyance path from the position 000.

When the image forming apparatus functions as a printer, an image signal is input when forming an image. In advance, the photoconductor 5000 is uniformly charged by the charging device 600 in the dark. This uniformly charged photoconductor 50
At 00, exposure light is emitted by the emission of a laser diode LD (not shown) of the exposure device 7000 based on the image signal, reaches the photosensitive member via a known polygon mirror or lens, and electrostatically contacts the surface of the photosensitive member 5000. A latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image moves with the rotation of the photoconductor 5000, is visualized by the developing device 800, and further moves toward the transfer device 900.

On the other hand, the paper feed cassette 210 of the paper feed section 136
Unused paper is stored therein, and the uppermost paper S on the rotatably supported bottom plate 220 is fed to the paper feed roller 2.
30 is pressed against the spring 240
To be pressurized. At the time of paper feeding for transfer, the paper feeding roller 230 rotates, and by this rotation, the paper S is sent out from the paper feeding cassette 210 and transported to the pair of registration rollers 1400.

The sheet sent to the registration roller 1400 is temporarily stopped here. The registration roller 1400 is positioned so that the positional relationship between the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 5000 and the leading end of the sheet S is a predetermined position suitable for image transfer at the transfer position where the transfer device 900 is provided.
The conveyance of the sheet is started at an appropriate timing.

The toner image is fixed on the sheet on which the transfer has been completed while passing through the fixing device 140. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 140 is transported by a roller RR that is a transport unit.
The sheet is discharged from the sheet discharge roller 3 to the tray 12 via the sheet discharge sensor 38.

Thereafter, the return roller 121 and the abutting member 1
The paper alignment functions of 02a, 102b, etc. are the same as those already described in the above embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Also in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the sheet S stacked on the tray is aligned in the discharge direction, and the sheet-like media can be aligned with high accuracy.

[0170]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, vertical alignment and horizontal alignment are performed by moving the sheet medium while holding down the center portion of the sheet medium by the return means, and the sheet medium curls. Even if it is, reliable movement is possible and high alignment accuracy is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the aligning time can be shortened by simultaneously moving the sheet-like medium in the vertical and horizontal directions by the return means. Claim 3
According to the invention described above, a higher-precision alignment quality is obtained in the lateral direction by abutting against the abutting means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the abutting member can be displaced in the opening / closing direction, high-precision alignment accuracy can be obtained for sheet-shaped media of various sizes. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by a simple operation of rotating and driving the pulley, it is possible to easily position the abutment member at an appropriate position capable of receiving the sheet-like medium according to the size of the sheet-like medium to be aligned. .

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even a curled sheet medium can be satisfactorily aligned, and the curl is corrected. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the sheet-shaped medium is reliably abutted against the abutting surface, so that the alignment accuracy is improved, and the excessive force at the time of abutting is absorbed by the spring SP2. There is no.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the alignment accuracy is improved by securely abutting the sheet-like medium against the abutting means when the sheet-like medium moves in the lateral direction, and excessive driving force at the time of abutting can be reduced. Since the urging means absorbs the damage, the sheet medium is not damaged. According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the sorting operation can be automatically performed by the control means.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus having improved alignment accuracy.
According to the tenth aspect, an image forming apparatus with improved alignment accuracy can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an external perspective view of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus, and FIG. 2B is an external perspective view of an abutting member provided with a guide member.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a main part of the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus, and FIG. 4B is a schematic perspective view of a peripheral portion of a sensor for controlling the height of a tray.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a main part around a return roller.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part around a return roller.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a power transmission unit illustrating a rotary drive system of a return roller.

FIG. 8 is a front view around the tray.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a return roller and its driving means.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the operation of the return roller.

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a drive system of a return roller and a discharge roller.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a means for laterally moving a return roller.

FIG. 13 is a control circuit diagram.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a means for laterally moving a return roller.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a means for laterally moving the return roller.

FIG. 16 is a front view schematically illustrating driving means of the abutting member.

FIG. 17 is a front view schematically illustrating driving means of the abutting member.

FIG. 18 is a front view schematically illustrating driving means of the abutting member.

FIG. 19 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the butting member viewed from the downstream side in the vertical direction, illustrating the function of the guide member provided on the butting member.

FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the abutting member viewed from the downstream side in the vertical direction, illustrating the function of the guide member provided on the abutting member.

FIG. 21 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the abutting member viewed from the downstream side in the vertical direction, illustrating the function of a guide member provided on the abutting member.

FIG. 22 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the butting member viewed from the downstream side in the vertical direction, illustrating the function of the guide member provided on the butting member.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a support portion in which a return roller is supported in a float shape by an urging means.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an alignment function by a return roller supported in a float shape by an urging means;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an alignment function by a return roller supported in a float shape by an urging means.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating a sorting state.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a sorting state.

FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 121 Return roller 102a, 102b Abutment member 131 End fence a Vertical direction d Horizontal direction

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideya Nagasako 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masahiro Tamura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F term in Ricoh Co., Ltd. (reference) 3F054 AA01 AC02 BA04 BD02 BG11 BH05 BH07 CA40 DA01

Claims (10)

[Claims] A discharge means for receiving and discharging an image-formed sheet-like medium; and a sheet-like medium discharged from the discharge means, the sheet-like medium being loaded, and the sheet-like medium being discharged from the discharge means to a stacking surface in accordance with a load amount of the sheet-like medium. A stacking unit that is controlled to move up and down so that the distance is substantially constant, and a sheet-like medium provided at an upstream end of the stacking unit in a sheet-like medium discharge direction (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical direction) by the discharge unit. A vertical wall against which the end in the vertical direction is abutted, and transporting the sheet-like medium toward the upstream side in the discharge direction by the discharge means while contacting the upper surface of the sheet-like medium on the stacking means. In a sheet-like medium aligning device having a return means for abutting an end of a medium against the upright wall, the return means is driven toward and away from an upper surface of the sheet-like medium on the stacking means, and is vertically moved. A sheet-medium aligning device, which is a rotating body that is driven to rotate in a direction in which the sheet-like medium is fed, and that is reciprocally driven in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (hereinafter, referred to as a lateral direction). 2. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 1, wherein said return means is mounted on said frame which can reciprocate in the lateral direction, and is reciprocally driven by a power means so that the sheet-like medium is returned by said return means. A sheet-like medium alignment device capable of reciprocating simultaneously with a returning operation. 3. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 1, wherein an abutting means against which the lateral end of the sheet-like medium abuts is provided on the stacking means in the lateral direction. A sheet-like medium matching device, comprising: 4. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said abutting means includes a pair of abutting members opposed to each other with a center in the lateral direction therebetween. The two abutting members move toward and away from each other, and are movable in conjunction with each other. 5. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 4, wherein the abutting member is formed of a plate-like body, and is fixed to one and the other of the parallel portions of the stretched body stretched between two pulleys. A sheet-like medium matching device, comprising: 6. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the abutting member has an abutting surface that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and that is a vertical facing surface. A sheet-like medium aligning device, wherein a guide member for guiding a side surface of the sheet-like medium is provided on each of the abutting surfaces. 7. The sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to claim 3, wherein the rotating body is rotatable about the shaft portion having a length in the lateral direction, and is free to slide in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. And a sheet-like medium aligning device, wherein the sheet-like medium aligning device is supported in a float shape by being pressed by urging means from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. 8. A sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said return means rotates, moves in a lateral direction, moves toward and away from said sheet-like medium, and said stacking operation. A sheet medium aligning device comprising a control means for sorting the sheet medium by combining lifting and lowering operations of means. 9. A sheet medium post-processing apparatus comprising a post-processing means for performing post-processing on a sheet medium and a conveying means for conveying the post-processed sheet medium. A sheet-like medium post-processing device, comprising the sheet-like medium alignment device according to item 1. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet-like medium and a conveying means for conveying the sheet-formed medium on which the image is formed. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet-shaped medium processing device.