JP2002293472A - Sheet-like medium alignment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet-like medium alignment device for preventing the injury of a hand and the breakage of an aligning means due to the interference of the operator's hand with an aligning member during picking out a sheet medium, an image forming device and a sheet medium afterprocessing device. SOLUTION: The aligning means 102a is movable from a position of aligning operation of the sheet medium on stacking means to a position of storage in a body where it can be stored. It is also movable from the position of storage to the position of the aligning operation.

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, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus for aligning and sorting sheet-like media, which are formed one after another and are conveyed one after another at regular intervals, on a tray serving as stacking means. I have.

[0003] As one of such sheet-like medium aligning apparatuses, there is an unknown high-performance sheet-like medium aligning apparatus. The outline is as follows: discharge means for discharging the conveyed sheet medium, stacking means (hereinafter referred to as a tray) for stacking the sheet medium discharged by the discharge means, and sheets stacked on the tray. Means for contacting and aligning the end surface parallel to the discharge direction of the sheet-like medium by the discharge means of the sheet-like medium, and shifting the tray or the alignment member in a shift direction orthogonal to the sheet-like medium discharge direction of the discharge means. It is provided with sorting means (tray moving means or aligning member driving means) for moving the sheet medium by a predetermined amount to sort the sheet medium.

The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus is configured as a part of an image forming apparatus or as a part of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus, and aligns successively transported sheet-like media. In addition, sorting processing is performed as necessary.

[0005] For the alignment, an alignment operation is performed by the alignment means, and for the sorting, a sorting operation is performed by the sorting means. These operations for alignment and sorting are constant. This is performed using the time interval of the sheet-like medium conveyed one after another at time intervals.

For example, when a sheet-like medium is discharged onto a tray, the time required for the next sheet to be discharged is
In order to align the sheet medium immediately after ejection with the edge of the already ejected sheet medium in the ejection direction, use the inclination of the tray or return the sheet medium until it hits the end fence by the return means and ejects it. The return operation for aligning in the direction (however, this operation is not the object of the present invention), in order to align the edges of the sheet-shaped medium in the shift direction, together with the already ejected sheet-shaped medium of the same portion in the shift direction. The aligning operation of sandwiching the end face by the aligning means, and the tray is kept in place only after the sheet-shaped medium at the end of the set is ejected until the first sheet-shaped medium of the next set is ejected. A sorting operation for performing a fixed amount shift (or shifting the alignment member by a predetermined amount) is required.

An example of an on-sheet medium aligning apparatus provided with an aligning means capable of performing such a sorting operation will be described with reference to FIG. 51 (a) and 51 (b), a tray 12 which can move up and down is located on the left side (downstream in the sheet discharging direction) of a pair of sheet discharging rollers 3 as a discharging means. The tray 12 is controlled by a control function (not shown) so that the distance from the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 3 becomes a constant distance suitable for paper discharge.

The sheet-like medium discharged from the paper discharge rollers 3 is weighted according to the inclination of the tray 12, or its rear end is abutted against the end fence 131 by a return roller (not shown), so-called vertical alignment is performed. .

A pair of plate-like alignment members are disposed above the tray 12 so as to face each other in a direction penetrating the paper surface. The alignment member on the front side is denoted by reference numeral 102a, and another
The illustration of the two alignment members (102b) is omitted.

The upper portion of the aligning member 102a is pivotally mounted on a shaft 108 having a length in a direction penetrating the paper (hereinafter, a shift direction). The upper end of the aligning member 102a is a receiving base 105a.
Is slidably fitted in the groove formed in the groove. Cradle 10
5a is slidably provided on a shaft 108 and a shaft 109 parallel to the shaft 108, and its upper portion is fixed to a belt stretched between a pair of pulleys arranged in the shift direction. One of the pulleys supporting the belt is denoted by reference numeral 120.
Indicated by a. A motor (stepping motor) for driving the pulley 120a is indicated by reference numeral 104a.

By driving the motor 104a, the pulley 120a rotates, and the belt also rotates. Accompanying this, the receiving table 105a moves, and the alignment member 102a also moves in the shift direction.

A shaft 110 is provided in parallel with the shaft 108, and is in contact with a shoulder 102a4 formed on the upper portion of the alignment member 102a. This contact position is at a position obliquely upper right away from the shaft 108. The free end side of an L-shaped lever 113 swingable about a fulcrum 112 is in contact with the shaft 110. The other end 113 of the lever 113 is connected to a plunger of a solenoid 115 via a spring 114.

When the solenoid 115 is turned off,
The free end side of the aligning member 102a rotates about the shaft 108 by its own weight moment, and the free end side of the aligning member 102a is located in the concave portion 80a formed in the tray 12 as shown in FIG. be able to. This position is
This is the maximum rotation position of the alignment member 102a.
The alignment member 102a is held by contacting a part of the alignment member 102a to the groove end of the groove a.

With the solenoid 115 turned off,
If there is a sheet-like medium in the course of rotation, the aligning member 102a rides on the sheet-like medium in the course of rotation and stops rotating,
If not, it rotates until it enters the concave portion 80a of the tray 12 (alignment rotation position).

When the solenoid 115 is turned on, FIG.
As shown in (b), the shaft 110 is guided by the lever 113 into the elongated hole 90a and is pushed down, and the aligning member 102a rotates about the shaft 108 and retreats above the tray 12 (retreat rotation position).

Since the same configuration as that for driving the alignment member 102a as described above is provided for the alignment member 102b, the motor for driving the alignment member 102a and the motor for driving the alignment member 102b are respectively driven. This allows the aligning members 102a and 102b to be moved closer to each other and separated from each other. By this operation, it is possible to perform so-called horizontal alignment in which the sheet-shaped media discharged onto the tray 12 is aligned in the shift direction.

Each time a sheet-like medium is discharged onto the tray 12, the aligning members 102a and 102b are operated to perform horizontal alignment, and after a predetermined number of sheets have been discharged, when the discharge of a set is completed, the sheet of the next set is discharged. Before the medium is ejected, the tray 12 is moved in the shift direction in order to sort the preceding part. At this time, if the aligning members 102a and 102b are at the same position as in the aligning operation, the movement of the tray 12 Absent,
The aligning member 102 adjusts the alignment of the sheet medium that has been aligned.
a or 102b is caught and broken.

Therefore, prior to the movement of the tray 12, for example, the solenoid 115 is turned on. As a result, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the free end side of the alignment member 102a (102b) moves upward, so that the sheet-like media stacked on the tray 12 can be aligned without breaking.

In such a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus, the shaft 1 is set so that the aligning member 102a (102b) is at the retracted rotation position.
When rotating about axis 08, shaft 110 is connected to solenoid 1
It is pushed down by 15 forces. Alignment member 102a (102
The rotation range of b) is determined by the vertical stroke of the shaft 110, and the rotation range is naturally limited. Alignment member 102
As shown in FIG. 51, the displacement amounts of a and 102b are as follows.
Only two positions, an alignment rotation position and a retreat rotation position, are assumed, and the alignment member 102a (102b) is always positioned above the tray 12.

On the other hand, the sheet-like medium stacked on the tray 12 is appropriately taken out by the operator. When the sheet-like medium stacked on the tray 12 is grasped and pulled out from the tray 12, the sheet-like medium is hooked on the aligning member 102a (102b). May be damaged, and the alignment members 102a (102b)
Risk of damage.

[0021]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet-like medium which can prevent injuries of the hand and damage to the aligning means due to the operator's hand interfering with the aligning member when removing the sheet-like medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an alignment device, an image forming device, and a sheet-shaped medium post-processing device.

[0022]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. (1). Discharging means for discharging the conveyed sheet medium, loading means for stacking the sheet medium discharged by the discharging means, and sheet medium by the discharging means for the sheet medium loaded on the loading means And an aligning means for contacting and aligning the end surface parallel to the discharge direction of the sheet medium, and moving the stacking means or the aligning member by a predetermined amount in a shift direction orthogonal to the sheet-like medium discharging direction of the discharging means. A sheet-like medium aligning device provided with sorting means for sorting, wherein the aligning means can be moved from a position where the sheet-like medium is aligned on the stacking means to a position stored in the main body, and can be stored. It is also possible to move from the stored position to a position where the aligning operation is performed (claim 1). (2). (1) In the sheet-shaped medium matching device according to (1),
The aligning means is configured to displace between the stored position (storage rotational position) and a position where the aligning operation is performed (alignment rotational position) by rotational movement (claim 2). (3). (2) In the sheet-like medium matching device according to (2),
A guide that slides the aligning means in the shift direction is also used as a rotation shaft that is the center of the rotational movement (Claim 3). (4). (3) In the sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to (3), by rotating the rotation shaft, the aligning means is moved to the storage rotation position to store the alignment member (claim 4). (5). (2) In the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to any one of (2) to (4), the aligning unit may rotate the rotation shaft to rotate the aligning rotational position, the storage rotational position, and the aligning rotational position. To the retracted rotation position, which is a rotation position between the storage rotation position and the free end side of the aligning member retracted from the sheet-like medium on the tray. The driving is performed by a driving source for the rotating shaft (claim 5). (6). (5) In the sheet-like medium matching device described in (5),
The aligning means has a predetermined free rotation area with respect to the rotation axis (claim 6). (7). (6) In the sheet-like medium matching device described in (6),
The rotation region is formed by a gap in the rotation direction at an engagement portion between a convex portion formed on one of the rotation shaft and the alignment member and a concave portion formed on the other of the rotation shaft and the alignment member. 7). (8). (3) In the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to any one of (3) to (7), the aligning unit may move the sheet-like medium discharged from the discharging unit and stacked on the tray in a direction parallel to the discharging direction. A pair of aligning members for performing an aligning operation for aligning the positions of the end surfaces by contacting the aligning portions so as to sandwich the two end surfaces of the sheet-shaped medium. The aligning operation is performed so as to align the sheet-like medium stacked before the sorting operation with a different position. The aligning member is rotated at a position defined as a home position of the aligning member and stored in the main body. Item 8). (9). (8) In the sheet-like medium matching device according to (8),
After the aligning member has completed the aligning operation of a series of jobs,
After being moved to the home position, it is stored in the storage rotation position (claim 9). (10). (9) In the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to (9), at the time when a series of job aligning operations is completed, if there is a subsequent job, the aligning member is moved to the home position and then stored at the storage rotational position. (Claim 10). (11). (8) In the sheet-like medium alignment device according to any one of (8) to (10), when a load equal to or more than a predetermined value acts on the alignment member during rotation of the alignment member, the alignment member may be configured to store the storage medium. A configuration for inhibiting rotation toward the rotation position is adopted (claim 11). (12). (11) In the sheet-like medium alignment device according to (11), the load equal to or greater than the predetermined value is such that when a part of the body acts as a load in such a manner as to block the rotation of the alignment member, the part of the body is not damaged. (Claim 12). (13). (12) In the sheet-shaped medium aligning device described in (12), the aligning member is provided with a biasing force in a rotation direction. (14). (13) In the sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to (13), the urging force is automatically applied by moving the alignment member from the receiving position to a home position. (15). (14) In the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to (14), the home position on the rotation shaft includes a concave portion or a convex portion formed on the alignment member, and a retractable portion provided with a convex portion or a concave portion. A shaft is provided, and the retracting shaft is urged by urging means so that a rotational force in the same direction as the rotation direction in which the alignment member is rotated at the time of storage is applied. The rotation of the evacuation shaft is prevented by a stopper at a predetermined rotation position. (16). (15) In the sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to (15), the predetermined rotational position of the retracting shaft is the same as the convex portion or the concave portion formed on the rotating shaft (Claim 16). (17). (16) In the sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to (16), the stopper of the retraction shaft is centered on the axis of the rotation shaft that allows rotation within a certain rotation range in a direction opposite to a rotation direction when the alignment member is stored. The shaft comprises a combination of a circular arc-shaped long hole and a projection engaged with the long hole, and the shaft is provided integrally with the rotary shaft. (18). (17) In the sheet-like medium aligning device according to (17), the fixed rotation range is a rotation range of the alignment member with respect to the rotation axis, and the alignment member rotates from the alignment rotation position to the storage rotation position. The displacement range was set (claim 18). (19). In an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet-like medium and a conveying unit for conveying the image-formed sheet-like medium, (1) to (1)
8) A sheet aligning device according to any one of 8) is provided. (20). A sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus having a post-processing means for performing post-processing on a sheet-like medium and a conveying means for conveying the post-processed sheet-like medium, according to any one of (1) to (18), A sheet-like medium matching device is provided (claim 20). (21). (20) In the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus described in (20), the stacking unit is configured to move up and down through the discharging unit (claim 21).

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this specification, as a sheet medium to be handled, copy paper, transfer paper, recording paper, cover, interleaf (partition paper), computer foam, special paper, OH
Although P sheets and the like are included, these will be represented by paper names as representatives below.

In a sheet unit post-processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus which performs post-processing such as a punching unit for punching filing holes on an image-formed sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, staple means, and stamping, The paper discharged from the means is required to be stacked in a high-precision sorting state by a copy trader or the like, for example, in a next step, for example, a punching machine for a stacked paper stack.

If the sheet bundle has poor alignment accuracy, the sheet bundle taken out of the tray must be manually realigned and then set on a punch machine, resulting in waste of work efficiency. For this reason, the upper segment, for example, a so-called copy trader, demands strict alignment accuracy for the loaded paper, and it is desired to improve the alignment accuracy. However, the alignment unit, the return unit, and the sorting unit according to the following example are applied. By doing so, it is possible to respond to such a demand and avoid danger due to the alignment member.

The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention can be constituted as a single apparatus, or other apparatus having a means for discharging a sheet-like medium, for example, an image having no aligning function or sorting function. It can be used integrally or in combination with a sheet-like medium post-processing device that does not have a forming device, an aligning function, a sorting function, or the like. The aligning function and the sorting function can align and sort the sheet-like media on a tray. .

In the following, a sheet-medium post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet-medium aligning device is used as an example, and discharge means for discharging the sheet medium and loading means for stacking the sheet medium discharged by the discharge means will be described. Tray and aligning means, sorting means, sorting operation, configuration as a safety measure of the aligning means, control mode of sorting, and an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet medium aligning apparatus, and a two-tray sheet medium post-processing apparatus. explain.

[1] Sheet Media Post-Processing Apparatus a. Outline of Sheet-Type Media Post-Processing Apparatus An example of a sheet-type medium aligning apparatus integrated with an independent sheet-type medium post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus will be described. 1 to 4, a sheet-shaped medium post-processing device 51 as post-processing means for performing post-processing on a sheet is connected to an image forming device 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 performing staple processing. 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 processing is also possible as needed.

These work instructions for the post-processing are transmitted to the control means including the CPU by key operation from the operation panel of the copying machine, and 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 apparatus having an aligning means described later.

In the sheet medium post-processing apparatus, the user can select whether or not to execute post-processing. The post-processed paper is selected when execution of post-processing is selected, or the post-processing is performed when execution of post-processing is not selected. The unprinted sheets can be aligned in a state where they are sorted on the tray by the sorting function and the aligning function of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the overall configuration of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 according to this embodiment. The sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus of this example is another apparatus having a unit for discharging a sheet, for example,
It is used in combination with the image forming apparatus 50 having no alignment function, and the paper is placed on the tray 12 by the alignment function.
Can be aligned on top.

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. In the sorting state, the sheets are aligned on the tray in the direction a and, if necessary, are shifted by a predetermined number of sheets in a shift direction d (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4, see FIG. 5 et seq.) Perpendicular to the discharge direction a. Be loaded. This sorting function is performed by a tray moving unit 98 (described later) that moves the tray 12 in the shift direction d.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 has a tray 12 which can be moved up and down as a stacking means, and has a proof tray 14 as a position fixing tray at the top of the apparatus. I 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 pair of entrance rollers 1.
A transport roller pair 2a is provided downstream of 5. A branch claw 8a is provided downstream of the conveying 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 a pair of conveying rollers 60 and discharged to the proof tray 14 by a pair of discharge rollers 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 staple 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 is provided so as to be overlapped with the lower part of the pair of paper discharge rollers 3 or at a lower position as a return means for returning the paper to the end fence 131 for rear end alignment (directly with the present invention). It has nothing to do with other figures.)

The discharge roller 3 includes an upper roller 3a and a lower roller 3a.
The lower roller 3b is rotatably supported by a free end of a support member 66 which is supported on the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction a and is rotatably provided in the vertical direction. The lower roller 3b abuts on the upper roller 3a by its own weight or biasing force, and the sheet is nipped between the rollers and discharged. When the bound 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 3
Reference numeral 8 is disposed immediately upstream of the paper discharge roller 3.

The paper 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 of the sheet, 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, alignment in the vertical direction (paper transport direction) is performed by the hitting roller 5 for each paper, and the jogger fence 9 is aligned.
, Alignment in the horizontal direction (paper width direction orthogonal to the discharge direction a) is performed. The stapler 11 is driven by a staple signal from a control unit (not shown) between the end of the job, that is, between the last sheet of the sheet bundle and the leading sheet of the next sheet bundle, 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) around the fulcrum 5a, and acts intermittently on the sheet fed 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. In this alignment, the discharge direction a
There are two meanings, that is, aligning the ends of the return roller 12 and aligning the ends in the shift direction d.
The alignment is performed by a pair of alignment members 102a and 102b as alignment means.

In FIG. 4, the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus includes a discharge roller 3, a tray 12 on which the sheets S discharged from the discharge roller 3 are stacked, a tray elevating means for raising and lowering the tray 12, and a lifting and lowering of the tray 12. Means for controlling the position in the direction, tray moving means as sorting means for reciprocating the tray 12 in a shift direction d (a direction penetrating the paper surface in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the discharge direction a in FIG. The main components are the alignment members 102a and 102b and their driving means.

Among them, the means for raising and lowering the tray is shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 (a) shows a reference numeral 95, and the positioning means in the elevating direction is shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 96 denotes (a) and (b), and the tray moving means is shown in FIG.
This is indicated by reference numeral 98 in FIG. 7 and will be described in detail below.

B. Tray and tray moving means as sorting means In FIG. 4, the sheet S is conveyed from the branching claw 8b to the tray 12 via the sheet discharging sensor 38 by the conveying roller pair 2b as sheet conveying means, and It is sent out in the discharge direction a.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper surface of the tray 12 is inclined such that the height of the upper surface increases in the discharge 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.

In FIG. 4, the paper S discharged from the paper discharge roller 3 is placed on the aligning member 102 waiting at the receiving position.
a, 102b, slides on the tray 12 along the above-mentioned inclination by gravity, and in the type in which the return roller 121 is provided, the rear end portion abuts against the end fence 131 by the function of the return roller 121 so that The edges are aligned and aligned. The paper S on the tray 12 whose rear end is aligned is aligned in the shift direction d (width direction) by the alignment operation of the alignment members 102a and 102b.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a concave portion 80a is provided on the upper surface of the tray 12 at a position facing the aligning member 102a, and a concave portion 80b is provided at the portion facing the aligning member 102b.
Are formed, and are partially lower than the upper surface of the tray 12. At least these recesses 80a,
When no sheets are stacked on the upper portion 80b, the alignment members 102a and 102b at the receiving position are
0a and 80b are partially intruded and kept in a state of overlapping with the tray 12. This is to ensure that the alignment members 102a and 102b are brought into contact with the end surface of the sheet S in the alignment operation.

In FIG. 5A, the tray 12 is moved up and down by a tray elevating means 95, and is always controlled by a positioning means 96 to a position suitable for landing of the sheet S.

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

In FIGS. 4 and 5A, the discharge roller 3 is at a fixed position. Therefore, in a configuration in which the tray 12 does not move up and down, when the sheets S are discharged and stacked on the tray 12, the height of the sheet bundle increases, and the sheet bundle interrupts the discharge of the sheet. It will not be possible to discharge.

The tray 12 is moved up and down by providing an elevating means, and the tray 12 is moved from the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 3.
The distance to the upper surface or the distance from the nip portion of the paper discharge roller 3 to the uppermost surface of the paper S on the tray 12 can be maintained at an appropriate distance by which the paper is properly discharged by the positioning means. 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. 5A, the tray 12 is suspended by a vertical lift belt 70. 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. The upper and lower lift belts 70, the upper and lower motors 71, the gear train, the timing belt, and the like are main components of the elevating means 95 for elevating and lowering the tray. The sheet S sent onto the tray 12 is placed on the tray 1
2 and slides down along the inclined surface, and the rear end side is abutted against the end fence 121 to perform alignment in the discharge direction.

In this way, the sheets S on which images have been formed are sequentially discharged onto the tray 12 and the top surface of the sheets S is raised by stacking. In the vicinity of the return roller 121 and on the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), a paper surface lever 12 swingably supported by a shaft 73a.
The other end of the paper surface lever 1200 is detected by a paper surface sensor 130a or a paper surface sensor 130b composed of a photo interrupter.

The paper surface sensor 130b is for controlling the vertical position of the tray 12 in the normal stacking 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 1200 is adapted to rotate about the fulcrum shaft 73a by a moment due to its own weight. When the sheets are stacked on the tray 12 and the upper surface position becomes higher, the leading end of the bent portion of the sheet lever 1200 is pushed up by the stacking surface, and is rotated about the shaft 73a as a fulcrum,
The paper surface sensor 130b detects a fan-shaped plate formed on the other end of the paper surface lever 120 and turns on. At this point, the vertical motor 71 is driven to lower the tray 12.

The lowering of the tray 12 causes the paper surface lever 1200 to rotate and stop the lowering of the tray 12 by the vertical motor 71 at the timing when the paper surface sensor 130b is turned off. 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 is performed by the paper surface sensor 130b. In the staple mode, the paper surface sensor 130b is controlled.
The control by a is performed.

Here, since the normal mode is set, the paper S
When the paper 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 130.
Control for lowering the tray 12 until b is turned off is performed. Thus, the condition of the landing position of the sheet S on the tray 12 is such that the interval between the sheet discharging roller 3 and the tray 12 (the uppermost surface of the sheet) is controlled to the appropriate interval. Paper surface sensor 130
a, 130b and the paper lever 1200 are tray positioning means 96 for controlling the height of the tray 12 to a constant height.
And detects the information for positioning and sends it to the control means.

The height position of the tray 12 at such an appropriate interval is referred to as an appropriate discharge position, and is an appropriate position as a position for receiving a sheet in a normal state other than a sheet sent in a special mode such as curling. Is the position set as

When the sheet is discharged one by one in the normal mode and when the stapled sheet bundle is discharged in the staple mode, the discharge condition is different. The discharge position is different. This is apparent from the fact that the positions are different between the paper surface sensors 130a and 130b. At the end of the post-processing, the tray 12 is set to 30 mm in preparation for taking out the paper.
The lowering operation is performed.

In any of the normal mode, the staple mode, and the post-processing mode, the sheet S from the sheet discharge roller 3 is discharged onto the tray 12 at a reference height suitable for each of the modes, and the tray 12 is stacked every time the sheet S is stacked. Is lowered, and finally the lower limit position is detected by the lower limit sensor 76. When the tray 12 is lifted, the tray 12 has a paper surface sensor 130a,
130b, it is raised to the reference height based on the paper surface detection information by the positioning means such as the paper surface lever 1200.

The tray 12 moves to one end in the shift direction that passes through the paper surface of FIG. 4 in order to perform the sorting operation, that is, the direction indicated by the symbol d in FIG. 5A, and then moves to the other end.
It is slidably supported on the pedestal 18 so as to move from the other end to one end.

The tray moving means 98 will be described below.

In FIG. 5, the tray 12 is shifted so as to move in one direction in the shift direction d to perform a sorting operation, then move back to the other side, and move from the other side to one side. Assuming that one job is a unit of work when processing a predetermined number of discharged sheets constituting a set which is a unit of sorting, the tray 12 does not shift in the shift direction d during the same job, and one job (set) ) Ends each time the shift direction d
, And one of the moving ends receives the discharge of the sheet S for the next job.

Upon receiving the sheet S, every time the sheet S is stacked on the tray 12, the sheet is returned and the aligning member 102 is returned.
The aligning operation by a and 102b is performed. In the sorting mode, when the last sheet of a set is loaded, the tray 12 is closed.
Is performed by the movement in the shift direction d.

The tray moving means 98 for performing the sorting operation by moving the tray 12 in the shift direction d in order to sort the sheets (including the sheet bundle) stacked on the tray 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, tray 12
Is the amount required for sorting, and is set to, for example, about 20 mm, depending on the paper size, paper type, operator preference, and the like.

The tray moving means 98 includes a tray support structure for supporting the tray 12 slidably on the pedestal 18 as shown in FIG. 6, and a tray reciprocation for reciprocating the tray 12 as shown in FIGS. Motion mechanism.

The tray support structure 160 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, two guide plates 30, 31 having a length in the shift direction d and facing in the left-right direction are provided above the pedestal 18.
Are provided integrally. These guide plates 30, 31
A shaft protrudes from each of the outsides, and rollers 32 and 33 are pivotally supported.

On the other hand, at the bottom of the tray 12, a flat portion having a depth larger than the interval between the rollers 32 and 33 in the left-right direction and having a depth sufficient to cover the shift amount of the tray in the shift direction d is formed. The flat portion is placed on the rollers 32 and 33. Tray 1
In the flat portion 2, two shafts are implanted at positions corresponding to the insides of the guide plates 30 and 31, and rollers 34 and 35 are respectively supported on these two shafts. ing.
These rollers 34 and 35 are in contact with the insides of the guide plates 30 and 31, respectively.

The rollers 32, 33, 34, 35 and the guide plates 30, 31 constitute a tray support structure 160 for supporting the tray 12 movably in the shift direction d. With this tray support structure 160, the load of the tray 12 is supported by the rollers 32 and 33, and the tray 12 is guided by the guide plates 30 and 31 and is movable in the shift direction d.

By combining a tray reciprocating mechanism with the tray 12 supported by the tray support structure 160, the tray 12 can be reciprocated in the shift direction d by applying reciprocating driving force. The tray moving means having such a configuration allows the tray 12 to reciprocate in the shift direction d by a predetermined amount necessary for sorting the sheets.

Hereinafter, a specific example of the tray reciprocating mechanism will be described together with tray position determining means. In FIG.
The tray 12 enters the uneven portion of the end fence 131, and the tray 12 also operates in the same direction when the end fence 131 operates in the shift direction d. At the center of the end fence 131 in the shift direction d, a long hole 41a is provided.
An open bracket 41 is mounted, and a pin 42 is inserted into the elongated hole 41a.

The pin 42 is inserted and fixed to a worm wheel 43 supported by a main body (not shown). This insertion fixing position is eccentric from the rotation center of the worm wheel 43. This eccentric amount is の of the moving amount d ′ of the tray 12 in the shift direction d.

The worm wheel 43 is rotated by a worm 46 which is rotated by a motor 44 via a timing belt 45. The rotation of the worm wheel 43 causes the pin 42 to rotate, and the direction of movement of the tray 12 is changed according to the amount of eccentricity so that the tray 12 reciprocates linearly in the shift direction d. The configuration around the eccentrically rotating pin 42 and the elongated hole 41a forms a main part of the tray reciprocating mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the worm wheel 43 has two notches 43L and 43L having different sizes.
A disk-shaped encoder 47 having a long convex portion having a length corresponding to a half circumference relatively formed by S and these notches 43L and 43S and a short convex portion adjacent thereto is provided.

The notch 43L is a long notch, and the notch 43S is a short notch. Every half rotation of the encoder 47, the home sensor 48 detects the length of the notch of the encoder 47 based on the interval between the two convex portions, and a signal for stopping and driving the motor 44 is issued from the control means. ing.

In FIG. 8, when the short notch 43S of the encoder 47 rotated in the direction of the arrow 49 passes through the home sensor 48 and overlaps with the short protrusion, the motor 44 is stopped. In this state, the pin 42 is on the rear side, and the tray 12 is also moved to the rear side by operating the end fence 131 in FIG. 7 to the rear side.

In FIG. 9, the encoder 47 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow 49 from the state shown in FIG. 8, and the motor 44 is moved when the long notch 43L passes through the home sensor 48 and overlaps the long protrusion. Has stopped. In this state, the pin 42 is on the front side, and the end fence 131 of FIG.
The tray 12 also moves to the front side by operating to the front side.

As described above, whether the tray 12 is on the rear side,
Whether it is on the front side can be determined by detecting the length of the notch of the encoder 47 by the home sensor 48 and based on this detection information.

As described above, at the forward end of the reciprocating stroke of the tray 12 in the shift direction d, the sheets constituting the copy are discharged during the same job, and the shift is performed. The sheets constituting the set are discharged.

By repeating the sorting operation,
Sheet bundles are stacked in a state where the positions are shifted by a predetermined sorting amount in an uneven shape for each job (copy), and the sheet bundle can be sorted for each copy. The moving distance d 'can be set to an appropriate value of 5 to 25 mm clearly sorted according to the size of the paper, for example, a value of about 20 mm for A4 size.

C. Alignment operation A pair of alignment members 102a and 102b constituting alignment means
Is a plate-like body, and the alignment portions 102a1 and 102b1 are located at the lowermost portion of the alignment members 102a and 102b, and their opposing surfaces are flat surfaces orthogonal to the shift direction d.

As described above, the alignment units 102a1 and 102b1
Are formed as flat surfaces whose opposing surfaces are orthogonal to the shift direction d. By moving the aligning members 102 and 103 in the shift direction d, the aligning portions are aligned with the end surfaces of the sheets S stacked on the tray 12. The sheet bundle can be aligned by reliably bringing the 102a1 and 102b1 into and out of contact. In addition, a compact configuration can be achieved by using a plate-like body.

The aligning means holds the sheets discharged from the sheet discharging roller 3 and stacked on the tray 12 so as to sandwich the two end faces of the sheets parallel to the discharging direction.
02b1 is brought into contact with the end face to align the position thereof, and has a pair of aligning members for aligning the sheets stacked after the sorting operation to a position different from the sheet-like medium stacked before the sorting operation. The above-mentioned alignment operation is performed.

In FIG. 10 showing the aligning members 102a and 102b as viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction a in FIG. 2, the aligning members 102a and 102b
The facing distance between a1 and 102b1 is L1.

When the sheet S is discharged onto the tray 12 during the aligning operation, the aligning members 102a and 102b are moved to the receiving positions where the aligning sections 102a1 and 102b1 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in advance from the sheet width. And waits for the paper S to be discharged from the paper discharge roller 3 at this receiving position. The receiving position is, for example, a position that is 7 mm wider on one side as a predetermined interval than the sheet width of the sheet bundle SS made of A4 size sheets in FIG. 11 viewed from the upstream side in the discharge direction a in FIG.

The aligning members 102a and 102b are waiting at a receiving position with a minimum interval capable of receiving the paper ejected with some variation in the shift direction d. 1 is narrower than the paper width of the paper from this receiving position.
Move to the position shown in 2 and align. The reason why the receiving position is set in this manner is that it takes time to return to the home position where the interval is wider than the maximum sheet width every time the aligning operation is performed. Of course, it can be moved from the home position to a position where it is aligned each time.

After a predetermined time has elapsed in which the sheet S is discharged from the discharge roller 3 and falls on the tray 12 to completely stop,
As shown by the arrows in FIG.
b in a direction approaching each other, or by moving the remaining aligning member in the direction of the arrow while keeping either the aligning member 102a or the aligning member 102b stationary in FIG. 11, as a result shown in FIG. As described above, the aligning units 102a1 and 102b1 are brought into contact with the two end faces parallel to the sheet discharging direction (the direction penetrating the sheet surface) of the sheet bundle SS at the aligning position slightly narrower than the sheet width.

The degree of this fit is, for example, a state in which the aligning portions 102a1 and 102b1 are pressed against the end face of the sheet bundle SS so that the bite amount is 1 mm on each side of the sheet width. The end faces are aligned. Thereafter, the alignment members 102a and 102b are
And waits for the next sheet S to be discharged and loaded.

In the alignment operation as described above,
A mode in which the aligning members 102a and 102b are moved in a direction approaching each other to align them is referred to as a both-side moving mode. Further, as described above, the alignment member 102a or the alignment member 102
A mode in which the remaining alignment member is moved in the direction of the arrow to align while either one of b is stopped is referred to as a one-side movement mode. These movement modes will be further described in the section “Alignment operation” described later.

In the same job, the aligning members 102a and 102b move at one of the moving ends of the tray 12 between the receiving position shown in FIG. 11 and the aligning position shown in FIG. 12 until all the sheets constituting the copy are discharged. Move between.

When the aligning members 102a and 102b stand by at the receiving position shown in FIG. 11, the position of the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharging roller 3 in the shift direction d is not exactly a fixed position but a skew. There are variations. Therefore, the wider the receiving position determined by the facing distance between the aligning units 102a1 and 102b1, the easier the paper can be received. However, if the receiving position is too large, the amount of movement of the aligning members 102a and 102b in the aligning operation becomes large, and the aligning operation is performed. It takes a long time and cannot be adapted to a high-speed paper ejection model.

Therefore, the facing distance between the aligning portions 102a1 and 102b1 is reduced as much as possible.
The receiving positions of the sheets a and 102b are made as small as possible, and the facing space above the aligning sections 102a1 and 102b1 is widened so that the sheet S can be received.

In the shift mode, in either the one-side movement mode or the both-side movement mode, the parts related to the current job are stacked and shifted by a predetermined shift amount from the parts of the previous job that have already been aligned. Is performed, when the shift amount is about 20 mm in the A4 size, of the aligning members 102a and 102b in the current job, the aligning member positioned downstream of the shift immediately before the current job is the part of the previous job. And is in contact with the upper surface of the sheet bundle.

In the one-side moving mode, the aligning member in contact with the upper surface of the sheet bundle of the set in the previous job can be immobilized during the aligning operation, and the aligning member on the opposite side can be moved to align. Then both alignment members 102
Since a and 102b move, the aligning operation is performed while the sheet is in contact with the upper surface of the sheet.

In either of the one-side movement mode and the two-side movement mode, after completion of the previously prepared job, FIG.
If the tray 12 shifts during the current job, the alignment member 102
In order to avoid such a situation, the aligning members 102a and 102b are placed on the paper after the end of the job, since the previous job that has been aligned is hooked and disturbed in the shift direction on the tray 12. An evacuation operation for separating from the upper surface is performed.

In the retreat operation, the aligning members 102a, 102b
There are a mode of moving itself and a method of lowering the tray 12. In this example, the alignment members 102a and 102b are
A method of retracting by rotating around a point is adopted. Hereinafter, each alignment operation in the one-side movement mode and the both-side movement mode will be described.

One-Side Movement Mode The alignment operation in the one-side movement mode by the alignment members 102a and 102b will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the paper S that has passed through the transport path in which the transport roller pair 2b, the paper discharge sensor 38, the paper discharge rollers 3 and the like are disposed is
It is discharged further in the discharge direction a.

[First Job] In FIG. 2 and FIG. 13A, the sheet S discharged in the discharge direction a is affected by the gravity and advances obliquely downward in the direction of arrow D to the tray 12.
To fall. Here, it is assumed that several sheets constituting a unit have already been stacked. Before discharging the paper S, tray 1
2 is previously moved to one end side, for example, the rear side in the shift direction d by the tray reciprocating mechanism described with reference to FIGS.
In the shift direction d, the alignment member 102a is
The receiving position corresponding to the contents described in FIG.
(The position indicated by a two-dot chain line in (a)), the aligning member 102b is located at a position close to the end of the sheet, and in the vertical direction, the aligning members 102a and 102b rotate by their own weight and rotate against the stopper or the sheet. When the first sheet bundle SS-No. In the first job in the first job is in the position where the rotation of the first sheet bundle is stopped, that is, the aligning units 102a1 and 102b1 are in the aligning rotation position corresponding to the side surface of the sheet bundle. 1 are stacked to some extent.

When a new sheet S is discharged, the aligning member 10
2b is stationary, and the aligning member 102a is the sheet bundle SS-NO. 1
To the sheet bundle SS-No. 1 and touches or hits the end surface of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction a so as to sandwich 1m from the end of the sheet as described in FIG.
The aligning operation is performed by moving to the aligning position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 13) that has been cut inward by about m.

By this aligning operation, the sheet bundle SS-NO.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a state in which there is no shift amount Δx (see FIG. 3) in the shift direction that occurs while the sheet S falls along the free fall distance from the nip portion of the sheet discharge roller 3 to the upper surface of the sheet bundle. Thereafter, the alignment member 102a moves back to the receiving position indicated by the solid line. This operation is performed when the sheet S is discharged and the tray 1
2 each time it is loaded.

[0105] Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by a shift command signal and those not accompanied by a shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The first sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 1, it means the end of the job.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

[Second job] First sheet bundle SS-N
O. When the control means recognizes the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 1, the sheet is the leading sheet of the next job, and the sheet is not moved until the sheet reaches the tray 12. The tray 12 is shifted for the next job. Prior to this shift, the alignment members 102a,
The retracted state is such that the tray 102b is displaced so as to be in a retracted rotation position (a state in accordance with FIG. 51B) separated from the upper surface of the sheet bundle in the vertical direction. From the front.

After the shift, the alignment members 102a, 102
b shifts to the receiving position shown in FIG. 11 in the shift direction, and shifts from the retracted rotational position to the aligned rotational position according to FIG. 51A in the vertical direction.

Here, the alignment rotation position means the alignment member 10
2a and 102b rotate around the fulcrum by the moment of their own weight, and when the lower end is lowered to the inside of the recesses 80a and 80b, the rotation is stopped by the stopper, or when there is a sheet in the middle of rotation due to its own weight, this sheet It refers to the position where the rotation stops and stops.

In FIG. 13B, after the tray 12 is shifted to the front side, the front aligning member 102a is positioned close to the end of the sheet in the shift direction, and the first sheet bundle SS-NO in the up and down direction. . 1 is in contact with its own weight at the aligning rotation position, and the rear aligning member 102b is lowered to the concave portion 80b in the vertical direction, and shifted from the end of the sheet bundle as indicated by the two-dot chain line in the vertical direction. It is in a predetermined receiving position. Note that, in FIG. 13B, the second sheet bundle SS-No. 2 are loaded to some extent.

When the sheet S for the second job is discharged, the front aligning member 102a is immobilized, the rear aligning member 102b is shifted in the shift direction d, and the second sheet bundle SS-N
O. 2 in the direction approaching the sheet bundle SS-No.
The sheet 2 is in contact with or hits the end face of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction a so as to sandwich the sheet 2 and moves to the alignment position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

By this aligning operation, the second sheet bundle SS-
NO. 2 are aligned. Thereafter, the alignment member 102b moves back and returns to the receiving position. Such an operation is performed each time the sheet S is discharged and stacked on the tray 12.

[0113] Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by a shift command signal and those not accompanied by a shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The second sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of the discharge of the predetermined number of sheets constituting the second sheet, the tray 12 is not shifted and the aligning member 10 is not shifted.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

[Third job] Second sheet bundle SS-N
O. When the control unit recognizes the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the second job, the sheet is the first sheet (first sheet) of the next job, and the sheet reaches the tray 12. By this time, the tray 12 is shifted for the next job. Prior to this shift, the aligning members 102a and 102b are displaced such that the aligning members 102a and 102b are in a retracted rotation position (a state according to FIG. 51B) separated from the upper surface of the sheet bundle. The tray 12 is shifted from the front side to the rear side under the retracted state.

After the shift, the alignment member 102b is moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
As shown in the figure, and place it in the receiving position away from the edge of the paper. In the vertical direction, the alignment members 102a, 10a
2b has shifted from the evacuation rotation position to the alignment rotation position.

That is, when the rear aligning member 102b is the second sheet bundle SS-NO. 2 and a sheet bundle SS-NO. 3, and the front alignment member 102a is at a predetermined receiving position indicated by a two-dot chain line. In FIG. 13C, the third sheet bundle SS-No. 3 shows a state in which the sheets constituting No. 3 are stacked to some extent.

When the sheet S for the third job is discharged, the rear aligning member 102b is not moved, and the front aligning member 102a is moved to the third sheet bundle SS-NO. 3 in the direction approaching the sheet bundle SS-No. 3, the sheet is brought into contact with or hit the end face of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction a, and is moved to the aligning position shown in FIG. 12 to perform the aligning operation. By this alignment operation, the third sheet bundle SS-NO. 3 are aligned.

Thereafter, the alignment member 102a moves back and returns to the receiving position indicated by the two-dot chain line. Such an operation is performed each time the sheet S is discharged and stacked on the tray 12.
Some of the ejected sheets are those accompanied by a shift command signal and those not accompanied by a shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The third sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of discharge of the predetermined number of sheets constituting the third sheet 3, the tray 12 is not shifted, and the tray 12 is not shifted.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

The third sheet bundle SS-NO. When the control unit recognizes the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 3, the sheet is the leading sheet of the next job, and the sheet is not moved until the sheet reaches the tray 12.
The tray 12 is shifted for the next job. Prior to this shift, the aligning members 102a and 102b are moved to the evacuation rotation position, and the tray 12 is shifted from the rear side to the front side under the state of movement to the evacuation rotation position, and waits for discharge of the leading sheet. . Hereinafter, the same procedure as described above is repeated.

The two-sided moving mode The aligning operation in the two-sided moving mode by the aligning members 102a and 102b will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the paper S that has passed through the transport path in which the transport roller pair 2b, the paper discharge sensor 38, the paper discharge rollers 3 and the like are disposed is
It is discharged further in the discharge direction a.

[First job] In FIG. 14A,
The sheet S is placed in the tray 12 as in the case of the one-sided movement mode.
To fall. Here, several sheets constituting a part have already been stacked. Prior to the ejection of the sheet S, the tray 12 is previously moved to one end side, for example, the rear side in the shift direction d by the tray reciprocating mechanism described with reference to FIGS.
The aligning members 102a and 102b are located at the positions indicated by two-dot chain lines according to the receiving position shown in FIG. 11 and the aligning rotation position according to FIG. 51A, respectively, and the first sheet bundle SS- No. 1 are stacked to some extent.

When the paper S is discharged, the alignment member 102a,
102b are both sheet bundles SS-NO. 1 in the direction approaching the sheet bundle SS-No. 12 is in contact with or hits the end face of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction a so as to sandwich
To perform the alignment operation. By this alignment operation, the sheet bundle SS-NO. Reference numeral 1 denotes a state in which there is no lateral displacement amount Δx (see FIG. 3) generated while the sheet S falls within the free fall distance, as in the case of the one-side movement mode. Thereafter, the alignment members 102a and 102b move back and return to the receiving position shown in FIG. Such an operation is performed each time the sheet S is discharged and stacked on the tray 12.

[0125] Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by the shift command signal and those not accompanied by the shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The first sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 1, it means the end of the job.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

[Second job] First sheet bundle SS-N
O. When the control means recognizes the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 1, the sheet is the leading sheet of the next job, and the sheet is not moved until the sheet reaches the tray 12. The tray 12 is shifted for the next job. During this shift, the alignment member 102
A and 102b move to the evacuation rotation positions (positions according to FIG. 51B), and retreat to the upper side separated from the upper surface of the sheet, and in this evacuation state, the tray 12 shifts from the rear side to the front side. I do.

After the shift, the alignment members 102a, 102
b is set at the receiving position as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14B, the aligning member 102a is displaced from above the sheet and the aligning member 102b is displaced into the concave portion 80b from the retracted rotation position according to 1 (b). In FIG. 14B, the second sheet bundle SS-No. 2 are stacked to some extent.

When the sheet S for the second job is discharged, the aligning members 102a and 102b are moved from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line to the position indicated by the solid line, that is, the second sheet bundle SS-N.
O. 2 in the direction approaching the sheet bundle SS-No.
The sheet 2 is held in contact with or hits the end face of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction a so as to sandwich the sheet 2 and moves to the aligning position shown in FIG. 10 to perform the aligning operation. By this alignment operation, the second sheet bundle SS
-NO. 2 are aligned. After that, the alignment member 102a,
102b moves back and returns to the receiving position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Such an operation is performed each time the sheet S is discharged and stacked on the tray 12.

[0130] Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by the shift command signal and those not accompanied by the shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The second sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of the discharge of the predetermined number of sheets constituting the second sheet, the tray 12 is not shifted and the aligning member 10 is not shifted.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

[Third job] Second sheet bundle SS-N
O. When the control unit recognizes the shift command signal after finishing the discharge of a predetermined number of sheets constituting the second sheet, the sheet is the leading sheet of the next job, and the sheet reaches the tray 12 until the sheet reaches the tray 12. The tray 12 is shifted for the next job. During this shift, the alignment member 102
The trays 12a and 102b are retracted by moving to the retracted rotation position, and in this retracted state, the tray 12 shifts from the front side to the rear side.

After the shift, the alignment members 102a, 102
b shifts from the evacuation rotation position to the alignment rotation position. In the left-right direction, the alignment members 102a and 102b are both shown in FIG.
(C), the aligning member 102a is lowered to the concave portion 80a in the up-down direction, and the aligning member 102b is moved in the vertical direction to the second sheet bundle SS-NO.
2 is brought into contact with its own weight. FIG.
In (c), the third sheet bundle SS-
No. 3 are stacked to some extent.

When the sheet S for the third job is discharged, the aligning members 102a and 102b move to the third sheet bundle SS-N
O. 3 in the direction approaching the sheet bundle SS-No.
The sheet 3 is brought into contact with or hit by the end face of the sheet parallel to the discharge direction "a", and is moved to the alignment position indicated by the solid line in FIG. By this alignment operation, the third
Sheet bundle SS-NO. 3 are aligned.

Thereafter, the alignment members 102a and 102b move back and return to the receiving position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Such an operation is performed each time the sheet S is discharged and stacked on the tray 12.

[0136] Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by the shift command signal and those not accompanied by the shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

The third sheet bundle SS-NO. If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal after the end of discharge of the predetermined number of sheets constituting the third sheet 3, the tray 12 is not shifted, and the tray 12 is not shifted.
Return 2a and 102b to their home positions (see FIG. 10).

The third sheet bundle SS-NO. When the control unit recognizes the shift command signal after the end of discharging a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet No. 3, the sheet is the leading sheet of the next job, and the sheet is not moved until the sheet reaches the tray 12.
The tray 12 is shifted for the next job. At the time of this shift, the aligning members 102a and 102b are retracted by moving to the evacuation rotation position. Under this evacuation state, the tray 12 shifts from the rear side to the front side and waits for discharge of the leading sheet. Hereinafter, the same procedure as described above is repeated.

When the sorting is performed, in addition to the direction in which the tray 12 is moved in the shift direction as described above, the aligning member 102 without shifting the tray 12 is used.
A mode in which the shift and the alignment are performed by aligning the positions a and 102b by the necessary amount in the shift direction is also possible.

D. FIG. 15 is a view of the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow A, that is, a top view. FIG. 16 is a view of the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 of FIG. Is a view as seen from the direction of arrow C.

15 to 17, the alignment member 102
The mechanism for driving a and the mechanism for driving the alignment member 102b are independent and have the same configuration. Alignment member 1
The structure of the mechanism for driving the second member 02a is described by adding the suffix a to each component member.
As for 04b, the same reference numeral is added to the subscript b, and the description is omitted.

Bracket 9 having a length in shift direction d
0 in the shift direction d, and two stepping motors 170a, 170
0b is provided.

A timing pulley 172a is pivotally supported at a position spaced forward from a pulley 171a integral with the stepping motor 170a, and a timing belt 173a is stretched between these pulleys. The upper portion of the receiving base 174a is fixed to a portion of the timing belt 173a parallel to the shift direction d.

Bracket 9 having a length in shift direction d
The both ends in the longitudinal direction of 0 are bent in an L shape, and between these opposing bent portions, a rotary sliding shaft 176 and a sliding shaft 177 are provided in parallel with the shift direction d. The rotary sliding shaft 176 is supported by the bracket 90, and the sliding shaft 177 is fixed to the bracket 90. The receiving base 174a is slidably fitted on the rotary sliding shaft 176.

The rotary sliding shaft 176 is formed with a convex portion 176h along the shift direction d. Cradle 174a
Are slidably fitted and inserted in the shift direction d in the rotary sliding shaft 176 including the convex portion 176h, and are vertically inserted in the receiving base 176 with respect to the axis of the rotary sliding shaft 176. A groove 174a2 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 16, the upper end of the aligning member 102a is fitted and inserted into the rotary sliding shaft 176 so as to be slidable in the shift direction d, and has a fan shape centered on the rotary sliding shaft 176. A gap 102a3 is formed.

The base end of the alignment member 102a is a boss 102
a5, and the rotary sliding shaft 176 is slidably inserted therethrough. On the boss portion 102a5, an arc-shaped convex plate 102a4 centering on the rotary sliding shaft 176 is formed in a mane shape. The board surface of the convex plate 102a4 is a rotary sliding shaft 17
6 perpendicular to the axis.

In FIG. 15, the convex plate 102a is
4a2 is fitted with a gap. In FIG. 16, the alignment member 102 a is rotated by its own weight about the rotary sliding shaft 176.
6h is prevented by contacting the abutting portion on one end side of the gap 102a3.

As shown in FIG. 16, the sliding rotary shaft 176 is in a stopped state at a predetermined rotational position, and a contact portion formed as a side surface on one end side of the gap 102a3 is formed in the convex portion 176h at that time. The alignment member 102a is brought into contact with the moment due to its own weight to prevent the counterclockwise rotation, and at this time, the alignment member 102a is
The state in which the alignment member 102a is positioned in the alignment rotation position.

At this alignment rotation position, when no sheets are stacked on the tray 12, the alignment member 102a
Is located in the concave portion 80a. If sheets are stacked on the tray 12, the alignment member 102a is pressed by the sheets and rotates about the rotary sliding shaft 176, so that the gap 102a3 moves with respect to the convex portion 176h at the fixed position. Thus, a state in which the alignment member 102a is on the paper, that is, a state shown in FIG. 13B or FIG. 14B is obtained. The same can be said for the alignment member 102b.

Each of the aligning members 102a and 102b has a fan-shaped gap 102a3 centered on the rotary slide shaft 176, and is engaged with the convex section 176h engaged with the gap 102a3 inserted. A gap as a free rotation area of a predetermined amount is formed in the rotation direction during the rotation.

The alignment members 102a, 10a
2b is freely rotatable, and has a width at the aligned rotation position. The predetermined amount is, for example, from a state where the alignment member 102a is located in the concave portion 80a as shown in FIG. 51A, and is set on the tray 12 before the tray 12 is shifted as shown in FIG. Stacked paper bundle (set) S
S-No. This is an amount that can ensure a state in which the user can ride on the upper surface of the device 1.

As described above, in FIG.
6h and the gap 102a3 do not necessarily fit together without any gap, but the convex portion 176h and the gap 102a3
A gap is provided along the rotation direction between
In the illustrated state in which the protruding portion 176 abuts against the butting portion on one end side of the gap portion 102a3 with its own weight moment, if the rotary sliding shaft 176 rotates clockwise, the alignment member 1
02a can be lifted, and the alignment member 102a can be lifted.
When the rotary slide shaft 176 is rotated counterclockwise while the support member is supported from below, the rotational movement of the rotary slide shaft 176 is not transmitted to the alignment member 102a. This makes it possible to perform the alignment process in the sorting mode.

The receiving base 174a is stably supported by these two shafts, the rotary sliding shaft 176 and the sliding shaft 177, and is movable in the shift direction d. The movement of the alignment member 102a in the shift direction d is performed by the stepping motor 170a.
, The driving force is transmitted to the timing belt 173a, transmitted to the receiving base 174a together with the timing belt, and transmitted from the receiving base 174a to the aligning member 102a through the fitting portion between the groove 174a2 and the convex plate 102a4. Then, the rotation and the sliding shaft 176 and the sliding shaft 177 are used as a guide.

Similarly, when the stepping motor 170b is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the timing belt 173b, and the timing belt 173b is driven together with the timing belt 173b.
74b, and is transmitted from the receiving base 174b to the alignment member 102b through a fitting portion between the groove 174b2 (not shown) and the convex plate 102a4 (not shown), and the alignment member 1
02b is moved in the shift direction d using the rotary sliding shaft 176 and the sliding shaft 177 as guides.

As described above, the stepping motor 170
The alignment members 102a and 102b can be individually and freely shifted in the shift direction d by individually driving the
Positioning control can be performed on the top. That is, the alignment members 102a and 102b can be positioned at the respective positions described with reference to FIGS. The home position is the reference position for the movement in the shift direction d, and the home position is such that the actuator 177a integrally formed with the receiving base 174a is attached to the blanket 90 as shown in FIG. It is detected by the home sensor 178a, and is moved to each position such as the receiving position and the aligning position based on the detected position. The same applies to the alignment member 102b.

In FIGS. 15 and 17, the rotary sliding shaft 17 is used.
A gear G1 constituting a reduction gear train is fixed to the rear shaft end of the gear 6, and a gear G2 meshes with the gear G1, and the gear G2 is directly connected to the shaft of the stepping motor 179M.

The drive of the stepping motor 179M is transmitted from the gear G2 to the gear G1, whereby the rotary sliding shaft 1 is rotated.
76 rotates. In FIG. 16, by rotating the convex portion 176h in the clockwise direction together with the rotary sliding shaft 176, the aligning member 102a is pushed and turned while keeping the convex portion 176h in contact with the butting portion of the gap portion 102a3. By rotating clockwise, a retracted rotation position according to FIG. 51B can be realized.

The retracting rotation position may be at the minimum height position where the aligning members 102a and 102b can avoid interference with the sheets on the tray when the tray 12 shifts.

In this embodiment, since the rotational position of the alignment members 102a and 102b can be determined by directly rotating the rotary sliding shaft 176, the alignment members 102a and 102b are driven in accordance with the driving amount of the stepping motor 179M as a drive source. Can be set to be much larger than in the prior art. Thus, for example, when the position shown in FIG. 18A is the alignment rotation position of the alignment member 102a, FIG.
By rotating clockwise by about 90 ° as shown in (b), the storage spaces 180a, 18 in the main body are rotated.
0b.

Here, the storage spaces 180a, 180b
The main body as a target on which the sheet-like medium is provided is a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus. In this example, the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 5
1, it can be said that it is formed in the sheet-like medium post-processing device 51 (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

The aligning members 102a and 102b are rotated in the shift direction d at the home position shown in FIG. 10, and are stored in storage spaces 180a and 180b provided in the main body. As a result, it is possible to move the sheet of any size supposed to be used to the receiving position in a short time.

As will be described later, the aligning member is moved to the home position after completing the aligning operation of a series of jobs, and then stored in the storage rotational position. Thereby, it is possible to quickly shift from the storage rotation position to the home position.

As described later, the aligning members 102a, 10a
2b, when a series of job alignment operations are completed, if there is a subsequent job, it is prohibited to move to the home position and then to be stored at the storage rotation position. As a result, there is no time loss required for reciprocating to the home position, so that the time required to move to the receiving position for the succeeding job can be reduced.

In this example, as means for positioning the alignment members 102a and 102b at the alignment rotation position shown in FIGS. 16 and 18A and the storage rotation position shown in FIG. 18B,
As shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 17, and FIG.
6, a control disk 182 having a notch for control formed at the front end of the shaft is provided integrally with the rotary sliding shaft 176, and two notches 182 formed on the control disk 182.
a 183 in which a and 182b are fixed to the bracket 90
To determine the rotation stop position of the stepping motor 179M.

The alignment rotation position shown in FIG. 18A is determined by reading the notch 182a by the sensor 183, and the storage rotation position is determined by the notch 182b.
Positioning is performed by reading in step 3. Further, the retracting rotation position can be appropriately positioned by the stepping motor 179M with any of the alignment rotation position or the storage rotation position as a reference position.

The rotary sliding shaft 176 is connected to the aligning members 102a, 1
02b, which is the center of the rotational movement, and the aligning members 102a and 102b have the aligning rotational position, the retracting rotational position,
In addition to having a function of transmitting a rotational motion such as a storage rotational position, the aligning members 102a and 102b
Also serves as a guide to move to.

By driving the stepping motors 104a and 104b and using the guide function of the rotary sliding shaft 176, the aligning members 102a and 102b are moved to the home position shown in FIG. 10, the receiving position shown in FIG. It can be moved to each position such as the alignment position.

E. Specific example of sorting operation and storage of alignment member e-1. Sorting Operation When sorting is performed in the two-sided movement mode described with reference to FIG. 14, as shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C, the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging roller 3 of the sheet post-processing device 51 and the tray is 12
Alignment members 102a, 102b
Performs so-called horizontal alignment of the sheet in the shift direction d by jogging in the shift direction d (corresponding to FIG. 14A).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 20 (a), (b) and (c), before the next sheet of paper is discharged, the tray where the discharged paper is stacked is shifted so as to be shifted. 12 is shifted forward in the direction of the arrow in the shift direction d. At this time, the aligning members 102a, 102b are moved so that the aligning members 102a, 102b do not contact the paper bundle stacked on the tray 12.
By retracting 102b in the upward rotation direction, it is retracted. For this reason, the stepping motor 179M is driven to rotate the rotary sliding shaft 176 in the upward rotation direction.

By this rotation, the fan-shaped gap portion 1 formed in the alignment members 102a and 102b is formed by the convex portion 176h integral with the convex portion 176h of the rotary sliding shaft 176.
The abutting portions at one end sides of the second members 02a3 and 102b3 are pushed up to rotate the aligning members 102a and 102b in the upward rotation direction about the rotary sliding shaft 176, and are in the retracted rotation position.

Next, in order to align the next set of sheets, the aligning member 1 rotated in the upward rotation direction to the retracted rotation position is rotated.
02a and 102b must be returned to the alignment rotation position where paper alignment can be performed. Therefore, FIG.
1 (a), (b) and (c), the rotary sliding shaft 1
76 and the convex portion 176h formed integrally with the alignment member 1
Void portions 102a4, 102 formed in 02a, 102b
While making contact with the butting part formed on one end side of b4,
The rotary sliding shaft 176 is rotated downward to the same position as in FIG.

The aligning members 102a and 102b rotate in the downward rotation direction about the rotary sliding shaft 176. As a result, the aligning member 102a on the side where the sheets are already stacked on the tray 12 rides on the uppermost surface of the sheet bundle and further rotates the rotary sliding shaft 176 in the lower rotation direction to the same position as in FIG. This allows the other alignment member 102b to be positioned on the side surface of the paper bundle (FIG. 14B).
Corresponds).

This is possible because the rotary sliding shaft 176 moves from the position shown in FIGS. 20 (a), (b) and (c) to the position shown in FIGS. 19 (a), (b) and (c). When rotated in the downward rotation direction to the same position as shown, even if the aligning member 102a on the side already loaded on the tray 12 is on the uppermost surface of the paper bundle, the convex portion 1 in the gap 102a3 is
76h can continue to rotate in the lower rotation direction, so that it can continue to rotate in the lower rotation direction to the position on the side of the paper bundle, together with the other alignment member 102b, and the alignment member 102a , 102 in the shift direction d, it is possible to align the sheet to be discharged next in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21 (b) ', when the next set of sheets is discharged, the sheets are shifted in the direction perpendicular to the sheet bundle of the preceding set and the direction in which the sheets are conveyed (shift direction d). Are stacked on the tray 12 and the alignment members 102a, 102
By jogging b, alignment can be performed in the shift direction d. These series of operations are repeated to perform the alignment operation in the sorting mode (FIG. 14B corresponds).

In the sorting and aligning process, when the tray 12 shifts in the shift direction c, the aligning member 102 is used to avoid contact with the bundle of paper on the tray 12.
a and 102b are rotated in the upward rotation direction around the rotation slide shaft by rotation of the rotation slide shaft 176 in the upward rotation direction.
Since the rotation and sliding shaft 176 has no limitation on the rotation angle, the alignment members 102a,
102b can also rotate.

Therefore, when the tray 12 loaded with the sheet bundle shifts in the shift direction d when the sheet to be discharged is curled upward as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the contact between the paper bundle stacked on the tray 12 and the alignment members 102a and 102b can be avoided.

E-2. Storing operation When printing of the number of sheets designated by the user is completed as shown in FIGS. 24 (a), (b) and (c), FIG.
As shown in (b) and (c), the alignment members 102a and 102
b moves in a direction away from each other in the shift direction d, and cradles 174a and 174b move to sensors 178a and 178b for detecting the home positions of the alignment members 102a and 102b.
When 4b moves and is detected by the sensors 178a and 178b, the rotary sliding shaft 176 rotates in the upward rotation direction. As a result, each of the alignment members 102a and 102b also rotates, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, storage spaces 180a, 18 provided with aligning members 102a, 102b in a paper post-processing apparatus as a main body.
0b.

In the above example, the alignment members 102a, 102
Although the case where b is housed above the rotary sliding shaft 176 has been described, when the housing 102 is housed below the rotary sliding shaft 176, for example, the gap 102 shown in FIGS.
The position of a3 is set to a point-symmetric position about the axis of the rotary sliding shaft 176, the convex portion 176h is provided in the gap, and the alignment member 102a is in the state shown in FIGS. 18 (a) and (b). The positional relationship between the members is set so as to be possible.

F. Safety Mechanism In the configuration of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device described so far, the alignment member 1 is moved from the alignment rotation position shown in FIGS. 16, 18 (a), 19, 21 and the like to the storage rotation position shown in FIG. 18 (b).
If the rotation is hindered by the presence of any obstacle on the rotation path when rotating 02a, 102b, the alignment members 102a, 102b are destroyed because no escape means is provided in the rotation direction. Or, if the obstacle is a hand, injure the hand. Therefore, the following safety mechanism was incorporated.

Such safety measures include the alignment members 102a, 10a
Since the storage rotation is required at the home position, and the storage rotation is performed at the home position, such a safety mechanism is shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 as the rotary sliding shaft 176 at the home position where the alignment member is stored and rotated. It is configured at the front end and the rear end in the upper shift direction d. The safety mechanism provided at the front end is denoted by reference numeral 190a, and the safety mechanism provided at the rear end is denoted by reference numeral 190b.

For easy understanding, the aligning members 102a,
In FIG. 29 in which the rotary slide shaft 176 is taken out together with the rotary slide shaft 176, both ends of the rotary slide shaft 176 in the shift direction d are provided with a front evacuation shaft 200 a independent of the rotary slide shaft 176, There is an evacuation axis 200b.

A small-diameter shaft 176d is formed stepwise at each of the front and rear ends of the rotary sliding shaft 176. Evacuation axis 20
The a and 200b have the same outer shape and dimensions as the rotary sliding shaft 176, and the inner diameter is formed to a size that can be fitted to the small diameter shaft 176d.

Referring to FIG. 30, which illustrates the structure of the rotary slide shaft 176 at the front end, the retracting shaft 200a has the same diameter as the rotary slide shaft 176 and the same convex portion 176h as the convex portion 176h.
h is formed. The retracting shaft 200a is fitted to the small-diameter shaft 176d as shown in FIG. FIG. 29 shows this state.

As shown in FIG. 29, with the retracting shaft 200a fitted to the small-diameter shaft 176, and with the convex portion 200h
When the boss portion 102a5 of the alignment member 102a is slid forward, the boss portion 102a5 can be guided to the evacuation shaft 200a. Similarly, the boss portion 102b5 of the alignment member 102b is slid rearward, and the boss portion 102b5 is
Can be led to.

[0186] As shown in Figs.
When the boss portion 102a5 is located on the upper side 0a, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the aligning member 102a can be rotated around the small diameter shaft 176d together with the retreat shaft 200a.

Similarly, when the boss portion 102b5 is located on the retracting shaft 200b on the rear side as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the aligning member 102b is moved together with the retracting shaft 200b into the small diameter shaft 176d as shown in FIG. Can be rotated around. The direction of these rotations can be either forward or reverse. By this rotation, the alignment member 102
a and 102b can be stored in the storage spaces 180a and 180b.

In FIG. 32, on the front side, the convex portion 176h is stopped at the horizontal position, and the boss 102
When the position a5 is located on the rotary sliding shaft 176, that is, when the position a5 is located inside the home position, the state at the cross section K is as shown in FIG. Is stopped by the abutting portion at the upper end of the gap 102a3 abutting on the convex portion 176h. This state corresponds to the aligning rotation position shown in FIG. 18A, and the lower end of the aligning member 102a has a concave portion 80a.
a. At this time, since the alignment member 102a is allowed to rotate clockwise, the top surface of the sheet is aligned with the alignment member 1a.
By pushing up 02a, a state as shown in FIG. 21C can be obtained.

In FIG. 32, on the front side, the convex portions 176 and 200ah are stopped in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction), and the boss 102a5 is
34, that is, the state at the cross section Q when located at the home position, as shown in FIG. 34, the rotation of the aligning member 102a due to its own weight is caused by the abutment of the upper end of the gap 102a3. The part is a convex part 200a
h so that it can be stopped by contact.

Here, the retracting shaft 200a and the small diameter shaft 176d
And are connected via urging means as described later,
In FIG. 34, the aligning member 102a is given a counterclockwise rotational moment about the small diameter shaft 176d, and the rotation of the aligning member 102a by this urging means is provided between the aligning member 102a and the small diameter shaft 176d. Is stopped by the stopper.

For this reason, in FIG.
a can be pushed down by a force exceeding the elastic force of the urging means. That is, when trying to rotate the small diameter shaft 176d in the clockwise direction in order to keep the alignment member 102a in the storage rotation position, even if the alignment member 102a is pressed by an external force, it is possible to rotate only the small diameter shaft 176d. Can function as a safety mechanism.

The state of connection between the retracting shaft 200a and the small-diameter shaft 176d by the urging means will be described below. In FIG. 35, a D-shaped portion 176d1 is formed on the shaft end of the small diameter portion 176d by surface grinding, and the rotation transmitting member 202a
Are fitted in the D-shaped portion 176d1. As a result, the rotation sliding shaft 176, the rotation transmitting member and the rotation transmitting member 202 can rotate integrally. The rotation transmitting member 202a and the evacuation shaft 14a are connected by a torsion coil spring 15a having an open leg.

One end of the torsion coil spring 15a is fitted into a hole 202a1 of the rotation transmitting member 202a, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 15a is fitted into a hole 200a1 provided at an axial end of the rotation transmitting member 200a. are doing.

The projection 202a2 formed on the side surface of the rotation transmitting member 202a fits into an arc-shaped long hole 200a2 centered on the axis of the rotation transmitting member 200a provided at the axial end of the rotation transmitting member 200a. I have.

The rotation transmitting member 202a is connected to the D-shaped portion 176d1.
, The retraction shaft 200a is rotatably held between the rotation transmitting member 202a and the step 176a1 of the rotary sliding shaft 176.

In FIG. 35, a retracting shaft 200a is provided for a rotation transmitting member 202a integral with the rotary sliding shaft 176.
It is urged clockwise by the torsion coil spring 204a. The rotation of the evacuation shaft 200a due to this bias is stopped by the end of the elongated hole 200a2 abutting on the projection 202a2. At this time, the convex portion 176h and the convex portion 200ah are at the same phase position as shown in FIG. 36, and they are in contact with no step.

When the aligning member 102a on the rotary sliding shaft 176 as shown in FIG. 37 slides on the retracting shaft 200a as shown in FIG. 38, and the rotary sliding shaft 176 rotates,
As shown in FIG. 39, the rotation transmitting member 202a also rotates integrally with the rotary sliding shaft 176, and the rotation is transmitted to the retreat shaft 200a via the torsion coil spring 204a.

As a result, the evacuation shaft 200a is
6d, and the convex portion 200 of the evacuation shaft 200a is rotated.
ah can push the boss portion 102a5 to rotate the alignment member 102a.

In FIGS. 40A and 40B, when an external force U is applied to the alignment member 102a and the alignment member 102a and the retreat shaft 200a cannot rotate as shown in FIG. Even if the rotation transmission member 202a starts rotating upward (clockwise), the evacuation shaft
0a is stopped in place, so that the torsion coil spring 2
04a begins to twist.

In FIGS. 41 (a) and 41 (b), the rotation sliding shaft 176 and the rotation transmitting member 202a rotate to a target angle, and the rotation ends. The torsion coil spring 204a includes a retreat shaft 200a, a rotary sliding shaft 176, and a rotation transmitting member 202.
The twisting is performed by the difference between the rotation angles of a.

Here, in FIG. 42, FIG.
The external force U acting on the alignment member 102a as shown in FIG.
Is released, the evacuation shaft 200a can also rotate about the small diameter portion 176d of the rotary sliding shaft 176. Therefore, the retracting shaft 200a shown in FIGS. 40 (a) and (b) to FIGS. The retracting shaft 200a starts to rotate in the same direction as the rotary slide shaft 176 due to the force of the torsion coil spring 204a twisted in between trying to return to the original position. Rotate around). The rear alignment member 102b has the same configuration and performs the same operation.

As described above, when the alignment member 102a is rotated, a load equal to or greater than the predetermined value corresponding to the external force U is applied to the alignment member 102a, for example, a position where an operator's hand or a part of the body prevents rotation. In this case, it means that the torsion coil spring 204a serving as the urging means exceeds a level at which a part of the protruded body is not damaged due to bending.

Since the retracting shaft 200a biased by the torsion coil spring 204a is located at the home position, the aligning member 102a is automatically given by moving from the receiving position to the home position.

The strength of the torsion coil spring 204a is shown in FIG.
8, the boss portion 102 is moved from the rotary sliding shaft 176 to the retreat shaft 200a in a state where the rotational moment by its own weight is applied.
When a5 moves, the alignment member 102a moves the evacuation shaft 200
The strength is set to such a degree that a does not rotate. This is to ensure a reliable evacuation rotation position where the alignment member 102a does not hang down from the predetermined position.

The combination of the elongated hole 200a2 and the projection 202a2 constitutes a stopper for restricting the rotation of the retreat shaft 200a. The elongate hole 200a2 is the evacuation shaft 200
The rotation range allowed for a corresponds to the rotation range from the alignment rotation position to the storage space of the alignment member 102a.

FIGS. 43 (a) and 43 (b) show the rotary sliding shaft 1.
76, the aligning member 102a, the retreat shaft 200a, the torsion coil spring 204a, and the positional relationship among the rotation transmitting member 202a. 2 shows a state in which the stopper provided at 200a2 is fitted.

Here, when the aligning member 102a is stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus, an external force is applied to the aligning member 102a, and the rotary sliding shaft 176 and the rotation transmitting member 202a move upward while stopped at that position. When the revolving shaft 200a is rotated to the target angle and the external force applied to the alignment member 102a is released, the retraction shaft 200a is rotated by the force of the torsion coil spring 204a returning to the original state. However, the retraction shaft 200a tends to rotate more than the rotation angle of the rotary sliding shaft 176 due to the momentum.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 44, an elongated hole 200a2 provided in the rotation transmitting member 202a and a projection 202a2
By limiting the rotation angle of the retreat shaft a, the retreat shaft 200a is prevented from rotating beyond the rotation angle of the rotary sliding shaft 176.

When the alignment member 10 stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus is returned to the original position (outside), the retracting shaft 200a is rotated in the direction opposite to the storage direction. Again, the force of rotation of the evacuation shaft 200a and the weight of the alignment member 102a apply a force to the evacuation shaft 200a to rotate the evacuation shaft 200a in the downward direction about the axis of the rotary sliding shaft 176h.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
By contacting the stopper 2a with the stopper 206 fixed to the immovable member, further rotation is prevented. In addition, the contents described about the alignment member 102a can be applied to the alignment member 102a. g. Example of Control by Control Unit In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 is connected to an image forming apparatus 50, and the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 according to the present invention is related to the present invention. It is an example of sorting control under the overall configuration of an apparatus provided with a sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus. Note that the alignment operation is described in FIG.
In the case of the two-sided movement mode described with reference to FIG. 4, the sorting operation will be described by shifting the tray 12.

FIG. 46 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.

Therefore, CPU 700 transmits and receives signals to and from image forming apparatus 50,
, And outputs the information to the stepping motor control driver 740, the motor driver 750, and 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, and is specifically described in a flowchart described below. The various stepping motors described in the above are applicable. In FIG. 46, this is exemplified by the reference symbol M.

The motor driver 750 controls various DC motors used in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 and the sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to the present invention. Coming various motors are applicable. In FIG. 46, this is exemplified by the reference symbol M.

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, and is specifically shown in a flowchart described below. Various solenoids are applicable. In FIG. 46, this is exemplified by the symbol SOL. The CPU 700 in FIG. 46 is a main part that executes the following flow, and forms the center of control means in the present invention.

When the shift mode for sorting the sheets is selected in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51, the sheets conveyed from the sheet discharge rollers 560 of the image forming apparatus 50 are received by the entrance roller pair 1 and conveyed. The sheet passes through the roller pair 2a and the transport roller pair 2b, and is discharged onto the tray 12 by the discharge rollers 3 as the final transport means. At that time, the branch pawls 8a and 8b are kept at the default positions, and the individual sheets are successively passed through the same transport path to the tray 1
It is discharged to 2.

The following flow shows only the parts related to the present invention in the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus. The following control is executed by turning on a main switch that controls the image forming apparatus 50 and the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 51 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and selecting a sorting mode.

In FIG. 47, when the start button of the image forming apparatus 50 is turned on (step P1), the alignment member 10 stored in the storage rotation position (FIG. 18B)
The stepping motor 179M is normally rotated to take 2a out (step P2). As shown in FIG. 18A, when the sensor 183 detects the notch 182a (Step P3), the stepping motor 179M is stopped (Step P4). At this time, the alignment members 102a and 102b are in the alignment rotation position (see FIG.
3 has detected the notch 182a, so that the stepping motor 1 is moved so that the alignment members 102a and 102b are at the retracted rotation position (see FIG. 20) based on this position.
79 is reversed by a predetermined amount by which the alignment members 102a and 102b can rotate to the retreat rotation position (Step P5).

The stepping motors 104a and 104b are rotated by a predetermined amount in a direction in which the respective aligning members move closer to each other.
To the receiving position (see FIG. 11) suitable for the paper size.

Although the aligning members 102a and 102b have been moved to the receiving position, they are in the retracted rotation position.
As shown in (a), the stepping motor 179M is rotated forward until the sensor 183 detects the notch 182a (steps P7 and P8) and stopped (step P9). Thus, the aligning members 102a and 102b are at the receiving position as shown in FIG. 11 in the shift direction, and at the aligning and rotating position as shown in FIG. 19 in the rotational direction, and are in a state of waiting for paper discharge.

In the following, control is performed according to the following concept.

Some of the discharged sheets are those accompanied by the shift command signal and those not accompanied by the shift command signal. The sheet accompanied by the shift command signal is the leading sheet of the set, and when the sheet passes the sheet ejection sensor 38, whether or not the sheet accompanying the shift command signal is recognized by the control means.

If the control means does not recognize the shift command signal, it means the end of the job. Therefore, the tray 12 is not shifted, and the aligning members 102a and 102b are raised to the retracted rotation position before the home position (FIG. 10). When the control unit recognizes the shift command signal, the sheet is the first sheet of the next job, and before the sheet arrives at the tray 12, the sheet is set in advance for the next job. After raising the aligning members 102a and 102b to the evacuation rotation position, the tray 12 is shifted, returned to the alignment rotation position, and waits for paper discharge.

Then, in step P10, the discharge of the sheet is waited. When the discharge of the sheet is detected by the sensor 38, the aligning operation is performed in step P11. This alignment operation is shown in FIG.
This is as described in (a). In step P12, it is determined whether or not the job (copy) is completed. If not, the process returns to step P10, and the process is repeated until the job (copy) is completed. If it is determined in step P12 that the job (copy) has been completed, the process proceeds to step P13 in preparation for performing the next job (copy) alignment operation.

In step P13, as a preparation for shifting the tray 12, the stepping motor 179M is driven to rotate the aligning members 102a and 102b by a required amount toward the evacuation rotation position and to position them at the evacuation rotation position. In Step P14, the tray 12 is shifted.

In step P15, the presence or absence of the next job (copy) is determined. If yes, the process goes to step P7 to execute the job (next copy). If not, a different job is expected. , 102b toward the home position shown in FIG.

In step P17, the presence or absence of a different job is determined. If it is determined that the job is present, the process proceeds to step P6, and the process proceeds to a process of moving the alignment member to a receiving position suitable for the different job. If it is determined that there is no operation, the operation is terminated, and the stepping motor 179M is rotated reversely (step P18), and the sensor 18
3 detects the notch 182b (step P19), and when the alignment members 102a and 102b reach the storage rotation position (FIG. 18B), the stepping motor 179M is stopped in step P20 and the process returns to the return.

[2] Example of Application to Image Forming Apparatus This example relates to an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and conveying means for conveying the sheet on which an image has been formed, as shown in FIG. Image forming apparatus 50 '
Has an image forming unit common to the image forming apparatus 50 in FIGS. The image forming apparatus 50 ′ includes alignment members 102 a and 102 b and means for driving them, storage spaces 180 a and 180 b,
1 and its displacement means. The image forming apparatus 50 'has the same members as the components of the sheet-shaped medium post-processing device 51 described above, and the portions are denoted by the same reference numerals as those described above, and description thereof is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 48, 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 portion of the image forming section 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. Further, a drum-shaped photoconductor 5000 is arranged. 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 sheet feeding for transfer, the sheet feeding roller 230 rotates, and by this rotation, the sheet S is sent out from the sheet feeding cassette 210 and the pair of registration rollers 140
Transported to zero.

The paper 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 at 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 in a timely manner.

The paper on which the transfer has been completed is fixed with the toner image 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.

The structure and function of the subsequent alignment members 102a and 102b and the storage spaces 80a and 180b are the same as those described in the above-described embodiment, and will not be described.

In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the aligning members 102a and 102
b, etc., and sorting by sorting means is performed, and means for ensuring safety are also provided.

[3] Application to Post-Processing Apparatus in Which Stacking Means Move Up and Down Through Paper Ejecting Unit In recent years, digitization of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines has progressed, and printer functions, copying functions, A composite type image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function is increasing.

In this background, there is a growing need to perform sorting for each function, and the number of trays in a sheet-type medium post-processing apparatus is increasing.
In the sheet-type medium post-processing apparatus of the type described with reference to FIG. 4, since there are two trays as stacking means as a whole, for example, copying can be interrupted immediately while the printer is ejected, but the proof tray 14 performs the binding processing. Since these trays are used only for simple sheet ejection one by one without performing the same, substantially only one tray can receive the added value (binding processing and the like) as a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

Under such a background, a sheet medium of a type in which a plurality of trays are provided so as to be able to receive a plurality of trays for one discharge port has been developed.

FIGS. 49 and 50 show a sheet-like medium post-processing device 303 as an example. FIG. 49 shows the upper tray 3
01 in the upper discharge port E1 and the lower tray 302
Are positioned at the lower discharge ports E2, respectively, as shown in FIG.
In the figure, the upper tray 301 is located at the lower sheet discharge port E2.

The internal structure of the sheet medium post-processing apparatus 303 is not exactly the same as the internal structure of the sheet medium post-processing apparatus 51 in FIG. 4 described above, but is functional except that there are two vertically movable trays. Have many common parts.

Therefore, as for the internal configuration, the components that are functionally common to the internal components of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIGS. ing.

[0247] A sheet not subjected to the binding process is placed in the sheet discharge port E1.
A bound sheet bundle or a sheet that has not been bound is discharged to the discharge port E2. As shown in FIG. 49, while the tray 302 is positioned so that the sheet discharged from the lower discharge port E2 can be received, the aligning member 102
In the case where the tray 301 is lowered from the state where a and 102b are positioned on the tray 302 as shown in FIG. 49 so that the paper can be received from the paper discharge port E2 as shown in FIG. , The tray 301 passes through the paper discharge port E2 which is a paper discharge means.
102b gets in the way.

Therefore, the aligning members 102a and 102b can be stored in the storage spaces 180a and 180b according to the contents described and described in each of the above-described embodiments, so that the discharge port E serving as the discharging means can be connected to the tray 301. , 302 can pass without any problem.

The trays 301 and 302 are provided so as to be slidable along independent guides for guiding in the vertical direction, respectively, and are independently moved up and down by the independent tray elevating means described with reference to FIG. It is movable.

This sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus 303 is similar to that shown in FIG.
And an image forming unit common to the sheet-shaped medium post-processing device 51 in FIG. For example, the alignment members 102a, 10
2b and means for driving them, storage space 1
80a and 180b, a return roller 121 and a displacement means thereof are provided.

[0251]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent injuries of the hand and damage to the aligning means due to the operator's hand interfering with the aligning member when removing the sheet-like medium.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to employ a simple configuration in which the rotary shaft is rotated on the rotary shaft by the rotary motion.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the structure can be simplified by sharing the driving means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily displace between the operation position and the storage operation position only by the rotation operation.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotation to the three movement positions can be performed by one common drive source.

According to the sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, the aligning member rotates together with the rotating shaft, and is pushed up by the force of pushing up the free end side of the aligning member by utilizing the weight of the aligning member, thereby performing the aligning operation. it can.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move the sheet medium of any size expected to be used to the receiving position in a short time.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to quickly shift from the storage rotation position to the home position.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since there is no time loss required for reciprocating to the home position, it is possible to shorten the time required to move to the receiving position for the succeeding job.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, even when the hand interrupts the rotation, the hand is not injured.

According to the twelfth aspect, the body is not injured.

According to the thirteenth aspect, by adjusting the urging force, a safe rotation force can be easily set.

According to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to ensure safety at the home position.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the position of the jogger retreat shaft is fixed to facilitate the engagement with the alignment member.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the aligning member can be automatically engaged with the jogger retracting member as the aligning member is moved to the storage rotation position on the rotating shaft.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the alignment member integrated with the jogger evacuation shaft and integrally formed can be held at the same rotational position as the convex or concave portion formed on the rotary shaft. It is.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the alignment member can idle around the rotating shaft in a region from the alignment rotation position to the storage rotation position until the alignment member is displaced, thereby preventing an accident.

According to the nineteenth aspect, the image forming apparatus can be made more secure.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the safety of the sheet-like medium post-processing device when the aligning member is retracted can be achieved.

According to the twenty-first aspect, by storing the aligning means in the main body, it is possible to enhance the alignment performance of the stacking means which moves up and down through the discharging means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a main part of the sheet-shaped medium post-processing apparatus, and FIG. 5B is a schematic perspective view of a peripheral portion of a sensor for controlling the height of a tray.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining a structure of a tray moving means for moving the tray in a shift direction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a drive mechanism portion of the tray.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a worm wheel and a home sensor.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a worm wheel and a home sensor.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the aligning member and the aligning member moving means as viewed from a downstream side in a discharge direction.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the alignment member and the alignment member moving means as viewed from the downstream side in the discharge direction.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the alignment member and the alignment member moving means as viewed from a downstream side in a discharge direction.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C are diagrams sequentially explaining steps of sorting and alignment in a one-sided movement mode;

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C are diagrams sequentially explaining a sorting and aligning process in a two-sided movement mode;

FIG. 15 is a view of the main part of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device, which is viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2;
It is the figure seen from the direction.

FIG. 16 is a view taken along arrow B of FIG.
It is the fragmentary sectional view seen from the direction.

FIG. 17 shows a main part of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device as viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2;
It is the figure seen from the direction.

18A is a diagram illustrating a state where the alignment member is at an alignment rotation position, and FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating a state where the alignment member is at a storage rotation position.

FIG. 19A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a rear aligning member at an aligning and rotating position, and FIG. 19B is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing the aligning member at an aligning and rotating position. FIG. 19C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member in the alignment rotation position.

20A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a rear aligning member at a retracting rotation position, and FIG. 20B is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing the aligning member at a retracting rotational position. FIG. 20C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member in the retracted rotation position.

21 (a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a rear aligning member at an alignment rotation position, and FIG. 21 (b) is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing an alignment member at an alignment rotation position. FIG. 21 (b) ′ is a partial perspective view of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus illustrating an alignment member performing an alignment operation, and FIG.
(C) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member at the alignment rotation position.

FIG. 22A is a partial perspective view of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing an alignment member for aligning curled paper, and FIG.
(B) is a side view of the sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 23A is a partial perspective view of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing the alignment member in a retracted state after aligning curled paper, and FIG. FIG.

24A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a rear aligning member in an aligning and rotating position, and FIG. 24B is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus illustrating the aligning member in an aligning and rotating position. FIG. 24C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member in the alignment rotation position.

25A is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a rear aligning member at a retracting rotation position, and FIG. 25B is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus illustrating the aligning member at a retracting rotational position. FIG. 25 (c) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member in the retracted rotation position.

26 (a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a rear aligning member in a storage rotation position, and FIG. 26 (b) is a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus showing the alignment member in a storage rotation position. FIG. 26C is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front alignment member in the storage rotation position.

FIG. 27 is a view of the main part of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device, which is viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2;
It is the figure seen from the direction.

FIG. 28 is a view showing a main part of the sheet-shaped medium aligning device as viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2;
It is the figure seen from the direction.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an alignment member and a rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure on a front side of a rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating an operation mode of the alignment member.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 33 is a view showing a cross section K in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a cross section Q in FIG. 32;

FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view illustrating a mode of supporting the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 38 is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view illustrating a mode of supporting the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft.

40 (a) is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft, FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

41 (a) is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of an alignment member at a front shaft end of a rotary sliding shaft, FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

FIG. 42 (a) is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft, and FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

FIG. 43 (a) is an exploded perspective view for explaining a support mode of an alignment member at a front shaft end of a rotary sliding shaft, and FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

44 (a) is a perspective view illustrating a manner of supporting the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft, and FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

FIG. 45 (a) is a perspective view illustrating a support mode of the alignment member at the front shaft end of the rotary sliding shaft, and FIG.
(B) is a schematic explanatory diagram viewed from the axial direction.

FIG. 46 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart relating to shift alignment of paper.

FIG. 48 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet-shaped medium alignment device having an alignment member storage function.

FIG. 49 is a configuration diagram of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus including a sheet-like medium aligning apparatus having an alignment member storage function and having a vertically movable structure with a plurality of trays.

FIG. 50 is a configuration diagram of a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus including a sheet-like medium alignment apparatus having an alignment member storage function and having a vertically movable structure with a plurality of trays.

FIG. 51 (a) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the aligning member is in the aligning and rotating position in the related art, and FIG. 51 (b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the aligning member is in the retracting rotational position in the related art. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 trays 102a, 102b Alignment members 180a, 180b Storage space

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Tamura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akito Ando 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No./Ricoh F-term (reference) 2H072 AA07 AA17 AA26 FA03 FB01 FB08 FB09 GA02 GA08 HB08 3F054 AA01 AC01 BA04 BD02 BD03 BG04 BH05 BJ02 CA11 CA21 CA40 DA01 DA17

Claims (21)

[Claims] A discharge means for discharging the conveyed sheet medium; a loading means for loading the sheet medium discharged by the discharge means; and a discharge means for discharging the sheet medium loaded on the loading means. Aligning means for contacting and aligning the end surface parallel to the discharge direction of the sheet-shaped medium by the means,
A sheet-like medium aligning apparatus comprising a sorting unit that sorts a sheet-like medium by moving the stacking unit or the aligning member by a predetermined amount in a shift direction orthogonal to a sheet-like medium discharging direction of the discharging unit. Can move from the position where the sheet-shaped medium is aligned on the stacking means to the position stored in the main body and can be stored, and can also move from the stored position to the position where the alignment operation is performed. A sheet-like medium aligning device characterized in that it is possible. 2. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning means moves between the stored position (storage rotational position) by rotational movement and a position (alignment rotational position) at which the aligning operation is performed. A sheet-like medium matching device, which is displaced. 3. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 2, wherein a guide for sliding the aligning means in the shift direction is also used as a rotation shaft serving as a center of the rotational movement. Media alignment device. 4. A sheet-like medium according to claim 3, wherein said aligning means is moved to said storage rotation position by rotating said rotation shaft in said sheet-like medium aligning apparatus, and said aligning member is stored therein. Matching device. 5. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the aligning means is configured to rotate the rotating shaft to rotate the aligning rotational position, the storage rotational position, and It is possible to move to a retracted rotational position, which is a rotational position between the aligned rotational position and the storage rotational position, where the free end side of the aligning member is retracted from the sheet-like medium on the tray. A sheet-like medium aligning device, wherein the movement is performed by a drive source of the rotating shaft. 6. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said aligning means has a predetermined amount of free rotation area with respect to said rotation axis. 7. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rotation area has a convex portion formed on one of the rotation shaft and the aligning member, and a concave portion formed on the other. A sheet-shaped medium aligning device formed by a gap in the rotation direction at an engagement portion with the sheet. 8. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said aligning means discharges the sheet-like medium discharged from said discharge means and stacked on said tray. A pair of aligning members for performing an aligning operation for aligning the end surfaces by contacting the aligning portions so as to sandwich two end surfaces of the sheet medium parallel to the direction, and the sheet medium stacked after the sorting operation Performing the aligning operation so as to align the sheet-like medium stacked before the sorting operation with a different position, and rotating the aligning member at a position determined as a home position and storing it in the main body. Characterized sheet-shaped media matching device. 9. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 8, wherein the aligning member is configured to complete a series of job aligning operations.
The sheet-shaped medium matching device, wherein the sheet-shaped medium aligning device is moved to the home position and then stored in the storage rotation position. 10. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the aligning member moves to the home position after the completion of the aligning operation of a series of jobs, and if there is a subsequent job, then stores the sheets. A sheet-like medium aligning device, wherein the sheet-like medium aligning device is prohibited from being stored in a rotation position. 11. The aligning member according to claim 8, wherein when the aligning member is rotated and a load greater than a predetermined value acts on the aligning member, the aligning member is rotated. Wherein the sheet is prevented from rotating toward the storage rotation position. 12. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined load or more is defined as a load when a part of the body acts as a load in a manner that blocks the rotation of the alignment member. A sheet-like medium matching device characterized in that the load exceeds a load that does not damage the portion. 13. The sheet-shaped medium aligning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the aligning member is provided with a biasing force in a rotating direction. 14. A sheet-shaped medium according to claim 13, wherein said urging force is automatically given by moving said aligning member from said receiving position to a home position. Matching device. 15. The sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to claim 14, wherein the home position on the rotation axis is a convex or concave portion that is disengageable from a concave or convex portion formed on the alignment member. A retracting shaft having a portion is provided, and the retracting shaft is urged by urging means so as to apply a rotational force in the same direction as the rotational direction in which the alignment member is rotated during storage. The rotation of the retracting shaft by the urging means is stopped by a stopper at a predetermined rotation position. 16. The sheet-like medium aligning device according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined rotation position of the retracting shaft is the same as the rotation position of a convex portion or a concave portion formed on the rotation shaft. And a sheet-like medium matching device. 17. The sheet-shaped medium aligning device according to claim 16, wherein the stopper of the jogger retracting shaft permits rotation within a fixed rotation range in a direction opposite to a rotation direction when the alignment member is stored. A combination of an arc-shaped elongated hole centered on the axis of the shaft and a projection engaged with the elongated hole, wherein the shaft is provided integrally with the rotary shaft. Sheet-shaped media matching device. 18. The sheet-like medium aligning apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined rotation range is a rotation range of the alignment member with respect to the rotation axis, and the alignment member is moved from the alignment rotation position to the storage rotation. A sheet-like medium matching device, wherein the sheet-like medium aligning device is in a range in which the sheet-like medium can be displaced by rotating to a position. 19. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet medium and a conveying means for conveying the sheet medium on which the image has been formed, according to any one of claims 1 to 18. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet-shaped medium aligning device. 20. A sheet medium post-processing apparatus having a post-processing means for performing post-processing on a sheet medium and a conveying means for conveying the post-processed sheet medium, according to any one of claims 1 to 18, A sheet-like medium post-processing device, comprising the sheet-like medium alignment device according to item 1. 21. The sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the stacking means moves up and down through the discharge means.