JP2003137472A - Paper post-processing device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and low-cost mechanism for aligning a paper and delivering as a paper bundle. SOLUTION: A motor 161 for drive rotates a shaft 166 in a paper delivering direction when the paper is conveyed from a left hand in the figure. The paper is conveyed further in the paper delivering direction on a tray 174 by a roller 171-1 and a roller 171-2 (hereafter referring as a roller 171), and when a rear end part of the paper is positioned on the tray 174, the motor 161 for drive reverses a rotation direction of the shaft 166. As a result, the roller 171 stops rotation, and starts to move in a predetermined right direction. The paper is slid together with the roller 171 in the predetermined right direction by frictional force generated between the paper and the roller 171, and abuts on an arranging protrusion 175. When the roller 171 abuts on a stopper part 168-1 (168-2), the roller 171 starts to rotate together with the shaft 166, and the paper is conveyed in an opposite direction to the paper delivering direction to an abutting part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet post-processing apparatus which can be downsized and made cheaper. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, when ejecting a sheet on which an image is formed, a plurality of sheets are temporarily aligned and then stapled to perform a binding process. In many cases, a sheet post-processing device that discharges a bound sheet bundle onto the tray is added. In addition, a sheet post-processing device may be added that moves (offsets) the sheet on which the image is formed to a predetermined position set in advance, and then discharges and provides the sheet to the user. As a device having such a mechanism for aligning or offsetting sheets, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No.
In Japanese Patent No. 41581/1992, there is an apparatus for aligning a sheet by using a roller. Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-43261 discloses an apparatus for correcting the position of a sheet by moving a roller unit. Furthermore, Japanese Examined Patent Publication 4-22829
The publication discloses an apparatus for aligning sheets using a width-shifting plate.

[0003]

However, in the apparatus using the aligning roller or the apparatus using the width aligning plate as described in the above publication, when the sheet is moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, There is a problem that the behavior of the paper becomes unstable because the paper is separated from the rollers that convey the paper. Further, the device using the roller unit has a problem that the device itself becomes large.

Further, in the prior art, in order to correct (align) the position of the sheet in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, a drive source for conveying the sheet in the sheet discharging direction is provided. There is a problem that a drive source is required, the device becomes large in size, and the device becomes more complicated and costly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a small and inexpensive sheet post-processing apparatus as a whole.

[0006]

A sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention conveys a sheet, a shaft that rotates in the sheet ejection direction or a direction opposite to the sheet ejection direction, a drive unit that drives and rotates the shaft. The present invention is characterized by including a roller and a moving unit that uses the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source to move the roller in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

The driving means is, for example, a driving motor,
The moving means is constituted by, for example, a screw portion.

In the paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the shaft is rotated in the paper discharge direction, or in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction, the paper is conveyed, and the rotational movement of the shaft is used as a power source to cause the roller to move in the paper discharge direction. Is moved in a direction perpendicular to.

With this configuration, it is not necessary to separately install a drive source for sliding the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and therefore the size of the apparatus itself can be further reduced. And it can be made cheaper.

The moving means may be adapted to move the roller between at least two positions.

With this configuration, the sheet can be slid in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction by using the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source.

It is possible to further provide a detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper is taken in.

The detecting means is composed of, for example, a sensor.

The roller can be made to be an elastic body.

With this structure, it is possible to generate a frictional force between the paper and the paper, which is sufficient to move the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

The roller may be made of rubber or sponge.

With this structure, it is possible to generate a frictional force between the paper and the paper, which is sufficient to move the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

The roller may have a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface.

With this structure, it is possible to generate a frictional force between the paper and the paper, which is sufficient to move the paper in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

The roller may have a structure in which at least two kinds of members having different hardness are formed into a concentric layer around the rotation axis of the roller.

The layer inside the roller may be harder than the layer outside.

The rollers can be made to have different colors for each of the layers.

With this structure, when the rollers are worn out due to friction between the rollers, the paper, the tray, or the tray, they can be recognized at a glance.
Therefore, the user can know at a glance when the roller should be replaced.

The moving means includes a male screw which moves integrally with the roller in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and a groove which is fixed in a spatial position and corresponds to the male screw. It can be made to consist of a carved female screw.

The female screw is carved on the inner peripheral surface of the screw receiving portion, for example.

With this structure, the roller can be moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction by using the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source.

The male screw has flanges at both ends for restricting its movement in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and the moving means is provided with the roller and one of the flanges at both ends. A first position, which is the position of the roller when it contacts the female screw, and a second position, which is the position of the roller when the other of the flanges contacts the female screw.
Can be moved to and from the position.

With this structure, the range of movement of the roller in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction can be restricted.

A torque limiter may be further provided between the male screw and the roller, and the rotational movement of the roller may be transmitted to the male screw via the torque limiter.

With this configuration, the roller can continue to rotate at the end of the moving range.

The moving means is fixed to a spiral portion spirally wound around the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the roller so as to correspond to the spiral shape of the spiral portion.
It can be configured to include a corresponding portion in which a groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface.

The spiral portion is constituted by, for example, a screw portion, and the corresponding portion is constituted by, for example, a female screw portion.

With this structure, the roller can be moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction by using the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source.

The spiral portion may be a single-thread screw or a multiple-thread screw, and the corresponding portion may be a single-thread screw or a female screw corresponding to the multiple-thread screw.

The spiral portion has flanges at both ends for restricting its movement in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and one of the flanges at both ends contacts the corresponding portion of the roller. Position the first position,
The position of the roller when the other of the flanges is in contact with the corresponding portion may be the second position.

With this structure, the range of movement of the roller in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction can be restricted.

The rotation speed of the shaft when the roller moves between the first position and the second position in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction is as follows: It is possible to further provide control means for controlling the rotational speed to be equal to or higher than the rotational speed of the shaft when rotating at the position 1 or the second position.

The control means is composed of, for example, a drive motor.

The roller may be arranged so as to be in contact with the tray so as not to rotate due to frictional force when moving in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.

With this structure, the roller can be moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction by using the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source.

An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing device, and is characterized by including the above-described sheet post-processing device.

[0042]

1 is a side view showing an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus (printer in the embodiment) P. In FIG. 1, a stock section 1 is a printing sheet. Stock S and stock S from stock section 1
Are supplied to the transfer drum 3 by the transfer roller 2.
An image is formed on the sheet S by the transfer drum 3, and the formed image is heated and fixed by the fixing roller 4. The paper S is fed from the fixing roller 4 to the paper post-processing mechanism 5
And then discharged to the tray 6. This paper post-processing mechanism 5
A sheet post-processing apparatus H is configured including the tray 6 and the tray 6.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sheet post-processing device H is formed integrally with the printer P, but the sheet post-processing device H can be detached from the printer P. Is also possible.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the printer P is illustrated as the image forming apparatus, but other image forming apparatus such as a copying machine may be used.
Of course it is possible.

An example of a side view of the sheet post-processing device H is shown in FIG. In the drawings to be referred to below, the same reference numerals will be given to corresponding parts between the drawings if there is no need to distinguish them.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a discharge roller portion as a sheet conveying means, and the discharge roller portion 11 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 15 via a pulley 12, a belt 13 and a pulley 14. The discharge roller unit 11 is
As shown in FIG. 3A, the shaft 5 extending in a substantially horizontal direction
1, a cylindrical screw portion 52 around the shaft 51, a screw portion 5
It has a screw receiving portion 53 in which a screw corresponding to 2 is engraved, a torque limiter inner 54, a torque limiter outer 55, a collar 57, and a roller 56 fixed to the collar 57. The screw receiving portion 53 is fixed at a predetermined position on the end of the organizing table 28. The roller 56 is made of a material that can be easily elastically deformed, such as rubber, sponge, or soft rubber, and the outer peripheral surface thereof has a gear shape in which a large number of convex portions (concave portions) are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. ing.

The drive motor 15 is driven to rotate by the pulley 1
2, transmitted to the shaft 51 via the belt 13 and the pulley 14. FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of the discharge roller unit 11 shown in FIG. 3A.

In FIG. 4A, the screw portion 52, the torque limiter inner 54, and the collar 57 have a cylindrical structure and surround the shaft 51. The screw portion 52, the torque limiter inner 54, and the collar 57 are not directly fixed to the shaft 51. A torque limiter outer 55 is fixed to the collar 57 at the end on the screw portion 52 side. A cylindrical roller 56 having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the collar 57 is integrally fixed to the collar 57 at a predetermined position on the collar 57. Therefore, when the collar 57 rotates, the torque limiter outer 55 and the roller 56 move to the collar 5
It rotates together with 7.

4A shows the left end portion of the shaft 51 in the figure, the shaft 51 has a through hole, and the collar 57 is provided with a locking pin 61. , Connected to the shaft 51. Therefore, when the shaft 51 rotates, the rotational movement is transmitted to the collar 57 via the locking pin 61. As shown in FIG. 4B, which is a view of the left end portion of FIG. 4A with the angle changed by 90 degrees, the collar 57 is provided with a slide hole 62 that is long in the lateral direction in the drawing. , For this reason, color 57
Can slide left and right relative to the shaft 51.

In FIG. 4A, the torque limiter outer 5
The torque limiter inner 54 and the torque limiter inner 54 are connected to each other with a predetermined frictional force, and the rotational movement of the torque limiter outer 55 is transmitted to the torque limiter inner 54 while generating a constant torque.

The screw portion 52 is a torque limiter inner 54.
The torque limiter inner 54 rotates integrally with the torque limiter inner 54. As a result of this rotational movement, the screw portion 52 and
Due to the relationship with the screw receiving portion 53 corresponding to the screw portion 52,
The screw portion 52 is configured to move relative to the left and right with respect to the screw receiving portion 53 fixed to the organizing table 28. When the screw portion 52 moves left and right, not only the torque limiter inner 54 fixed integrally with the screw portion 52 but also the torque limiter outer 55, the collar 57, and the roller 56 move left and right together with the screw portion 52. Moving.

As shown in FIG. 4A, flanges 52a and 52b (portions projecting in a brim shape) are formed at both ends of the screw portion 52 to limit the movable range of the screw portion 52 to the left and right. ing. That is, for example, in the case of FIG. 4A, the flange 52 b of the screw portion 52 is not the screw receiving portion 53.
Since it is in contact with the right end of the screw part 52,
No more movement to the left relative to No. 3.

Returning to FIG. 3A, in the figure, the front side of the shaft 51 is directed from the bottom to the top (in the direction indicated by the arrow).
When the shaft 51 rotates, as described above, the collar 57, the roller 56, and the torque limiter outer 55.
Rotates in the same direction as the shaft 51. Screw part 52
While rotating, based on the direction of the screw
Try to move to the left. However, in the figure, the screw part 5
The flange on the right side (52b side) of 2 is in contact with the screw receiving portion 53, and the screw portion 52 cannot move further leftward. Therefore, the screw portion 52 and the torque limiter inner 54 cannot rotate. As a result, slippage occurs between the torque limiter outer 55 and the torque limiter inner 54, and the collar 57 and the roller 5
Only 6 and the torque limiter outer 55 rotate in place.

In FIG. 3A, the case where the shaft 51 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction shown by the arrow is shown in FIG.
Shown in. In FIG. 3B, the shaft 51 is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow (the front side is from top to bottom). The collar 57, the roller 56, and the torque limiter outer 55 rotate in the same direction as the shaft 51.
When the screw portion 52 rotates in the arrow direction, the screw portion 52 tends to move in the opposite direction to the case shown in FIG. 3A, that is, in the right direction in the drawing. In this case, the screw receiving portion 53 is the screw portion 52.
Since it is not in contact with the flange on the left side (52a side) in the figure,
The screw portion 52 rotationally moves in the same direction as the shaft 51 while moving rightward in the drawing. As a result, color 5
7, the roller 56, the torque limiter outer 55, the torque limiter inner 54, and the screw portion 52 rotate together and move rightward in the drawing.

However, in FIG. 3B, if the rotation continues in the direction of the arrow, as shown in FIG.
Moves to the position where the flange on the left side (52a side) of the screw portion 52 contacts the screw receiving portion 53. As a result, the rotation of the screw portion 52 is hindered, slippage occurs between the torque limiter outer 55 and the torque limiter inner 54, and the collar 57, the roller 56, and the torque limiter outer 5 are formed.
5 rotates on the spot.

When the rotation direction is reversed again from the state of FIG. 3C (when it is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow), the screw portion 52 moves leftward in the drawing, and as a result, To return to the state shown in FIG. 3A.

The structure of the discharge roller section 11 is as described above. In the actual sheet post-processing apparatus H, as shown in FIGS. 25 to 35, as shown in FIGS.
The discharge roller portion 11 shown in FIG.
Two are provided on one.

Referring again to FIG. 2, with respect to the discharge roller section 11, the right side is the paper discharge direction and the left side is the opposite direction to the paper discharge direction (hereinafter, this "opposite direction" is referred to as "predetermined opposite direction". Sometimes called). A sorting table 28 that extends substantially horizontally from the discharge roller portion 11 in a predetermined opposite direction is arranged. The structure of the organization table 28 is shown in FIG. Figure 5
FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the rearrangement table 28 extracted when the sheet post-processing apparatus H whose side view is shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from above, and FIG. FIG. However, in FIG. 5A, the tray 6 is partially shown. As shown in FIG. 5A, the rearrangement table 28 is formed with rearrangement protrusions 29, and in the rearrangement protrusions 29, a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction (predetermined opposite direction) of the paper (hereinafter, predetermined left-right direction (Referred to as) is arranged so that the edges are aligned.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the edge of the paper tray in the sheet discharge direction of the table 28 is a step portion 3 extending downward at a substantially right angle.
It is connected to the tray 6 through 0. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 24, the tray 6 gradually increases in height from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper discharge direction, but the inclination degree thereof is small. Further, an abutting portion 27 extending upward in a short direction is formed at an end portion of the organization table 28 in a predetermined opposite direction, and the abutting portion 27 aligns the ends of the sheets in the predetermined opposite direction.

The tray 6, the organizing table 28, the abutting portion 27, and the organizing projection 29 are arranged as shown in FIG.
Although it is possible to configure the components as one component, it is of course possible to configure each component as a separate component and combine them. Further, in the present embodiment, the organizing table 28 is horizontal, but the organizing table 28 is not limited to being horizontal.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 5A, when viewed from the abutting portion 27 side of FIG. 5A toward the tray 6 side, the direction in which the organizing protrusion 29 is installed, that is, to the right side. The direction to go is called a predetermined right direction, and the opposite direction is called a predetermined left direction.

Referring again to FIG. 2, above the table 28,
An upper guide plate 1 that guides the paper S toward the discharge roller unit 11 on the front side in the transport direction of the discharge roller unit 11.
7 and a lower guide plate 18 are arranged. The upper guide plate 17 and the lower guide plate 18 are
It is set so as to gradually decrease as it approaches the discharge roller unit 11. A space between the upper guide plate 17 and the lower guide plate 18 is a guide passage 31 through which the paper S passes.

The upper guide plate 17 extends from the predetermined height position with respect to the sorting table 28 in the sheet discharging direction substantially parallel to the sorting table 28, extends in the sheet discharging direction more than the discharging roller portion 11, and has a leading end. Is bent at a right angle in the upward direction. (Of course, it may be configured so that it does not extend in the paper discharge direction and the tip is not bent). Further, the lower guide plate 18 extends shortly to a predetermined height position above the transport unit 20.

A sensor 16 for detecting the paper S is installed at a position of the upper guide plate 17 and the lower guide plate 18 immediately before reaching the sorting table 28. The sensor 16 has a handle 16a that protrudes into the guide passage 31, and the handle 16a uses the connection portion with the main body of the sensor 16 as a fulcrum for the sheet discharge direction.
It is configured to be rotatable in a predetermined opposite direction. When the sheet S is conveyed through the guide passage 31, the sheet S pushes up the handle 16a and is conveyed in the sheet discharge direction. Sensor 1
6 determines whether or not the sheet S is passing through the guide passage 31 by determining whether or not the handle 16a is pushed up.

At the end of the table 28 in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the carrying section 20, the sandwiching section 21, the swing lever 22, the return spring 23,
Extension spring 24, plunger 25, and solenoid 26
A sandwiching means made of is provided. The configuration of the holding means will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In FIG. 6, the carrying section 20, the sandwiching section 21,
A guide claw 81 is configured by the swing lever 22. The swing lever 22 is swingable around a fulcrum 22C, and the return hook portion 22a cut to hook the return spring 23 at the end portion on the predetermined opposite direction side is returned to the return lever portion 22a. It is pulled and biased by the spring 23. A pull hook portion 22 b cut to hook the pull spring 24 on the end side of the swing lever 22 in the sheet discharge direction is connected to the plunger 25 via the pull spring 24.

At the end of the swing lever 22 in the paper discharge direction,
The conveyance unit 20 for sandwiching the paper is fixed. Transport unit 20
Has a hypotenuse that is substantially parallel to the end side of the lower guide plate 18 in the sheet discharge direction, and allows the sheet S conveyed in the guide passage 31 between the upper guide plate 17 and the lower guide plate 18 to move in the sheet discharge direction. Transport. Further, a sandwiching unit 21 for sandwiching the paper S is arranged on the surface of the transport unit 20 facing the sorting table 28.

The nipping portion 21 can be made of a material (for example, rubber) which is a material that generates a large frictional force between the nipping portion 21 and the paper. It is also possible to configure the sandwiching unit 21 and the transport unit 20 as one component, but in this case, in order to generate a large frictional force between the sandwiching unit 21 and the transport unit 20, a surface of the sandwiching unit 21 that faces the sorting table 28. It is also possible to provide a groove or provide irregularities.

Further, in FIG. 6, the holding portion 21 is installed further to the right of the right end of the swing lever 22,
It is also possible to set the holding position of the sandwiching portion 21 beyond the fulcrum 22C.

When no current is flowing through the solenoid 26, as shown in FIG. 6, the return spring 23 and the pulling spring 2 are
The elastic force of 4 antagonizes, and the swing lever 22 is
The holding portion 21 is set to a holding release position that is largely separated above the sorting table 28 while maintaining a state substantially parallel to. When a current flows through the solenoid 26, which is a cylindrical coil, the plunger 25 is drawn into the solenoid 26, the pulling hook 22b moves downward in the drawing via the pulling spring 24, and the swing lever 22 moves the fulcrum 22C. 7 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure to reach the state shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, the nipping section 21 is in contact with the table 28 and is in the holding position where the paper can be nipping. When the current flowing through the solenoid 26 is cut off, the solenoid 26 loses the force to pull in the plunger 25, and the action of the return spring 23 causes the swing lever 22 to move to the fulcrum 22C.
It rotates counterclockwise about and returns to the state shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the positions of the conveying section 20 and the sandwiching section 21 are changed depending on whether or not a current is passed through the solenoid 26. As a result, when current is flowing through the solenoid 26, the transport unit 20 and the sandwiching unit 21 approach the sorting table 28, but the solenoid 26
When no current is flowing in the carrier section 20 and the clamping section 2
No. 1 is located at a position above the sorting table 28.

By doing so, the guide passage 31
When a sheet is conveyed from the sheet, a current flows through the solenoid 26, and the conveying section 20 approaches the sorting table 28, so that the sheet is guided to the sorting table 28 more smoothly. When the paper is conveyed in the opposite direction, the solenoid 26
Since no electric current flows in the conveyance section 20 and the conveyance section 20 is located farther from the sorting table 28, it is possible to prevent the paper from flowing back into the guide passage 31.

By the way, as shown in FIG.
If the gap between the rearrangement table 28 and L is L, the gap L is set to a sufficient width so that a larger number of sheets S can be sandwiched in the gap L even when the sheet S is thick. However, if the width of the gap L is wide, when the paper S conveyed on the sorting table 28 is thin, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the sheet S may buckle.

That is, the paper S conveyed from the upper left side in the drawing is the roller 5 on the paper discharge direction side of the table 28.
When it is conveyed to the abutting portion 27 on the opposite side by a predetermined rotation by 6 rotations (not shown) and the gap L between the holding portion 21 and the table 28 is wide, it is bent as shown in FIG. It may happen.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a correction member 101 having elasticity suitable for pressing the paper S against the sorting table 28 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the sandwiching portion 21 in the predetermined opposite direction. Since a force for pressing the sheet S against the organizing table 28 is generated, it is possible to prevent the sheet S from buckling even when the sheet S is thin. However, the correction member 101
However, the force pressing the sorting table 28 is due to the roller 56.
It is assumed that the paper S can be conveyed to the abutting portion 27 in a predetermined opposite direction.

Next, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the carrying section 20. In FIG. 10, the arrow Y indicates the paper discharge direction. Swing lever 22, return spring 23, pulling spring 24, plunger 25, and solenoid 26
Are the same as the correspondingly numbered parts in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. The transport unit 20 is a transport unit 20.
L and the transport unit 20R can be disassembled, and the holding unit 21
L and the sandwiching portion 21R are attached. Transport section 20L
Is the rotary shaft 1 extending from the fulcrum 22C of the swing lever 22.
21 is fixed.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the connecting portion between the transport section 20L and the transport section 20R. In FIG. 11, the transport unit 20L
An insertion port 122 is provided in the above, and the rotation shaft 125 of the transport unit 20R is inserted therein. Rotating shaft 125
Are arranged on the same straight line as the rotating shaft 121. Transport section 2
A spring 124 is sandwiched between 0L and the transport unit 20R. The spring 124 has an annular shape, and both ends 124a and 124b of the spring 124 have a rotating shaft 121.
And is bent so as to be parallel to the rotation axis 125.

The rotary shaft 125 passes through the ring of the spring 124 and is inserted into the insertion port 122. Spring 1
Both ends 124a and 124b of 24 are inserted into the insertion port 142 and the insertion port 141, respectively. In addition, the corresponding transport unit 2 is provided in the recess 123 of the transport unit 20L.
The 0R convex portion 126 is inserted.

FIG. 12A shows a view of the surface of the carrying section 20L in contact with the carrying section 20R in FIG. In FIG. 12A, the recess 123 has a shape in which the right side n in the figure is longer than the left side m. Next, FIG. 12B shows the surface on the transport unit 20R side that is in contact with the transport unit 20L in FIG. 12A. Figure 12B
As shown in FIG.
It has the same length as the side m on the left side of 3.

In this way, the right side n of the recess 123 is
By making the convex portion 126 longer than the right side m, as shown in FIG. 13A and FIG.
A predetermined angle difference can be provided between L and the transport unit 20R.

13A, 13B, and 13C,
The transport unit 20L (shown by a dotted line) and the transport unit 20R (shown by a solid line) shown in FIGS.
It is a figure when it sees from a (125) direction. FIG. 13A shows
No current flows through the solenoid 26, and therefore the plunger 2
Since 5 is not drawn into the solenoid 26, the holding portion 21
FIG. 13 is a diagram of a case where L and the sandwiching portion 21R are separated from the organization table 28 (holding release position). In FIG. 13A, due to the elastic force of the spring 124, the conveying unit 20L
The angle difference .theta.

Here, when a current flows through the solenoid 26, the plunger 25 is drawn into the solenoid 26, and the transfer section 20R and the transfer section 20L maintain the angle difference θ, and the rotary shaft 125 is the center of the drawing. Rotate counterclockwise. Then, first, the sandwiching portion 21R comes into contact with the sorting table 28 (however, of course, when the paper S is on the sorting table 28, the sandwiching portion 21R and the sorting table 28 do not directly contact each other, and (The paper S will be sandwiched between them.) FIG. 13B shows
It is a figure when the holding part 21R is in contact with the table 28. In FIG. 13B, the transport unit 20L is the transport unit 20.
It is separated from the rearranging table 28 while maintaining the angle difference θ with R.

However, the force with which the solenoid 26 pulls the plunger 25 is sufficiently larger than the force with which the spring 124 tries to maintain the angular difference θ between the transport section 20L and the transport section 20R, so that the transport section 20L is further clamped. 21
The L is rotated until it contacts the table 28. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13C, the angular difference between the transport units 20L and 20R disappears, and both the sandwiching units 21L and 21R contact the sorting table 28 (of course, the sorting table 28 When the sheet S is on the upper side, the sandwiching portion 21L and the sandwiching portion 21R are not in direct contact with the organizing table 28, and the sheet S is sandwiched between them.

With such a mechanism, it becomes possible to sandwich the paper S between the sandwiching section 21L and the sandwiching section 21R and the sorting table 28.

If the transport units are transport unit 20L and transport unit 2
When the sheet post-processing apparatus H is used for many years without being divided into two parts of 0R, the transport unit is distorted due to secular change, and is left and right of the transport unit. A difference may occur in the force with which each of the attached nipping portions nips the paper S.

Further, when the distortion is large, and when a current flows through the solenoid 26, only one of the sandwiching units attached to the left and right of the transport unit sandwiches the paper S (one sandwiching unit is , The paper S may become loose.) As a result, a sufficient force for holding the paper S may not be obtained, the paper S may be wrinkled, or the paper S may be wrinkled. There is also a risk of breaking the.

On the other hand, the carrying section is divided into two parts, the carrying section 20L and the carrying section 20R, and the holding section 21L and the holding section 21R are pressed against the table 28 (paper) by the above-mentioned method. Therefore, even if the transport unit 20L
Even if the conveying section 20R and the conveying section 20R are distorted due to aging, a large difference is unlikely to occur between the clamping force of the clamping section 21L and the clamping force of the clamping section 21R. It is possible to eliminate problems such as wrinkles on the sheet and tearing of the sheet S.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a stapler 19 for binding the edges of the sheets is provided near the edge of the rearrangement table 28 in the predetermined opposite direction.

By the way, in order to align a plurality of sheets, it is necessary to align the plurality of sheets in the sheet discharging direction (predetermined opposite direction) and also to align the sheets in a predetermined right and left direction. Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 to 24, the alignment of the sheets in the sheet ejection direction and the ejection of the sheet bundle will be described. Further, with reference to FIGS. The discharging of the bundle will be described.

14 to 24 are views of the sheet post-processing apparatus H viewed from the same direction as the sheet post-processing apparatus H shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. It is a figure when the processing apparatus H is seen from above. In addition, FIG.
35 to 35, only the minimum parts necessary for explaining the alignment of the sheets and the discharge of the sheet bundle are shown, and the other parts are omitted.

The alignment of the sheets in the front-rear direction and the ejection of the sheet bundle will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 24.

The sheet S1 is conveyed in the guide passage 31,
Although it is moved to the discharge roller unit 11, in the state of FIG. 14, the leading edge of the sheet S1 has not reached the sorting table 28 yet. At this time, the roller 56 of the discharge roller unit 11 starts to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing in preparation for sheet discharge (rotation in the sheet discharge direction), and the holding means moves
It is located at a holding position where the paper can be held.

Immediately after the sheet S1 is taken into the discharge roller unit 11, in the state of FIG. 15, the sheet S1 pushes up the handle 16a of the sensor 16, and the sensor 16 indicates that the sheet S has been conveyed through the guide passage 31. To detect. At this time as well, the holding means is left at the holding position where the paper can be held.
Note that the trailing edge position of the sheet S1 is indicated by the symbol α.

As the sheet S1 is conveyed, the trailing edge α
16 is shown in FIG.
At this time, the sensor 16 detects that the trailing edge α of the sheet S1 has passed through the guide passage 31. From the state of FIG. 16, the operation of the holding means is released (hold release position), the roller 56 is rotated in the reverse direction (rotation in a predetermined opposite direction), and the sheet S1 is
It starts to be transported in the opposite direction on the sorting table 28.

By transporting the paper S1 in a predetermined opposite direction,
Eventually, the rear end of the sheet S1 comes into contact with the abutting portion 27 (FIG. 17), and further conveyance in the predetermined opposite direction is restricted. In the state shown in FIG. 17, the holding means is operated, and the holding portion 21 presses and holds the rear end of the sheet S1 against the sorting table 28 (FIG. 18).

From the state of FIG. 18, the rotation direction of the roller 56 is switched to the rotation direction of the paper discharge in order to prepare for the next conveyance of the paper S2 (FIG. 19). The next sheet S2 is taken into the discharge roller unit 11 and placed on the tray 6 (previous sheet S2).
1), but at this time, the previous sheet S1
Since it is clamped by the clamping means, it remains stationary on the table 28 (FIG. 20). The trailing edge position of the sheet S2 is indicated by reference sign β.

The conveyance of the sheet S2 is advancing. When the rear end of the sheet S2 is positioned on the sorting table 28, the reverse rotation of the roller 56 is started, and in response to this reverse rotation, the operation of the sandwiching means is released, and the sandwiching section 21 holds the sheet S1. Is released (FIG. 21). By reversing the roller 56, the paper S
2 is conveyed in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction, and the sheet S2 eventually abuts the abutting portion 27 (FIG. 22).

The same applies to the subsequent sheets. When a predetermined number of sheets are aligned on the table 28,
After the rotation of the roller 56 is stopped and the holding means is operated, the stapler 19 is operated to create a bundle of sheets bound together (FIG. 23). After that, the operation of the holding means is released, the roller 56 starts to rotate in the paper discharge direction, the sheet bundle is conveyed in the paper discharge direction, and finally is discharged from the discharge roller unit 11 and transferred onto the tray 6. (FIG. 24).

Next, with reference to FIGS. 25 to 35, the alignment of the sheets in the predetermined left-right direction and the ejection of the sheet bundle will be described. Note that each processing shown in FIG. 25 to FIG.
It corresponds to each processing shown in FIGS. 14 to 24. 25 to 35, the paper is discharged from the left to the right in the drawings (paper discharge direction).

In each of FIGS. 25 to 35,
When the holding means is in the operating state, “ON” is provided under the transport unit 20.
When the operation of the holding means is released,
“OFF” is shown below each. Also, FIG.
5 to 35, the discharge roller unit 11 (roller 56
-1 and the direction of rotation of the roller 56-2) are shown below the discharge roller unit 11.

In FIG. 25, the roller 56-1 and the roller 56-2 are used when the leading edge of the sheet S1 has not reached the rearrangement table 28 (hereinafter, if there is no need to distinguish, the roller 5
6-1 and the roller 56-2 are collectively referred to as a roller 56) and start to rotate in the paper discharge direction in preparation for paper discharge.

The roller 56 has the mechanism described above with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, and in FIGS.
Although it has a movable range in a predetermined left-right direction, in the state of FIG. 25, it rotates on the spot at a predetermined left end portion of the movable range. Further, the holding means is in the operating state.

Immediately before the sheet S1 is taken in by the roller 56, the front end of the sheet S1 is detected by the sensor 16. After that, the sheet S1 is taken in by the roller 56, but the trailing end of the sheet S1 is still in the guide passage 31 and has not reached the sorting table 28. Also in FIG. 26, as in FIG. 25, the roller 56 continues to rotate on the spot at the predetermined leftward end portion of the movable range, and the sandwiching means maintains the operating state.

FIG. 27 shows the state in which the rear end of the sheet S1 is positioned on the sorting table 28 while the sheet S1 is being conveyed. At this time, the sensor 16 indicates that the trailing edge of the sheet S1 has
The fact that 1 has been passed is detected.

From the state shown in FIG. 27, the operation of the holding means is released, and the roller 56 is rotated in the reverse direction (rotated in a predetermined opposite direction), and the roller 56 starts moving in the predetermined right direction, and the sheet S1. Is slid rightward until it contacts the rearrangement protrusion 29. The sheet S1 starts to be conveyed on the sorting table 28 in a predetermined opposite direction (left side in the drawing). as a result,
The sheet S1 moves to the lower left until it contacts the rearrangement protrusion 29,
It can be slid diagonally.

The predetermined movable range of the roller 56 in the left-right direction is provided enough to bring the sheet into contact with the organizing projection 29. Therefore, when the sheet S1 comes into contact with the rearrangement protrusion 29, if the roller 56 still has a movable range in the predetermined right direction, the roller 56 moves further to the right. Is held at the position where it is kept in contact with.

If the shaft 56 is still rotating at the time when the roller 56 moves to the predetermined right end of the movable range, the roller 56 continues rotating on the spot.

Eventually, the rear end of the sheet S1 comes into contact with the abutting portion 27 (and the right end of the sheet S1 comes into contact with the rearrangement protrusion 29) (FIG. 28), and further conveyance in the predetermined opposite direction is restricted. To be done. In the state shown in FIG. 28, the holding means is operated, and the holding portion 21 presses and holds the rear end of the sheet S1 against the table 28 (FIG. 29).

From the state of FIG. 29, the rotation direction of the roller 56 is switched to the rotation direction of the paper discharge in order to prepare for the next conveyance of the paper S2 (FIG. 30). By this rotation, the roller 56 is moved in the predetermined left direction, but the paper S1
Is clamped by the clamping means, so
It remains in contact with.

In FIG. 31, the next sheet S2 is taken in by the discharge roller unit 11 and placed on the tray 6 (previous sheet S1.
Although the sheet S1 is conveyed to the upper side), the previous sheet S1 remains stationary on the sorting table 28 because it is clamped by the clamping means.

When the rear end of the sheet S2 is positioned on the rearrangement table 28 after the sheet S2 is conveyed further, the reverse rotation of the roller 56 is started, and the operation of the holding means is released corresponding to the reverse rotation. Then, the holding of the sheet S1 by the holding section 21 is released (FIG. 32).

At this time, since the roller 56 moves in the predetermined right direction, the sheet S2 is slid in the predetermined right direction until it comes into contact with the rearrangement protrusion 29, and as a result, the right end of the sheet S2 is in the rearrangement protrusion 29. , Is aligned with the right edge of the previous sheet S1. Due to the reverse rotation of the roller 56, the sheet S2 is conveyed in a predetermined opposite direction, and the sheet S2 eventually comes into contact with the abutting portion 27
(Fig. 33).

The same applies to the subsequent sheets. When a predetermined number of sheets are aligned on the table 28,
After the rotation of the roller 56 is stopped and the holding means is operated, the stapler 19 is operated to create a bundle of sheets to be bound together (FIG. 34). After that, the operation of the sandwiching means is released, the roller 56 starts to rotate in the sheet discharge direction, the sheet bundle is conveyed in the sheet discharge direction, and finally is discharged from the discharge roller unit 11 and transferred onto the tray 6. (FIG. 35).

As described above, the lateral alignment of the sheets is performed. Note that, in FIGS. 25 to 35, “1” is written on the sheet S1 and “2” is written on the sheet S2 for easy understanding of the description, but an image is actually formed. , "1" or "2" is the back surface.

Next, another example of the sheet post-processing device H will be described with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37. Unlike the sheet post-processing apparatus H described above, the sheet post-processing apparatus H shown in FIG. 36 includes a mechanism for offsetting (arranging) the sheets conveyed from a printer or the like to a predetermined position. ing. In the following description and drawings regarding the sheet post-processing device H for offsetting the sheet,
Although the guide passage, the pinching means, and the stapler are not shown, it is not excluded that the guide passage, the pinching means, and the stapler are provided.

FIG. 36 is a view of the sheet post-processing apparatus H as viewed from above. Paper post-processing device H shown in FIG.
In, the rotational driving force of the driving motor 161 is transmitted to the discharge roller portion 165 via the pulley 162, the belt 163, and the pulley 164. The discharge roller portion 165 includes a shaft 166, a screw portion 167-1, a screw portion 167-2,
Stopper portion 168-1, stopper portion 168-2, stopper portion 169-1, stopper portion 169-2, female screw portion 17
0-1, a female screw portion 170-2, a roller 171-1, and a roller 171-2.

Screw portion 167-1 and screw portion 167-2
The shape is preferably a spiral thread shape or a multiple thread shape.

The screw portion 167-1 and the screw portion 167-2 are
They have the same shape and the same function. Also,
Stopper portion 168-1 and stopper portion 168-2, stopper portion 169-1 and stopper portion 169-2, female screw portion 17
0-1 and female thread 170-2, and roller 171-
The roller 1 and the roller 171-2 also have the same shape and have the same function.

Therefore, in the following description, the screw portion 16
7-1 and the screw portion 167-2 are not required to be distinguished, the screw portion 167 and the stopper portion 1 are collectively
When it is not necessary to distinguish 68-1 and the stopper portion 168-2, respectively, the stopper portion 168 and the stopper portion 169-1 and the stopper portion 169-2 are collectively distinguished. Part 1
69, the female screw portion 170-1 and the female screw portion 170-2
When it is not necessary to distinguish each of them, the female screw portion 170, the roller 171-1 and the roller 171-2 are collectively
When it is not necessary to distinguish each of them, they are collectively referred to as a roller 171.

The screw portion 167 is engraved on the shaft 166 or integrally fixed to the shaft 166, and rotates with the rotation of the shaft 166. Also,
The female screw portion 170 is fixed to the roller 171, and the female screw portion 170 and the roller 171 rotate and move integrally.

The sheet is carried in from the left side in the figure and discharged toward the right side. With respect to the discharge roller unit 165, the right side in FIG. 36 is the paper discharge direction, and the left side is the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction (predetermined opposite direction). The sheet carried in from the guide portion 172 for introducing the sheet is detected by the sensor 17
3 and is offset on the tray 174. Below the tray 174 in the figure, an arrangement protrusion 175 is provided.
Is provided. The organization protrusion 175 is formed in a direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a predetermined left-right direction) perpendicular to the paper discharge direction.
Used for paper alignment.

In the following description, when the tray 6 direction is viewed from the guide portion 172 side in FIG.
When looking at the paper discharge direction, the right direction is called the predetermined right direction, and the left direction is called the predetermined left direction.

FIG. 37 is a side view of the sheet post-processing device H shown in FIG. In FIG. 37, the sheet conveyed from the left side is a pair of sensor 201 and sensor 20.
It passes between the two and is conveyed onto the tray 174. The sensor 201 and the sensor 202 detect the paper when the paper passes between them.

That is, when there is no sheet between the sensor 201 and the sensor 202, the light emitted from the sensor 201 (or the sensor 202) is detected by the sensor 202 (or the sensor 201). On the other hand, when there is a sheet between the sensor 201 and the sensor 202, the light emitted from the sensor 201 (or the sensor 202) is blocked by the sheet and the sensor 202 (or the sensor 2).
01) will not be detected. The sensor 201 (sensor 202) is thus the sensor 202 (sensor 201).
The presence or absence of the sheet is detected based on whether or not the light emitted from the sheet is detected.

It is also possible to use, for example, the sensor 16 of FIG. 2 instead of using the sensors 201 and 202 to detect the presence or absence of paper. Further, if the paper can be detected, an appropriate sensor other than the above may be used.

From the roller 171 of the discharge roller unit 165,
Tray 17 that extends almost horizontally toward the paper ejection direction
An abutting portion 203 extending upward in a short direction is formed at a predetermined opposite direction end of 4. The abutting portion 203 is used for aligning the paper in the paper discharge direction (a predetermined opposite direction).

In the following description, the counterclockwise rotation of the roller 171 and the shaft 166 in FIG. 37 is the rotation in the paper discharge direction, and the clockwise rotation is the rotation in the opposite direction.

When the roller 171 is not in contact with either the stopper portion 168 or the stopper portion 169, even if the screw portion 167 (shaft 166) rotates, the roller 171 is generated between the roller 171 and the paper (or the tray 174). Due to the effect of frictional force, it does not rotate. When the shaft 166 (screw portion 167) rotates, the roller 171
3 according to the notch direction and the rotation direction of the screw part 167.
Of the six, it moves in a predetermined left direction or a predetermined right direction.

For example, in FIG. 36, the screw portion 167 is provided.
However, when the roller 171 is rotated in the paper discharge direction (so that the front side in the drawing is directed to the left), the roller 171 moves in the predetermined left direction in accordance with the notch direction of the screw portion 167. On the contrary, Fig. 3
6, when the screw portion 167 rotates in a predetermined opposite direction (so that the front side in the drawing faces the right direction), the roller 1
71 moves in a predetermined rightward direction according to the direction of the threaded portion 167.

However, the movable range of the roller 171 is limited. That is, the roller 171 is configured to move with a portion sandwiched between the stopper portion 168 and the stopper portion 169 as a movable range. The roller 171 is configured to keep the paper (or the tray 1) even if the shaft 166 rotates.
74), the rotation is normally suppressed by the frictional force generated therebetween.

However, for example, in FIG. 36, the roller 1
The end of 71 is in contact with the stopper portion 169, and
When the shaft 166 continues to rotate in the paper discharge direction, a force is applied to the roller 171 to move the roller 171 further upward, but the roller 171 cannot move further upward, and the roller 171 cannot move upward. As it rotates, it starts rotating on the spot in the paper ejection direction.

On the contrary, when the end of the roller 171 is in contact with the stopper portion 168 and the shaft 166 continues to rotate in the predetermined opposite direction, a force for further moving the roller 171 downward is applied. , The roller 171 cannot move downward any more, and the shaft 166 cannot be moved.
In accordance with the rotation of, the rotation starts in the opposite direction on the spot.

In order to realize this, the torque of the shaft 166 is rotated by the frictional force between the roller 171 and the tray 174 when the roller 171 is in contact with the stopper portion 168 or the stopper portion 169. It is set to be sufficiently larger than the force that hinders.

Next, the material of the roller 171 will be described. When the sheet is conveyed, the sheet is nipped between the roller 171 and the tray 174, and is slid in the same direction as the roller 171 moves in a predetermined left-right direction.
In order to realize this, the frictional force generated between the roller 171 and the sheet needs to be larger than the frictional force generated between the sheet and the tray 174. Therefore, the roller 171
An elastic body such as sponge or rubber is used as the material.

Further, the roller 171 is easily worn by the influence of friction generated between the roller 171 and the tray 174.
The structure shown in A is desirable. That is,
In FIG. 38A, the roller 171 is configured to feed the paper to the tray 17
The structure has at least two layers, that is, a portion 171a for generating a force (pressing force) to be pressed against the sheet 4 and a portion 171b for generating a frictional force between the roller 171 and the sheet. A harder material than 171b is used for 171a.

As shown in FIG. 38B, the roller 17
A groove may be formed on the outside of 1. By doing so, it becomes possible to further increase the frictional force between the roller 171 and the sheet.

Also, in order to allow the user to judge the wear condition of the roller 171, the roller 171 can be judged.
It is desirable that the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion (for example, 171a and 171b in FIG. 38A) of different colors are formed by members of different colors. By doing so, the roller 171 is worn out,
Since the inner peripheral portion of the roller 171 is exposed and the color of the roller 171 changes before a malfunction occurs, the user can recognize at a glance the time to replace the roller 171. When the groove is formed on the roller 171 as shown in FIG. 38B, the roller 171 may be replaced when the groove disappears due to wear of the roller 171.

Further, in order to suppress the abrasion of the roller 171, the roller 171 does not convey the paper.
It can be controlled to stop the rotation of the roller 171.

The roller 171 may be polygonal (hexagonal in FIG. 38C) as shown in FIG. 38C.
The roller 171 includes the stopper portion 168 and the stopper portion 1.
When not in contact with any of the 69, the roller 171 is configured to move in a predetermined left direction or a predetermined right direction in accordance with the rotation of the shaft 166.

However, at this time, the screw portion 167,
If small dust or the like is caught between the female threaded portions 170, slippage between the threaded portion 167 and the female threaded portion 170 may be deteriorated, and a force for rotating the roller 171 may be generated. There is. At this time, the roller 171
If it has a polygonal structure as shown in FIG. 37C, the roller 17
The corner of 1 can be caught by the sheet (tray 174) and prevent the roller 171 from rotating.

Even when the roller 171 has a polygonal shape, the roller 171 contacts the stopper portion 168 or the stopper portion 169 and rotates together (see FIG. 3).
9 and FIG. 42, the details of which will be described later), the torque of the shaft 166 is set to be sufficiently large. Further, the member of the roller 171 can be made elastic so as to realize the above-mentioned function.

Incidentally, the roller 56 shown in FIG.
The members and structures as described above with reference to FIG. 8 are also possible.

Next, the relationship between the rotation direction of the shaft 166 and the operation of the roller 171 will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that FIG. 39A is a diagram of the discharge roller unit 165 in FIG. 36 viewed from the direction of the sensor 173 in the drawing. However, in FIG. 36, the shaft 1
Since the operation of the roller 171-1 and the operation of the roller 171-2 with respect to the rotational movement of 66 are the same, in FIG. 39A, the screw portion 167, the stopper portion 168, the stopper portion 1
Only one of 69, female thread 170, and roller 171 is shown.

40 to 42 as well as FIG. 39, the view indicated by A is a view of the discharge roller portion 165 in FIG. 36 as seen from the direction of the sensor 173 in the drawings.

Further, FIG. 39B is a diagram of the discharge roller portion 165 shown in FIG. 39A as viewed from the right side.
FIG. 39B shows the presence / absence of rotation of the roller 171, the screw portion 167 (shaft 166), and the rotation direction. Similarly in FIGS. 40 to 42, B in the figure is
It is a figure when the discharge roller part 165 shown by A of a figure is seen from the right direction.

In FIG. 39A, the screw portion 167 fixed to the shaft 166 is, together with the shaft 166, the front side in the drawing from the top to the bottom (in the paper discharge direction).
It's spinning. At this time, the roller 171 has the screw portion 12
According to the step direction of 5, the roller 171 tries to move to the left in the figure, but the stopper 169 prevents the roller 171 from moving any further to the left.
It rotates on the spot together with the screw portion 167. In FIG. 39B,
The rotation directions of the screw portion 167 and the roller 171 are shown. As shown in FIG. 39B, the screw portion 167 and the roller 1
Both 71 are rotated counterclockwise (sheet ejection direction).

When the direction of rotation of the screw portion 167 is reversed from the state of FIG. 39 (when rotated in a predetermined opposite direction),
As shown in FIG. 40A, the roller 171 moves to the right in the drawing in accordance with the engraving direction of the screw portion 167. Figure 40
At this time, as shown in FIG.
The rotation is suppressed by the influence of the frictional force generated between the screw 74 and 74, and only the screw portion 167 rotates clockwise. As a result, the roller 171 moves to the right as shown in FIG. 41A (the roller 17 as shown in FIG. 41B).
1 continues to be suppressed in rotation).

When the screw portion 167 continues to rotate in the same direction (predetermined opposite direction), as shown in FIG. 42A, the right end of the roller 171 comes into contact with the stopper portion 168, and further rightward movement is impossible. It will be possible. At this time, the roller 17
1 starts to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the screw portion 167.
As shown in FIG. 42B, the roller 171 has a threaded portion 167.
According to the rotation of the, it rotates in a predetermined opposite direction.

When the roller 171 is in contact with the stopper portion 168 as shown in FIG. 42A, when the rotation direction of the shaft 166 is reversed to rotate in the paper discharge direction, the roller 171 is restrained from rotating. It moves toward the stopper portion 169. Then, the roller 171 is shown in FIG.
After moving to the position shown in (1), that is, the position in contact with the stopper portion 169, the shaft 166 and the shaft 166 start rotating in the same direction (paper discharge direction).

As described above, the roller 171 moves to the left and right in the drawing as the shaft 166 (screw portion 167) rotates, and rotates at the end of the movable range.

The paper offset processing of the paper post-processing device H shown in FIG. 36 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 43 to 48. 43 to FIG. 48, the view indicated by A is a view of the sheet post-processing device H seen from above, and the view indicated by B is a side view of the paper post-treatment device H. Further, in the drawing shown in B, the rotation directions of the shaft 166 and the roller 171 are shown on the outer side of each. It should be noted that if the shaft 166 or the roller 171 is not rotating, the corresponding arrow is also not shown.

In FIG. 43, the front end of the paper S is the sensor 1
When it has not reached 73, the roller 171 starts to rotate in the paper ejection direction in preparation for paper ejection. The roller 171 has a movable range in a predetermined left-right direction by the mechanism described above with reference to FIGS. 39 to 42. However, in the state of FIG. 43, a position in contact with the stopper portion 169 (a predetermined left end portion of the movable range). ), Rotate on the spot.

Immediately before the sheet S is taken into the roller 171, the front end of the sheet S is detected by the sensor 173. Then, as shown in FIG. 44, the sheet S is conveyed onto the tray 174, and immediately before the rear end of the sheet S reaches the tray 174, the sensor 173 detects that the rear end of the sheet S has passed. To detect.

When the sensor 173 detects the trailing edge of the sheet S and the trailing edge of the sheet S is conveyed onto the tray 174, the shaft 166 starts rotating in the direction opposite to the rotation direction up to now (FIG. 4).
5). Then, the roller 171 stops rotating and moves in the predetermined right direction. As a result, the sheet S is slid rightward on the tray 174 by the roller 171 (FIG. 46).

Even if the sheet S comes into contact with the organizing protrusion 175,
Note that the roller 171 continues to move in the predetermined right direction, but the sheet S cannot slide in the predetermined right direction any more, and keeps the position in which the sheet S remains in contact with the organization protrusion 175.

When the roller 171 reaches the position in contact with the stopper portion 168 (the predetermined right end portion of the movable range), the roller 171 starts rotating in accordance with the shaft 166, and the sheet S is moved in the predetermined opposite direction. Transport (FIG. 47). When the sheet S comes into contact with the abutting portion 203, the shaft 1
66 stops rotating (FIG. 48).

As described above, it is possible to offset the position of the paper in the predetermined left-right direction only by switching the rotation direction of the shaft 166. In addition, roller 1
The rotation speed of the shaft 166 during the period in which 71 moves in the axial direction of the shaft 166, that is, the period from FIG. 45 to FIG. Direction (or opposite direction)
It is possible to set the rotation speed of the drive motor 161 so as to be higher than the rotation speed at the time of transporting to. By doing so, it is possible to shorten the time required for the entire sheet alignment processing.

49 to 56, the sheet post-processing device H shown in FIG. 36 is further provided with a pulley 221 and a belt 22.
2, pulley 223, transport shaft 224, transport roller 2
25-1, transport roller 225-2, driven roller 226,
Also, a sheet post-processing device H provided with a spring 227 is shown.

The offset process of the sheet post-processing device H shown in FIGS. 49 to 56 will be described below. In addition,
49 to 56, the view indicated by A is a view of the sheet post-processing apparatus H as viewed from above, and the view indicated by B is a side view of the sheet post-processing apparatus H.

In the sheet post-processing apparatus H shown in FIG. 49A, a pulley 221 is provided in the shaft 166 in the immediate vicinity of the pulley 164, and the drive motor 161 to the shaft 166 are provided.
The rotary motion transmitted to the belt 22 from the pulley 221.
2, and the conveyor shaft 224 via the pulley 223.
To tell. On the transport shaft 224,
The carrying roller 225-1 and the carrying roller 225-2 (hereinafter, if it is not necessary to distinguish the two, the carrying roller 225
) Is fixed, and the transport roller 225 is adapted to rotate in place together with the transport shaft 224.

Holes of a predetermined size are formed in portions of the tray 174 immediately below the carrying rollers 225-1 and 225-2, respectively.
25-1 and the transport roller 225-2 are arranged below the sheet shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9B, driven rollers 226 are installed respectively. The driven roller 226 is formed on the spring 227 and can be moved up and down together with the spring 227 by a mechanism (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 55B and 56B, the driven roller 226 can be pressed against the lower portion of the conveying roller 225. At this time, the driven roller 226 rotates with respect to the rotation of the conveying roller 225. Rotate together. In this state, if the paper is nipped between the transport roller 225 and the driven roller 226, the paper is transported in the paper discharge direction.

Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 55B and 56B, the driven roller 22 pressed against the conveying roller 225.
The position of 6 is referred to as a paper discharge position. Further, as shown in FIG. 49B, the position of the driven roller 226 separated from the transport roller 225 is referred to as a discharge release position. Driven roller 22
When 6 is at the discharge release position, the force for conveying the sheet is not generated even if the conveying roller 225 rotates.

The operation of the offset device shown in FIGS. 49 to 54 is the same as that shown in FIG. 43 except that parts such as the transport roller 225 and the driven roller 226 are added.
The operation is the same as that of the sheet post-processing apparatus H described with reference to FIGS.

Incidentally, in FIG. 49 to FIG. 56, FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to 6. 50 to 56, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 49 are designated by the same reference numerals.

49 to 56, the rotation direction of the shaft 166 is α, the rotation direction of the roller 171 is β, and the rotation direction of the conveying roller 225 is γ.
, Respectively.

The offset operation of the sheet S of the sheet post-processing apparatus H will be described below with reference to FIGS. 49 to 56.

In FIG. 49, the front end of the paper S is the sensor 1
When it has not reached 73, the roller 171 starts to rotate in the paper ejection direction in preparation for paper ejection. The roller 171 rotates on the spot at a position in contact with the stopper portion 169 (a predetermined leftward end portion of the movable range). Also,
The driven roller 226 is in the discharge release position where it is not in contact with the transport roller 225.

After the leading edge of the paper S is detected by the sensor 173, the paper S is conveyed onto the tray 174 as shown in FIG. When the sensor 173 detects the trailing edge of the sheet S and the trailing edge of the sheet S is conveyed onto the tray 174, the shaft 166 starts rotating in the direction opposite to the rotation direction up to now (FIG. 51). Then, the roller 171 stops rotating and moves in the predetermined right direction. As a result, the paper S
Is slid rightward on the tray 174 by the roller 171 (FIG. 52). During this time, the driven roller 226 maintains the discharge release position in which the driven roller 226 is not in contact with the transport roller 225.

When the sheet S comes into contact with the organizing protrusion 175,
The roller 171 continues to move in the predetermined right direction,
The sheet S cannot be further slid rightward by a predetermined amount, and maintains the position where it is in contact with the organizing protrusion 175.
When the roller 171 reaches the position in contact with the stopper portion 168 (a predetermined right end portion of the movable range), the roller 171
Starts to rotate according to the shaft 166, and the paper S
Are conveyed in a predetermined opposite direction (FIG. 53). When the sheet S contacts the abutting portion 203, the shaft 166 stops rotating (FIG. 54). During this period, the driven roller 226 continues to maintain the discharge release position in which the driven roller 226 is not in contact with the transport roller 225.

Next, the driven roller 226 is moved to the paper discharge position as shown in FIG.
6 starts rotating in the paper discharge direction (FIG. 55). Then, the roller 171 is moved upward, but the conveying force generated between the conveying roller 225 and the driven roller 226 is sufficiently larger than the force of the roller 171 attempting to slide the sheet upward. Because it is set,
The paper S sandwiched between the transport roller 225 and the driven roller 226 is transported in the paper discharge direction (FIG. 56).

As described above, the paper can be discharged by aligning the positions of the edges of the paper in the predetermined left-right direction with the organizing protrusions 175.

In the sheet post-processing apparatus H described with reference to FIGS. 49 to 56, the predetermined protrusions 175 are aligned at the predetermined left and right edges of only one sheet before the sheet is discharged. However, this paper post-processing device H
It is also possible to align a plurality of sheets by further providing a sandwiching means in the.

That is, by causing the sheet post-processing device H to perform the operation described with reference to FIGS. 49 to 54, the predetermined protrusions 175 are arranged at the predetermined left and right ends of the first sheet S.
Abutting against the end of the sheet S in a predetermined opposite direction
After abutting on the sheet 3, the first sheet S is pinched by the pinching means. Then, by rotating the shaft 166 in the paper discharge direction, the roller 171 is returned to the position shown in FIG.

When the second sheet S is conveyed, the operation shown in FIGS. 49 to 52 is executed in the same manner as the first sheet while the holding means holds the holding of the first sheet S. To do. Then, the rear end of the second sheet S in the predetermined left-right direction is aligned with the first sheet S by the sorting protrusion 175. That is, the shaft 166 is rotated in a predetermined opposite direction until the roller 171 contacts the stopper portion 168,
The pinching by the pinching means is released. And roller 171
However, when it comes into contact with the stopper portion 168, the second sheet S is conveyed until it comes into contact with the abutting portion 203, as shown in FIG.

As a result, the position of the end portion of the second sheet S in the predetermined left-right direction abuts on the organizing protrusion 175, and the end of the predetermined opposite direction abuts on the abutting portion 203, so that 1
When the sheet is aligned with the first sheet (FIG. 54), the sandwiching means again sandwiches the two sheets. After the above operation is repeated and the alignment of the predetermined number of sheets is completed,
For example, stapling is performed by a stapler. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 55, the driven roller 226 is pressed against the transport roller 225, and the aligned sheets are ejected in the sheet ejection direction (FIG. 56).

As described above, it is possible to align a plurality of sheets. It should be noted that as the holding means, the holding means as shown in FIG. 6 may be adopted. Further, as long as it is a nipping means capable of nipping the sheet against the sliding of the roller 171 in the predetermined left-right direction, other nipping means can be adopted.

[0179]

As described above, according to the sheet post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the roller is moved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction by using the rotational movement of the shaft as a power source. Therefore, the entire device can be made small and inexpensive, and the number of parts can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified side system diagram showing an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of a sheet post-processing apparatus.

3 is a front view showing the operation of a discharge roller unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section of the discharge roller portion of FIG. 3A.

5 is a diagram showing the organization table of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the holding means extracted from FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a position of the holding means in FIG. 6 when operating.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of sheets on the organizing table.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a correction unit added to the transport unit of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the holding means of FIG.

11 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the transport unit shown in FIG.

13 is a side view showing the operation of the transport unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG.

15 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 14;

16 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveying state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG.

17 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG.

FIG. 18 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 17;

19 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG.

20 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveying state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 19;

21 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveying state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 20.

22 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 21.

23 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 22.

24 is a simplified side view showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2, and is a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 14 is viewed from above.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 15 is viewed from above.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 16 is viewed from above.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 17 is viewed from above.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 18 is viewed from above.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 19 is viewed from above.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 20 is viewed from above.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 21 is viewed from above.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 22 is viewed from above.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 23 is viewed from above.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a case where the sheet conveyance state of FIG. 24 is viewed from above.

36 is a front view showing a main part of a sheet post-processing apparatus different from the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG.

37 is a side view showing a main part of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36. FIG.

38 is a diagram showing a structure of a roller of the sheet post-processing device shown in FIG. 36.

39 is a diagram showing the operation of the discharge roller unit of the sheet post-processing device shown in FIG. 36.

40 is another diagram showing the operation of the discharge roller unit of the paper post-processing device of FIG. 36.

41 is a diagram showing the operation of the discharge roller portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36, and a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 40.

42 is a diagram showing the operation of the discharge roller portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36, and a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing device in FIG. 36.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 43.

45 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 36, and is a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 45.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 36, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 46.

48 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 36, and is a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 47.

49 is a diagram showing a main part of a sheet post-processing apparatus different from the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 36 and a sheet conveyance state.

50 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 49.

51 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 50.

52 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 51.

53 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 52.

54 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 53.

55 is a diagram showing a sheet conveyance state of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 49, and a diagram showing the next state of FIG. 54.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a sheet conveying state of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 49, and a diagram showing a state next to FIG. 55.

[Explanation of symbols]

H paper post-processing device P printer S, S1, S2 paper 5 Paper post-processing mechanism 6 trays 11 Discharge roller section 12 pulley 13 belt 14 pulley 15 Drive motor 16 sensors 17 Upper guide plate 18 Lower guide plate 19 stapler 20 Transport section 21 clamping part 22 Swing lever 23 Return spring 24 Pulling spring 25 Plunger 26 Solenoid 27 Abutting part 28 Arrangement stand 29 Organizing protrusion 30 step 31 guidance passage 51 shaft 52 screw part 53 Screw receiving part 54 Torque limiter inner 55 Torque limiter outer 56 Laura 57 colors 161 drive motor 162 pulley 163 belt 164 pulley 165 Discharge roller section 166 shaft 167-1, 167-2 screw part 168-1, 168-2 Stopper 169-1, 169-2 Stopper 170-1, 170-2 Female screw part 171-1, 171-2 Roller 172 Guide section 173 sensor 174 trays 175 Organizing protrusion 203 Abutting part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 15/00 534 G03G 15/00 534 3F108 F term (reference) 2H072 AA09 AA17 AA24 CA01 FA05 FB01 GA08 HB07 JA02 JA08 JC07 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 BA05 BB04 CC04 DA09 DC12 EB40 3F049 CA02 CA14 CA16 CA31 DA14 DB05 EA22 EA28 LA14 LB03 3F054 AA01 AC02 AC03 AC05 BA02 BH03 B01 HA02 B02 AC02 AC02 AC02 BA02 AC02 AC02 BA02 AC02 AC02 BA02 AC02 BA02 AC02 BA02 AC02 BA02 AC02 BA02 AC02 BA02 AC03

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A sheet post-processing device for sequentially aligning a plurality of sheets to be taken in in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet discharge direction and then providing the sheet bundle to a user from the tray in the sheet discharge direction or the sheet discharge direction. A shaft that rotates in a direction opposite to the paper discharge direction, a driving unit that drives and rotates the shaft, a roller that conveys the paper, and a rotational movement of the shaft as a power source that causes the roller to move in the paper discharge direction. A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a moving unit that moves the sheet in a substantially vertical direction. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves the roller between at least two positions. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects whether or not the sheet is taken in. 4. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller is an elastic body. 5. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the roller is rubber or sponge. 6. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roller has a groove formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. 7. The roller has a structure in which at least two kinds of members made of materials having different hardnesses form a concentric layer around a rotation axis of the roller. 6. The sheet post-processing device according to any one of 6. 8. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the layer inside the roller is harder than the layer outside. 9. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the roller has a different color for each layer. 10. The moving means corresponds to the male screw that moves integrally with the roller in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and has a fixed spatial position. 10. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus comprises a female screw having a groove formed therein. 11. The male screw has flanges at both ends for restricting its own movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and the moving means includes the roller for fixing the roller to the flanges at both ends. Moving between a first position, which is the position of the roller when one contacts the female screw, and a second position, which is the position of the roller when the other of the flanges contacts the female screw. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein 12. The torque limiter is further provided between the male screw and the roller, and the rotational movement of the roller is transmitted to the male screw via the torque limiter. Paper post-processing device. 13. The moving means is fixed to a spiral portion spirally wound around the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the roller, and is arranged on the inner peripheral surface so as to correspond to the spiral shape of the spiral portion. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus comprises a corresponding portion having a groove. 14. The spiral portion is a single-thread screw or a multiple-thread screw, and the corresponding portion is the single-thread screw or a female screw corresponding to the multiple-thread screw. 13. The sheet post-processing device according to item 13. 15. The spiral part has flanges at both ends for restricting its own movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and one of the flanges at both ends is in contact with the corresponding part. 15. The sheet post-processing according to claim 13, wherein the position of the roller is a first position, and the position of the roller when the other of the flanges is in contact with the corresponding portion is a second position. apparatus. 16. The rotation speed of the shaft when the roller moves between the first position and the second position in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction is , The first position or the second position, further comprising a control means for controlling to be equal to or higher than the rotational speed of the shaft when rotating on the spot. The paper post-processing device described in 1. 17. The roller is arranged in contact with the tray so as not to rotate due to a frictional force when the roller moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper discharge direction. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of 1. 18. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet post-processing device, comprising: the sheet post-processing device according to claim 1. Description: