JP2003145491A - Sheet treatment device, and image forming device having the sheet treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet treatment device in which a sheet is reliably punched even when a transverse register of the sheet is largely deviated, non-punched sheets are prevented from being mixed, and there occurs no trouble in binding the sheet by a binder, and an image forming device having the sheet treatment device. SOLUTION: This sheet treatment device comprises a plurality of sheet width end detecting means 41b, 41c, 41d and 41e disposed corresponding to the sheet size in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet carrying direction, a sheet tip detecting means 41a to detect the position in the sheet carrying direction, a moving means 42 to move a punching means 40 and the sheet width end detecting means 41b, 41c, 41d and 41e in the width direction of each sheet, and a control means 200 which stops the carriage of the sheet at the punching position in the sheet carrying direction detected by the sheet tip detecting means 41a, and moves the punching means 40 by the moving means 42 in the width direction of the sheet to determine the punching position in the width direction of the sheet. If any end of the sheet in the width direction is not detected, the moving means is moved by a predetermined quantity, and the punching means is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine,
Sheets such as copy sheets carried out from an image forming means such as a printer or a facsimile are folded, sorted, bound,
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that selectively performs processing such as punching (punching), and an image forming apparatus including the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is provided with an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document and a sheet on which an image is recorded in order to reduce the time and labor required for copy processing. Sorting processing such as drilling, aligning, and classifying
A binding process for selectively binding a bundle of multiple sheets,
A sheet processing apparatus for selectively performing processing such as stack processing for stacking and accommodating sheets or a bundle of sheets is configured to be attached, and an image forming apparatus is configured by connecting these.

In the above sheet processing apparatus, the punching mechanism and the punch unit are moved in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by the centering means or the like according to the size of the conveyed sheet in the width direction, and the size in the width direction is changed. It is configured such that punch holes can always be punched in the substantially central portion of different sheets. Further, since the lateral registration (the end position in the sheet width direction) of the conveyed sheet may be different for each sheet, the amount of movement of the punching mechanism or the punch unit is managed to improve the punch hole position accuracy for each sheet. Was doing.

[0004]

However, in the conventional apparatus as described above, since the movement amount of the punching mechanism and the punch unit is limited, when the lateral registration of the sheet is deviated by a predetermined amount or more, the sheet width is increased. Since the end portion in the direction (the end portion in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) cannot be detected, the punching process may not be performed when the lateral registration of the sheet deviates by a predetermined amount or more. Therefore, a problem such as the binding process to the binder becomes difficult due to the mixture of the sheets that are not punched has occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even if the lateral registration of the sheet is greatly deviated, the punching is surely performed, and the unpunched sheet is prevented from being mixed, and the binder of the sheet is prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus provided with the apparatus, which does not cause any inconvenience in the binding process.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a conveying means for conveying a sheet, a perforating means for perforating an end of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and The sheet width end detecting means for detecting the sheet end portion in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction, the sheet front end detecting means for detecting the position of the sheet in the conveying direction, the punching means and the sheet size detecting means In a sheet processing apparatus provided with a moving means for moving the punching means in the width direction, when the sheet width direction end portion is not detected by the sheet width end portion detecting means, the punching means is moved by a predetermined amount by the moving means. It is characterized in that the punching means is operated later.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided stapling means for stapling a plurality of sheet bundles, and when the stapling mode by the stapling means is selected, the sheet width detecting end portion of the sheet is detected by the sheet size detecting means. Is detected, the stapling mode is released for the sheet bundle to which the sheet belongs, and the punching means is operated after the punching means is moved by a predetermined amount by the moving means. To do.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises:
Alternatively, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of items 1 and 2 and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet are provided.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the internal structure of a copying machine which is an example of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus main body A includes a document feeding device 1 and a reading section 2. To the sheet processing apparatus B.

First, the overall structure of the image forming apparatus main body A will be briefly described, and then the structure of the sheet processing apparatus B will be described in detail.

The image forming apparatus main body A optically reads an original automatically fed from the original feeding apparatus 1 mounted on the upper portion of the apparatus by the reading unit 2 and transmits the information to the image forming unit 3 as a digital signal. It records on a recording sheet such as plain paper or OHP sheet.

A plurality of sheet cassettes 4 accommodating sheets of various sizes are attached to the lower portion of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the sheets conveyed by the conveying rollers 5 from the sheet cassettes 4 are electronically transferred by the image forming means 3. Images are recorded by photographic method. That is, based on the information read by the reading section 2, the light irradiating means 3b irradiates the photoconductor drum 3c with laser light to form a latent image, which is toner-developed and transferred to a sheet, which is fixed by the fixing means 6. It is conveyed to and is permanently fixed by applying heat and pressure.

Then, in the case of the single-sided recording mode, the sheet is sent to the sheet processing apparatus B, and in the case of the double-sided recording mode, it is conveyed to the resending path 7 by switchback, and the sheet recorded on one side is again image forming means. The sheet is fed to the sheet processing apparatus B after being conveyed to the sheet 3 to form an image on the other side.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the sheet processing apparatus B. When the sheet is discharged, the discharge processing according to each mode such as punch mode (punching processing) and staple mode in addition to the normal discharge mode. Is possible.

The punch mode is a mode in which a sheet end is punched for each sheet conveyed.
The staple mode is an operation mode in which the sheets are stacked and aligned on the staple tray 12 when the sheets are sorted and discharged for each number of copies, stapled by the stapler 13, and stapled for each number of copies.

These two modes can be set at the same time, and the stack of sheets punched in the punch mode is stacked and aligned on the staple tray 12 and the stapler 13 is aligned.
It is also possible to staple the sheets by means of the stapler and bind and eject each set of sheets.

When the sheets are discharged, in addition to the normal discharge control for discharging the sheets one by one, the two-sheet discharge control capable of discharging two sheets at the same time is possible.
The two-sheet discharge control is an operation control in which the sheet sent from the image forming apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B is retained in the buffer path 14 and two sheets are discharged simultaneously at the same time as the next sheet to be discharged. The stapling operation can be performed without delaying the sheet ejection onto the staple tray 12 and waiting for the sheet ejection from the image forming apparatus main body A.

[Sheet Processing Apparatus] Next, the specific structure of the sheet processing apparatus B will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B is conveyed by the first conveying roller 10 and the second conveying roller 15 in the normal mode. At the same time, it is discharged onto the stack tray 18 by the upstream discharge roller pair 16 and the downstream discharge roller pair 17. A plurality of stack trays 18 are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and are moved in the vertical direction by a stacker motor (see FIG. 8) 209 built in the lower part thereof. In the case of sorting discharge, the plurality of stack trays 18 are sequentially moved to the discharge port, so that the sheets P can be discharged in a state of being sorted by the number of copies. In the staple mode, one stack tray 18 can be stapled and discharged in a sorted state.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the portion of each conveying roller. As shown in the figure, the first transport roller 10 has an entrance transport motor 204, the downstream discharge roller pair 17 has a dedicated drive source for the discharge motor 208, and the second transport roller 15 and the upstream discharge roller pair. 16 and the buffer roller 23 are driven by the conveyance motor 205 as a common drive source.

[Two Sheet Discharge Control] The first transport roller 1
0, the second transport roller 15, the upstream discharge roller pair 16, and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 are a pair of sheet transport rollers for transporting the sheet P, and each motor 2 drives each transport roller.
04, 205, and 208 are controlled by the control device 200 described later with reference to FIG.

Since the stapling process is carried out during the sheet discharging and stacking process, the processing time is required to be long correspondingly.
During the stapling process, the first sheet P of the next bundle is retained in the buffer path 14 and the first sheet and the second sheet are ejected at the same time, so that the sheet is ejected even in the staple mode. It is possible to discharge without waiting.

The two-sheet discharge control for that purpose will be described with reference to FIGS. If the first sheet of the next bundle is conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B while the pre-stacked bundle is being stapled,
When the upstream end of the flapper 22 is located downward, the flapper 22 is sent to the buffer path 14. The preceding sheet P2 sent to the buffer path 14 is driven by the buffer roller 23 and the buffer roller 2 which is rotated by pressing the sheet against the buffer roller 23.
4, the paper is conveyed around the buffer roller 23. Here, the second flapper 25 rotates so that the preceding sheet P2 is sent in the direction in which the preceding sheet P2 is wound around the buffer roller 23.

Further, the buffer sensor 26 detects the leading edge of the preceding sheet P2, and when the leading edge of the preceding sheet P2 reaches a predetermined position, the driving of the buffer roller 23 is stopped and stopped in the buffer path 14. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the succeeding sheet P3 enters, the buffer roller 23 starts to rotate, and the preceding sheet P2 and the succeeding sheet P3 are superposed and conveyed. Further, when the trailing edge of the preceding sheet P2 passes the position of the second flapper 25, the second flapper 25 moves the two sheets P in the direction of the upstream discharge roller pair 16.
The sheets P2 and P3 are rotated so as to be fed, and the sheets P2 and P3 are discharged onto the staple tray 12 while the two sheets are stacked.

[Punch Processing] Next, punch processing when the punch mode is selected will be described (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

As shown in FIG. 7, the sensor unit 41 having the sheet lateral edge detecting sensors (sheet width edge detecting means) 41b, 41c, 41d and 41e is fixed to the punch unit 40, and the sheet P A light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are arranged in the vertical direction of the transport path so as to sandwich the transport path. The sheet lateral edge detection sensors 41b to 41
e is arranged according to the size of the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction), and in the present embodiment, the sheet lateral edge detection sensor 41.
b, 41c, 41d and 41e are B5, B5R,
The sheet A4 and the sheet A4R are arranged so as to match the sheet width direction end portions.

Further, in order to punch the trailing edge of the sheet, the sheet leading edge detecting sensor 4 for detecting the leading edge and trailing edge of the sheet (the front and rear edges in the sheet conveying direction).
1a is arranged so that it can be detected at a substantially central portion in the sheet width direction regardless of the sheet size.

As shown in FIG. 6, the punch unit 40 holds a driving shaft 40a, a cam 40b, a vertically movable sliding frame 40c, a punch 40d, and the punch 40d, and a spring (not shown) on the cam 40b. It is composed of a lower frame 40e biased by (1) and a punch motor 40f (see FIG. 8) connected to the drive shaft 40a. The cam 40b is fixed to the drive shaft 40a, and the punch 40
d is fixed to the sliding frame 40c, and when the punch motor 40f is driven, the drive is transmitted to the drive shaft 40a to rotate the cam 40b, so that the sliding frame 40c and the punch 40d are moved to the positions indicated by chain lines and solid lines. Moves up and down between positions. By the vertical movement of the punch 40d, the punching process is performed on the sheet P by penetrating the hole provided in the lower frame 40e.

Further, the rack portion 40g provided on the punch unit 40 and the gear 42a of the slide motor 42 are engaged with each other to slide the punch unit 40 back and forth in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Also, the rack section 40
A flag 40h formed on a part of g shields the slide home sensor 43 from light, thereby detecting the standby position (home position) of the punch unit 40.

Next, when the punch mode is selected,
The punch position correction control of the punch unit 40 in the sheet width direction will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Sheet P sent from image forming apparatus main body A
Sheet side signal, the sheet lateral edge detection sensors 41b, 41 arranged according to the respective sheet sizes.
The sensor to be used is determined from among c, 41d, and 41e. Specifically, the sheet lateral edge detection sensor 41b is set to B5.
R, 41c is A5, A4R, 41d is B5, B4, 41
e detects A4 and A3 (S1).

Thereafter, the leading edge of the sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus A is detected by the sheet leading edge detection sensor 41a (S2), and thereafter, at a timing when the sheet 100 passes a position 100 mm from the trailing edge of the sheet (S3). , Slide motor 4
2 to drive the punch unit 40 and the sensor unit 41.
7 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7 (S4), and when the sensor determined by the sheet size detects the lateral edge of the sheet, the slide motor 42 is stopped. Punch unit 4
Since 0 moves together with the sensor unit 41, the position of the punch unit 40 in the sheet width direction can be corrected according to the lateral registration of the sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body A (S5, S6). .

Since the amount of movement of the punch unit is physically limited, etc., if the lateral (widthwise) edge of the sheet cannot be detected even if the punch unit is moved by a predetermined amount (S21), the slide motor 42 is stopped ( S22).

At this time, when the staple mode is selected as the sheet processing mode, the staple mode is released and the operation is continued. If the staple mode is not selected, the mode is continued as it is (S2
3, S24).

By the above processing, the punching unit 40 performs punching processing on the sheet P with the punching unit stopped (S7), and then the slide motor 42 is driven in the direction opposite to the rotating direction (S8), When the punch unit 40 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow C and the slide home sensor 43 shields light (S9), the slide motor 42
Is stopped (S10). This control is repeatedly performed every time the sheet P is fed from the image forming apparatus main body A.

In the state where the staple mode is selected, when the sheet width direction end portions are normally detected for all sheets, the stapling operation is performed, and when even one sheet is not detected in the sheet width direction end portion. Cancels the staple mode (S24), and the stapling operation is prohibited.

Next, the control of the sheet conveying system in the punch mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Each sheet conveying roller 10, 15, 16, 1
7 is driven by each drive source 204, 205, 208.
After the sheet front end detection sensor 41a detects the sheet front end, the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount, and then the conveyance speed is reduced (S11, S1).
2). After that, when the trailing edge of the sheet is detected, a predetermined distance L
After one conveyance, the discharge motor 208 is stopped and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 is stopped (S13, S14). Paper ejection motor 2
After stopping at 08, the conveyance motor 205 and the entrance conveyance motor 20
4, the L2 sheet is conveyed by a predetermined distance, the conveyance motor 205 is stopped, and the second conveyance roller 15, the upstream discharge roller pair 16, and the buffer roller 23 are stopped (S1).
5). After the conveyance motor 205 is stopped, the entrance conveyance motor 20
After the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined distance L3 by 4, the entrance conveyance motor 204 is stopped and the first conveyance roller 10 is stopped (S1).
6).

At this time, the sheet P forms a loop in the path between the rollers, but the sheet conveyance amounts L2 and L3 are determined so that the loop of the sheet P does not become larger than the thickness of the path. Further, the path shape between the rollers may be set in consideration of the loop of the sheet P, and the sheet conveyance amount may be determined so that the sheet P is positively looped.

As described above, by providing a time difference between the stop timings of the rollers, the sheets P form a loop between the rollers, so that the sheets P are pulled between the rollers, and an adverse effect is caused thereby. Instead, the stopping accuracy of the sheet P is determined only by the stopping accuracy of the first transport roller.

After the sheet P is stopped, the punch unit 40 punches the sheet P (S17). After punching the sheet P, the driving is started again from the upstream rollers in order from the first transport roller 10 (S18, S19), the punched sheet P is transported, and the upstream discharge roller 16 and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 are transported. Eject the sheet P to the staple tray 12 or the stack tray 18 (S2
0).

[Loading on Staple Tray] In the staple mode, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the swing guide 20 is opened and the sheet P is discharged by the upstream discharge roller pair 16.
After being discharged onto the staple tray 12, the paddle 31 provided on the swing guide 20 and the knurled belt 32 which is rotated by the drive of the upstream discharge roller pair 16 are rotated in the arrow direction so that the rear end of the sheet P is a rear end stopper. Return to the position where it abuts 33. Then, the sheet P is pushed to one side by the side guide 11 and aligned, and then stapled by the stapler 13.

[Stapling Operation] Staple tray 12
The stack of sheets P stacked on the upper side of the sheet P includes a pair of downstream discharge rollers 17
The stapler 13 is bound by the stapler 13 in this state. Although various combinations of closing positions are conceivable, in the present embodiment, it is possible to select a mode in which one corner is bound and a mode in which two sides are bound. When the stapler 13 is not at the predetermined stapling position, the stapler 13 is moved to perform stapling at the predetermined position.

[Sheet Bundle Discharge] As described above, when the binding process is completed, the sheet discharge motor 208 rotates in the forward direction and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 rotates in the conveying direction to stack the sheet P on the stack tray 18. Discharge.

Further, by bringing the stack tray 18 close to the pair of downstream discharge rollers 17, it is possible to eliminate the bending of the sheet bundle to be discharged and prevent the bottom sheet of the sheet bundle from buckling.

[Structure of Control System of Sheet Processing Apparatus] Here, the structure of the control system of the sheet processing apparatus B will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 200 denotes an MPU as a control means, and the MPU 200 is a carry-in sensor 28,
Entry sensor 27, buffer sensor 26, discharge sensor 2
9, distance measuring sensor 54, stack sensor 53, sheet leading edge detection sensor 41a that detects the edge in the sheet transport direction used in the punch mode, sheet lateral edge detection that detects the edge in the sheet width direction for each paper size Sensors 41b, 41
c, 41d, 41e, and signals from the slide home position sensor 43 or the like that detects the home position of the slide mechanism of the punch unit.

Based on the signal, the first flapper solenoid 202 for switching the first flapper 22, the second flapper solenoid 203 for switching the second flapper 25, and the first conveying roller are driven via the drivers D1 to D12. Entrance transport motor 204, buffer roller 2
3, a conveying motor 205 for driving the upstream discharge roller pair 16 and the knurled belt 32, a paddle solenoid 206 for connecting / disconnecting the driving force from the conveying motor 205 for rotating the paddle 31, and a side guide 11 for sliding movement. Side guide motor 207, swing guide 2
The paper discharge motor 208 that swings 0 and drives the downstream discharge roller pair 17 in the forward and reverse directions, the stacker motor 209 that moves the stack tray 18 up and down, the staple motor 210 that binds the stapler 13 and feeds the staples, and the stapler 13 The staple moving motor 211 for moving the position, the punch motor 40f for performing the punching process, and the punch slide motor 42 for moving the unit for lateral registration adjustment of the punch unit.
Etc. are controlled.

Each motor controls a moving amount, a speed, etc. by a control input pulse or an encoder input for detecting a rotation amount.

According to the above configuration, even when the lateral registration of the sheet is largely deviated and the edge portion in the sheet width direction cannot be detected, the perforation process is performed by considering the deviation amount from the physical range of the transport path as the allowable range. This makes it possible to prevent the unpunched sheet from being mixed.

Further, when the binding process such as stapling is performed in a state where the sheets whose punching positions are displaced by the above-mentioned process are mixed, it is possible to prevent the binding process such as binding due to the displacement of the hole positions.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the punching means is moved in the width direction of the sheet and the punching position in the sheet width direction is determined based on the detection signal of the sheet size detecting means, the punching position can be set with high accuracy and the lateral registration of the sheet can be performed. Even if the edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction cannot be detected due to a large deviation, it is possible to prevent the unpunched sheet from mixing by performing punching processing considering the deviation amount from the physical range of the transport path as an allowable range. Becomes

Further, when the binding process such as stapling is carried out in the state where the sheets whose punching positions are displaced by the above-mentioned process are mixed, it is possible to prevent the binding process from being defective due to the displacement of the hole positions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a buffer path unit and a plurality of sheet conveying rollers.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a sheet processing device swing guide and a staple tray.

FIG. 5 is a sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a staple tray and an alignment portion.

FIG. 6 is a sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a punch unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a punch unit and a sheet edge detecting unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart relating to lateral registration correction of the punch unit in the punch mode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the sheet conveying system in the punch mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

A image forming apparatus main body B sheet processing apparatus P sheet 3 image forming means 13 stapler 40 punch unit 40a drive shaft 40d punch 40f punch motor 40g rack section 41 sensor unit 41a sheet leading edge detection sensors 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e sheet lateral edge Part detection sensor (sheet width end part detection means) 42 slide motor (moving means) 43 slide home sensor 200 MPU (control means)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shigeru Sugita             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation (72) Inventor Kazunori Sasa             5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido City, Ibaraki Prefecture Canon             Within Aptex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuo Onodera             5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido City, Ibaraki Prefecture Canon             Within Aptex Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H072 AA16 AA24 AB10 AB15 GA02                       GA08                 3C060 AA20 BA01 BF04 BG13 BH01                 3F048 AA02 AA04 AA05 AB01 BA07                       BB03 CA09 CA10 DA06 DA07                 3F108 GA02 GA03 GA04 GB01 GB07                       HA02 HA32

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying a sheet, a perforating means for perforating an end portion of the sheet conveyed by the conveying means, and a sheet end portion in a width direction substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet is detected. A sheet processing apparatus including a sheet width edge detection unit, a sheet leading edge detection unit that detects the position of the sheet in the conveyance direction, and a moving unit that moves the punching unit and the sheet size detection unit in the sheet width direction. In the above, when the sheet width direction end portion is not detected by the sheet width end portion detecting means, the moving means moves the punching means by a predetermined amount, and then the punching means is operated. Sheet processing equipment. 2. A staple means for staple-fixing a bundle of a plurality of sheets is provided, and when the staple mode by the staple means is selected, the sheet size detecting means does not detect the widthwise end portion of the sheet. In this case, the staple mode is canceled for the sheet bundle to which the sheet belongs, and the punching means is operated after the punching means is moved by the moving means by a predetermined amount. The sheet processing apparatus described. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet.