JP2003226462A - Device for stitching sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a space saving saddle stitching device positioning a designated part of a sheet material to a stitching position of a stapler unit according to a size of the sheet material to be stitched. <P>SOLUTION: A left and right pair of staple units 40 provided with a driver unit 60 and a clincher unit 80 for stitching a plurality of paper sheets P with staples are arranged in a horizontal direction. A first guiding plate 5 guiding the paper sheets P so as to convey the papers P with its own weight to a stitching position of a staple by the staple unit 40 is formed toward a gravity direction. An introducing opening 4 for sheet material is provided in an upper part side of the first guiding plate 5. A support plate 133 (support member) supporting a lower end part of the paper sheet P is arranged in a lower side of a slide guide 9 in such a manner that vertical height can be adjusted to position a center part of the introduced paper sheet P to the stitching position of a pair of the staple units 40R, 40L regardless of size of the paper sheet P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material binding device for saddle-stitching a plurality of sheets of paper after printing or copying in a printer or a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet material binding apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-157181, "Post-processing apparatus for recording paper".
Is disclosed.

This Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-157181 is provided with a stapler device for inserting a recording paper between two stapler members and binding it at an arbitrary position to make a bookbinding product. The stapler member is moved. It is intended to simplify the structure of the drive system by including the means and the positioning means.

According to the summary of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-157181, in a stapler device provided to be connected to an electrophotographic copying machine or the like, a stapling function is provided in a driver unit for ejecting staples and a clincher unit for bending staples of staples. Separate and prepare two parallel guide rods that extend laterally with respect to the direction in which these driver unit and clincher unit face each other, and one guide rod is provided with a carrier for carrier of the driver unit slidably, and the other guide rod. A clincher unit carrying carrier is slidably provided on the guide rod, the driver unit is carried by the driver unit carrying carrier, and the clincher unit is carried by the clincher unit carrying carrier.

A rotary shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the guide rods is arranged in the vicinity of the pair of guide rods, and a pair of upper and lower drive pulleys that rotate integrally with the rotary shaft are attached to the rotary shaft. This pair of pulleys is for the carrier for carrier of the driver unit and the carrier for carrier of the clincher unit, and the pair of upper and lower driven pulleys corresponding to suspend the belt are separated from the rotary shaft in the axial direction of the guide rod. It is located in the Therefore, a pair of upper and lower belts are stretched around, the driver unit carrying carrier is fixed to the lower belt, and the clincher unit carrying carrier is fixed to the upper belt.

Due to the rotation of the rotary shaft described above, the upper and lower belts are simultaneously rotated so that the driver unit carrier and the clincher unit carrier can be moved left and right by the same amount.

[0007]

However, the post-processing apparatus described in the above publication, firstly, feeds the paper in a substantially horizontal direction. There are problems that space is disadvantageous and that it becomes complicated to provide a paper feed mechanism and a center folding mechanism.

Secondly, when the paper is fed in the horizontal direction, A
When binding a plurality of sheets of A4, A3, and B4 with staples, it is difficult to align the front and rear ends and the left and right ends of the paper feed, and the paper feed amount and the paper size measurement process are performed. Since it is necessary, it is difficult to position the central portion of the paper at the binding position of the staple unit according to the size of the paper.

Thirdly, in the case of a method of feeding paper in the horizontal direction,
Gravity of the leading edge of the fed paper causes the leading edge of the latter paper to enter the binding table underneath the previously fed paper, and so-called misalignment is likely to occur, which disrupts the order of the bound paper. There's a problem.

Fourth, since the two stapler units perform the binding operation, and each of them is driven by a different motor, the cost is increased and a large current is required.

Fifth, a pair of rollers for center folding,
When the center folding mechanism is composed of a folding plate that feeds out the central portion of the paper between a pair of rollers, the pair of rollers and the driving mechanism of the folding plate are driven by different motors, respectively, which increases the cost. There's a problem.

The saddle stitching device according to the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, is space-saving, and allows a predetermined portion of a sheet material to be attached to a predetermined portion of the stapler unit according to the size of the sheet material to be bound. The objectives are to simplify the paper feed mechanism that is located at the binding position, reduce the motor that is the drive source for the stapler unit, and the drive source motor for folding the bound paper to reduce costs. To do.

[0013]

A saddle stitching device according to the present invention is
When binding sheet materials such as paper of various sizes such as 4, A3, B4, etc., regardless of the size of these sheet materials, a predetermined position in the height direction of the sheet materials (longitudinal direction of the sheet material) The purpose of the present invention is to enable binding by a staple unit.

Therefore, the binding device of the present invention is the first
In order to perform a binding process on a plurality of sheet materials by a staple unit, a pair of left and right staple units are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the sheet materials are conveyed by their own weight to the staple binding position by the staple unit. A fixed guide member (plate) for guiding the sheet material is formed in the staple unit in the direction of gravity, and an introduction portion (introduction port) for the sheet material is provided on the upper side of the fixed guide member.
A support that supports a lower end portion of the sheet material below the fixed guide member so that a predetermined portion of the sheet material is located at a binding position of the staple unit regardless of a difference in size of the sheet material. The members are arranged so that the vertical height can be adjusted.

As a result, saddle stitching can be performed at low cost without using as much electric power as possible for the sheet material feeding mechanism.

Secondly, the binding device of the present application pushes the sheet material on the fixed guide member toward the fixed guide member so that the sheet material can be placed on the already conveyed sheet material regardless of the size of the sheet material. The pressing mechanism is provided to prevent the post-fed sheet material from entering before the pre-fed sheet material.

Thirdly, the binding device of the present application changes the introducing direction of the sheet material introduced from the upper sheet material introducing section,
Along with the fixed guide member, the movable guide member (which may be a plate, a rod, or a net) that guides the lower end of the sheet material introduced from the sheet material introducing portion to the fixed guide member side can be moved up and down. A linking mechanism for linking the movement guide member and the support member supporting the lower end of the sheet material, wherein the linking mechanism is arranged such that the support member is located in a lower region in its own moving region. The moving guide member is located in the upper region of its own moving region, and the moving guide member is located in the lower region of its own moving region when the supporting member is located in the upper region of its own moving region. It works together to position it.

With this structure, even if the sheet material is a small sheet, it is possible to prevent so-called misalignment in which the sheet material to be advanced is inserted before the sheet material to be advanced and the order is disturbed.

Fourthly, in the binding device of the present application, when the sheet material is held by the supporting member which holds the lower end portion of the sheet material, the succeeding sheet material is always placed on the previously fed sheet material. The fixed guide member is inclined with respect to the vertical direction in order to prevent the stacking order of the sheet materials from being disturbed.

According to this structure, the effect of preventing the above-mentioned irregularity is further improved.

Fifthly, the binding device of the present invention is provided with a left / right width adjusting mechanism for the staple unit for adjusting the staple binding position by freely moving the staple unit in the left / right direction according to the width of the sheet material. It is a thing.

Sixth, in the binding device of the present application, the left and right staple units are driven at different times, so that the drive source can be downsized and the power consumption can be reduced.

Seventh, in the binding device of the present application, when binding a plurality of sheet materials so that the left and right ends of the bound sheet materials are aligned and a beautiful finish can be obtained, A side edge aligning mechanism for aligning the left and right edges of a plurality of sheet materials is provided.

Eighth, the binding device of the present invention is one in which a pair of rolls and a center folding plate are arranged below the staple unit, and the center folding mechanism is constituted by the pair of rolls and the center folding plate.

Ninth, the binding device of the present application comprises a pair of parallel rolls extending horizontally below the staple unit and contacting each other, and a pair of rolls extending parallel to the pair of rolls. A center folding plate that moves in and out of the nip position is arranged, and a drive mechanism that moves the center folding plate toward and away from the nip point of the pair of rolls and a rotation mechanism of the pair of rolls are driven by a common motor. It is configured to be driven.

Tenth, in the binding device of the present application, at the time of binding, the predetermined position of the fed sheet material is positioned at the binding position of the staple unit according to the size of the sheet material. Control means for changing the height of the support member and changing the height of the support member so that the staple binding position of the sheet material is located at the nip position of the pair of rolls after the binding by the staple unit is completed. It is characterized by having.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sheet material binding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a finisher as a sheet material binding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 1, a finisher 1 includes a box-shaped housing 2 made of a metal panel, and an upper wall portion 2A and a lower wall portion 2B each having a U-shaped cross section and a metal pillar 3 extending vertically.
The left and right pairs are fixed. Upper wall 2A of housing 2
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet introduction port 4 for the paper is used.
Is opened. The left-right width of the introduction port 4 corresponds approximately to the distance between the left and right columns 3, 3.

The pair of columns 3 and 3 are inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, and a first guide plate 5 as a fixed guide member is fixed to the columns 3 and 3 with screws. As shown in FIG. 7, fixing plates 6A and 6B are fixed to the columns 3 and 3, and end portions of the fixing plates 6A and 6B are fixed to the side wall portions 2R and 2L of the housing 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a second guide plate 7 is attached to the opposite position of the first guide plate 5.
The lower part of the second guide plate 7 is screwed to the upper edge of the driver unit mounting plate 41 provided below it.
The driver unit mounting plate 41 is a plate for mounting the driver units 60 and 61 in the staple units 40R and 40L including the driver units 60 and 61 and the clincher units 80 and 81.

Between the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 7,
The slide guide 9 is arranged. Three openings 10 are formed on the left and right of the second guide plate 7 (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

The slide guide 9 is a movement guide plate of the present invention, and is formed in an elongated plate shape as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, and the inclined portions 11 are provided at three positions on the upper edge of the slide guide 9. Are formed. Inclined portion 1 of slide guide 9
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet No. 1 is inclined so that the lower end portions of the sheets P fed by the rollers 12 and 16 come into contact with the sheet P, and the inclined surface extends close to the maximum number of sheets that can be bound. There is. Paper P sent from rollers 12 and 16
Are sent in parallel to the upper portions of the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 7, and the inclined portion 11 is formed so as to block the traveling direction of the paper P. The inclined portions 11 of the slide guide 9 are formed at three places, and the inclined portions 11 of the slide guide 9 project from the openings 10 at the three places of the second guide plate 7. The slide guide 9 and the lower linking mechanism will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part of the second guide plate 7 is formed parallel to the first guide plate 5, and the gap between the upper part of the second guide plate 7 and the first guide plate 5 is a slide guide. Widely set so that 9 can move up and down in parallel with the first guide plate 5. The gap between the lower part of the second guide plate 7 and the first guide plate 5 is
The paper (which may be a plastic sheet or the like) introduced from the introduction port 4 is formed narrow so as to regulate the movement in the thickness direction of the lower part.

A roller 16 is provided near the upper end of the first guide plate 5, as shown in FIG. The roller 16 is the rotating shaft 1 of the bearing 13R attached to the second guide plate 7.
It is supported by 4R. A touch sensor 17 is attached to the center of the rotary shaft 14R. Touch sensor 1
A photo interrupter 18 is attached in the vicinity of 7.

A roller 12 made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber or metal or synthetic resin is provided above the second guide plate 7 for introducing paper. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary shaft 12A of the roller 12 is supported by an L-shaped bearing 13, and is rotated by a motor 15 and its gear mechanism provided on the right side of the second guide plate 7 in FIG. Roller 12
As shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral surface of the is protruded toward the first guide plate 5 side from the opening provided in the second guide plate 7.

A roller 16 made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber is also provided in parallel with the roller 12 on the upper part of the first guide plate 5, and the paper P which the rollers 12 and 16 have entered from the introduction port 4 is housed. 2 Install inside. The roller 16 and the roller 12 are in contact with each other in a state of pressing each other, and the rotation of the roller 12 causes the roller 16 to rotate. Needless to say, an opening is formed in the upper part of the first guide plate 5 so as to project the outer peripheral surface of the roller 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, a touch sensor 17 for counting the paper P is provided in the vicinity of the center of the roller 16 in the longitudinal direction.
Is provided. The touch sensor 17 is rotatable around the pin 33, and is normally urged by a spring or the like so that the long axis portion L of the touch sensor 17 projects into the introduction port 4. A transmissive interrupter 18 is provided in the rotation region of the short axis portion S of the touch sensor 17, and when the paper P touches the touch sensor 17, the long axis portion L of the touch sensor 17 rotates downward to cause the interrupter. Touch sensor 1 between 18 photodiodes and phototransistors
The short shaft portion S of 7 is cut off. When the paper P passes through the area where the touch sensor 17 is provided, it means that one paper P has passed between the rollers 12 and 16.
The off time of the interrupter 18 is the paper passage time.

The motor 15 may be a stepping motor, and the touch sensor 17 may be omitted by measuring the number of rotation pulses and detecting the passage of the paper P. Further, the light between the photodiode and the phototransistor of the interrupter 18 may be always blocked so that the light is transmitted when the paper P passes through the touch sensor 17.

[0039]

[Pressing Mechanism] A pressing mechanism 20 is provided above the second guide plate 7. FIG. 3 shows the shape of the pressing mechanism 20. The pressing mechanism 20 has a function of pressing the paper P stacked on the first guide plate 5 against the first guide plate 5. Pressing mechanism 2
0 is a frame-shaped frame 21 and rotating shafts 22 and 23.
And belts 24 and 25, and a fan-shaped rotating body 26 that intermittently contacts the paper P.

The upper portion of the frame 21 is pivotally attached to the rotary shaft 12A of the roller 12 so as to be suspended from the upper portion of the second guide plate 7 toward the staple unit side. Frame 21
A guide plate portion 27 facing the first guide plate 5 is integrally formed in the lower part of the. The guide plate portion 27 is formed with a pair of openings 28 that allow the rotation of the rotating body 26.

A gear 29 is arranged between the upper ends of the frame 21. The gear 29 is non-rotatably attached to the rotary shaft 12A and is rotated by the rotation of the motor 15. Gear 2
One end of a belt 24 having a gear inside is hung on the inner surface 9. The other end of the belt 24 is hung around a rotary shaft 22 which is rotatably attached to the lower part of the central portion of the frame 21. A gear that meshes with the gear of the belt 24 is formed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 22. Similarly to the belt 24, one end of a belt 25 having a gear formed inside is stretched around the rotating shaft 22, and the other end of the belt 25 is stretched around a rotating shaft 23 having a gear formed on the outer peripheral surface. ing. The pressing rotating body 26 is fixed so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 23, and the rotating shaft 23 is rotatably held with respect to the frame 21.

The rotation of the belts 24 and 25 is transmitted through the rotation shaft 22, and the rotation speed of the roller 12 is the same as the rotation speed of the circular arc contact portion 26A of the fan of the rotating body 26. It is set to speed.

When the roller 12 rotates, the rotation of the roller 29 includes the gear 29, the belt 24, the rotary shaft 22, the belt 25, and the rotary shaft 2.
3 and the rotating body 26 rotates together with the roller 12. The rotating body 26 intermittently presses the paper P stacked on the first guide plate 5 against the first guide plate 5 with its outer circumferential surface having a sectoral arc shape. A rubber layer is provided on the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface, a mylar film is attached, the rotating body 26 itself is made of a metal plate, and the arc-shaped outer peripheral portion is bent parallel to the first guide plate 5 to form a flange shape. It may be formed.

The initial standby position of the fan-shaped contact portion 26A of the rotating body 26 is a position facing the opposite direction of the first guide plate 5 and a position apart from the first guide plate 5, and at the time of stopping or by the stapling unit. It is also in a position away from the first guide plate 5 during binding.

A shaft 30 is attached to an upper portion of the rotary shaft 22 in the center of the frame 21, and one end of a coil spring 31 for pulling the frame 21 toward the first guide plate 5 is hooked on the shaft 30. ing. The other end of the coil spring 31 is hooked on a protrusion 32 provided on the second guide plate 7.

[0046]

[Staple Unit] Below the pressing mechanism 20, staple units 40L and 40R as a binding mechanism are provided.
And are arranged. This staple unit 40L
Is a driver unit 60 and a clincher unit 8
0 is a main constituent element and is paired with a staple unit 40R including a driver unit 61 and a clincher unit 81.

The stapling unit 40L is arranged on the front side of FIG. 1 and its left and right ends are fixed to the columns 3 and 3 with a driver unit mounting plate 41, and on the back side of FIG. It is provided with a clincher box 90 shown in FIG.

Openings 43 and 44 are formed in the driver unit mounting plate 41, and the openings 43 and 44 are formed.
The driver units 60 and 61 having the openings 43 and 44 as the moving regions are arranged at the edges of the.

As shown in FIG. 6, a support plate 45 having a height flush with the first guide plate 5 is attached to the portion between the openings 43 and 44 so that the paper P can smoothly pass therethrough. ,
The paper P is supported by the support plate 45. Bearings 46 to 53 are fixed to the upper and lower edges of the support plate 45 and the outer edges of the openings 43 and 44.

A guide rod 54 is fixed to the bearing portions 46 and 47 fixed to the left and right edges of the upper portion of the opening 43, and the bearing portions 48 and 49 fixed to the left and right edges of the upper portion of the opening 44. The guide rod 55 is fixed.

A guide rod 56 is fixed to the bearing portions 50 and 51 fixed to the left and right edges of the lower portion of the opening 43 and the bearing portions 52 and 53 fixed to the left and right edges of the lower portion of the opening 44. .

The upper guide rod 54 and the lower guide rod 56 penetrate the driver unit 60,
The driver unit 60 is slidably supported in the axial direction of the guide rods 54 and 56.

The upper guide rod 54 and the lower guide rod 56 penetrate the driver unit 61,
The driver unit 61 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the guide rods 54 and 56.

As shown in FIG. 4, the driver unit 60 has a driver holder 63 that supports the driver body 62. The driver holder 63 includes a pair of support portions 64 through which the guide rod 56 and the guide rod 54 penetrate, and the driver holder 63 is slidable in the axial direction of the guide rods 54 and 56. The pair of support portions 64 are integrally connected by the connecting plate portion 65.

A pair of pulleys 66 are axially fixed to the connecting plate portion 65 in the left-right direction in FIG. Wires 67H and 67L are wound around the groove formed on the outer peripheral portion of the pulley 66. The lower wire 67L is immovably fixed by a wire fixing plate 68, and the entire driver unit 60 can be moved left and right by the movement of the wire 67L.

On the support portion 64 of the driver holder 63, as shown in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
2 is held so that it can approach and separate from the connecting plate portion 65. The driver main body 62 includes an anvil Ab that serves as a base for bending a straight staple into a U-shape.
It has a forming plate F for forming staples into a U-shape and a flat-plate driver D for pushing out the staples to the clincher unit 80 side.

The driver D and the molding plate F are supported and fixed by the pin 69 of the support portion 64, and the driver body 6
2 is pushed by the clincher unit 80 and driver D
And the forming plate F are relatively close to the clincher unit 80 side.

The driver main body 62 has a box shape in which the upper and upper side portions of FIG. 4 are opened, and the cartridge 70 is detachably mounted therein. Cartridge 7
A staple sheet 71 in which a plurality of straight staples are arranged in parallel and connected to each other can be stacked and stored in the inside of the cartridge 0. The staple sheet can be fed from the lower end of the cartridge 70 so as to be adjacent to the anvil Ab. It has become.

The forming plate F forms a staple located one position above the lower end of the fed staple sheet into a U-shape, and the driver D pushes out the staple already formed in the U-shape to the clincher unit 80 side.

The configuration of the driver unit 61 side is also similar to that of the driver unit 60, and thus the description thereof is cited, but the sides on which the wires 67H and 67L are fixed are different, and in the driver unit 61, the upper wire 67H is Fixed.

The wires 67H and 67L are one endless belt-shaped connected wire 67, and are wound around the pulley 72 so as to separate the pair of driver units 60 and 61 from each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pulley 72 is rotatably fixed to an attachment plate 73 attached to the side of the driver unit attachment plate 41. The mounting plate 73 is mounted on a flange 74 formed at the lower end.

Further, a groove-shaped member 75 is fixed to the left side of the driver unit mounting plate 41, and a pair of pulleys 76 and 77 are fixed to the front and rear ends of the groove-shaped member 75, respectively.

The wires 67H and 67L are fixed to the driver units 60 and 61, and then the pair of pulleys 76 and
77 (see FIG. 7) and then extends to the rear side of the pair of clincher units 80 and 81 arranged opposite to the driver units 60 and 61, and further to the rotation arranged on the right side of FIG. Pulley 79 of shaft 78 (Fig. 5,
(See FIG. 7).

That is, the wire 67 is the driver unit 6
Wires 67H are fixed to the driver unit 60, and a wire 67L is fixed to the clincher unit 80. A wire 67L is fixed to the driver unit 61,
A wire 67H is fixed to the clincher unit 81.

As a result, the driver unit 60,
When the wire 67 moves in the R1 direction in FIG. 5 on the 61 side, the driver unit 60 fixed to the wire 67H moves to the left side L1 in FIG.
The driver unit 61 fixed to 7L moves to the right side R1 in FIG.

Similarly, when the wire 67 moves in the R1 direction in FIG. 5, on the clincher unit 80 side, the clincher unit 80 fixed to the wire 67L moves in the left L2 direction while facing the driver unit 60, Right side R with the clincher unit 81 fixed to the wire 67H facing the driver unit 61
Move in two directions. As a result, the staple unit 40L and the staple unit 40R can move toward and away from each other with the same amount of movement.

Both ends of the rod 78 of the pulley 79 for driving the wire 67 are supported by the flanges 84 of the column 83 fixed to the column 3 on the right side of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. A motor 85 is attached to the column 83,
A gear 86 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 85.
The gear 86 meshes with the gear 87, and the gear 87 rotates the worm gear 88. The worm gear 88 rotates the gear 89, and the gear 89 rotates the rod 78. The motor 85 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown).

The clincher units 80 and 81 are provided at positions facing the driver units 60 and 61. The clincher units 80 and 81 are stored inside the clincher box 90. The clincher unit 8 is provided on the vertical wall portion 91 of the clincher box 90.
Upper guide hole 92 for sliding 0, 81 left and right
And a pair of lower guide holes 93 are opened.

In the clincher units 80 and 81, the clincher unit 102, which will be described later, has driver units 60 and 6.
When the driver main body 62, 62 of the driver unit 60, 61 is pressed toward the first side, the driver main body 62, 6 is pressed.
2 is relatively separated from the clincher units 80 and 81, while the driver D supported by the support portion 64 is projected from the inside of the driver bodies 62 and 62. by this,
The forming plate F bends the straight staples into a U-shape, and the driver D causes the staples to penetrate the paper P, and the clincher portion 102 bends the staple tips of the staples to bind the paper P.

The bolts 96 of the clincher units 80 and 81 are slidably inserted into the left and right upper guide holes 92, and the stopper plate 97 prevents the bolts 96 from coming off the upper guide holes 92.

The bolts 98 of the clincher units 80 and 81 are slidably inserted in the lower guide holes 93, and the bolts 98 are prevented from coming off the upper guide holes 93 from the stopper plate 99.

The left and right stopper plates 99 are provided in the passage areas of the upper and lower wires 67H and 67L, respectively. The wire 67L is fixed to the stopper plate 99 of the clincher unit 80, and the wire 67H is free. . The wire 67H is fixed to the stopper plate 99 of the clincher unit 81.
7L is free.

That is, in the left-right width adjusting mechanism in the invention of the present application, the guide rods 54 to 57 for sliding the driver units 60 and 61, the wires 67, the wire fixing plate 68, and the guide holes 92 and 93 for sliding the clincher units 80 and 81. , Bolts 96, 98. The staple unit can freely move in the left-right direction according to the left-right width of the sheet material, and the staple binding position can be adjusted.

The clincher unit 80 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in, the clincher body 100 is provided. The clincher body 100 is held by a clincher holder 101. The bolts 96, 98 are screwed into the clincher holder 101, and move with the movement of the clincher holder 101. The clincher body 100 approaches the driver unit 60.
The clincher part 102 which separates is provided. The clincher portion 102 advances and retreats toward the driver unit 60 by the rotation of the gear 103 shown in FIG. 8, and the gear 103 is driven by the gear 104. The gears 103 and 104 are respectively fixed to bearings 105 attached to the bottom of the clincher box 90.

As shown in FIG. 4, a concave portion 102A for introducing a pair of staple tips of a U-shaped staple is formed in the upper portion of the clincher portion 102, and the concave portion 10 is formed.
A pressing portion 102B for bending the staple tip of the entered staple inward is provided in 2A. A protrusion 102C is formed below the clincher portion 102, and the lower end of the link 102D is coupled to the protrusion 102C. The fulcrum of the link 102D is 102E, and the upper end of the link 102D is urged toward the vertical wall 91 side of the clincher box 90 by a spring 102F. The pin of the link 102H is inserted into the elongated hole 102G of the link 102E, the link 102H is attached coaxially with the gear 103, and can rotate integrally with the gear 103.

The gear 103 has a drive tube 10 for power transmission.
6 penetrates, and a pair of protrusions are provided on the left and right sides of the gear 103. The gear 103 and the drive tube 106 rotate integrally. Grooves 107 and 108 are formed in the axial direction at the left and right ends of the drive tube 106. The grooves 107 and 108 are formed in the drive tube 106.
Is formed at a position deviated from the center of the axis in the direction around the axis.

The deviation of the angles of the grooves 107 and 108 is provided for the purpose of shifting the projecting timing of the clincher portions 102 of the left and right clincher main bodies 100, and the deviation of the angles during rotation is provided. The stapling operation is provided in order so that the staple stapling operation of one staple unit is performed after the staple stapling operation of the other staple unit, and the motor 10 that drives the gears 103 and 104 is provided.
The load of 9 (see FIG. 7) is reduced.

That is, the clincher section 102 cooperates with the driver units 60 and 61 to insert the staples into the bundle of sheets and bend the legs of the staples. At that time, when the pair of left and right clincher sections 102 are projected at the same time,
The motor 109 requires double the torque. However, the groove 10
By providing an angle around the axis of the drive tube 106 to 7, 108, either the left or right clincher portion 102 projects first and the next clincher portion 102 projects later, so that an increase in torque can be prevented. .

As shown in FIG. 10, the clincher body 1
At 00, the input shafts 110 respectively project toward the drive tube 106. The input shaft 110 extending from the left and right clincher main body 100 rotatably penetrates the side wall of the clincher box 90 and is inserted inside the drive tube 106. The left and right edges of the grooves 107 and 108 of the drive tube 106 are bent inside the shaft so as to be flat, and the cross section of the drive tube 106 is formed in a D shape. The input shaft 110 also has a flat surface 111 so as to fit into the edges of the grooves 107 and 108 and has a D-shaped cross section.

As a result, the clincher unit 8
Even when 0 and 81 slide left and right, the fitted state between the input shaft 110 and the drive tube 106 is maintained, and the rotational force of the drive tube 106 is transmitted to the input shaft 110. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the gear 104 is exposed through a hole 104A opened in the vertical wall portion 91 of the clincher box 90, and the gear 104 is meshed with the gear 109A. Gear 10
9A is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 109 attached to the vertical wall portion 91.

A stopper plate 99 is attached to the vertical wall portion 91 of each clincher box 90 in the clincher unit 80, 81 by a bolt 98. The stopper plate 99 of either one of the clincher units 80 and 81 fixes the wire 67H, and the other stopper plate 99 fixes the wire 67L. Since the method of fixing the wires 67H and 67L is as described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

Further, with respect to the structure of the above-mentioned bearing portion, the guide rod 56 may be supported only by the bearing portions 50 and 53, and the bearing portions 51 and 52 may be omitted. Also,
The guide rod 56 does not have to be a single rod-shaped structure that passes through the bearing portions 50, 51, 52, 53, but the guide rod 56 is
2 rod-shaped structures, one for each bearing 50, 5
The structure may be such that one is supported and the other is supported by the bearing portions 52 and 53.

[0084]

[Cooperation Mechanism of Movement Guide Member] The slide guide 9 which is a movement guide plate and the first guide plate 5 and the second guide plate 5 guide the paper P introduced from the introduction port 4 toward the first guide plate 5 side. It is arranged so as to be vertically movable between the guide plates 7, and vertically moved by the cooperation mechanism 120.

The cooperation mechanism 120 comprises a wire 121, pulleys 122H and 122L, and a cooperation plate 125. A belt may be used instead of the wire 121.

As shown in FIG. 11, the left and right end portions of the slide guide 9 are fixed to the wires 121 arranged near the left and right columns 3, 3. Left and right wires 121
The upper and lower sides of the above are suspended around an upper pulley 122H and a lower pulley 122L.

The left and right upper pulleys 122H are connected by a shaft 123. Both ends of the shaft 123 are rotatably held by the left and right columns 3. Similarly,
The left and right lower pulleys 122L are connected by a shaft 124. Both ends of the shaft 124 are rotatably held by the left and right columns 3.

Upper pulley 122H and lower pulley 122L
The wire 121 hung on the
Although A and 120B run, the slide guide 9 is fixed to the parallel portion 120A near the first guide plate 5,
In the parallel portion 120B at a position away from the first guide plate 5,
Both ends of the cooperation plate 125 are fixed.

A vertical portion 126 is attached to the lower edge of the central portion of the linking plate 125, and the vertical portion 126 is supported by a support mechanism 130 that vertically moves the paper P in accordance with its size to adjust its height. To be done.

The cooperation plate 125 is the spring 1 shown in FIG.
41 is pulled in the direction of gravity by the vertical portion 12
6 is supported by the support plate 133 and is stopped. The upper end portion of the spring 141 is the cooperation plate 125.
It is hung on the lower edge of. The lower end of the spring 141 is hooked on the clincher box 90.

[0091]

[Sheet Support Mechanism] FIGS. 12 and 13 show the support mechanism 1.
30 is shown. The support mechanism 130 includes a laminated plate 131 that stacks the paper P, a support plate 133 that is provided in the center of the support plate 132 that supports the lower end of the paper P, a belt 134 that moves the support plate 132 up and down, and a belt. A gear mechanism 135 for driving 134 and a motor 136 are roughly configured. Reference numeral 134A denotes a geared roller that hangs the belt 134, and the geared roller 134A is rotated by a motor 136 via a gear mechanism 135. A roller 134B hangs the lower end portion of the belt 134.

Three L-shaped receiving portions 137 are formed on the lower edge of the support plate 132. This receiving portion 137
Are projected from three openings 138 opened in the laminated plate 131. A guide 137A for smoothly receiving a sheet is provided at the tip of the receiving portion 137.

In the supporting mechanism 130, the motor 136 rotates to rotate the belt 134 in response to a selection signal from the switch S1 for selecting the size of the paper provided on the upper part of the apparatus, and the supporting plate 133 is moved in either the upper or lower direction. It is moved and stopped at a position designated in advance corresponding to the size of the selected paper. A pair of protrusions 139 is provided on the support plate 132, and circular openings 140 are provided on the left and right edges of the opening 138 of the laminated plate 131 extending in the vertical direction.

The circular opening 140 has a size of paper, for example, a position A for binding A3 paper and a position B for center folding. The circular openings 140 are formed corresponding to the size of the paper.

A support plate 132 is provided on the back surface side of the laminated plate 131.
A pair of guide plates 142 that support the guide plate 142 are attached, and the support plate 132 can move between the guide plate 142 and the laminated plate 131.

That is, to explain the invention of claim 1 of the present application in accordance with this embodiment, a driver unit for punching out U-shaped staples for binding a plurality of sheets of paper P (sheet material) by staples. A staple unit 40L including a clincher unit 60 for bending a staple tip 60 of a U-shaped staple, a driver unit 61, and a clincher unit 40R including a clincher unit 81 for bending a staple tip of a U-shaped staple. And the left and right in the horizontal direction, and a first guide plate 5 (fixed guide member) for guiding the paper P so that the paper P is conveyed by its own weight to the staple binding position by the staple units 40L and 40R. The sheet material introduction portion 1 is formed on the upper side of the first guide plate 5 while being formed in the direction of gravity.
7 is provided below the slide guide 9 so that the central portion (predetermined portion) of the paper P introduced regardless of the size of the paper P is positioned at the binding position of the pair of staple units 40R and 40L. On the side, a support plate 133 (support member) that supports the lower end of the paper P is arranged so that the vertical height can be adjusted.

Thus, when binding paper, it is possible to adjust the position to support the paper in accordance with the binding position of the paper, the paper can be easily transported, and the order of the paper to be bound is different. It can prevent the disordered state. This is particularly effective when binding small papers.

Further, in this embodiment, the slide guide 9 for guiding the lower end of the paper introduced from the introduction port 4 of the paper P as the sheet material to the first guide plate 5 (fixed guide member) side.
The (movement guide member) is provided so as to be movable up and down by the wire 121, and when the support plate 133 (support member) is located in the lower region of the movement region, the slide guide 9 is moved to the upper region of the movement region. The slide guide 9 and the support plate 13 are positioned so that when the support plate 133 is located in the upper area of the moving area, the slide guide 9 is located in the lower area of the moving area.
A linking mechanism 120 that links 3 and 3 is provided.

As a result, the vertical movement of the support plate 133 is transmitted as the vertical movement of the cooperation plate 125, the vertical movement of the cooperation plate 125 is transmitted to the wire 121 hung on the pulleys 122H and 122L, and the slide guide 9 cooperates. The movement opposite to that of the plate 125 is performed.

For example, when the paper is large such as A3 portrait paper, the support plate 133 is lowered, but the slide guide 9
Is in a raised position, and when the paper is small such as A4 portrait paper, the support plate 133 is raised while the slide guide 9 is lowered and is in a lower position.

Therefore, in the case of a small sheet such as an A4 vertical sheet, since the lower end of the sheet introduced from the introduction port 4 reaches the lower position and then hits the slide guide 9, the first guide plate 5 is contacted first. The A4 portrait paper of the next rank is prevented from entering before the sent A4 portrait paper.

Further, in this embodiment, the first paper P is placed on the paper P already conveyed regardless of the size of the paper P.
Since the pressing mechanism 20 for pressing the paper P is provided on the guide plate 5,
When the paper P is introduced from above onto the paper P stacked on the first guide plate 5, the subsequent paper P does not enter in front of the paper P previously stacked.

Further, the first guide plate 5, the slide guide 9, and the second guide plate 7 are arranged so that the paper P sent later is stacked on the paper P sent first to the first guide plate 5. Since it is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the effect of preventing misalignment is further improved.

[0104]

[Side end alignment mechanism] Staple units 40R, 40L
As shown in FIGS. 7, 14, 15, and 16, a side end aligning mechanism 150 is provided on the back side of the clincher box 90.

The side edge aligning mechanism 150 is shown in FIGS.
The side end holding plates 151 and 152 shown in FIG. 16, the lower guide rods 153 and 154 and the upper guide rod 155 that guide the side end holding plates 151 and 152, the wires 156R and 156L, and the wires 156R and 156L are arranged. A plurality of pulleys 157R and 157L to be searched, a roller 158 that rotates the wires 156R and 156L, a gear mechanism 169 that drives the roller 158, and a gear mechanism 16
It is composed of a motor 170 for driving 9.

Guide cylindrical portions 161 and 162 into which lower guide rods 153 and 154 are slidably inserted are attached to the side end pressing plates 151 and 152. A mounting plate 163 is attached to the lower portion of the clincher box 90, and the bearing plates 164, 1 are attached to the mounting plate 163.
65 is fixed, and one end of the lower guide rods 153, 154 is fixed to the bearing plates 164, 165. The other ends of the lower guide rods 153 and 154 are supported by the column 3. Both ends of the upper guide rod 155 are on the left and right columns 3
Is attached to. The mounting plate 163 is in contact with the lower portion of the support plate 45. The upper guide rod 155 slidably penetrates the upper portions of the side end pressing plates 151 and 152.

The side end pressing plates 151 and 152 have a U-shape surrounding the clincher box 90. The upper end 151 of the side end pressing plates 151, 152
A and 152A are obliquely bent, and when they are mounted on the guide rods 153, 154, and 155 so as to face each other, the upper ends thereof are mounted so as to spread outward. Wires 156R, 15 are attached to the side end pressing plates 151, 152.
A hole for 6L is opened.

Of course, in order to move the wires 156R and 156L to the left and right, as shown in FIG. 16, the portions of the wires 156R and 156L that move simultaneously in the direction of the arrow In (or at the same time the arrow Out) simultaneously hold down the side end portions. It is attached and fixed to the plates 151 and 152.

One end of each of the wires 156R and 156L has a pulley 157 rotatably attached to an upper portion of the support plate 45.
It is multiplied by H respectively. Side pulley 157R,
157L is supported by the bearings of the columns 3 and 3. The other ends of the wires 156R and 156L are wound around a roller 158 rotatably attached to the attachment plate 163.

The roller 158 is held by a U-shaped bearing plate 164 attached to the attachment plate 163. A gear 165 is formed on the roller 158, and one end of a belt 166 is hung on the gear 165. The other end of the belt 166 is hooked on a gear 167. Gear 1
The upper and lower ends of 67 are rotatably held by the bearing plate 164. A gear 168 is formed below the gear 167. A worm gear 169 meshes with the gear 168. The worm gear 169 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 170 attached to the bearing plate 164.

The motor 170 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) and rotates in accordance with the size of the sheet to be carried in to move the wires 156R and 156L. The motor 170 rotates a predetermined number of times in the forward or reverse direction to match the left and right width of the paper, and then rotates in the forward or reverse direction after sending the feed amount in order to align the left and right edges of the paper. Apply the pressing plates 151 and 152 to the left and right edges of the paper,
Align the left and right sides of the paper.

A rack and pinion mechanism may be used instead of the wire 156R, the roller 158, and the wire 156L.

[0113]

[Center Folding Mechanism] Below the driver units 60 and 61, as shown in FIGS.
0 is provided. The center folding mechanism 180 includes a pair of parallel rolls 181, which extend horizontally and contact each other.
182, and a center folding plate 184 (see FIG. 7) that extends in parallel with the pair of rolls 181 and 182 and moves in and out of the nip position of the pair of rolls 181 and 182.

The center folding plate 184 includes a pair of rolls 181,
Drive mechanism 190 for moving toward and away from the nip point of 182
And a rotation mechanism 185A of the pair of rolls 181 and 182 are driven by a common motor 200.

Rotating shaft 18 of a pair of rolls 181 and 182
Both ends of 5 are bearing plates 186 attached to the columns 3 and 3.
It is rotatably held at 187. Gears 188 and 189 are attached to the rotary shafts 185 on the bearing plate 187 side, respectively. The gears 188 and 189 mesh with each other. In the vicinity of the left and right bearing plates 186, 187,
A pair of pressure plates 191 are provided so as to be swingable, and the pair of pressure plates 191 are attracted to each other by a spring 192. The pair of pressure plates 191 holds the bearing plate 185 so that the bearing plate 185 can be moved up and down slightly.
They are in strong contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 18, a gear 193 meshes with the lower gear 189, and the gear 193 is fixed to a rotary shaft 194 penetrating a bearing plate 187.
A gear 195 is further attached to the rotating shaft 194. A worm gear 197 meshes with the gear 195.

The rotating mechanism 185A includes gears 188 and 189.
And the gears 193, 195, the motor 200, and the worm gear 197. In addition, the center folding plate 18
The drive mechanism 190 of No. 4 includes a motor 200, a lower rotary shaft 194, a belt 196, a rotary plate 198, and a link 199.
It is composed by.

The worm gear 19 rotates the motor 200.
7, the gear 195 and the gear 193 are transmitted to the rotary shaft 194 to rotate the rollers 181 and 182, and the rotary plate 1 is passed through the belt 196 wound around the rotary shaft 194.
98. A guide groove 201 is formed in the rotary plate 198, and a projection 202 below the link 199 is held in the guide groove 201.

The fulcrum shaft 203 of the link 199 is held by the bracket 204. The bracket 204 is attached to the column 3. The rotary plate 198 is arranged near the left and right columns 3, and is connected by the rotary shaft 205. A circular opening 206 is formed at the upper end of the link 199, and the end projection 207 of the center folding plate 184 is rotatably held in the opening 206.

The center folding plate 184 is composed of rollers 181 and 182.
Is directed to the vicinity of the nip position of the roller 1 and guided by a flange 208 formed at the upper end of the laminated plate 131.
It is possible to move back and forth to the nip positions 81 and 182.

[0121]

[Control Operation] In the sheet material binding device of this embodiment, when the paper P is introduced into the introduction port 4, the touch sensor 1
7 detects the loading of paper. When a binding instruction is sent from the switch S1 or the copying machine to the control circuit, the motor 136 rotates by a predetermined amount, and the center portion (predetermined portion) of the sent paper P is stapled according to the size of the paper P. The height of the support plate 133 is changed so that it is located at the binding position of the units 40R and 40L.

When the control circuit connected to the touch sensor 17 counts that the predetermined number of sheets have been fed, the motor 170 of the side edge aligning mechanism 150 aligns the sheet width, and when the alignment is completed, the stapling units 40R, 40L. Binds staples.

After the staples are bound, the motor 136 rotates to move the rollers 181 and 18 to the central portion of the paper.
Then, the motor 200 is rotated to move the center folding plate 184 to the rollers 181 and 1.
82 to the nip position. Rollers 181 and 182
Since the center folding plate 184 rotates while feeding the paper, the center portion of the plurality of sheets is sandwiched between the rollers 181 and 182 to perform center folding.

When the center folding is completed, the folded paper is discharged to the outside of the rollers 181 and 182. Further, after a predetermined number of sheets of paper have been fed, the side edge aligning mechanism 150 and the supporting mechanism 13
0 (support plate 133) may be operated simultaneously or sequentially to perform paper alignment.

The sheet material binding apparatus according to the above-described embodiment is applied to the finisher of the copying machine, but it goes without saying that it can also be applied to a bookbinding machine.

[0126]

According to the sheet material binding apparatus of the present invention, the paper is space-saving, and the predetermined portion of the sheet material is positioned at the binding position of the stapler unit according to the size of the sheet material to be bound. It is possible to simplify the feeding mechanism, reduce the motor that is the drive source of the stapler unit, and reduce the motor that is the drive source for folding the bound sheets of paper to reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the binding device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a pressing member.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stapler unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a lateral width adjusting mechanism of the stapler unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a wire arrangement state of a stapler unit.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the binding device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a drive portion of a clincher unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a pipe which is a mechanism for adjusting the timing of maximum torque.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an input shaft.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a support member and a cooperation mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a support mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a support mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a side edge aligning mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an end holding plate.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram of an end aligning mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a drive system of an end aligning mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a center folding mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 finisher 2 housing 3 props 4 entrance 5 First guide plate (fixed guide member) 7 Second guide plate 9 Slide guide (movement guide member) 11 slope 20 Pressing mechanism 26 rotating body 40R, 40L staple unit 60, 61 driver unit 80,81 Clincher unit 120 Cooperation mechanism 130 support mechanism 133 Support plate 150 side edge alignment mechanism 180 Center folding mechanism P paper (sheet material) 2

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Atsushi Matsuoka             Mac, 6-6 Hakozakicho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo             Su Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Morio Yamaguchi             4-10-21 Minami Misaki, Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture F-term (reference) 3F108 GA02 GA04 GB01 GB03 HA02                       HA32

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right staple units horizontally provided with a driver unit for driving U-shaped staples and a clincher unit for bending the staple tips of the U-shaped staples in order to staple a plurality of sheet materials with staples. A fixed guide member that guides the sheet material is formed in the direction of gravity so that the sheet material is conveyed by its own weight to the staple binding position by the staple unit, and at the upper side of the fixed guide member. A sheet material introduction portion is provided, and a predetermined portion of the sheet material introduced regardless of the size difference of the sheet material is located below the fixed guide member so that the sheet material is located at the binding position of the staple unit. ,
A binding device for sheet materials, wherein a supporting member for supporting a lower end portion of the sheet material is arranged so as to be adjustable in vertical height. 2. The sheet material binding device according to claim 1, wherein a moving guide member for guiding the lower end portion of the sheet material introduced from the introduction portion of the sheet material to the fixed guide member is provided so as to be vertically movable. When the support member is located in a lower region of its own movement region, the movement guide member is located in an upper region of its own movement region, and the support member is located in an upper region of its own movement region. Further, a linking mechanism for linking the movement guide member and the support member supporting the lower end portion of the sheet material is provided so that the movement guide member is located in a lower region of the own movement region. A binding device for sheet materials. 3. The sheet material binding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet on the fixed guide member is placed on the sheet material already conveyed regardless of the size of the sheet material. A binding device for sheet materials, comprising a pressing mechanism for pressing the materials toward the fixed guide member. 4. The sheet material binding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material sent later is stacked on the sheet material sent to the fixed guide member first. A sheet material binding device characterized in that the fixed guide member is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. 5. The sheet material binding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the staple unit moves freely in the left-right direction in accordance with the left-right width of the sheet material to change the staple-binding position. A binding device for sheet materials, comprising a left-right width adjusting mechanism for a staple unit to be adjusted. 6. The stapling apparatus for sheet materials according to claim 1, wherein the pair of staple units perform a staple binding operation of one staple unit and then a staple binding of the other staple unit. A binding device for sheet materials, wherein a sequence of binding operations is provided so that the binding operation is performed. 7. The sheet material binding device according to claim 1, further comprising a side edge aligning mechanism for aligning the edges of a plurality of sheet materials in the left-right direction. Sheet material binding device. 8. The sheet material binding device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of parallel rolls extending in a horizontal direction and contacting each other are provided below the staple unit, and the pair of rolls are in parallel with each other. A sheet material binding device, comprising: a center folding mechanism that is provided with a center folding plate that extends in parallel with a roll and that moves into and out of a nip position of the pair of rolls. 9. The sheet material binding device according to claim 8, wherein the drive mechanism for moving the center folding plate toward and away from the nip point of the pair of rolls and the rotation mechanism for the pair of rolls have a common motor. A binding device for sheet materials, which is configured to be driven by. 10. The binding device for sheet materials according to claim 1, wherein, when binding, the stapling unit is bound according to the size of a predetermined portion of the fed sheet material. The height of the supporting member for the sheet material is changed so that the sheet material is positioned, and the staple binding position of the sheet material is positioned at the nip position of the pair of rolls after the binding by the staple unit is completed. A binding device for sheet materials, comprising a control means for changing the height of a supporting member.