JP2004238144A - Paper post-handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper post-handling device capable of smoothly conveying a paper sheet from a staple handling means to a folding means irrespective of thickness of a bundle of paper sheets. <P>SOLUTION: This paper post-handling device is provided with the staple handling means for performing predetermined handling for the bundle of paper sheets constituted by stacking a plurality of paper sheets and a change-over means (paper bundle deflection means) for changing over the direction of conveyance of staple-handled paper. This change-over means has a conveyance roller 56 conveying the bundle of paper sheets, a first guide member (branched guide plate) 54 coming into contact with and leaving the conveyance roller freely, and a second guide member (movable guide plate) 55 guiding the bundle of paper sheets conveyed from the first guide member toward a conveyance passage on the other side. The first guide member is provided with a driven roller (pressure roller) 57 nipping and conveying paper between the conveyance roller and it. The second guide member is provided with an auxiliary member (leaf spring) 50 pressing paper against the conveyance roller when the first guide member is pressed and widened in the direction in which it leaves the conveyance roller by stiffness of the bundle of paper sheets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus applied to an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a device for performing post-processing such as bookbinding on paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, stapling processing means for performing stapling processing (binding processing) on an end surface or a center of a sheet bundle of the same size, and folding in half along the staple position. 2. Description of the Related Art A sheet post-processing apparatus including a folding unit is known.
[0003]
In a conventional apparatus, there has been proposed an apparatus that performs alignment processing and binding processing at the time of end face binding and saddle stitching in a processing tray, performs switchback conveyance to another station after the binding processing, and performs folding processing (Patent Document 1). ).
[0004]
However, in the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the size of the entire apparatus is increased because the staple processing unit and the folding unit are arranged vertically. Therefore, a method of arranging the staple processing means and the folding means in parallel in the horizontal direction is conceivable. In this case, in order to transport the sheet bundle after the staple processing toward the adjacent folding means, the transport of the sheet bundle is performed. It was necessary to change the direction to an acute angle direction.
[0005]
As such switching means, a guide member is provided near the outlet of the transport roller, and the paper passing between the transport roller and the driven roller is deflected by the guide member in the transport direction (Patent Document 2).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-118861 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 10-218455 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the related art described in Patent Literature 2, since the driven roller is fixed to the transport roller, if the driven roller is used as a switching unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus, there is a possibility that the sheet may be jammed. When the driven roller is made to be able to contact and separate from the transport roller so that the thick paper and the sheet bundle can pass, the driven roller separates from the transport roller by the force of the paper, and the sheet bundle is moved between both rollers. There was a problem that the sheet could not be pinched and the conveyance was not performed smoothly.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus capable of smoothly conveying a sheet bundle from a staple processing unit to a folding unit.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stapling unit for performing a predetermined process on a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and a conveying direction of the stapled sheet provided downstream of the stapling unit. Switching means for switching to one of the transport path and the other transport path, the switching means comprising a transport roller for transporting a sheet bundle, a first guide member which is freely movable toward and away from the transport roller, and a first guide member. A second guide member that guides the sheet bundle conveyed from the guide member toward the other conveyance path, the first guide member includes a driven roller that conveys the sheet with the conveyance roller interposed therebetween, The second guide member is provided with an auxiliary member that presses the sheet against the transport roller when the first guide member is pushed apart in a direction away from the transport roller by the force of the sheet bundle.
[0010]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the sheets are sequentially conveyed into the sheet post-processing device, a plurality of sheets are conveyed to the staple processing means and subjected to staple processing. When the stapling process is completed, the sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is divided by the switching means into one of the transport paths that are directly discharged to the outside of the apparatus and the other transport path that is transported to the folding section.
[0011]
When the sheet bundle is discharged out of the apparatus as it is, the first guide member is located at a position distant from the conveying roller, and the sheet bundle passes between the conveying roller and the driven roller and is conveyed to one conveying path. Is done.
[0012]
When the sheet bundle is conveyed toward the folding unit, the first guide member is in a state where the first guide member can freely contact and separate from the conveyance roller. When a small number of sheet bundles are conveyed, the sheet bundle is guided by the second guide member and conveyed to the other conveyance path while being conveyed while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller and the driven roller. .
[0013]
On the other hand, when a large number of paper bundles are transported, the paper bundles are transported while being sandwiched between the transport roller and the driven roller, but the driven roller is pressed by the force of the paper, The first guide member is expanded in a direction away from the transport roller. When the driven roller separates from the transport roller, the sheet bundle is pressed against the transport roller by an auxiliary member provided on the second guide member, and is transported toward the other transport path.
[0014]
As described above, in the case where the sheet bundle subjected to the stapling process is transported toward the other transport path by the switching unit, the first guide member is separated from the transport roller by being pressed by the force of the paper bundle. In this case, the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the conveying roller and the auxiliary member by the auxiliary member provided on the second guide member, so that the sheet bundle that has been stapled can be smoothly conveyed to the folding unit.
[0015]
In particular, in the case of a large number of paper bundles, since the force of the paper bundle is strong, the first guide member is easily separated from the transport roller, so that if the transport force is obtained by the auxiliary member, the transport can be performed smoothly. .
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the auxiliary member includes an elastic member, and an end of the auxiliary member on the first guide member side is elastically deformed to the first guide member to apply an urging force. When the first guide member moves in a direction away from the conveyance roller, the first guide member and the auxiliary member are unlocked, and the auxiliary member is restored to the conveyance roller. The paper is pressed.
[0017]
The invention according to claim 2 has the same operation and effect as the invention according to claim 1, and when the first guide member is separated from the conveyance roller by being pressed by the force of the paper bundle, the first guide member is connected to the first guide member. Since the engagement with the auxiliary member is released and the auxiliary member is restored and presses the sheet against the conveying roller, a desired conveying force can be obtained even in the case of a large number of sheet bundles. The auxiliary member may include a part of the elastic member or may be the whole.
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a gap is provided between the auxiliary member and the surface of the transport roller in a state where the restoring force of the elastic member is released.
[0019]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the same operation and effect as those of the second aspect of the invention can be obtained, and even if the auxiliary member is restored, a gap is formed between the auxiliary member and the transport roller. Roller deterioration can be prevented.
[0020]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary member is a substantially arc-shaped leaf spring along the transport roller, and the transport surface of the leaf spring is a second guide. It is characterized in that the friction coefficient is equal to or less than that of the conveying surface of the member.
[0021]
The invention according to claim 4 has the same operation and effect as the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and furthermore, since the leaf spring, which is an auxiliary member, acts as a conveyance surface of the sheet bundle, The difference in thickness can be dealt with by moving the leaf spring itself. Further, by reducing the friction of the transport surface of the leaf spring, the transport of the sheet bundle is further smoothed.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of staple processing means and folding means of the sheet post-processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a switching unit (sheet deflecting unit) extracted therefrom, (a) to (c) showing a time-dependent operation, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a switching unit extracted and shown in FIG. FIGS. 5A to 5D are views showing the aging operation when a small number of sheet bundles are conveyed. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the switching unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the switching unit (sheet deflecting unit) shown in FIG. 2 when the sheet bundle is conveyed, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views of the plate spring. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a modification of the auxiliary member according to FIG. 6, and FIG. It is a diagram showing time operation of the rotating member. 8A and 8B are front views showing a state where a leaf spring is attached to a movable guide plate, and FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a modification of the embodiment (b).
[0023]
The sheet post-processing device PD is attached to the side of the image forming apparatus, and the sheet discharged from the image forming device is guided to the sheet post-processing device PD. The sheet passes through a transport path A having post-processing means for performing post-processing, a transport path B leading to the upper tray 201, a transport path C leading to the shift tray 202, and a transport path leading to a staple processing tray F which performs alignment and stapling. It is configured to be distributed to D by the branch claws 15 and 16.
[0024]
The sheet guided to the staple processing tray F via the conveyance path A and the conveyance path D and subjected to alignment, stapling, and the like is transferred to the shift tray 202 by the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 which are deflecting means (switching means). The sheet is folded so as to be guided to a conveying path C for guiding and a processing tray G for folding (hereinafter also referred to as a center folding processing tray). It is guided to the lower tray 203.
[0025]
A branch claw 17 is disposed in the transport path D, and the branch claw 17 is held by a low-load spring (not shown). After the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the branching pawl 17, at least the transport roller 9 of the transport rollers 9, 10 and the staple discharge roller 11 is rotated in the reverse direction to guide the trailing edge of the sheet to the sheet storage unit E and to stay there. And convey it.
[0026]
In the transport path A, an entrance sensor 301 for detecting a sheet transported from the image forming apparatus, and an entrance roller 1, a punch unit 100, a transport roller 2, and branch claws 15 and 16 are sequentially arranged downstream thereof. The branch claws 15 and 16 are held by a spring (not shown). When a solenoid (not shown) is turned on, the branch claws 15 are rotated upward and the branch claws 16 are rotated downward, so that the transport path B and the transport path are moved. The sheet is distributed to the path C and the transport path D.
[0027]
When the paper is guided from the transport path A to the transport path B, the branch claw 15 turns the solenoid off from the position shown in FIG. By turning on the solenoid, the branch claw 16 rotates downward. When guiding the sheet to the transport path D, the branch claw 16 is turned off at the position shown in FIG. 1 and the branch claw 15 is turned upward by turning on the solenoid from the state shown in FIG.
[0028]
In the sheet post-processing apparatus PD, the sheet is punched (punch unit 100), sheet alignment + end binding (jogger fence 53, end-face binding stapler S1), sheet alignment + saddle binding (jogger fence 53, saddle stapler S2). ), Sheet sorting (shift tray 202), center folding (folding plate 74, folding rollers 81 and 82), and the like.
[0029]
Next, the configuration of the staple processing tray F that performs staple processing will be described. The sheets guided by the staple discharge rollers 11 are sequentially stacked on the staple processing tray F. In this case, vertical alignment (paper transport direction) is performed by the hitting roller 12 for each sheet, and horizontal alignment (paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction) is performed by the jogger fence 53. The end-face stapling stapler S1 is driven by a stapling signal from the control means between the end of the job, that is, from the last sheet of the sheet bundle to the leading sheet of the next sheet bundle, and the binding process is performed. The sheet bundle on which the binding process has been performed is immediately sent to the shift sheet discharge roller 6 by the ejection belt 52 having the ejection claw 52a, and is ejected to the shift tray 202 set at the receiving position.
[0030]
Next, the configuration of the branch guide plate (first guide member) 54 and the movable guide (second guide member) 55 as sheet bundle deflecting means (switching means) will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the branch guide plate 54 is provided rotatably in a vertical direction about a fulcrum 54 a, and has a rotatable pressure roller 57 downstream thereof. Pressurized. Further, the position of the branch guide plate 54 is determined by contact with the cam surface 61a of the cam 61 which rotates by being driven by the bundle branch drive motor 161.
[0031]
The movable guide 55 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft of the transport roller 56, and the movable guide 55 is provided with a link arm 60 that is rotatably connected. The link arm 60 is held by a shaft fixed to the side plate 64 and an elongated hole 60a, whereby the range of rotation of the movable guide 55 is restricted. Further, it is held by being urged downward by the spring 59. Further, when the link arm 60 is pushed by the cam surface 61b of the cam 61 which rotates by being driven by the bundle branch drive motor 161, the connected movable guide 55 rotates upward.
[0032]
The cam 61 obtains its home position by detecting the bundle branch guide HP sensor by its shielding portion 61c, and controls its stop position by the drive pulse of the bundle branch drive motor 161. FIG. 3A shows the positional relationship between the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 when the cam 61 is at the home position. The guide surface 55 a of the movable guide 55 has a function of guiding a sheet in a path to the shift sheet discharge roller 6.
[0033]
FIG. 3B shows a state in which the branch guide plate 54 rotates downward in the figure around the fulcrum 54 a by rotation of the cam 61, and the pressing roller 57 contacts the conveying roller 56 and pressurizes. Is shown. FIG. 3 (c) shows that, when the cam 61 is further rotated, the movable guide 55 is rotated upward in the drawing, and the path leading from the staple processing tray F to the center folding processing tray G is formed by the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide. 55 shows the state formed.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable guide 55 is provided with a leaf spring 50 as an elastic member (auxiliary member). The leaf spring 50 has a curved shape along the movable guide 55, and an end of the leaf spring 50 on the side of the branch guide plate 54 is latched while being elastically deformed by the branch guide plate 54 to hold down the urging force (FIG. 6 (b)). When the branch guide plate 54 moves in a direction away from the transport roller 56, the locking between the branch guide plate 54 and the leaf spring 50 is released, and the leaf spring 50 is restored to the state shown in FIG. Become. In this case, even when the leaf spring 50 is restored to the maximum, a gap is formed between the leaf spring 50 and the transport roller 56, so that deterioration of the transport roller 56 due to friction can be prevented. In addition, the transport surface of the leaf spring 50 has a friction equal to or less than that of the movable guide 55, and the transport surface is smoothed to facilitate transport of the sheet bundle.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 are operated by a single drive motor. However, a drive motor can be provided individually to control the movement timing and the stop position according to the paper size and the number of sheets to be bound. May be configured.
[0036]
In the above-described configuration, the sheet bundle deflecting unit includes a transport path (in the direction of arrow A) for guiding the stapled sheet bundle from the processing tray F to the shift tray 202 as it is, and saddle stitching of the stapled sheet bundle. It is branched to a transport path (in the direction of arrow B) leading to the processing tray G.
[0037]
Next, a case where the sheet bundle is transported in the direction A will be described. When the sheet bundle is conveyed in the direction A, the sheet bundle deflecting unit is located at a position where the branch guide plate 54 is separated from the conveying roller 56 as shown in FIG. is seperated. In the present embodiment, the movable guide plate 55 is provided with the leaf spring 50 as an elastic member, and when the leaf spring 50 is open, a gap is formed between the tip of the leaf spring 50 and the transport roller 56. . In this state, the sheet bundle on which the stapling process has been performed is guided from the processing tray F to the shift tray 202 as it is.
[0038]
Next, a case where the sheet bundle is conveyed in the B direction will be described. When the sheet bundle is conveyed in the direction B, the deflecting means is as shown in FIG. 3C, and the leaf spring 50 at that time is the tip (A portion) of the leaf spring 50 as shown in FIG. 6B. Is lifted by the surface 54a of the movable guide 54 and locked at a position as shown in the figure. The operation of the leaf spring 50 when the sheet bundle is conveyed will be described below in two cases, that is, when the number of sheets is small and when it is large.
[0039]
When the sheet bundle is small, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the sheet bundle is conveyed from the stapling tray F to the branch guide plate 54, the sheet bundle is And is conveyed toward the movable guide plate 55 by applying a conveying force. At this time, it is the spring 58 that applies the pressing force to the pressing roller 57. When the sheet bundle advances to the position shown in FIG. 4B, the leading end of the sheet bundle comes into contact with the movable guide plate 55, and the sheet bundle curves and the force of the sheet is applied in a direction in which the branch guide plate 54 is separated from the transport roller 56. appear. When the number of sheets is small, the pressing force of the spring 58 is larger than the stiffness, and the branch guide plate 54 does not rotate. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the sheet bundle is guided by the movable guide plate 55 and is conveyed to the center folding processing tray G which is the next step.
[0040]
In the case of a large number of sheets, when the sheet bundle is conveyed from the staple processing tray F to the branch guide plate 54 as shown in FIG. Pressurized, a conveying force is applied, and the sheet is conveyed toward the movable guide plate 55. Next, when the sheet bundle is conveyed to a state as shown in FIG. 4B, the leading end of the sheet contacts the guide surface of the movable guide plate 55 and the sheet The force of the strain acts. When the number of sheets in the bundle increases and the thickness of the bundle increases, as shown in FIG. 4B, the stiffness of the bundle of sheets becomes greater than the force of the spring 58, and the branch guide plate 54 is lifted, so that the conveying force of the conveying rollers 56 is lost.
[0041]
When the branch guide plate 54 moves away from the transport roller 56, the restriction is removed from the state where the upper surface 54a of the branch guide plate 54 and the end of the leaf spring 50 are locked. When the engagement between the branch guide plate 54 and the leaf spring 50 is released, the leaf spring 50 is restored and the sheet bundle is pressed against the conveying roller 56, and as shown in FIG. It is transported along the curved transport surface.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 5D, when the leading end of the sheet bundle passes through the movable guide plate 55, the stiffness of the sheet bundle decreases, and the branch guide plate 54 is urged by the spring 58 to return to the original position. It is. At this time, the leaf spring 50 is also locked on the upper surface 54a of the branch guide plate 54 and functions as a transport guide.
[0043]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, the elastic member, particularly the leaf spring 50, is used as the auxiliary member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rotating member 62 as shown in FIG. In this case, the end of the turning member 62 on the side opposite to the branch guide plate 54 is used as a turning fulcrum 64, and the turning member 62 turns around the turning fulcrum 64. A spring 63 is attached between the movable guide plate 55 and the end opposite to the rotation fulcrum 64.
[0044]
Then, when the sheet bundle is transported in the direction A as shown in FIG. 2, the branch guide plate 54 separates from the transport roller 56 as shown in FIG. 7A, and guides the sheet bundle in the direction A. When the sheet bundle is transported in the direction B, as shown in FIG. 7B, the branch guide plate 54 and the transport roller 56 approach, and the rotating member 62 is placed on the upper surface 54a of the branch guide plate 54. State. When a large number of sheet bundles are conveyed, similarly to the case of the leaf spring 50 described above, the rotating member 62 moves to the conveyance roller 56 side, and guides the sheet bundle by pressing the sheet bundle against the conveyance roller 56. .
[0045]
Further, the mounting position of the leaf spring 50 is not limited to the case where the plate spring 50 is provided at the position facing the transport roller 56 as shown in FIG. 8A, and the position where the respective transport rollers 56 face each other as shown in FIG. It may be provided at a position away from the camera.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the conveying roller and the auxiliary member by the auxiliary member provided on the second guide member, the sheet bundle subjected to the stapling process is smoothly conveyed to the folding unit. can do.
[0047]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effect as the first aspect of the invention is exhibited, and when the first guide member is separated from the conveyance roller by being pressed by the force of the paper bundle, the first guide member and the auxiliary member are assisted. Since the engagement with the member is released and the auxiliary member is restored and presses the sheet against the conveying roller, a desired conveying force can be obtained even in the case of a large number of sheets.
[0048]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as the second aspect of the invention is obtained, and even if the auxiliary member is restored, a gap is formed between the auxiliary member and the transport roller, so that the transport roller is frictionally driven. Degradation can be prevented.
[0049]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first to third aspects are obtained, and the plate spring serving as the auxiliary member serves as a conveying surface of the sheet bundle. The difference can be dealt with by moving the leaf spring itself. Further, by reducing the friction of the transport surface of the leaf spring, the transport of the sheet bundle is further smoothed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a staple processing unit and a folding unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.
FIGS. 3A to 3C are side views showing the switching means (sheet deflecting means) shown in FIG. 2 in an extracted manner, and FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a switching unit (sheet deflecting unit) shown in FIG. 2 in an extracted manner, and FIGS. 4 (a) to (d) are diagrams showing a temporal operation when a small number of sheet bundles are conveyed; .
5 is a side view showing a switching unit (sheet deflecting unit) shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are diagrams illustrating a temporal operation when a large number of sheet bundles are conveyed; .
FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views in which a switching unit (sheet deflecting unit) shown in FIG. 2 is extracted and shown, and FIGS.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are side views showing a modification of the auxiliary member according to FIG. 6, and FIGS.
8A and 8B are front views showing a state where a leaf spring is attached to a movable guide plate, wherein FIG. 8A is a view showing the present embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a view showing a modification.
[Explanation of symbols]
50 leaf spring (auxiliary member, elastic member)
54 branch guide plate (first guide member)
55 Movable guide plate (second guide member)
56 transport roller 57 pressure roller (driven roller)
F Stipple processing tray (Stipple processing means)
PD paper post-processing device

Claims (4)

A staple processing unit for performing a predetermined process on a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and a conveying direction of the staple-processed sheet provided on the downstream side of the staple processing unit and the conveyance direction of one of the conveyance paths or the other conveyance path. Switching means for switching in any direction, the switching means being a transport roller for transporting the sheet bundle, a first guide member which can be freely moved toward and away from the transport roller, and a sheet bundle transported from the first guide member. A second guide member that guides the sheet toward the other transport path, the first guide member includes a driven roller that sandwiches and transports the sheet between the transport roller and the second guide member, and A sheet post-processing device, comprising: an auxiliary member that presses a sheet against a conveyance roller when the first guide member is pushed and spread in a direction away from the conveyance roller by a force. The auxiliary member includes an elastic member, and an end of the auxiliary member on the first guide member side is elastically deformed by the first guide member and locked in a state of holding down the urging force. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the sheet is moved away from the first member, the first guide member and the auxiliary member are unlocked, and the auxiliary member is restored and presses the sheet against the transport roller. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a gap is provided between the auxiliary member and a surface of the transport roller in a state where the restoring force of the elastic member is released. 4. The support member according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a substantially arc-shaped plate spring along the transfer roller, and the transfer surface of the plate spring has a friction coefficient equal to or less than that of the transfer surface of the second guide member. A paper post-processing device according to any one of the above.

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