JP2005324873A - Image forming system and tab paper transporting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system and a tab paper transporting method capable of feeding in such a way that the tab is positioned at the forefront in the transporting direction and inserting the tab paper between the sheets with images formed thereon before delivery. <P>SOLUTION: The tab paper transporting method works with an inserting process in which the tab paper transported from a tray whereon tab papers are placed is inserted between paper sheets with images formed thereon, a transporting process in which the tab paper and sheets with images are transported without inverted transportation and delivered to an delivery sheets stacking means, and a sheet delivering means in which the trailing edges in the transporting direction of the tab paper to be delivered and the sheets with images formed are aligned by abutting and stacked one over another, wherein the tab paper is fed in the condition of being placed on the tray in such a way that the tab part is positioned at the forefront in the transporting direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system for inserting tab sheets between sheets on which images have been formed, and a method for conveying tab sheets.

  In recent years, multi-functionalization of image forming apparatuses has progressed, and as one of them, a movement for improving usability by inserting tab sheets between sheets on which images have been formed has been seen. Such a thing is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A tab sheet insertion mode setting key is provided on the operation panel of the copier body. In the tab sheet insertion mode, if the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder is a document at the tab sheet insertion position, Then, the tab sheet accommodated in the orientation in which the tab is on the rear side with respect to the transport direction is fed to the image forming apparatus. The tab sheet that has passed through the image forming means is switched back in the conveyance direction by the conveyance path switching unit, reversed in the front-rear direction, and discharged to the sheet processing apparatus.

In this way, by aligning the tab of the tab sheet to the rear with respect to the transport direction when feeding, and to the front of the tab of the tab sheet with respect to the transport direction when discharging, This prevents the tab from interfering with rear end alignment.
JP-A-8-245047

  However, the method described in Patent Document 1 requires a conveyance path switching unit for switching back the tab paper, which complicates the apparatus configuration and switchback control. In addition, providing a transport path switching unit leads to an increase in cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. With a simple configuration, the tab is fed so that the tab is positioned on the leading end side in the transport direction, transported without being switched back, and formed with an image. An object is to provide an image forming system having excellent reliability and durability, and a method for transporting tab sheets.

  The object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.

  (1) An insertion step of inserting the tab sheet conveyed from the paper feed tray on which the tab sheet is placed into the image-formed sheet, and conveying the tab sheet and the image-formed sheet without being reversed and conveyed. A transporting process for discharging paper to the paper stacking means, and a paper discharging process for aligning and stacking the tab paper to be ejected and the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper on which the image is formed. Is fed in a state of being placed on the paper feed tray so that the tab portion is positioned on the leading end side in the transport direction.

(2) In an image forming system having an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the image-formed sheet, the post-processing apparatus places a tab sheet to be fed. A sheet feeding tray, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the tab sheet, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, a conveyance path that conveys the tab sheet without reversing conveyance, a tab sheet to be discharged, Paper discharge stacking means for stacking the image-formed paper,
The paper feed tray is a paper feed tray placed so that a tab portion is positioned on the front end side in the conveyance direction of the tab paper, and the paper discharge stacking unit is configured to form tab paper to be discharged and an image formed thereon. An image forming system comprising an abutting portion that abuts a rear end side in a sheet conveying direction.

  (3) The transport path includes a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the tab paper and / or paper, and the post-processing unit uses the rear end side in the transport direction of the tab paper and / or paper as a reference position. The image forming system according to (2), wherein the image forming system is a post-processing unit that performs post-processing.

  (4) The image forming system according to (3), wherein the post-processing unit is a post-processing unit that performs at least one process selected from a stapling process and a punching process.

  (5) The paper feed unit includes a pickup roller, a paper feed roller, and a retard roller that presses against the paper feed roller to prevent double feeding, and feeds paper having no tab from the paper feed tray. Compared to the case, when the tab paper having the same size as the paper not having the tab is fed, the drive time of the pickup roller is lengthened. The image forming system according to claim 1.

  According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the tab sheet is placed on the sheet feeding tray so that the tab is positioned on the leading end side in the transport direction, and the tab sheet and the image fed from the sheet feeding tray are formed. The paper is transported without being reversed and discharged to the paper discharge stacking means, and the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper on which the tab paper and the image are formed is brought into contact with the protrusion provided on the stack paper discharge means. By stacking and stacking, tab sheets can be inserted between sheets on which images are formed, and aligned and stacked without being obstructed by the tabs, with excellent reliability and durability. It is possible to obtain a tab sheet transport method and an image forming system.

  According to the invention of claim 3, by providing the post-processing section for performing the post-processing on the transport path with the rear end side in the transport direction of the tab paper and / or the paper as the reference position, the tab is not disturbed. Post-processing can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by performing at least one post-processing selected from stapling and punching in the post-processing unit, it is possible to obtain a high-functional image system that is not disturbed by the tab. I can do it.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when paper having no tab is fed from a paper feed tray having a pickup roller, a paper feed roller, and a retard roller that presses against the paper feed roller to prevent double feeding. In contrast, when feeding tab paper of the same size as the paper not having the tab, it is possible to increase the drive time of the pickup roller so that the tab paper with different tab positions can be fed. It is possible to prevent a so-called paper feed error in which paper is not fed.

  As a result, it is possible to use a tab sheet and a sheet not having a tab, for example, a front cover and a back cover, and the functions of the image system can be expanded.

  An example of an embodiment relating to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, the assertive description in the following embodiment shows the best mode, and does not limit the meaning or technical scope of the term of the present invention.

  First, the configuration of the image forming system will be described based on the configuration diagram of FIG.

  The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus A, an automatic document feeder DF, an image reading apparatus B, a post-processing apparatus FS, a large capacity sheet feeding apparatus LT, and the like.

  The image forming apparatus A includes a charging unit 2, an image exposing unit 3, a developing unit 4, a transfer unit 5 A, a charge removing unit 5 B, a separation claw 5 C, and a cleaning unit 6 around the rotating image carrier 1. The surface of the image carrier 1 is uniformly charged by the means 2. The document fed one by one from the automatic document feeder DF is read by the image reading device B, and the surface of the image carrier 1 uniformly charged by the laser beam of the image exposure means 3 based on the image information. Is exposed and scanned to form a latent image, and the latent image is reversely developed by the developing means 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the image carrier 1.

  On the other hand, the image recording paper (paper) S fed from any of the paper feeding device 7A having a plurality of trays, the large capacity paper feeding device LT, and the manual paper feeding device 7F is sent to the transfer position. The toner image is transferred onto the paper S by the transfer means 5A at the transfer position. After the transfer, the sheet S is erased from the charge on the back surface by the charge removing unit 5B, separated from the image carrier 1 by the separation claw 5C, conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 7B, and subsequently heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, and the sheet discharge roller 7C. Is discharged to the post-processing device FS side.

  The surface of the image carrier 1 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning unit 6 downstream of the separation claw 5C, and the developer remaining on the surface is removed to prepare for the next image formation.

  On the other hand, when image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet S, the sheet S heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8 is conveyed downward by switching the conveyance path switching plate 7D to the state of the broken line. After being switched back and reversed upside down, a new toner image is transferred to the back side at the transfer position. Thereafter, the paper is heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, passes through the conveyance path switching plate 7 </ b> D switched to the solid line state, and is then discharged to the post-processing device FS side by the paper discharge roller 7 </ b> C.

  On the upper front side of the image forming apparatus A, an operation unit 9A for selecting and setting an image forming mode and a sheet post-processing mode and a control unit 9B for controlling the image forming system are arranged.

  As shown in the figure, the post-processing device FS includes a paper feed tray 10 on which the tab paper T according to the present invention is placed on the upper stage, a paper feed unit 20 and a fixed paper discharge tray 40, and a paper S and tab paper on the middle stage. A punching means 30 for performing a punching process on T and a binding means 50 for performing a stapling process on a sheet in which a tab sheet T is inserted into the sheet S are provided in the lower stage.

  Disposed on the left side of the post-processing device FS is a sheet stacking means 60 that can be moved up and down to stack sheets S or a bundle of sheets Sa that have been stapled.

  Next, the details of the post-processing device FS having the above-described configuration will be described along the flow of the paper S and the tab paper T with reference to FIG.

  Tab sheets T having tab portions (also simply referred to as tabs) shown in FIG. 6 are set on the sheet feed tray 10 so that the tabs are positioned on the leading end side in the transport direction, and are fed one by one by the sheet feeding means 20. Paper.

  The details of the paper feeding means 20 will be described later.

  The fed tab sheet T is transported by transport rollers 701 and 702 forming a transport path R1, a guide plate (not shown), and the like, and transports the paper S discharged from the paper discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus A. It joins the path R2 at the junction C and is transported on the transport path R2. An insertion process for inserting the tab sheet T between the sheets S is formed by the transport paths R1 and R2 including the junction C.

  The position at which the tab sheet T is to be inserted into the plurality of sheets S is designated in advance by the operator from the operation unit 9A, and the control means 9B determines the position before the tab sheet T is inserted based on the designation. When the leading edge of the sheet S on which the image has been formed is detected by the first detection means PS1 including a photosensor, the tab sheet T on the sheet feeding tray 10 is conveyed on the conveyance path R1 after a predetermined time, and at the junction C Next to the sheet S on which the image has been formed before the tab sheet T is inserted, the sheet is conveyed to the downstream side with a predetermined interval.

  The image forming operation and the sheet S feeding operation are controlled so that the inserted tab sheet T and the succeeding sheet S have a predetermined interval and do not interfere with each other.

  In the following description, when describing the transport of paper and tab paper, only the transport path will be described, and the transport rollers and the like forming the transport path will be omitted except for those that need to be specifically described. To do.

  Further, in the transport path and punching means described below, the paper S and the tab paper T are transported at a predetermined interval, so that the paper S and the tab paper T having a predetermined interval should be originally used. However, in the following description, it is simply referred to as paper S and tab paper T.

  The paper S and the tab paper T on the transport path R2 are brought to a predetermined position by the punching means 30 disposed on the downstream side of the joining point C with the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper S and the tab paper T as a reference position. Punching of the file holes is performed.

  The details of the punching means 30 will also be described later.

  The punched paper S and tab paper T are transported through the transport path R2 and reach the switching gate G1.

  When the simple discharge is selected in the operation unit 9A, the switching gate G1 is set to a position indicated by a dotted line in the drawing by driving a solenoid (not shown), and the sheet S and the tab sheet T pass through the transport path R3 and the fixed discharge table 40. The paper is discharged.

  As shown in the figure, the fixed paper discharge tray 40 has a receiving plate 401 that rises in the paper discharge direction, and an abutting portion (abutting member) 402 that abuts the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper S and the tab paper T. Therefore, the discharged paper S and tab paper T slide on the inclined receiving plate 401, the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper S and tab paper T hits the abutting member 402, and the paper The sheets S and the tab sheets T are stacked together.

  When the switching gate G1 is selected in the state of the solid line position shown in the figure, the paper S and the tab paper T proceed on the transport path R2 as they are and reach the switching gate G2.

  When the stapling process is selected in the operation unit 9A, the switching gate G2 is set to a position indicated by a solid line in the drawing by driving a solenoid (not shown), and the sheet S and the tab sheet T are conveyed by the conveying roller 703 through the conveying path R4. As shown in FIG. 2, the binding means 50 is discharged upward along the sheet placing table 501 having an upward slope, and after the discharge, the binding means 50 turns downward due to its own weight, and slides and descends on the inclined surface of the sheet placing table 501. Then, the sheet abuts against the binding butting plate 502 and is placed with the rear end side in the transport direction as a reference position.

  Unevenness in the direction (paper width direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper S and the tab paper T placed on the paper placement table 501 is corrected by the alignment plate 508 that reciprocates in the paper width direction.

  When a predetermined number of sheets S and tab sheets T placed on the sheet placing table 501 reach a predetermined number, the stapling process is performed at a predetermined position by the stapling unit 503, and when the stapling process is completed, the stapling process is completed in parallel with the sheet placing table 501. The belt 506 stretched around the pulleys 504 and 505 is rotated so that the sheet bundle Sa composed of the sheet S and the tab sheet T is moved upward along the sheet placing table 501 by the sheet discharge claw 507 fixed to the belt 506. And is discharged onto the discharge stacking means 60 by a discharge roller 704 provided on the transport path R2.

  When the switching gate G2 is set at the dotted line position shown in the drawing, the paper S and the tab paper T are transported on the transport path R2, and are discharged to a paper discharge stacking means 60 that forms a paper discharge process by a paper discharge roller 704. Is done.

  The paper discharge stacking means 60 can be moved up and down by an elevating means (not shown) and rises in the paper discharge direction, and the paper S provided so as to cover the lifting range of the receiving base 601. And the abutting portion (abutting plate) 602 that abuts the rear end side in the transport direction of the tab paper T, the discharged paper S, the tab paper T, and the paper bundle Sa It slides on the table 601 and is stacked in a state where the rear end side in the transport direction of the paper S and the tab paper T abuts against the butting plate 602.

  The cradle 601 is preferably configured to be higher in the paper discharge direction as in the present embodiment.

  Next, details of the sheet feeding means 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  2 is a detailed view of the paper feed cassette 10 and the paper feed means 20 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view of the paper feed means 20 in FIG.

  The paper feed cassette 10 includes a mounting table main body 101, a tip end abutting plate 102, a bending regulating plate 103, and the like.

  The tab paper T has tabs at different positions indicated by reference numerals (a), (b), (c), and (d) in FIG. 3, and these tabs are abutted against the leading end abutting plate 103. The curving in the transport direction is regulated by a regulation plate 103 provided in parallel with the paper transport direction, and the paper is placed on the mounting table main body 101.

  The sheet feeding means 20 includes a pickup roller 201, a pickup motor 202, a sheet feeding roller 203, a retard roller 204, a sheet feeding motor 205, a pressing spring 206, and the like.

  The rotation of the pickup motor 202 is transmitted to the pickup roller 201 via gears 210 and 211.

  The pickup roller 201 is coaxially connected to the output shaft 207 of the pickup motor 201 and is rotatably supported by support shafts 208 and 209 provided on the main body side plates 20A and 20B of the paper feeding unit 20, and the paper feeding cassette 10 is caused by its own weight. Is in contact with the tab paper T placed on the sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pickup roller 201 is disposed so as to come into contact with the tab paper T on the upstream side of the tab position in the tab sheet conveyance direction.

  The pickup roller 201 has three roller portions 201A, 201B, and 201C that come into contact with the tab paper T.

  The roller portion 201B is provided in the substantially central portion of the width W (see FIG. 3) of the tab paper T, and the roller portions 201A and 201C are provided near both ends in the width direction of the tab paper T.

  The rotation of the paper feed motor 205 is transmitted to the paper feed roller 203 via gears 212 and 213.

  The driving of the pickup roller 201 may be transmitted and controlled via a clutch from the paper feed motor 203 instead of the pickup motor 202.

  The paper feed roller 203 has a roller portion 203A for contacting and transporting the tab paper T. As shown in FIG. 3, when viewed in the width direction of the tab paper T, They have the same length at the same position.

  The retard roller 204 is connected to a torque limiter (not shown) fixed to the main body side plates 20A and 20B of the paper feeding means 20, and is applied to the roller portion 203A of the paper feed roller 203 by a pressing spring 206 with a predetermined pressure. It touches.

  When the retard roller 204 is in direct contact with the paper feed roller 203, that is, when there is no tab paper T in the nip portion of these rollers, or when one tab paper T is fed into the nip portion, the torque limiter Slips beyond the limit torque and is driven to rotate by the paper feed roller 203.

  When two or more tab sheets T are present in the nip portion, the limit torque overcomes the frictional force between the tab sheets T to prevent the lower tab sheet T from being sent downstream.

  As described above, by arranging the roller portions 201A and 201C of the pickup roller on both outer sides of the roller portion 203A of the paper feed roller 203 as viewed in the width direction of the tab paper T, for example, (B) and (C) When a tab sheet T having a tab at a position is fed, even if a force that bends the tab sheet T by the sheet feeding roller 203 is applied, bending can be prevented by the roller portions 201A and 201C of the pickup roller 201.

  As in the present embodiment, it is preferable to arrange the roller portions 201A and 201C of the pickup roller 201 on both sides of the roller portion 203A of the paper feed roller 203 as viewed in the width direction of the tab paper T. You may make it have a roller part of the same length as the roller part 203A of the paper feed roller 203 at least.

  The operation of the sheet feeding means 20 having such a configuration will be described.

  When a paper feed command is issued from the control means 9B, the pickup roller 201 is driven for a predetermined time by the pickup motor 202, and the tab paper T placed on the paper feed cassette 10 is placed in the nip portion between the paper feed roller 203 and the retard roller 204. It is sent. The sheet feeding motor 205 also starts to rotate at the same time in response to a sheet feeding command from the control means 9B, and the tab sheet T fed to the nip portion is separated into one sheet by the action of the retard roller 204 and conveyed downstream.

  Note that the post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured so that a front cover, a back cover, and the like without tabs can be fed using the paper feed tray 10.

  When the tab sheet is fed, the driving time of the pickup roller 201 is made longer than when the same size sheet without a tab is fed.

  Next, the punching means 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  4 is a front view of the punching means 30 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof.

  The punching means 30 includes a first transport roller 301 on the transport path R2, a second transport roller 302 that is downstream of the first transport roller 301 in the transport direction of the paper S, a punch 320 between these rollers, It consists of a die 321 and the like.

The first conveying roller 301 is composed of a driving roller 301A and a driven roller 301B, and the second conveying roller 302 is composed of a driving roller 302A and a driven roller 302B. The driving roller 301A is a driving means composed of a first conveying motor M1 and a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). The driving roller 302A is driven by driving means including a second transport motor M2 and a drive transmission mechanism (not shown).

  Further, an upper guide plate 303 and a lower guide plate 304 are arranged so that the sheet S and the tab sheet T are reliably guided and conveyed by the second conveyance roller 302.

  The torsion coil spring 306 is engaged with a spring hooking portion 305 provided on the upper guide plate 303, one end of which presses the support shaft 302C of the driven roller 302B, and presses the driven roller 302B against the driving roller 302A.

  Further, the upper guide plate 303 is provided with a guide portion 303B for guiding the support shaft 302C so that the driven roller 302B can move upward after the urging of the drive roller 302A is released.

  Above the upper guide plate 303, a pressure releasing means having a solenoid 307 is disposed, and a crank lever 308 is provided between the solenoid 307 and the driven roller 302B. One end of the crank lever 308 is engaged with the plunger 307A of the solenoid 307, and the other end is configured to be able to press the lower portion of the support shaft 302C of the driven roller 302B upward.

  In the vicinity of the second conveying roller 302, a pair of width alignment plates that press the both side ends of the sheet S and the tab sheet T conveyed to the position of the second conveying roller 302 to perform width alignment and eliminate variations in the width direction. 310, 311 are provided.

  The width alignment plates 310 and 311 are movable in the paper width direction and in opposite directions to each other by a belt 312 driven by an alignment motor M3, and are supported by two guide shafts 313 and 314.

  A punch 320 for punching file holes in the paper S and tab paper T is driven up and down by a punch motor M5 and can be inserted into and removed from the die 321.

  A pressing member 330 is provided on the upstream side of the punch 320 in the sheet conveying direction.

  The pressing member 330 is rotatable about a support shaft 331 by a pressing motor M4. When the sheet S and the tab sheet T are passed through the punched portion including the punch 320 and the die 321 from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction as will be described later. Is retracted from the transport path R2, and when the paper S and the tab paper T are transported (reversely fed) from the downstream side in the paper transport direction to the punching portion, the pressing member 330 is inserted into the transport path R2. The rear end side of the paper S and the tab paper T is pressed.

  The second detection means PS2 is arranged on the upstream side in the paper transport direction with respect to the punching portion, and detects the passage of the paper S and the tab paper T on the rear end side.

  The operation of the punching means 30 having such a configuration will be described.

  First, the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus and the tab sheet T fed from the tab sheet feeding unit of the post-processing apparatus are sent to the first transport roller 301, and are fed to the punching unit by the first transport roller 301. Be transported. At this time, the pressing member 330 is retracted from the transport path R2, and the sheet S and the tab sheet T pass through the transport path R2 as they are. The leading ends of the paper S and the tab paper T are transported between the upper guide plate 303 and the lower guide plate 304 by the second transport roller 302, but the second detection means PS2 is disposed after the paper S and the tab paper T. When the end side is detected, the timer of the control means is activated, and the second conveying roller 302 stops after a predetermined time has elapsed. At this time, the paper S and the tab paper T are sandwiched between the second transport rollers 302 and the rear ends thereof pass through the pressing member 330.

  Subsequently, the solenoid 307 is energized by the control means, the plunger 307A is drawn into the solenoid 307, the crank lever 308 rotates, and the pressure-bonding of the driven roller 302B to the drive roller 302A is released.

  When the crimping of the driven roller 302B is released, the alignment motor M3 is driven, the width alignment plates 310 and 311 are moved in the center direction via the belt 312, and the both side edges of the paper S and the tab paper T are pressed. Perform width alignment.

  When the width alignment is completed, energization to the solenoid 307 is stopped, the plunger 307A protrudes and returns to the initial position, one end of the crank lever 308 is retracted below the support shaft 302C of the driven roller 302B, and the driven roller 302B is twisted. By the urging force of the coil spring 306, it is again pressed against the drive roller 302A.

  When the driven roller 302B is pressure-bonded again, the second transport motor M2 that drives the drive roller 302A rotates in the reverse direction, and the paper S and the tab paper T are transported backward in the upstream direction of the paper transport direction.

  At this time, the pressing member 330 rotates about 90 degrees counterclockwise in FIG. 4 and is inserted into the transport path R2 as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. The rear end side of T comes into contact with the pressing member 330 and the progress is stopped.

  After the reverse rotation of the second transport motor M2 starts, the timer starts measuring time, and after the time that the rear end side of the paper S and the tab paper T is in contact with the pressing member 330 has elapsed, the second transport motor M2 Stop.

  Thus, after the sheet S and the tab sheet T are aligned in width and the rear end side abuts against the pressing member 330 and is aligned in the transport direction, the punching motor M5 is driven, and the sheet is generated by the punch 320 and the die 321. S is punched.

  Even in the case of the tab paper T, the tab does not interfere with the punching process because the rear end side without the tab abuts against the pressing member 330.

  When the punching process is completed, the pressing member 330 retracts from the transport path R2 and returns to the initial position, and the second transport roller 302 rotates to transport the punched paper S and tab paper T downstream, Prepare for the punching of the next paper S and tab paper T.

  Note that the paper S and the tab paper T are transported in the opposite directions in order to ensure that the rear ends of the paper S and the tab paper T are brought into contact with the pressing member 330, but the PS2 is the rear edge of the paper S and the tab paper T. Adjusting the time from when the second conveying roller 302 is stopped to when the sheet S and the tab sheet T are stopped, the contact member 330 is rotated while the sheet S and the tab sheet T are stopped, and the trailing end side of the sheet S and the tab sheet T is detected. You may make it contact | abut.

  As is clear from the above description, the tab paper fed from the paper feed cassette and the paper on which the image is formed are reversely conveyed along the conveyance path formed by the conveyance paths R1, R2, R3, and R4. The paper is conveyed without being discharged and discharged onto the paper discharge stacking means.

  As described above, the tab sheet transported from the paper feed tray on which the tab sheet is placed so that the tab is positioned on the front end side in the transport direction is inserted between the sheets in the insertion step, and includes the transport path. By transporting the tab sheet and the sheet without reversing and conveying the tab sheet and the sheet, the tab sheet and the sheet are ejected to a sheet ejection process including a stacking unit that abuts and aligns and stacks the rear end side in the transport direction. The tab sheet can be inserted into the image-formed sheet with a simple configuration, and the tab sheet and the sheet are stacked so as to be aligned and stacked by abutting the rear end side in the conveyance direction of the tab sheet and the sheet. Can be neatly aligned, and the load of the alignment operation performed after removal can be reduced.

  Also, the paper or tab paper is not disturbed during loading, and the page order is not taken out by mistake.

  Further, by providing a post-processing section for performing post-processing of stapling and punching on the transport path with the rear end side of the tab paper and the paper in the transport direction as a reference position, post-processing is performed without being interrupted by the tab. Can be done.

  In addition, the tab is compared to a case where paper having no tab is fed from a paper feed tray having a pickup roller, a paper feed roller, and a retard roller that presses against the paper feed roller to prevent double feeding. When feeding tab paper of the same size as paper without paper, the tab paper is fed even if tab paper with tabs at different positions is fed by increasing the drive time of the pickup roller. It is possible to prevent so-called paper feed errors. As a result, it can be used together with paper having no tab, for example, a front cover and a back cover, and the functions of the image system can be expanded.

  In the paper feeding means, the pickup roller is configured to have at least a roller portion having the same length as the roller portion that contacts the tab paper of the paper feeding roller, or in a direction perpendicular to the tab paper conveyance direction. In view of this, it is possible to feed a tab sheet having tabs at different positions without bending by configuring the roller sections that come into contact with the sheet on both outer sides of the roller section of the sheet feeding roller.

  In this embodiment, punch processing and stapling processing are performed on the paper and tab paper. However, for example, either punch processing or stapling processing may be performed on the paper and tab paper. It is also possible to discharge the sheet without performing this process.

  Further, the above processing may be performed on either paper or tab paper.

Further, as post-processing for paper and / or tab paper, punch processing and stapling processing are performed in this embodiment, but in addition to this, the rear end side in the transport direction of tab paper and / or paper is used as a reference position. Thus, other processing such as pasting may be performed.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system. 2 is a detailed view of the paper feed cassette 10 and the paper feed means 20 of FIG. The figure which looked at the paper supply means 20 of FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the punching means 30 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the punching means 30 in FIG. 1. Schematic explanatory drawing of tab paper.

Explanation of symbols

A image forming apparatus B image reading apparatus FS post-processing apparatus S paper T tab paper 10 paper feed tray 20 paper feed means 30 punching means 40 fixed paper discharge tray 50 binding means 60 paper discharge stacking means 101 mounting base body 102 tip abutting plate 103 Bending restriction plate 201 Pickup roller 201A, 201B, 201C, 203A Roller part 202 Pickup motor 203 Paper feed roller 204 Retard roller 205 Paper feed motor 206 Pressing spring 301 First transport roller 302 Second transport roller 303 Upper guide plate 304 Lower part Guide plate 305 Spring hook portion 306 Torsion coil spring 307 Solenoid 320 Punch 321 Die 330 Pressing member 401 Receiving plate 402 Abutting member 501 Paper placement table 502 Binding abutting plate 503 Staple means 506 Belt 5 7 the delivery gripper 508 aligning plate 601 cradle 602 abutting plate M1 first conveyance motor M2 second conveying motor M3 alignment motor M4 pressing motor M5 drilling motor PS1 first detecting means PS2 second detecting means

Claims (5)

An insertion process for inserting the tab sheet conveyed from the paper feed tray on which the tab sheet is loaded into the image-formed sheet, and the tab sheet and the image-formed sheet are conveyed without being reversed and discharged and stacked. A conveying step of discharging the sheet to the means, and a discharging step of aligning and stacking the tab sheet to be discharged and the rear end side of the sheet on which the image is formed in the conveying direction. A method of transporting tab paper, wherein the paper is fed in a state of being placed on the paper feed tray so that the tab portion is positioned on the leading end side. In an image forming system including an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the image-formed sheet, the post-processing apparatus includes a sheet feeding tray on which tab sheets to be fed are placed. A sheet feeding means for feeding the tab sheet, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus and a conveyance path for conveying the tab sheet without being reversed, and a tab sheet to be ejected and an image are formed. Paper discharge stacking means for stacking stacked paper,
The paper feed tray is a paper feed tray placed so that a tab portion is positioned on the front end side in the conveyance direction of the tab paper, and the paper discharge stacking unit is configured to form tab paper to be discharged and an image formed thereon. An image forming system comprising an abutting portion that abuts a rear end side in a sheet conveying direction. The transport path includes a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the tab paper and / or paper, and the post-processing unit performs post-processing with the tab paper and / or paper in the transport direction rear end side as a reference position. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein the image forming system is a post-processing unit. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the post-processing unit is a post-processing unit that performs at least one process selected from a stapling process and a punching process. The paper feed means includes a pickup roller, a paper feed roller, and a retard roller that presses against the paper feed roller to prevent double feed, and feeds paper that does not have a tab from the paper feed tray. The drive time of the pick-up roller is lengthened when feeding the tab paper having the same size as the paper not having the tab, according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The image forming system described.

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