JP2006062877A - Paper post-processor, paper carrying device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and properly align paper, even when deformation such as a curl is caused in the paper, without damaging the paper. <P>SOLUTION: This paper post-processor has a staple tray 203 for accumulating the inserted paper, and an aligning means for aligning the paper inserted into this staple tray 203. The aligning means has a side regulating plate 202 for performing alignment by pushing an edge part of the paper. A plurality of kinds of scooping-up surfaces for scooping up the edge part of the paper, are formed in a lower part of this side regulating plate 202. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is provided in a digital multi-function peripheral, an image forming apparatus, and the like. For example, a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as stapling on a sheet provided with an image, and a sheet conveying apparatus provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus, for example. And an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet post-processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-144370, a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs stapling as post-processing on a sheet on which an image has been printed There is something with.

  In the above prior art, the sheet post-processing apparatus is installed on the side of the sheet discharge side in the image forming apparatus. The paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus to the paper post-processing device are connected by a paper transport path, and the printed paper is taken into the alignment tray in the paper post-processing device through the transport path. As shown in FIG. 3 (processing tray 77) of the above publication, the alignment tray is disposed in an inclined state with the discharge direction facing upward. The sheets on the alignment tray are aligned here, further stapled, and then discharged to the sheet stack unit.

In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the sheets that have entered the alignment tray are stacked and aligned in a state of straddling between the reduced alignment tray and the sheet stack unit, and after further staple processing, The portion on the alignment tray side is pushed out from the straddled portion to the paper stack portion, and the post-processing is completed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-144370 (published on June 4, 1990) JP 10-177282 A (published June 30, 1998)

  In order to reduce the size of the sheet post-processing apparatus provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus, the following configuration is generally conceivable. For example, as shown in FIG. 43A, the inclination of the alignment tray 302 is made closer to vertical in the paper post-processing apparatus 301. However, in such a configuration, the length in the paper transport direction in the paper post-processing apparatus 301 is shortened, but the height is higher than that in the image forming apparatus 303. On the contrary, when the inclination of the alignment tray 302 is made closer to the horizontal direction, the sheet post-processing apparatus 301 can reduce the height, but the length in the sheet conveying direction becomes longer.

  As described above, in the above configuration, the apparatus becomes large in any case, and particularly when the large size paper can be processed, the length of the alignment tray 302 becomes remarkable. For this reason, the paper post-processing apparatus 301 cannot be installed without a dedicated table or an additional paper cassette mechanism, contrary to the recent miniaturization of image forming apparatuses. The system including the sheet post-processing apparatus 301 requires a large occupied space.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-144370, since the tray of the paper stack unit is used as an assisting function of the downsized alignment tray, the rear of the sheet due to the increased size of the alignment tray is used. The problem of increasing the size of the processing apparatus is avoided.

  However, in the configuration described in the above publication, since the paper being aligned is exposed outside the machine, the operator may touch the paper without waiting for the end of the job (alignment work or stapling), Due to external factors such as inadvertently removing the paper on which the job has been completed, troubles such as paper jam, stapling failure, and alignment failure are likely to occur.

  To solve the above problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-177282 discloses a configuration in which a sheet post-processing device is provided between a document reading unit and an image forming unit. In this configuration, the sheet during the alignment operation is not exposed to the outside of the apparatus, and thus the above problem does not occur.

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, long-size paper (paper having a long length in the paper conveyance direction) and short-size paper (paper having a short length in the paper conveyance direction) are carried into the same paper post-processing position. , So that they are aligned at this position. For this reason, for example, when processing a plurality of short-sized sheets constituting a part of a document, it takes a long time to complete the alignment, and as a result, the processing speed is lowered.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, for example, in order to shorten the transport distance to the post-processing position (alignment position) of the short size paper, each paper for the long size paper and the short size paper is used. When the post-processing apparatus is provided in the vertical position, the processing speed is increased, but the height of the entire sheet post-processing apparatus is increased, leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus including the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper post-processing apparatus that can increase the processing speed while suppressing an increase in size of the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets that have been received, and an aligning unit that aligns the sheets that have entered the sheet stacking unit. In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the aligning unit has a movable aligning member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the sheet, and a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the sheet are provided below the movable aligning member. It is characterized by being formed.

  According to the above configuration, since the alignment means forms a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper at the lower part of the movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the paper, the scooping surface Thus, the sheets on the sheet stacking unit can be picked up and aligned easily and appropriately without damaging the sheets. In addition, since there are a plurality of types of scooping surfaces, when the paper is deformed such as curl, scooping operation can be performed corresponding to the deformation.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the scooping surface may be an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction opposite to the alignment direction, and a plurality of types of scooping surfaces may be configured such that the angles of the inclined surfaces are different from each other. Good.

  According to the above configuration, the paper on the paper stacking unit can be easily and appropriately picked up and aligned without damage by the plural types of scooping surfaces having different inclined surface angles.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the movable alignment member is movable in a sheet width direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction in the sheet stacking unit, and extends in the moving direction of the movable alignment member in the sheet stacking unit. And a plurality of types of scooping surfaces are at least a first inclined surface that moves in the recess in accordance with the alignment operation, and a recess that is adjacent in the alignment operation. It moves on the side wall of the concave portion formed between the second inclined surfaces having a rising angle larger than the first inclined surface, and the first inclined surfaces and the second inclined surfaces Are arranged at the same position in the alignment direction, and the second inclined surface may be arranged at a rear position in the alignment direction with respect to the first inclined surface.

  According to the above-described configuration, even when a paper having deformation such as curling is received on the paper stacking unit, for example, the convex portion of the curled paper may enter the concave portion of the paper stacking unit. The sheet portion can be scooped up by the first inclined surface. Further, the portion located on the side wall of the recess at the side edge of the sheet can be scooped up by the second inclined surface.

  Furthermore, since the second inclined surface that moves on the concave portion side wall portion is arranged at the rear position in the alignment direction with respect to the first inclined surface that moves in the concave portion, the sheet of paper positioned on the concave portion side wall portion is arranged. The side end portion is not caught between the upper end portion of the recess side wall portion and the lower end portion of the second inclined surface. For this reason, even paper that has undergone deformation such as curling can be easily and appropriately aligned.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the movable alignment member may be configured to perform alignment by pressing a side end portion of a sheet that is a portion parallel to a sheet entering direction of the sheet stacking unit.

  The above-described movable alignment member has a configuration suitable for alignment in the paper width direction, and good alignment is possible by using the movable alignment member for such alignment operation.

  In the paper post-processing apparatus, the movable alignment member may be configured such that a driving force from a driving source is applied to at least two places in a direction perpendicular to the paper entering direction via a belt and a pulley. Good.

  According to the above configuration, the movable alignment member is moved by applying a driving force to at least two positions in a direction orthogonal to the paper entering direction, and thus can be moved while maintaining parallelism with high accuracy.

  In the paper post-processing apparatus, the pulleys are provided coaxially and are in pairs that are fitted to each other, and an elastic member is provided at a fitting portion of the pulleys, and both pulleys are interposed via the elastic members. It is good also as a structure provided so that a driving force may be transmitted.

  According to the above configuration, since the driving force from the driving source is transmitted to the movable alignment member via the elastic member provided on the pulley, variations in the sizes of sheets to be aligned and assembly in the driving mechanism of the movable alignment member Variations and the like can be absorbed by the elastic member. Therefore, the sheet can be aligned by applying a substantially constant pressure, the sheet can be prevented from being damaged, and good alignment can be achieved.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the paper that has entered the paper stacking unit, wherein the paper stacking unit performs post-processing on the paper. The processing position and the short size alignment position for aligning the short size paper set on the paper input side to the paper stacking unit have a long size in the transport direction of the paper entering the paper stacking unit. A paper size discriminating means for discriminating between the size and the short size, and a movable alignment member that performs alignment by pressing the edge of the paper, and a plurality of types of scooping up the edge of the paper are provided below the movable alignment member Alignment means for aligning the paper that has entered the paper stacking section with a scooping surface, short-size paper transport means for transporting the paper at the short-size alignment position to the post-processing position, and long-size paper for paper accumulation When paper is entered After the paper alignment is performed at the post-processing position, the post-processing is performed. On the other hand, when the short-size paper enters the paper stacking unit, the paper alignment is performed at the short-size alignment position. A post-processing control unit that controls the alignment unit, the short-size sheet transfer unit, and the post-processing unit so that post-processing is performed after the aligned sheet is transferred to the post-processing position. It is good also as composition which has.

  According to the above configuration, as described above, in this paper post-processing apparatus, long-size paper and short-size paper are not aligned at the post-processing position where post-processing such as stapling processing is performed uniformly. However, long-size sheets are aligned at the post-processing position, while short-size sheets are aligned at the short-size alignment position set on the sheet input side to the sheet stacking unit. Therefore, it is possible to increase the processing speed while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  In addition, since the aligning means has a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper at the bottom of the movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the paper, The paper can be picked up and aligned easily and properly without damaging the paper. In addition, since there are a plurality of types of scooping surfaces, when the paper is deformed such as curl, scooping operation can be performed corresponding to the deformation.

  The paper transport device of the present invention is provided at an upper position of the paper transport path, and contacts the upper surface of the paper to move the paper in the transport direction, the upper transport means facing the upper transport means, It is provided with a movable guide member that is provided at a lower position in contact with the sheet and that reciprocates along the sheet conveyance path.

  According to the above configuration, the upper transport unit contacts the upper surface of the paper and moves the paper in the transport direction, and the movable guide member moves in the transport direction as the paper moves while holding the lower surface of the paper. Therefore, the sheet can be conveyed by the upper conveying means and the movable conveying member. Since the movable conveyance member can be formed of a thin plate such as a flat plate, the paper conveyance device has a simple configuration and a thin thickness in the height direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus provided with the same.

  In the above-described sheet conveying apparatus, the upper conveying unit may include a plurality of conveying rollers provided in the sheet conveying direction.

  According to said structure, since a general conveyance roller can be used as an upper conveyance means, a paper conveying apparatus can be comprised easily.

  The paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a paper stacking unit for stacking received paper and a terminal side position in the paper transport direction in the paper stacking unit, and post-processes the paper stacked in the paper stacking unit. And a post-processing means for performing the above-described processing, and when the post-processing means does not perform post-processing when the paper transport device is provided above the paper stacking unit, the movable guide member moves along with the movement of the paper. While moving to the vicinity of the terminal end of the upper conveying means, when the post-processing means performs post-processing, the movable guide member moves to the middle position of the upper conveying means along with the movement of the paper and stops, and the paper is removed from the paper. It is characterized by being sent to the position of the post-processing means on the stacking unit.

  According to the above configuration, when the post-processing means does not perform post-processing on the paper, the movable guide member moves to the vicinity of the end portion of the upper transport means as the paper moves. Therefore, the paper can be discharged from the post-processing apparatus without being disposed at the position of the post-processing means on the paper stacking unit.

  On the other hand, when post-processing is performed on the paper by the post-processing means, the movable guide member moves to the middle position of the upper conveying means as the paper moves and stops, and the paper is moved to the position of the post-processing means on the paper stacking unit. Send out until. In this case, the sheet is sent out to the position of the post-processing means, that is, the post-processing position by the upper conveying means while the lower surface side is supported by the movable guide member that stops at the middle position of the upper conveying means.

  Accordingly, in the sheet post-processing apparatus, the upper conveying unit and the movable guide member can serve as both a conveyance path when the post-processing is not performed on the paper and a conveyance path when the post-processing is performed on the paper. Therefore, the paper post-processing apparatus does not require a dedicated conveyance path when the paper is not post-processed, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  A paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided at a front end position of a paper stacking unit for stacking received paper and a post-processing position in the paper stacking unit where post-processing can be performed on the paper. It is possible to move to a regulation position that regulates and positions the front end position in the transport direction and a retreat position that allows the paper to be ejected from the post-processing position. A sheet positioning unit having a regulating member and a regulating member driving unit that moves the regulating member to a regulating position and a retracted position, and a sheet that has entered the sheet accumulating unit are aligned, and the aligned sheet is regulated at the regulating position. An alignment unit disposed at the post-processing position in a pressed state, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on a sheet aligned by the alignment unit, and an upper side of the sheet conveyance path in a state extending in the sheet conveyance direction. Located in An upper conveying means that contacts the upper surface of the paper to move the paper in the conveying direction, and a movable guide that is positioned on the lower side facing the upper conveying means and that contacts the lower surface of the paper, and reciprocates along the paper conveying path And a sheet conveying device provided above the sheet stacking unit.

  According to the above configuration, the sheet can be positioned by the restricting member at the post-processing position, and the restricting member can be easily moved to the retracted position after the positioning state is released. In addition, the movement of the restricting member from the restricting position to the retracted position is performed by tilting the restricting member from the restricted position to the front side in the paper transport direction, so that a pressing force (side pressure) is applied from the paper to the restricting member. Even if it is, it can carry out easily and appropriately.

  Further, the restricting member moves from the restricting position to the retracted position that allows the sheet to be discharged from the post-processing position by being tilted forward in the sheet conveying direction. Therefore, the space for the retracted position below the paper stacking unit, which is necessary when the regulating member is moved downward and disposed at the retracted position, becomes unnecessary, and the sheet post-processing apparatus is made thin, that is, downsized. Can do.

  Further, the upper conveying means can contact the upper surface of the paper and move the paper in the conveying direction, and the movable guide member can move in the conveying direction along with the movement of the paper while holding the lower surface side of the paper. A sheet can be conveyed by the upper conveying means and the movable conveying member. Since the movable conveyance member can be formed of a thin plate such as a flat plate, the paper conveyance device has a simple configuration and a thin thickness in the height direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus provided with the same.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the sheet post-processing apparatuses described above. Therefore, it is possible to increase the processing speed when the post-processing is performed on the paper, and to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on an image read by the document image reading unit. And paper discharge storage means for storing the paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming means, and any one of the above papers between the document image reading means, the image forming means, and the paper discharge storage means. A post-processing device is provided.

  Accordingly, it is possible to increase the processing speed when the post-processing is performed on the paper, and to reduce the height between the document image reading unit, the image forming unit, and the paper discharge storage unit provided with the paper post-processing device. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size.

  As described above, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the aligning unit has a movable aligning member that performs alignment by pushing the end edge of the sheet, and the edge of the sheet is disposed below the movable aligning member. In this configuration, a plurality of types of scooping surfaces are formed.

  According to the above configuration, since the alignment means forms a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper at the lower part of the movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the paper, the scooping surface Thus, the sheets on the sheet stacking unit can be picked up and aligned easily and appropriately without damaging the sheets. In addition, since there are a plurality of types of scooping surfaces, when the paper is deformed such as curl, scooping operation can be performed corresponding to the deformation.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet stacking unit aligns a short-sized sheet set at a post-processing position for performing post-processing on the sheet and a sheet input side to the sheet stacking unit. A paper size discriminating means having a short size alignment position and discriminating whether the size in the transport direction of the paper entering the paper accumulating unit is a long size or a short size, and a movable alignment for performing alignment by pressing the edge of the paper A plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper, and aligning means for aligning the paper that has entered the paper stacking portion; and the short size alignment position. Short size paper transporting means for transporting the paper to the post-processing position, and when long-size paper enters the paper stacking unit, the paper is aligned at the post-processing position and then post-processing is performed. Short-size paper The alignment means, so that when the paper is fed into the paper stacking unit, the paper is aligned at the short size alignment position, and the post-processing is performed after the aligned paper is transferred to the post-processing position; And a post-processing control unit that controls the short-size sheet transfer unit and the post-processing unit.

  According to the above configuration, as described above, in this paper post-processing apparatus, long-size paper and short-size paper are not aligned at the post-processing position where post-processing such as stapling processing is performed uniformly. However, long-size sheets are aligned at the post-processing position, while short-size sheets are aligned at the short-size alignment position set on the sheet input side to the sheet stacking unit. Therefore, it is possible to increase the processing speed while suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus.

  In addition, since the aligning means has a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper at the bottom of the movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the paper, The paper can be picked up and aligned easily and properly without damaging the paper. In addition, since there are a plurality of types of scooping surfaces, when the paper is deformed such as curl, scooping operation can be performed corresponding to the deformation.

  The paper transport device of the present invention is provided at an upper position of the paper transport path, and contacts the upper surface of the paper to move the paper in the transport direction, the upper transport means facing the upper transport means, The movable guide member is provided at a lower position in contact with the movable guide member and reciprocates along the paper conveyance path.

  According to the above configuration, the upper transport unit contacts the upper surface of the paper and moves the paper in the transport direction, and the movable guide member moves in the transport direction as the paper moves while holding the lower surface of the paper. Therefore, the sheet can be conveyed by the upper conveying means and the movable conveying member. Since the movable conveyance member can be formed of a thin plate such as a flat plate, the paper conveyance device has a simple configuration and a thin thickness in the height direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus provided with the same.

  The paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a paper stacking unit for stacking received paper and a terminal side position in the paper transport direction in the paper stacking unit, and post-processes the paper stacked in the paper stacking unit. And a post-processing means for performing the above-described processing, and when the post-processing means does not perform post-processing when the paper transport device is provided above the paper stacking unit, the movable guide member moves along with the movement of the paper. While moving to the vicinity of the terminal end of the upper conveying means, when the post-processing means performs post-processing, the movable guide member moves to the middle position of the upper conveying means along with the movement of the paper and stops, and the paper is removed from the paper. It is the structure which sends out to the position of the said post-processing means on an accumulation part.

  According to the above configuration, when the post-processing means does not perform post-processing on the paper, the movable guide member moves to the vicinity of the end portion of the upper transport means as the paper moves. Therefore, the paper can be discharged from the post-processing apparatus without being disposed at the position of the post-processing means on the paper stacking unit.

  On the other hand, when post-processing is performed on the paper by the post-processing means, the movable guide member moves to the middle position of the upper conveying means as the paper moves and stops, and the paper is moved to the position of the post-processing means on the paper stacking unit. Send out until. In this case, the sheet is sent out to the position of the post-processing means, that is, the post-processing position by the upper conveying means while the lower surface side is supported by the movable guide member that stops at the middle position of the upper conveying means.

  Accordingly, in the sheet post-processing apparatus, the upper conveying unit and the movable guide member can serve as both a conveyance path when the post-processing is not performed on the paper and a conveyance path when the post-processing is performed on the paper. Therefore, the paper post-processing apparatus does not require a dedicated conveyance path when the paper is not post-processed, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  A paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided at a front end position of a paper stacking unit for stacking received paper and a post-processing position in the paper stacking unit where post-processing can be performed on the paper. It is possible to move to a regulation position that regulates and positions the front end position in the transport direction and a retreat position that allows the paper to be ejected from the post-processing position. A sheet positioning unit having a regulating member and a regulating member driving unit that moves the regulating member to a regulating position and a retracted position, and a sheet that has entered the sheet accumulating unit are aligned, and the aligned sheet is regulated at the regulating position. An alignment unit disposed at the post-processing position in a pressed state, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on a sheet aligned by the alignment unit, and an upper side of the sheet conveyance path in a state extending in the sheet conveyance direction. Located in An upper conveying means that contacts the upper surface of the paper to move the paper in the conveying direction, and a movable guide that is positioned on the lower side facing the upper conveying means and that contacts the lower surface of the paper, and reciprocates along the paper conveying path And a sheet conveying device provided above the sheet stacking unit.

  According to the above configuration, the sheet can be positioned by the restricting member at the post-processing position, and the restricting member can be easily moved to the retracted position after the positioning state is released. In addition, the movement of the restricting member from the restricting position to the retracted position is performed by tilting the restricting member from the restricted position to the front side in the paper transport direction, so that pressing force (side pressure) is applied from the paper to the restricting member. Even if it is, it can carry out easily and appropriately.

  Further, the restricting member moves from the restricting position to the retracted position that allows the sheet to be discharged from the post-processing position by being tilted forward in the sheet conveying direction. Therefore, the space for the retracted position below the paper stacking unit, which is necessary when the regulating member is moved downward and disposed at the retracted position, becomes unnecessary, and the sheet post-processing apparatus is made thin, that is, downsized. Can do.

  Further, the upper conveying means can contact the upper surface of the paper and move the paper in the conveying direction, and the movable guide member can move in the conveying direction along with the movement of the paper while holding the lower surface side of the paper. A sheet can be conveyed by the upper conveying means and the movable conveying member. Since the movable conveyance member can be formed of a thin plate such as a flat plate, the paper conveyance device has a simple configuration and a thin thickness in the height direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the sheet post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus provided with the same.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the sheet post-processing apparatuses described above. Therefore, it is possible to increase the processing speed when the post-processing is performed on the paper, and to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on an image read by the document image reading unit. And paper discharge storage means for storing the paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming means, and any one of the above papers between the document image reading means, the image forming means, and the paper discharge storage means. It is the structure provided with the post-processing apparatus.

  Accordingly, it is possible to increase the processing speed when the post-processing is performed on the paper, and to reduce the height between the document image reading unit, the image forming unit, and the paper discharge storage unit provided with the paper post-processing device. Thus, the apparatus can be reduced in size.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body 1 and a paper stack unit 2, and the image forming apparatus main body 1 has a document reading unit (document image reading) from the top to the bottom. Means) 3, a sheet post-processing device 4, a main body tray 5 (paper discharge accommodating means), an image forming unit (image forming means) 6, and a paper feeding unit 7.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the document reading unit 3 has a document placing table 11 made of transparent glass or the like on the upper surface, and a scanner optical system 12 below the document placing table 11. The scanner optical system 12 includes an exposure light source 13, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 14, an imaging lens 15, and a CCD 16.

  The exposure light source 13 irradiates the original placed on the original placement table 11 with light. The reflected light from the original is guided by the reflecting mirror 14 to the CCD 16 through the imaging lens 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 6 includes a photoconductor 17 that forms a drum shape and rotates in the direction of the arrow. Further, a developing device 18, a transfer charger 19, a cleaning device (not shown), a static eliminating device 20, a main charger 21 and a laser scanning unit (hereinafter referred to as LSU 22) 22 are arranged in the arrow direction around the photoconductor 17. Have.

  The document image data read by the CCD 16 is supplied to the LSU 22 after image processing. The LSU 22 irradiates the surface of the photoconductor 17 with document image data as laser light to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 18 develops the electrostatic latent image into a visible image with toner. The transfer charger 19 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 17 by development to the paper P. The cleaning device removes residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 17. The static eliminator 20 removes residual charges on the surface of the photoreceptor 17. The main charger 21 charges the photoconductor 17 to a predetermined potential.

  The paper feed unit 7 includes a paper cassette 31 that contains paper P. At the leading end position of the paper cassette 31 in the paper output direction, a drawing roller 32 for paper P and a paper separation roller 33 are provided. The paper separating roller 33 is composed of a roller that rotates in one direction and a roller that rotates in the reverse direction, and prevents double feeding of the paper P. In addition, it may replace with this structure and the structure which consists of a roller and a friction sheet member may be sufficient.

  As the paper transport path, the paper feed unit 7 is provided with a cassette-side paper output path 34. When the paper P flows from the upstream side to the downstream side in the paper transport path, the paper separation roller 33 is provided at the upstream end of the cassette-side paper output path 34. Further, as the paper transport path, the image forming unit 6 is provided with a manual paper feed path 35, a main transport path 36, a reverse transport path 37 and a paper discharge transport path 38, and the paper post-processing device 4 has a post-processing transport path. 39 is provided.

  A paper separation roller 40 is provided at the upstream end of the manual paper feed path 35, and a manual feed tray 41 and a drawing roller 42 are provided at this position.

  The downstream end of the cassette-side paper exit path 34 and the manual feed path 35 and the one end of the reverse transport path 37 merge and are connected to the upstream end of the main transport path 36. The main conveyance path 36 extends upward, merges with the other end of the reverse conveyance path 37 in the vicinity of the downstream end portion, and further branches into a discharge conveyance path 38 and a post-processing conveyance path 39 on the downstream side. Yes.

  A registration roller 43 is provided at the upstream end of the main conveyance path 36, and a pre-registration detection switch (not shown) for detecting the passage of the paper is provided at an upstream position of the registration roller 43. In the image forming apparatus, the registration roller 43 aligns the toner image on the photoconductor 17 and the paper P based on the detection signal of the pre-registration detection switch.

  A fixing device 44 that heat-presses the toner image on the paper P is provided at a position downstream of the transfer charger 19 in the main conveyance path 36. The fixing device 44 includes a pair of fixing rollers and a fixing paper detection switch (not shown) that detects passage of paper through the fixing rollers.

  A paper discharge roller 45 for discharging the paper P to the main body tray 5 is provided at the downstream end of the paper discharge conveyance path 38, and the paper on the paper discharge roller 45 is positioned upstream of the paper discharge roller 45. A paper discharge detection switch (not shown) for detecting passage is provided.

  Further, a switching gate 46 for switching the traveling direction of the paper P to any one of these directions is provided at a branch portion between the paper discharge conveyance path 38 and the post-processing conveyance path 39.

  The post-processing conveyance path 39 is configured to guide the paper P to the paper post-processing device 4 as shown in FIG. A plurality of conveyance rollers 47 are provided in the middle position of the post-processing conveyance path 39, and a discharge roller 48 is provided at the downstream end. Further, a paper detection switch 49 for detecting paper entering the paper post-processing device 4 is provided at a position upstream of the paper discharge roller 48. The paper detection switch 49 includes a mechanical switch or an optical sensor.

  The sheet post-processing device 4 has an escape conveyance path (non-post-processing conveyance path) 51 serving as a non-post-processing conveyance path at an upper position downstream of the paper discharge roller 48, and a post-processing unit 52 at a lower position. have. Further, a switching gate 53 for switching the traveling direction of the paper P to any one of these is provided at a branch position between the escape conveyance path 51 and the post-processing unit 52.

  The escape conveyance path 51 is used when discharging paper P that is prohibited from stapling processing such as special paper or small size paper or discharging a large amount of paper P that is not subjected to stapling processing. When the escape conveyance path 51 is selected, the switching gate 53 is switched to the state b indicated by the two-dot chain line.

  On the other hand, the post-processing unit 52 is used when performing post-processing, that is, stapling processing, and sorting of paper P by tray offset. When the post-processing unit 52 is selected, the switching gate 53 is switched to the state a indicated by the solid line.

  A first discharge path 54 and a second discharge path 55 of the paper stack unit 2 are connected to the downstream end of the escape conveyance path 51, and a third end of the paper stack unit 2 is connected to the downstream end of the post-processing unit 52. A discharge path 56 is connected. A switching gate 57 for switching the traveling direction of the paper P to any one of these directions is provided at a branch portion to the first discharge path 54 and the second discharge path 55. The sheet P is guided to the first discharge path 54 when the switching gate 57 is in the state a indicated by the solid line, and is guided to the second discharge path 55 when the switching gate 57 is in the state b indicated by the two-dot chain line.

  The first discharge path 54 includes a conveyance roller 58 and discharges the paper P to a first paper stack tray (discharge tray) 59. The second discharge path 55 has a discharge roller (discharge unit) 60 and discharges the paper P to a second paper stack tray (discharge tray) 61.

  The first paper stack tray 59 corresponds to a small amount of output (discharge of paper P) including special paper and small size paper conveyed from the escape conveyance path 51.

  The second paper stack tray 61 corresponds to the output of a large capacity (discharge of paper P) conveyed from the escape conveyance path 51 and the output of the paper bundle aligned and stapled by the post-processing unit 52. ing. The second paper stack tray 61 can be moved up and down, and the upper surface sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the tray and the upper surface (the upper surface of the paper when paper is stacked) and the paper discharge The distance from the roller 60 is always kept constant. Accordingly, the second paper stack tray 61 maintains a high discharge stacking function and enables a large capacity stack. Further, the second paper stack tray 61 has an offset function for sorting the discharged paper bundle into a predetermined number of copies by horizontal reciprocation in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction.

  Here, the discharge to the first paper stack tray 59 is selected, and the staple processing and the offset processing on the stack tray, that is, the sorting processing of the discharged paper bundle by the offset movement of the second paper stack tray 61 is not selected. In this case, the paper P is discharged to the first paper stack tray 59.

  Even when the staple processing or the offset processing is selected, the first paper stack tray 59 is used for the paper P having a size corresponding to prohibition of discharge to the second paper stack tray 61 or prohibition of the staple processing. To be discharged.

  In both cases, the sheet P is discharged to the first sheet stack tray 59 through the escape conveyance path 51 by switching the switching gate 53 to the state b and switching the switching gate 57 to the state a.

  Further, even when the discharge to the first paper stack tray 59 is selected, the information that the large amount of paper P exceeding the allowable stacking capacity of the first paper stack tray 59 is discharged is shown in FIG. When the apparatus control unit 161 transmits the sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus control unit 171 shown in FIG. 18, the discharge destination tray is automatically switched to the main body tray 5 or the second sheet stack tray 61, or the job. Canceling is performed without starting.

  In these cases, for example, the display unit (not shown) of the operation unit in the image forming apparatus main body unit 1 displays a change in the discharge tray (including the discharge destination tray) and the output is unsatisfactory to the operator. It is notified that it is possible.

  When the staple process is not selected and the discharge to the second paper stack tray 61 or the offset process is selected, the paper P is discharged to the second paper stack tray 61 through the escape conveyance path 51. In this case, switching gate 53 and switching gate 57 are switched to state b.

  For the paper size used to control the switching gates 53 and 57 of the paper post-processing device 4, information on paper size detection in the paper cassette 31 and paper size detection in the manual feed tray 41 is utilized.

  In the manual feed tray 41, there is a paper tray in which an irregular size paper is fed and the paper size is not detected. In such a case, the length information of the paper P is obtained based on the ON time when the paper is conveyed by the pre-registration detection switch (paper size detection means) and the paper size is determined. In this case, there are papers having the same length but different widths. For example, A5 vertical feed and A4 horizontal feed. For this, considering the switching time of the switching gate 53, a sheet detection switch 49 is provided so that the difference between the A5 width and the A4 width can be detected at a position separated from the sheet length and the moving distance by a necessary distance. Arrange. That is, the paper detection switch 49 is arranged so as not to detect the A5 width but to detect the A4 width, and this is also used as the width reading means.

  If a similar configuration is provided in front of the switching gate 46, it is possible to select a sheet that is not permitted to enter the sheet post-processing device 4 at this position and discharge the sheet to the main body tray 5.

  The escape conveyance path 51 of the paper post-processing device 4 is made of a general rubber roller, and has a plurality of conveyance rollers 62 arranged in the conveyance direction of the paper P. These transport rollers 62 are arranged at a pitch shorter than the length in the transport direction of the minimum size paper P set to be discharged to the first paper stack tray 59 and the second paper stack tray 61. The escape conveyance path 51 includes a pair of rollers in which a roller is pressed against the conveyance roller 62, an upper paper guide 63, and a lower paper guide 64. The lower paper guide 64 also functions as an upper paper guide in the post-processing unit 52.

  In the post-processing unit 52, a staple tray (paper stacking unit) 71 is disposed substantially horizontally. As shown in FIG. 1, the staple tray 71 includes a rear end plate (movable alignment member, alignment means, short size paper transfer means, paper discharge transfer means) 72, a side restriction plate (alignment means) 73, a front end stopper ( A restricting member, a paper positioning means) 74 and a stapler (post-processing means) 75 are provided.

  The rear end plate 72 is movable in the front-rear direction of the paper transport direction. As shown in FIG. 19, the rear end plate 72 pushes the rear end portion of the paper P that has entered the staple tray 71 against the long-size paper P, and the front end plate 72 By pressing against the stopper 74, the position of the paper P in the front-rear direction is aligned. The alignment position of the long size paper P is a post-processing position, that is, a stapling position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear end plate 72 presses the front end portion of the paper P placed on the staple tray 71 against the short size paper P and presses it against the rear wall portion 77 of the staple tray 71. Thus, alignment (preliminary alignment) of the position of the paper P in the front-rear direction is performed. The preliminary alignment position of the short size paper P is a short size alignment position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the rear end plate 72 presses the rear end portion of the paper bundle subjected to the preliminary alignment and presses it against the front end stopper 74 for alignment, and after the stapling process, the paper bundle is moved to the second paper. The sheet is discharged to the stack tray 61 side. In order to enable this operation, the rear end plate 72 can be held in a fall state and a rising state in the conveyance direction of the paper P. In the discharge operation, the rear end plate 72 is positioned so that the front end of the sheet bundle can be discharged by the discharge roller 60 (position where the front end of the sheet bundle is sandwiched by the discharge roller 60). To extrude.

  Here, in the present paper post-processing apparatus 4, whether the paper P is a long size or a short size is distinguished from the front end of the rear wall 77 in the staple tray 71 by the length in the transport direction of the paper P (paper length). Whether or not it exceeds 1/2 of the length from the surface to the tip stopper 74 is set to the long size, and the following is set to the short size. The paper length can be identified by inputting to the operation unit of the image forming apparatus main body 1 at the time of a print request, that is, specifying the paper size to be used, for example, detecting the paper size by a pre-registration detection switch, or the image forming apparatus main body. This is performed based on a print request from a terminal device such as a computer or facsimile to which the unit 1 is connected.

  The side regulating plate 73 is provided on one end side of the staple tray 71 in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. In the staple tray 71, a paper side end regulating portion 76 that rises upward is formed on the side opposite to the one end side so as to face the side regulating plate 73. The side regulating plate 73 is movable in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper conveying direction, and presses the side edge of the paper P that has entered the staple tray 71 and presses against the paper side edge regulating portion 76, thereby The alignment of the position of P in the paper width direction is performed.

  The front end stopper 74 is provided on the front end side of the staple tray 71 in the paper conveyance direction, and is positioned by regulating the alignment position of the paper on the staple tray 71, that is, the front end position of the paper to be stapled. . The leading end stopper 74 can be moved to the restriction position shown in the figure and the retracted position retracted downward from the upper surface of the staple tray 71.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end plate 72 has a plate shape extending in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The upper end portion of the rear end plate 72 projects forward in the paper transport direction, engages with the rear end portion of the curled paper P, and prevents the rear end portion of the paper P from further rising. A portion 72a is formed.

  The rear end plate 72 is driven by a rear end plate drive mechanism (movable alignment member holding means, movable alignment member drive means) 81 shown in FIG. The rear end plate drive mechanism 81 includes a base member 82, a slide member 83, a first inclined gear (first screw gear) 84, and a second inclined gear (second second gear) as moving parts that move together with the rear end plate 72. A screw gear) 85 and a pressurizing spring (elastic member) 86 are provided. In addition, a stepping motor 87, a first belt 88, a second belt 89, a first pulley 90, a second pulley 91, and a third pulley 92 are provided as driving units for moving the moving unit. Further, as a drive part for rotating the rear end plate 72, a solenoid (drive means) 93, a solenoid arm 94, a connecting arm 95, a shaft arm 96, a square shaft (shaft part) 97, and a return spring 99 are provided. In addition, an origin sensor 98 is provided.

  The second belt 89 is installed on the second pulley 91 and the third pulley 92 on the lower surface side of the staple tray 71, and is arranged in the paper transport direction. The base member 82 is connected to the second belt 89.

  The second pulley 91 is disposed at the rear position in the sheet conveyance direction, and the third pulley 92 is disposed at the front position. The first pulley 90 and the second pulley 91 are provided on the same shaft and rotate integrally. The first pulley 90 is connected to the rotating shaft of the stepping motor 87 by the first belt 88. Accordingly, the base member 82 is moved in the front-rear direction in the paper transport direction by the rotation of the stepping motor 87.

  A square shaft 97 is disposed in the paper transport direction in the space between the outward and return paths of the second belt 89 facing each other. The rear end portion of the square shaft 97 is connected to a solenoid 93 via a shaft arm 96, a connecting arm 95, and a solenoid arm 94. Therefore, the square shaft 97 is driven around the axis by being driven by the solenoid 93.

  A first inclined gear 84 is fitted to the square shaft 97 so as to be movable in the paper transport direction and to rotate integrally with the square shaft 97. A second inclined gear 85 meshes with the first inclined gear 84. The second bevel gear 85 is rotatably attached to the slide member 83 by a shaft 85a with the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction as the axial direction. A rear end plate 72 extending in the paper width direction is fixed to the shaft 85a.

  The slide member 83 is provided on the base member 82, and is provided so as to be movable in the paper transport direction with respect to the base member 82 via a pressurizing spring 86. Accordingly, the rear end plate 72 is moved in the front-rear direction in the paper transport direction by the rotation of the stepping motor 87. The movable amount of the slide member 83 with respect to the base member 82 is regulated by a structure in which a pin 82 a provided on the base member 82 is inserted into a long hole 83 b formed in the slide member 83.

  In the rear end plate driving mechanism 81, the moving unit including the rear end plate 72 moves rearward in the paper transport direction by rotating the stepping motor 87 clockwise. At this time, when the detection piece 83a provided at the rear end portion of the slide member 83 is detected by the origin sensor 98, the rear end plate 72 has reached the home position, and the stepping motor 87 is stopped.

  On the other hand, when the stepping motor 87 rotates counterclockwise for an arbitrary number of pulses, the rear end plate 72 can be moved to an arbitrary position corresponding to the number of pulses. As described above, the rear end plate 72 can be moved to a predetermined position by clockwise and counterclockwise rotations corresponding to the predetermined number of pulses of the stepping motor 87.

  The rear end plate 72, that is, the slide member 83 normally moves integrally with the base member 82 due to the compression repulsive force of the pressurizing spring 86. However, in the final alignment operation by the rear end plate 72, the paper P may be pushed more than necessary due to paper size variations (usually about ± 1 mm between lots). The final alignment operation is an operation for aligning the long sheet and the short sheet by pressing the sheet P against the leading end stopper 74, that is, the alignment operation shown in FIGS. In this case, if the paper P is larger than the specified size, the paper P may be damaged by the strong pushing force of the rear end plate 72.

  Therefore, in order to avoid such a situation in the final alignment operation, when an excessive pushing force acts on the paper P, the rear end plate 72 is moved by the compression operation of the pressurizing spring 86 as shown in FIG. I try to stop it. By such a pushing force adjusting mechanism, the paper P can always be aligned with an appropriate pushing force, and the paper P is not damaged.

  When the same pushing force adjusting mechanism is provided in the preliminary aligning operation for the short size paper, that is, the aligning operation shown in FIG. 1, the trailing end plate 72 has a pushing force adjusting mechanism for the pushing operation in both the front and rear directions. This is necessary and has little effect on the complexity of the structure. That is, the variation of about 2 mm after the preliminary alignment can be appropriately aligned by the final alignment, and can be kept at a level that does not cause a problem in practice.

  Further, when the solenoid 93 is turned on and the retraction operation is performed, the solenoid arm 94 rotates to pull the connecting arm 95, and the shaft arm 96, that is, the square shaft 97 rotates 90 degrees. As a result, the first inclined gear 84 and the second inclined gear 85 are rotated 90 degrees, and the rear end plate 72 is in a tilted state as shown in FIG. The tilt angle in this case can be appropriately set by adjusting the rotation angle of the square shaft 97 or the like. Further, this operation is possible even when the moving portion of the rear end plate driving mechanism 81 including the rear end plate 72 is moving.

  On the other hand, when the solenoid 93 is turned off, the square shaft 97 rotates backward to the original position by the pulling force of the return spring 99 connected to the solenoid arm 94. As a result, the rear end plate 72 is raised.

  In the moving part of the rear end plate driving mechanism 81, the second inclined gear 85 ′ shown in FIG. 7 can be used as the second inclined gear 85. The second inclined gear 85 ′ forms a gear by a pin arrangement. In such a configuration, the second bevel gear 85 ′ and the rear end plate 72 can be integrally formed by, for example, injection molding, and manufacturing is easy.

  That is, in the injection molding of the second inclined gear 85 shown in FIG. 4, when extracting the product from the mold, a method of extracting the product while rotating the product from the mold can be considered. Therefore, when the second bevel gear 85 and the rear end plate 72 are integrally molded, the above extraction cannot be performed, and the integral molding of the two is impossible. On the other hand, in the second inclined gear 85 ′ in which the inclined gear has a pin arrangement, it is not necessary to remove the product by rotation, and both can be integrally formed in the injection molding.

  The side regulating plate 73 is driven by the side regulating plate driving unit 101 shown in FIG. That is, the side restricting plate 73 is driven by the side restricting plate driving unit 101 to perform an operation to advance to the alignment position and an operation to retract to the retracted position. The side regulating plate 73 is substantially L-shaped and is provided on the upper surface side of the staple tray 71, and the side regulating plate driving unit 101 is provided on the lower surface side of the staple tray 71.

  The side regulating plate drive unit 101 includes a motor (drive source) 102, one speed reduction belt 103, one connection belt 104, two drive belts 105, one speed reduction pulley 106, two connection pulleys 107, Two drive pulleys 108 and two driven pulleys 109 are provided.

  The speed reduction pulley 106 and the two-stage pulley 110 composed of each one connecting pulley 107 and driving pulley 108 are provided coaxially. A two-stage pulley 112 provided with one connecting pulley 107 and a driving pulley 108 is arranged coaxially at a position on the sheet conveying direction side (sheet length direction side) with respect to the three pulley group 111, One driven pulley 109 is provided at a position on the width direction side. One driven pulley 109 is provided at a position on the paper width direction side with respect to the two-stage pulley 112. The connecting pulley 107 and the driving pulley 108 of the two-stage pulleys 110 and 112 are fitted to each other and rotate integrally.

  The reduction belt 103 is installed on the rotation shaft of the motor 102 and the reduction pulley 106. The connecting belt 104 is installed on both connecting pulleys 107 of the two-stage pulleys 110 and 112, and is arranged in the paper transport direction. The two drive belts 105 are respectively installed on a drive pulley 108 and a driven pulley 109, and are parallel to each other and extend in the paper width direction.

  At two places on the lower surface of the side regulating plate 73, connecting portions 73a to the driving belt 105 are formed in a hanging shape, and the driving belts 105 and the connecting portions 73a are connected by these connecting portions 73a. In the staple tray 71, in order to make the connecting portions 73a, that is, the side regulating plates 73 movable, elongated holes 71a extending in the paper width direction are formed corresponding to the respective connecting portions 73a.

  In the side regulating plate driving unit 101 described above, the driving force of the motor 102 is transmitted to the reduction pulley 106 via the reduction belt 103. Then, this speed reduction pulley 106 is transmitted to the side regulating plate 73 via the driving pulley 108, the driving belt 105, and the connecting portion 73a, and the connecting pulley 107, the connecting belt 104, the connecting pulley 107, the driving pulley 108, the drive It is transmitted to the side regulating plate 73 through the belt 105, the connecting pulley 107, and the connecting portion 73a.

  As described above, the side restricting plate 73 is driven by the two drive belts 105 that are respectively coupled to the side restricting plate 73, so that the side restricting plate 73 can be translated with high accuracy.

  In the three pulley group 111 described above, the two-stage pulley 110 and the speed reduction pulley 106 are fitted with each other by the structure shown in FIG. That is, two claw portions 107a projecting downward are formed on the lower surface of the connecting pulley 107 in the two-stage pulley 110, and two groove portions for inserting the claw portions 107a are formed in the speed reduction pulley 106. 106a is formed. The length of these groove portions 106 a is longer than the length of the claw portion 107 a in the circumferential direction of the connecting pulley 107. Accordingly, the two-stage pulley 110 is fitted to the speed reduction pulley 106 in a state having a predetermined degree of freedom in the rotation direction, that is, a predetermined play amount. This play amount is determined by the length of the groove 106a on the short side.

  A pressurizing spring 113, which is a coiled compression spring, is provided in the long-side groove portion 106a of the speed reduction pulley 106. Accordingly, the driving force of the deceleration pulley 106 is transmitted to the two-stage pulley 110 via the pressurizing spring 113. With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the sheet side end is damaged when the sheet side end is aligned by the side regulating plate 73.

  That is, when aligning the side edges of the paper P by the side regulating plate 73, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper P is aligned while being sandwiched between the side regulating plate 73 and the paper side edge regulating portion 76. Is done. At this time, since the pressurizing spring 113 is provided between the speed reduction pulley 106 and the two-stage pulley 110, the side regulating plate 73 is pressed against the side end portion of the paper P by the spring force of the pressurizing spring 113. .

  Here, since the size of the paper P has a cutting variation of about ± 1 mm between lots (usually 500 sheets), the alignment position (advance amount for alignment) of the side regulating plate 73 is a lot having a small cutting dimension. It is necessary to set according to the paper P. For this reason, normally, the paper P of a lot whose cutting size is large is overtightened, and the paper P may be damaged.

  Therefore, if the driving force is transmitted from the speed reduction pulley 106 to the two-stage pulley 110 via the pressurizing spring 113 as described above, before the overtightened state occurs, as shown in FIG. Further, the pressurizing spring 113 is compressed to absorb the extra stroke. Therefore, the paper P can be aligned with an appropriate pressure due to the repulsive force of the pressurizing spring 113. When the side regulating plate 73 moves backward and leaves the paper P, the positional relationship (fitted state) of the two-stage pulley 110 with respect to the pressurizing spring 113, that is, the speed reduction pulley 106, returns to the state shown in FIG.

  The front end stopper 74 is driven by a front end stopper driving unit (regulating member driving unit, paper positioning means) 131 shown in FIGS. That is, the front end stopper 74 is driven by the front end stopper drive unit 131 to advance to a restriction position indicated by a solid line in the drawing, and to retreat to a retracted position indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  The tip stopper 74 has a flat plate shape and has a plurality of restricting portions 74a on the top. The restricting portion 74 a is a portion that protrudes from the upper surface of the staple tray 71 when the position of the front end portion of the paper P is restricted, that is, when the front end portion of the paper P is positioned. The tip stopper 74 has four restricting portions 74a in the configuration of FIG. 11, whereas the tip stopper 74 has two restricting portions 74a in the configuration of FIG. What is necessary is just to set suitably from the relationship between the front end position regulation function of the paper P, the frictional force between the paper and the regulation portion 74a, and the like.

  The tip stopper driving unit 131 includes a solenoid 132, an arm member 133, and a tension spring 134. The arm member 133 is rotatable about the shaft portion 133a, and includes a solenoid connection portion 133b that extends downward from the position of the shaft portion 133a and a stopper connection portion 133c that extends long in the lateral direction from the position of the shaft portion 133a. Have.

  The rod 132a of the solenoid 132 is connected to the solenoid connecting portion 133b, and one end portion of the tension spring 134 is connected to the distal end portion of the stopper connecting portion 133c. The other end of the tension spring 134 is connected to a fixing member (not shown). Further, a long hole 133d is formed in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the stopper connecting portion 133c, and an engagement shaft portion 74b extending from the distal end stopper 74 is inserted into the long hole 133d. The tip stopper 74 is movable in the vertical direction, that is, the advance direction to the restriction position and the retreat direction to the retreat position.

  In the above configuration, when the solenoid 132 performs the retraction operation of the rod 132a, the arm member 133 rotates clockwise about the shaft portion 133a. As a result, the leading end stopper 74 connected to the arm member 133 via the elongated hole 133d and the engagement shaft portion 74b moves downward, and moves to the retreat position where the restricting portion 74a is retracted downward from the upper surface of the staple tray 71. To do.

  On the other hand, when the solenoid 132 releases the retraction operation of the rod 132a, the arm member 133 is pulled by the tension spring 134 and rotates counterclockwise around the shaft portion 133a. As a result, the leading end stopper 74 is pushed up by the arm member 133 and moves to the restriction position where the restriction portion 74 a protrudes from the upper surface of the staple tray 71.

  The configuration of the tip stopper 74 and the tip stopper driving unit 131 is very simple, but has the following problems. That is, it is difficult to smoothly move the leading end stopper 74 while keeping parallel to the upper surface of the staple tray 71. A large pulling force is required in the retraction operation of the leading end stopper 74 in a state where a side pressure is applied from the sheet bundle. For this reason, it is difficult to obtain a stable function, and adjustment work is often required in mass production. Furthermore, a space for storing the tip stopper 74 in the retracted position is required at a position below the tip stopper 74, which greatly restricts the overall size of the apparatus.

  Therefore, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 4, instead of the leading end stopper 74 and the leading end stopper driving unit 131, as shown in FIG. 13, a leading end stopper (regulating member, sheet positioning means) 141 and a leading end stopper driving unit (regulating) It may be configured to include a member driving unit and a sheet positioning unit 142. This configuration ensures the holding force against the large side pressure from the sheet bundle required for the tip stopper 141, and enables the tip stopper 141 to move to the retracted position with a small operating force even when the side pressure is applied. Furthermore, a large storage space for the retracted position is not required below the tip stopper 141, and the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.

  The tip stopper 141 is rotatable about a shaft portion 141b to a restriction position indicated by a solid line and a retracted position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The rotation range is approximately 90 degrees. The shaft portion 141b is provided with a plurality of restricting portions 141a having, for example, a rectangular plate shape.

  The front end stopper 141 is raised at 90 degrees with respect to the upper surface of the staple tray 71 at the restriction position. In this state, the position of the front end portion of the paper P is restricted by the restricting portion 141a, that is, the position of the front end portion is positioned at the staple processing position.

  Further, the front end stopper 141 is in a state of being tilted in the sheet conveyance direction in which the restricting portion 141a is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the staple tray 71 and retracted from the upper surface of the staple tray 71 at the retracted position. In this state, the restriction of the position of the front end of the paper P by the restricting portion 141a is released, and the paper P can be discharged in the paper transport direction.

  The tip stopper drive unit 142 includes a solenoid 143, an arm member 144, a return spring 145, and a stopper arm 146 provided on the shaft portion 141 b of the tip stopper 141. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the arm member 144 can rotate around the shaft portion 144a, and the solenoid connecting portion 144b that extends shortly upward from the position of the shaft portion 144a and the lateral position from the position of the shaft portion 144a. And a stopper connecting portion 144c extending long in the direction.

  A rod 143a of a solenoid 143 is connected to the solenoid connecting portion 144b, and one end of a return spring 145 is connected to the rod 143a as shown in FIG. The other end of the return spring 145 is connected to a fixing member (not shown). The stopper arm 146 is formed with a long hole 146a, and an engagement shaft portion 144d extending from the distal end portion of the stopper connecting portion 144c of the arm member 144 is inserted into the long hole 146a.

  In the above configuration, in a state where the solenoid 143 releases the retreating action of the rod 143a (the solenoid 143 is in an OFF state), the rod 143a is pulled by the return spring 145 to advance. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the stopper connecting portion 144 c of the arm member 144 is in a substantially horizontal state, and the restricting portion 141 a of the tip stopper 141 is in a raised state. As a result, the tip stopper 141 is arranged at the restriction position. In the tip stopper driving unit 142, this restriction position is the home position of the tip stopper 141.

  On the other hand, when the solenoid 143 performs the retreating operation of the rod 143a (the solenoid 143 is in the ON state), as shown in FIG. 16, the arm member 144 rotates clockwise (in FIG. 16) about the shaft portion 144a. As a result, the tip stopper 141 connected via the arm member 144 and the stopper arm 146 rotates approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise, and the restricting portion 141a of the tip stopper 141 is brought into a tilted state. As a result, the tip stopper 141 is Arranged at the retreat position. In this state, the sheet bundle arranged at the staple processing position can be discharged to the second sheet stack tray 61.

  In the retracted position, the restricting portion 141a abuts against a cushioning material 148 such as a sponge provided on the stopper receiving portion 147 as shown in FIG. Note that the cushioning material 148 may be provided on the back surface (the surface not facing the paper P) of the restricting portion 141a.

  The image forming apparatus main body 1 includes an image forming apparatus control unit 161 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus control unit 161 includes a microcomputer, and includes the document reading unit 3, the sheet feeding unit 7, the image forming unit 6, the sheet post-processing device 4, the sheet stacking unit 2, and each sheet conveyance path shown in FIG. The operations of the sheet conveyance unit 162 and the sheet stack unit 2 including the image information writing unit 163 including the LSU 22 illustrated in FIG. 3, the fixing device 44, and the like are controlled.

  Further, the paper post-processing device 4 includes a paper post-processing device control unit (paper size determination means, post-processing control means) 171 shown in FIG. The sheet post-processing device control unit 171 includes a microcomputer including a CPU 172, a ROM 173, and a RAM 174. The paper post-processing device control unit 171 includes a paper length detection unit 175, an origin sensor 98, a stepping motor 87 that moves the rear end plate 72 back and forth in the paper transport direction, and the rear end plate 72 in a tilted state and a raised state. A solenoid 93 to be driven, a sheet conveying unit 176, the side regulating plate driving unit 101, the tip stopper driving unit 131, a stapler 75, and the like are connected.

  The paper transport unit 176 includes a configuration for transporting paper in the paper post-processing device 4 such as the switching gates 53 and 57 and the escape transport path 51 shown in FIG. When actually detecting the sheet length detection unit 175 without being based on the input information, the sheet length detection unit 175 is constituted by, for example, the pre-registration detection switch, and the length (size) of the sheet P entering the post-processing unit 52 in the transport direction. ) Is detected.

  The paper post-processing device control unit 171 is connected to the paper post-processing device control unit 171 based on the program stored in the ROM 173 and the detection results of the paper length detection unit 175, the paper detection switch 49, and the like. To control the operation.

  In the above configuration, the toner image formed on the photoconductor 17 in the image forming unit 6 shown in FIG. 3 is transferred by the transfer charger 19 to, for example, the paper P supplied from the paper cassette 31, and then the fixing device 44. Is fixed on the paper P.

  When the above-mentioned paper P is stapled (post-processed), sorted by tray offset, or discharged in large quantities, it is based on a preset setting that commands any of these processes. The switching gate 46 is switched to the state a shown in FIG. As a result, the paper P is guided from the main transport path 36 to the post-processing transport path 39.

  Next, when the paper P is a special paper or the like for which stapling processing is prohibited, or is set not to perform stapling processing, the switching gate 53 switches to the state b. It is done. As a result, the paper P is guided to the escape conveyance path 51.

  Thereafter, the paper P is guided to the switching gate 57 switched to the state a and discharged to the first paper stack tray 59. For example, a large amount of paper P is guided to the switching gate 57 switched to the state b. Then, it is discharged to the second paper stack tray 61.

  On the other hand, the switching gate 53 is switched to the state a when the paper P is stapled, or when the paper P is sorted by the offset of the tray. As a result, the paper P enters the post-processing section 52 and is stacked on the staple tray 71 shown in FIG. At this time, the tip stopper 74 is raised to the restricting position shown in FIG. Also, whether the paper P entering the post-processing unit 52 is long or short is detected in advance by the paper length detection unit 175 and transmitted to the paper post-processing device control unit 171. Alternatively, it is input to the paper post-processing apparatus control unit 171 as input information other than the input information based on the detection.

  Here, when the paper P entering the post-processing unit 52 is a long size (for example, A3 vertical feed), the rear end plate 72 is set at or near the position of the rear wall 77 as shown in FIG. It is arranged in advance at the retracted position. Each time the paper P enters the staple tray 71, the rear end plate 72 advances from the retraction position to an alignment position corresponding to the paper size, and pushes the rear end portion of the paper P to advance the front end of the paper P. The sheet P is aligned in the sheet conveyance direction by pressing the portion against the leading end stopper 74. Similarly, each time the paper P enters, the side regulating plate 73 advances from the retracted position to the alignment position corresponding to the paper size, and pushes one side edge of the paper P to the other side edge of the paper P. Is pressed against the paper side edge regulating portion 76, thereby aligning the paper P in the width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction.

  The rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73 perform the above-described alignment operation almost simultaneously, and after the alignment operation, retreat to their respective retreat positions for receiving the next sheet P. If the alignment operation is performed a plurality of times for one sheet P, alignment between sheets P can be reduced and alignment can be further improved.

  Thereafter, when the alignment operation of the last sheet P is completed, stapling processing by the stapler 75 is performed in a state where the sheet bundle is positioned by the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73.

  When the stapling process is completed, the leading end stopper 74 is retracted to the retracted position, and the stapled sheet bundle is pushed out to the dischargeable position by the discharge roller 60 shown in FIG. The paper is discharged onto the second paper stack tray 61 by the roller 60.

  As described above, when the job (alignment, stapling, and ejection to the tray) for one sheet bundle is completed, the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73 are prepared for the next job, and the respective sheets are prepared. While moving to the retracted position or home position, the tip stopper 74 returns to the advanced position.

  On the other hand, even when the paper P entering the post-processing unit 52 is a short size (for example, A4 landscape feed), the front end of the paper P is applied to the leading end stopper 74 as in the case of the long size. The following problems occur when trying to match by touching. That is, when the second sheet P is pushed out by the rear end plate 72 to come into contact with the leading end stopper 74, the front end of the second sheet P first hits the leading end stopper 74. The second sheet P is likely to collide with the rear end portion of the first sheet P that is in contact with the first sheet P, and it is difficult to align the second sheet P on the first sheet smoothly. As a result, the collision portion of the paper P may be damaged, or the page order may be reversed between the first and second sheets.

  Therefore, in the paper post-processing apparatus 4, when the paper P entering the post-processing unit 52 is a short size, the following processing is performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear end plate 72 is made to wait in advance at a position near the center of the staple tray 71 in the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as a short size corresponding standby position). Then, every time the paper P enters the staple tray 71, the rear end plate 72 moves backward from the short size compatible standby position to the alignment position corresponding to the paper size, and pushes the front end of the paper P to push the paper P The paper P is aligned in the paper conveyance direction by pressing the rear end portion against the rear wall portion 77. Similarly, each time the paper P enters, the side regulating plate 73 advances from the retracted position to the alignment position corresponding to the paper size, and pushes one side edge of the paper P to the other side edge of the paper P. Is pressed against the paper side edge regulating portion 76 to align the paper P in the width direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction (preliminary alignment operation).

  The rear end plate 72 and the side restricting plate 73 perform the above alignment operation almost simultaneously, and after the alignment operation, the rear end plate 72 is retracted to the short size corresponding standby position to receive the next sheet P. The restricting plate 73 is retracted to the retracted position. Even in this preliminary alignment operation, if a single sheet P is performed a plurality of times, the alignment between the sheets P can be reduced, and better alignment can be achieved.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the preliminary alignment operation is performed based on the detection of the passage of the rear end of the paper by the paper detection switch 49 (paper input sensor) provided in front of the paper discharge roller 48. This is implemented by timer control in the unit 171.

  Thereafter, in the case of outputting a plurality of sheet bundles, when the preliminary alignment up to one sheet before the first sheet of the first sheet P is completed, as shown in FIGS. After entering the paper P, after falling down (operation (1) in FIG. 23), it passes under the pre-aligned paper P and moves to the home position in the rear wall 77 (operation ( 2)). Then, it rises at this position (operation (3)) and waits until the first paper P of the first copy is completed.

  Thereafter, the trailing edge plate 72 advances until the leading edge of the first sheet comes into contact with the leading edge stopper 74 at the time when the final sheet P has been entered into the staple tray 71 (operation (4)). ). At this time, at the same time, the side regulating plate 73 advances from the retracted position to the alignment position corresponding to the sheet size, and pushes one side end of the sheet bundle so that the other side end of the sheet bundle becomes the sheet side end regulating section 76. By pushing against the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is aligned in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction (final alignment operation). If this final alignment operation is also performed a plurality of times, the alignment between the sheets P can be reduced and a better alignment can be achieved.

  When the final alignment operation is finished, stapling processing by the stapler 75 is performed in a state where the sheet bundle is positioned by the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73.

  When this stapling process is completed, the leading end stopper 74 is retracted to the retracted position (operation (5)), and the stapled sheet bundle is pushed out to the dischargeable position by the discharge roller 60 by the trailing end plate 72. The paper is discharged onto the second paper stack tray 61 by the paper discharge roller 60 (operation (6)).

  As described above, when the job (preliminary alignment, final alignment, stapling, and discharge to the tray) for the first sheet bundle is completed, the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73 In preparation for the eye job, the rear end plate 72 moves to the short size corresponding standby position, the side regulating plate 73 moves to the retracted position, and the front end stopper 74 returns to the advanced position.

  In the processing for the short size paper, as shown in FIG. 24, the first paper P of the second part is stapled even during the final alignment operation and the stapling operation for the first paper bundle. In addition to being able to enter the tray 71, the preliminary alignment operation can be performed again from the second sheet P of the second part. Therefore, the loss time in the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus main body 1 due to the stapling process can be minimized or zero.

  Next, the series of operations of the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, while the image forming apparatus main unit 1 is on standby, a print request (print request) by an input using the operation unit (for example, an operation panel), or a computer or facsimile to which the image forming apparatus main unit 1 is connected A print request from the terminal device is generated (S1).

  At this time, in accordance with the above print request, information on whether post-processing (stapling) is necessary and whether the size of the paper P used for printing is long or short is the main body of the image forming apparatus. The information is input to the section 1, and the information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus control section 161 of the image forming apparatus main body section 1 to the sheet post-processing apparatus control section 171 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 (S2).

  When the size of the paper P to be entered is determined based on the input information (S3), the paper post-processing device 4 determines whether the paper P is a long size or a short size (S4). As described above, the determination of the paper size is such that the length of the paper P in the transport direction (paper length) is 1 of the length from the front end surface of the rear wall 77 of the staple tray 71 to the front end stopper 74. This is done depending on whether or not / 2 is exceeded.

  As a result of the determination in S4, when the paper P to be entered is a long size and the stapling process is selected, the rear end plate 72 is arranged at the home position. Further, the side regulating plate 73 is disposed at the retracted position, and the front end stopper 74 is disposed at the advanced position (S5).

  Thereafter, printing processing is started in the image forming apparatus main body 1. That is, one print request is received and printing is performed (S6). The paper P for which the printing process has been completed is discharged from the paper discharge roller 48 onto the staple tray 71 via the post-processing conveyance path 39.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus 4, when one sheet P is received (S7), the received sheet P is aligned in the sheet conveying direction by the trailing end plate 72 and the leading end stopper 74 at the staple processing position. Then, the side regulating plate 73 and the paper side edge regulating portion 76 align in the paper width direction (S8). At this time, the moving distance of the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73 is set based on the previously determined paper size.

  As described above, when the alignment of one sheet P is completed, it is determined whether or not printing of one job is completed, that is, whether or not the first sheet of paper P has been entered (S9). ). This determination is performed based on transmission information from the image forming apparatus main body 1. As a result of the determination in S9, if the first sheet of paper P has not been received, the processes in S5 to S9 are repeated.

  On the other hand, in S9, if the insertion of the first sheet of paper P has been completed, stapling is performed by the stapler 75 while the paper bundle is positioned by the alignment (S10).

  When the stapling process is completed, the front end stopper 74 is retracted to the retracted position, and the rear end plate 72 pushes the sheet bundle to a position where the front end portion is nipped by the paper discharge roller 60. As a result, the sheet bundle is conveyed to the sheet discharge roller 60 and discharged to the second sheet stack tray 61 (S11).

  In this way, when the processing for the first copy sheet is completed, whether there is a next print job, that is, whether there is a second copy (next copy) of paper P. Is determined (S12). If the result of this determination is that there is no second paper (next copy) of paper P, the process returns to the standby state, while there is a second paper copy (next copy) of paper P. , The process returns to S4 and the following processing is repeated. Note that the determination in S12 is made based on transmission information from the image forming apparatus main body 1 that has determined whether or not all print requests have been completed.

  If it is determined in S4 that the paper P to be input is short and the staple processing is selected, the rear end plate 72 is positioned near the center of the staple tray 71 in the paper conveyance direction. That is, it is arranged at the standby position corresponding to the short size. Further, the side regulating plate 73 is disposed at the retracted position, and the front end stopper 74 is disposed at the advanced position (S13).

  Thereafter, printing processing is started in the image forming apparatus main body 1. That is, one print request is received and printing is performed (S14). The paper P for which the printing process has been completed is discharged from the paper discharge roller 48 onto the staple tray 71 via the post-processing conveyance path 39.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus 4, when one sheet P is received (S15), the sheet P that has been received is sheeted by the rear end plate 72 and the rear wall portion 77 of the staple tray 71 at the short size alignment position. In addition to alignment in the transport direction, alignment is performed in the paper width direction by the side regulating plate 73 and the paper side edge regulating portion 76 of the staple tray 71. That is, preliminary alignment is performed on the paper P (S16).

  As described above, when the alignment (preliminary alignment) of one sheet P is completed, it is determined whether or not printing of one job is completed, that is, whether or not the first sheet of paper P has been input. Determine (S17). This determination is performed based on transmission information from the image forming apparatus main body 1. As a result of the determination in S17, if the first sheet of paper P has not been received, the processes in S13 to S17 are repeated.

  On the other hand, in S17, if the first sheet of paper P has been loaded, the rear end plate 72 first moves from the front end position of the sheet bundle to the home position. At this time, the rear end plate 72 is tilted in the paper transport direction, and after reaching under the home position after passing through the bottom of the paper bundle, the rear end plate 72 is brought up. As a result, the rear end plate 72 can move to the home position without colliding with the pre-aligned sheet bundle and disturbing the alignment. Next, the trailing edge plate 72 pushes the trailing edge of the sheet bundle and feeds the sheet bundle forward until the leading edge of the trailing edge plate abuts against the leading edge stopper 74. Thereby, the sheet bundle is arranged at the staple processing position (S18).

  When the sheet bundle is arranged at the staple processing position, the sheet bundle is finally aligned by the rear end plate 72 and the front end stopper 74, and the side regulating plate 73 and the sheet side end regulating portion 76. Staple processing is performed (S19).

  When the stapling process is completed, the process proceeds to S11 and the following processes are performed. That is, the leading end stopper 74 is retracted to the retracted position, and the sheet bundle is discharged to the second sheet stack tray 61 by the trailing end plate 72 (S11). After that, if there is no second part (next copy) of paper P (S12), the process returns to the standby state, while if there is a second part (next copy) of paper P. , The process returns to S4 and the following processing is repeated.

  In the above operation, the long-size paper P is aligned at the stapling position, so that after completion of alignment of one sheet bundle, stapling can be performed at that position. That is, it is not necessary to move from the alignment position to the staple processing position. Thereby, quick processing becomes possible.

  Further, the short size paper P is aligned at a short size alignment position set on the paper input side on the staple tray 71, and is then collectively transferred to the staple process as a paper bundle. Therefore, as compared with the case where each of the short-size paper P entering the staple tray 71 is aligned at the staple processing position, the short-size paper P is arranged as a aligned paper bundle at the staple processing position. This time can be shortened, and similarly, rapid processing becomes possible.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 of the present embodiment has a post-processing unit 201 shown in FIG. 26 instead of the post-processing unit 52. The post-processing unit 201 includes the front end stopper 141 instead of the front end stopper 74, and includes a side regulating plate (alignment means) 202 instead of the side regulating plate 73. Further, instead of the staple tray 71, a staple tray (paper stacking unit) 203 having a structure corresponding to the side regulating plate 202 is provided. The side regulating plate 202 is driven by the side regulating plate driving unit 101 shown in FIG.

  In this figure, although the description of the rear end plate 72, the stapler 75, and the rear wall 77 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted, the long size paper and the short size paper performed in the post processing unit 201 are omitted. The alignment operation with respect to and the stapling process and the subsequent discharging process are the same as those described above.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the staple tray 203 has a plurality of recesses 203 a in the range of movement of the side regulating plate 202. Each recess 203a extends in the width direction of the paper entering the staple tray 203 and has a groove shape.

  The wall portion between adjacent recesses 203a, that is, the recess side wall portion 203b supports the bottom surface of the paper P moving on the recess side wall portion 203b and prevents the paper P from entering the recess 203a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 27, the outer surface of the recess side wall 203b has a gentle slope to prevent the paper P from being caught.

  26, 27, 28 (plan view of the side regulating plate 202), FIG. 29 (a) (a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 28), and FIG. 29 (b) (FIG. As shown in the sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 28, the lower portion has a plurality of inclined surfaces, that is, a first inclined surface (scooping surface) 202a and a second inclined surface (scooping surface) 202b, and an upper portion. An alignment operation portion 202c is provided, and a horizontal portion 202d is provided between the first and second inclined surfaces 202a and 202b and the alignment operation portion 202c.

  The first inclined surface 202a extends obliquely downward from the upper surface position of the staple tray 203 and enters the concave portion 203a. The first inclined surface 202a is inclined so as to be tilted in a direction opposite to the alignment direction with respect to the vertical direction so that the side end portion of the paper P arranged on the concave portion 203a can be scooped up. . The inclination angle of the first inclined surface 202a with respect to the horizontal direction, that is, the rising angle is set in the range of 20 to 25 degrees, for example.

  Similarly, the second inclined surface 202b extends obliquely downward from the upper surface position of the staple tray 203, and is located on the concave side wall portion 203b between the adjacent first inclined surfaces 202a. The second inclined surface 202b is inclined so as to be tilted in a direction opposite to the alignment direction with respect to the vertical direction so that the side end portion of the paper P arranged on the concave side wall portion 203b can be scooped up. ing. The rising angle of the second inclined surface 202b is larger than the upward angle of the first inclined surface 202a, and is set, for example, in the range of 23 to 28 degrees.

  In the side regulating plate 202, the first inclined surface 202a or the second inclined surface 202b is provided over the front surface of the portion that can come into contact with the side edge of the paper P.

  The alignment operation unit 202c stands up substantially vertically, and a part that contacts the side edge of the paper P that has entered the staple tray 203 as the side regulating plate 202 moves, and aligns the paper P in its width direction. It is.

  In the above configuration, when the printed paper P enters the staple tray 203 from the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus, the paper P is placed in the short size alignment position according to whether it is long or short as described above. Alternatively, alignment is performed at the long size alignment position, that is, the staple processing position. In this alignment, the conveyance direction (length direction) of the paper P is aligned by the rear end plate 72, and the width direction of the paper P is aligned by the side regulating plate 202. The alignment at the side regulating plate 202 is performed as follows.

  After the paper P enters the staple tray 203, when the side regulating plate 202 moves in the alignment direction (direction of the paper side edge regulating portion 76), the side edge of the paper P is first scooped up by the first inclined surface 202a. It is done. When the side regulating plate 202 further advances from this state, the side edge of the paper P moves upward along the first inclined surface 202a, and the portion between the adjacent first inclined surfaces 202a of the paper P is the second inclined surface. Scooped up by face 202b.

  Thereafter, the side end portion of the paper P reaches the horizontal portion 202d and moves on the surface, and then comes into contact with the alignment operation portion 202c. Then, the alignment operation unit 202c pushes in the direction of the sheet side edge regulating unit 76 to align in the sheet width direction.

  In the above alignment process, since the second inclined surface 202b is in a position retracted in the alignment direction with respect to the first inclined surface 202a, the side end portion of the paper P is the lower end portion of the second inclined surface 202b and the recess side wall portion 203b. It is possible to prevent a situation in which a misalignment occurs due to being caught between the upper end portions of the two.

  In the side regulating plate 202, as described above, the first and second inclined surfaces 202a, 202b and the horizontal portion 202d of the side regulating plate 202 enter the lower surface side of the sheet P during alignment, and the sheet P during retraction after alignment. By repeating the operation of pulling out from the lower surface side of each sheet P, alignment is performed.

  Here, the paper P entering the staple tray 203 is curled when the fixing operation is performed by the fixing device 44. That is, the surface in contact with the heating roller of the pair of rollers of the fixing device 44 is a concave surface, while the surface in contact with the pressure roller is a convex surface. Further, when the paper P passes through each conveyance roller, for example, a small curl corresponding to the roller pitch occurs. Therefore, the paper P that has entered the staple tray 203 has a large curl that has occurred when passing through the fixing device 44 and also has a small curl that has occurred when passing through each transport roller.

  Therefore, when the downward projecting portion due to curling of the side edge portion of the paper P is fitted into the concave portion 203a, this portion is easily picked up by the first inclined surface 202a extending inside the concave portion 203a. . In addition, when the protruding portion of the side end portion of the sheet P that is downward due to the small curl is positioned on the concave side wall portion 203b, this portion is easily scooped up by the second inclined surface 202b. Therefore, even if the paper P is curled, the paper P can be easily and appropriately aligned in the width direction.

  Further, the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 may include a side regulating plate 205 shown in FIG. 30 or a side regulating plate 206 shown in FIG. 31 instead of the side regulating plate 202 described above.

  The side regulating plate 205 includes a first inclined surface 205a, a second inclined surface 205b, and an alignment operation portion corresponding to the first inclined surface 202a, the second inclined surface 202b, the alignment operation portion 202c, and the horizontal portion 202d of the side restriction plate 202. 205c and a horizontal portion 205d. In the side regulating plate 205, the width of the second inclined surface 205b is narrow, and the end portion of the first inclined surface 205a on the second inclined surface 205b side is inclined in accordance with the inclination of the concave side wall portion 203b.

  The side regulating plate 206 includes a first inclined surface 206a, a second inclined surface 206b, an alignment operation portion 206c, and a horizontal portion 206d. The alignment operation portion 206c and the horizontal portion 206d have the same shape as the alignment operation portion 202c and the horizontal portion 202d of the side regulating plate 202, but the first inclined surface 206a and the second inclined surface 206b are the first inclined surface 202a and the first inclined surface 202a. The shape is different from that of the two inclined surfaces 202b. That is, in the side regulating plate 206, the first and second inclined surfaces 206a and 206b correspond to the shape of the concave portion 203c having a shallow V-shaped valley shape (the shape of the concave portion side wall portion 203d having a low chevron-shaped repeating structure). Thus, a first inclined surface 206a having a small rising angle and a short length is formed at the tip of the second inclined surface 206b having a large rising angle.

  For example, the first and second inclined surfaces 202a and 202b, 205a and 205b, and 206a and 206b in the side restricting plates 202, 205, and 205 are made of elastic films such as PET sheets having these shapes. It is also possible to attach them to 205 and 205.

  Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-88048 shows a sheet guide mechanism having a pair of guide members, for example, in FIG. In the configuration, as shown in FIG. 32, the guide member 211 has a pair of L-shapes and is opposed to each other, and inclined portions 212 for scooping up the paper P are provided at two positions of the front end portion of each guide member 211. Provided.

  In the above configuration, the inclined portion 212 is of a single type. Therefore, when the paper P is aligned by this configuration, if the paper P is deformed such as curl, the paper P cannot be properly aligned.

  Further, in the above configuration, the inclined portion 212 is provided only in the concave groove portion 213 orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper P, and the scooping function of the paper P is not considered in portions other than the groove portion 213. Further, the paper P cannot be caught on the guide member 211.

  Therefore, in the above-described conventional configuration, the paper P is easily damaged, misaligned, jammed, and stapled due to these.

[Embodiment 3]
Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 according to the present embodiment includes a post-processing unit 221 shown in FIG. 33 instead of the post-processing unit 52. The post-processing unit 221 includes a guide movable transport unit 222 at a position above the staple tray 71. As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the guide movement type conveyance unit 222 includes an upper conveyance roller unit (upper conveyance unit) 223 and a movable guide member 224.

  The one-side transport roller portion 223 extends from the downstream position of the paper discharge roller 48 on the staple tray 71 to the vicinity of the end position of the staple tray 71. Further, as shown in FIG. 35, the one-side transport roller unit 223 includes an upper guide member 225 and a large number of transport rollers 226 provided at the position of the upper guide member 225. It is driven by a belt 227 erected on the belt and rotates in one direction.

  The movable guide member 224 has a length that can be opposed to at least two adjacent conveyance rollers 226, and is driven by the movable guide member drive unit 228 (see FIG. 36), so that the sheet-feeding side of the one-side conveyance roller unit 223 It can be reciprocated from the end portion to the vicinity of the discharge side end portion.

  Below the conveyance roller 226 on the most downstream side in the one-side conveyance roller unit 223, an elevating roller 229 serving as an escape conveyance roller and a driven roller is provided. The raising / lowering roller 229 is driven by a roller raising / lowering driving unit 231 (see FIG. 36), and is moved downward and away from the conveying roller 226. The sheet can be moved up and down to the sheet pressing position in contact with P.

  The lifting roller 229 is positioned immediately upstream of the stapler 75 when it is disposed at the sheet pressing position. Further, when the elevating roller 229 is arranged at the paper pressing position, the elastic member (not shown) sandwiches the paper P on the staple tray 71 with the staple tray 71 and urges the paper P to be fixed. Has been. In this case, the urging force is set to such an extent that the paper P can be transported when the paper is transported by the transport roller 226 or the rear end plate 72 with the lifting roller 229 disposed at the paper pressing position. Has been.

  Further, a sheet pressing member 230 is provided at a position upstream of the escape conveying roller 229. The sheet pressing member 230 is driven by a pressing member driving unit 232 (see FIG. 37), and is lowered to hold down the sheet P on the staple tray 71, and a retreat position where the sheet pressing member 230 is lifted away from the staple tray 71. It can be moved up and down.

  The post-processing unit 221 performs an alignment operation by the rear end plate 72 and the side regulating plate 73 or the side regulating plate 202, as in the post-processing units 52 and 201 described above.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 includes a sheet post-processing apparatus control unit 171 shown in FIG. In addition to the units shown in FIG. 18, a movable guide member driving unit 228, a roller lifting / lowering driving unit 231, and a pressing member driving unit 232 are connected to the sheet post-processing device control unit 171. These drive units 228, 231, and 232 can be easily configured by a known technique.

  In the above configuration, a print request (print request) by input using the operation unit of the image forming apparatus main body 1 or a print request from a terminal device such as a computer or a facsimile machine to which the image forming apparatus main body 1 is connected. When this occurs, an image is printed by the image forming apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. 37A, the paper P on which the image is printed passes through the paper discharge roller 48 and enters the guide movable transport unit 222 of the post-processing unit 221.

  When stapling is selected in accordance with the above print request, the paper that has entered the guide movable transport unit 222 is transferred to the one-side transport roller unit as shown in FIGS. 37 (b) and 37 (c). The sheet is conveyed in the paper discharge direction while being sandwiched between the conveying roller 226 rotating by 223 and the movable guide member 224. At this time, the movable guide member 224 moves in the paper discharge direction as the paper P moves while holding the front portion of the paper P. Further, since the movable guide member 224 always faces one or more transport rollers 226, the paper P can be transported stably.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 38A, the movable guide member 224 stops when it reaches a predetermined midway stop position. In this state, as shown in FIG. 38 (b), the paper P is fed forward by the rotation of the transport roller 226, and the front portion is placed on the staple tray 71 by the weight of the paper P and the waist (hardness) of the paper P. To descend.

  Thereafter, the sheet P stops when the leading end reaches the leading end stopper 141 as shown in FIG. Further, the elevating roller 229 descends onto the sheet, that is, the sheet pressing position, and thereby the sheet P is fixed at the staple processing position.

  Here, in the state where the lift roller 229, which is a driven roller, is arranged at the sheet pressing position, the urging force of the lift roller 229 is adjusted, and the lift roller 229 is a driven roller and can rotate. The sheet P can be moved by the conveying roller 226 or the rear end plate 72. Therefore, by using the lifting roller 229, it is possible to align the sheet P in the sheet conveyance direction and discharge the sheet while suppressing the movement of the sheet P, that is, the positional deviation. On the other hand, when the paper P is fixed by a member that simply presses the paper P such as the paper pressing member 230, further alignment of the paper P becomes impossible.

  Thereafter, the movable guide member 224 returns to the home position (position close to the paper discharge roller 48 shown in FIG. 37A) and prepares for the next paper P to be entered. As the movable guide member 224 is retracted at this time, as shown in FIG. 39, the rear portion of the sheet P falls from the movable guide member 224 and all portions of the sheet P are arranged on the staple tray 71. In addition, the lifting roller 229 moves up to return to the escape conveyance position, the sheet pressing member 230 is lowered to the sheet pressing position in place of the lifting roller 229, and the sheet P is fixed by the sheet pressing member 230.

  By repeating the above processing, as shown in FIG. 40A, when a sheet bundle (first sheet bundle) printed by one job is arranged at the staple processing position of the staple tray 71, Staple processing by the stapler 75 is performed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 40B, the sheet pressing member 230 rises to the retracted position, and the leading end stopper 141 falls in the sheet conveying direction. As a result, the sheet bundle can be discharged, and the sheet bundle is discharged by the rear end plate 72 as shown in FIG. The sheet bundle is discharged onto the second sheet stack tray 61 by the sheet discharge roller 60.

  On the other hand, when the stapling process is not selected, the sheet that has entered the guide movable transport unit 222 is not moved from the movable guide member 224 in FIG. 38 even after the operations shown in FIGS. 37 (b) and 37 (c). It does not stop at the midway stop position shown in (a), but moves to the escape paper discharge position shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure. As a result, the front portion of the paper P reaches the space between the transport roller 226 and the lift roller 229 without being lowered onto the staple tray 71, and is discharged from the staple tray 71 by these both rollers.

  Thereafter, the paper P is guided to the switching gate 57 and discharged to the first paper stack tray 59 or the paper discharge roller 60. Further, the movable guide member 224 returns to the home position in preparation for the next paper P.

  As described above, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 4, the conveyance unit when the guide movable conveyance unit 222 performs the staple process and the conveyance unit when the staple process is not performed, that is, the escape conveyance path 51 is combined. can do. Thereby, the escape conveyance path 51 becomes unnecessary, the height of the apparatus is lowered, and miniaturization is possible. Furthermore, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the post-processing section 221, the staple tray 71 is set to a length that allows the maximum size paper P that can be processed by the post-processing section 221 to be completely placed. Therefore, the alignment and accumulation of the paper P on the staple tray 71 is easy, and the stapling process can be performed accurately.

  On the other hand, the length of the staple tray 71 may be set shorter than the length of the maximum size paper P that can be processed by the post-processing unit 221 as shown in FIG. In this case, the sheet P sequentially conveyed to the staple processing position is held on the staple tray 71 in a state where only the front portion is pressed by the lifting roller 229 or the sheet pressing member 230. The rear portion of the paper P is held on the lower wall portion 4a of the paper post-processing device 4, for example.

  The above configuration focuses on the fact that the portion of the staple tray 71 necessary for the post-processing unit 221 is only the portion that holds the front portion of the paper P to be stapled. With such a configuration, the post-processing unit 221 can be further reduced in size and cost.

  The paper post-processing apparatus 4 has a configuration in which the escape transport path 51 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted. However, when the escape transport path 51 is further provided as a transport section dedicated to the paper P that is not subjected to stapling, Instead of the paper roller 48, a paper discharge roller unit 241 shown in FIG. The paper discharge roller unit 241 can also be applied to the paper post-processing apparatus 4 shown in FIG. In this case, the paper discharge roller unit 241 replaces the paper discharge roller 48 and the switching gate 53.

  The paper discharge roller unit 241 includes first to third rollers 241a to 241c arranged in the vertical direction. The intermediate first roller 241a is composed of, for example, a driving roller. The upper second roller 241b is composed of, for example, a driven roller, and sends the paper P to the escape conveyance path 51 together with the first roller 241a that rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. The lower third roller 241c is, for example, a driven roller, and sends the paper P to the post-processing unit 221 together with the first roller 241a that rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. It has become.

  Compared with the case where the paper discharge roller 48 and the switching gate 53 shown in FIG. 2 are provided in the paper discharge roller unit 241, only the drive mechanism that drives the first roller 241a is required. The mechanism can be simplified. In addition, since the first to third rollers 241a to 241c are arranged in a line in the vertical direction, the occupied space in the paper transport direction can be reduced.

  The paper size determining means includes paper size detecting means for detecting the size of paper entering the paper stacking section, and the length of the paper stacking section in the paper transport direction and the paper detected by the paper size detecting means. It may be configured to determine whether the sheet is long or short based on the length of the paper.

  According to the above configuration, the paper size determination unit determines whether the paper to be input is a long size or a short size based on the detection result of the paper size by the paper size detection unit. At this time, the paper size determination means performs this determination based on the length of the paper stacking unit in the paper transport direction and the length of the paper detected by the paper size detection means. For example, the paper size determining means determines that the length of the paper in the paper transport direction exceeds 1/2 of the length of the paper stacking unit in the paper transport direction as the long size, and determines that the length is 1/2 or shorter and short. Judge as size.

  By performing such a determination operation, the alignment operation using the short size alignment position for the short size set in the sheet stacking unit and the alignment position for the long size, that is, the sheet post-processing position becomes effective, and The alignment operation can be performed quickly, and the processing speed can be further increased.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the post-processing part in the paper post-processing apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including the paper post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing the image forming apparatus main body shown in FIG. 2 in more detail. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the drive mechanism of the rear end plate shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a paper damage mitigating operation in a moving unit of the rear end plate driving mechanism shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an operation of bringing a rear end plate into a tilted state in the rear end plate driving mechanism shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a moving unit in a rear end plate drive mechanism including a second inclined gear different from the second inclined gear illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a perspective view which shows the drive mechanism of the side control board shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a fitting structure between a two-stage pulley and a reduction pulley in the three pulley group shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the compression spring is compressed by the claw portion of the connection pulley in the speed reduction pulley shown in FIG. 9. It is a perspective view which shows the drive mechanism of the front-end | tip stopper shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a front view showing an operation of driving the tip stopper to a restricting position and a retracted position in the tip stopper driving mechanism shown in FIG. 11. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of the front-end | tip stopper shown in FIG. 11, and a front-end | tip stopper drive mechanism. It is a side view of the front-end | tip stopper shown in FIG. 13, and a front-end | tip stopper drive mechanism. It is a side view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the front-end | tip stopper to the control position by the front-end | tip stopper drive mechanism shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the state which has arrange | positioned the front-end | tip stopper to the retracted position with the front-end | tip stopper drive mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus control unit included in the image forming apparatus main body illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a sheet post-processing device control unit included in the paper post-processing device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an alignment operation for a long-sized sheet in the post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a problem that occurs when the short-size paper is aligned at a post-processing position in the post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a preliminary alignment operation for a first short-size sheet in the post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an operation at the end of the preliminary alignment operation for the first short-size sheet in the post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus centering on the rear end plate after the completion of the preliminary alignment operation shown in FIG. 22 and thereafter. FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the first sheet of the second set of sheets enters the staple tray during the final alignment operation of the first set of sheet bundles illustrated in FIG. 23. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the paper post-processing apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the post-processing part with which the paper post-processing apparatus in other embodiment of this invention is provided. It is an enlarged view of the principal part in the side control board shown in FIG. FIG. 27 is a plan view of the side regulating plate shown in FIG. 26. 29A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 28, and FIG. 29B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the principal part which shows the other example of the side control board shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the principal part which shows the other example of the side control board shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the prior art example corresponding to the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 34 is a schematic front view of the post-processing unit shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the guide moving type transport unit shown in FIG. 34. FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a sheet post-processing device control unit included in the paper post-processing device illustrated in FIG. 33. FIG. 37 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the initial state of paper conveyance by the post-processing unit shown in FIG. 34, and FIG. 37 (b) shows a state where the paper is further conveyed from the state of FIG. 37 (a). FIG. 37C is an explanatory view showing a state where the movable guide member has moved in the paper discharge direction from the state of FIG. FIG. 38 (a) is an explanatory view showing a state where the movable guide member has reached a predetermined midway stop position from the state of FIG. 37 (c), and FIG. 38 (b) shows that the movable guide member has stopped at the midway stop position. FIG. 38C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the leading end of the paper has reached the leading end stopper. FIG. 39 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the movable guide member is retracted in the home position direction after the state shown in FIG. 38C and the entire sheet is arranged on the staple tray. FIG. 40A is an explanatory view showing a state in which a sheet bundle of one job is accumulated on the staple tray by the operation of FIGS. 37A to 38C, and FIG. FIG. 40C is an explanatory view showing a state in which the sheet bundle is discharged from the staple tray. FIG. 35 is a schematic front view illustrating another example of the post-processing unit illustrated in FIG. 34. FIG. 42 (a) shows a paper discharge roller portion that replaces the paper discharge roller and the switching gate provided in the paper input portion to the post-processing portion shown in FIG. FIG. 42B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an initial state of the operation of discharging the sheet to the conveyance path, FIG. 42B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the sheet is discharged to the escape conveyance path by the discharge roller unit, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet is discharged to a post-processing unit by a discharge roller unit. FIG. 43A is a schematic front view showing a conventional paper post-processing device provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 43B shows another example of the conventional paper post-processing device. It is a schematic front view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main-body part 3 Original reading part (original image reading means)
5 Main unit tray (paper storage means)
6 Image forming unit (image forming means)
7 Feeder 51 Escape transport path (non-post-processing transport path)
59 First paper stack tray (output tray)
60 Paper discharge roller (paper output means)
61 Second paper stack tray (output tray)
71 Staple tray (paper stacking section)
72 Rear end plate (movable alignment member, alignment means, short size paper transfer means, paper discharge transfer means)
73 Side regulating plate (alignment means)
74 Tip stopper (regulating member, paper positioning means)
75 Stapler (post-processing means)
81 Rear end plate drive mechanism (movable alignment member holding means, movable alignment member drive means)
84 First bevel gear (first screw gear)
85 Second inclined gear (second screw gear)
88 Pressurized spring (elastic member)
93 Solenoid (drive means)
97 square shaft (shaft)
101 Side regulating plate drive unit 102 Motor (drive source)
113 Pressurized spring (elastic member)
131 Tip stopper driving part (regulating member driving part, paper positioning means)
141 Tip stopper (regulating member, paper positioning means)
142 Tip stopper drive (regulator drive, paper positioning means)
171 Paper post-processing device control unit (paper size discrimination means, post-processing control means)
201 Post-processing section 202 Side regulating plate (alignment means)
202a First inclined surface (rake face)
202b Second inclined surface (rake face)
202c Alignment operation unit 203 Staple tray (paper stacking unit)
203a Concave part 203b Concave side wall part 221 Post-processing part 222 Guide moving type conveying part 223 Upper conveying roller part (upper conveying means)
224 Movable guide member 225 Upper guide member 226 Conveying roller 228 Movable guide member drive unit 229 Lifting roller 230 Paper pressing member

Claims (13)

A paper stacking unit for stacking the received paper;
In a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with an aligning unit that aligns the sheets received in the sheet stacking unit,
The alignment means has a movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the paper, and a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the paper are formed below the movable alignment member. Characteristic sheet post-processing apparatus.   The scooping surface is composed of an inclined surface inclined in a direction opposite to the alignment direction, and the plurality of types of scooping surfaces are set so that the angles of the inclined surfaces are different from each other. Paper post-processing device. The movable alignment member is movable in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction in the paper stacking unit,
The paper stacking unit is formed with a plurality of recesses extending in the moving direction of the movable alignment member and aligned in the paper transport direction,
The plurality of types of scooping surfaces move at least on the first inclined surface that moves in the recess in accordance with the alignment operation, and on the recess sidewall formed between the adjacent recesses in accordance with the alignment operation, A second inclined surface having a larger rising angle than the first inclined surface,
The first inclined surfaces and the second inclined surfaces are arranged at the same position in the alignment direction, and the second inclined surface is arranged at a rear position in the alignment direction with respect to the first inclined surface. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided.   The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable alignment member performs alignment by pressing a side end portion of a sheet which is a portion parallel to a sheet entering direction of the sheet stacking unit.   The driving force from a driving source is applied to the movable alignment member in at least two places in a direction orthogonal to a paper entering direction via a belt and a pulley. Paper post-processing device.   The pulleys are coaxially arranged to form a pair fitted with each other, and an elastic member is provided at a fitting portion of these pulleys so that both pulleys transmit a driving force via the elastic member. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided. In a paper post-processing apparatus provided with post-processing means for performing post-processing on paper that has entered the paper stacking unit,
The paper stacking unit has a post-processing position for performing post-processing on the paper, and a short size alignment position for aligning short size paper set on the paper input side to the paper stacking unit;
Paper size determining means for determining whether the size in the transport direction of the paper entering the paper stacking unit is long or short;
A sheet having a movable alignment member that performs alignment by pushing the edge of the sheet, and a plurality of types of scooping surfaces for scooping up the edge of the sheet are formed below the movable alignment member. Matching means for matching
Short-size paper transfer means for transferring the paper at the short-size alignment position to the post-processing position;
When a long size paper enters the paper stacking unit, after the paper is aligned at the post-processing position, post processing is performed, while when a short size paper enters the paper stacking unit, The alignment unit, the short size sheet transfer unit, and the rear side are arranged so that the sheet is aligned at the short size alignment position and the post-processing is performed after the aligned sheet is transferred to the post processing position. A paper post-processing apparatus comprising post-processing control means for controlling the processing means.   An upper conveying means provided in an upper position of the paper conveying path in a state extending in the paper conveying direction and contacting the upper surface of the paper to move the paper in the conveying direction; and the lower surface of the paper facing the upper conveying means A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a movable guide member provided at a lower position in contact with the movable guide member that reciprocally moves along a sheet conveying path.   9. The paper transport apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the upper transport unit includes a plurality of transport rollers provided in the paper transport direction. A paper stacking unit for stacking the received paper;
A post-processing unit that is provided at a terminal side position in the paper transport direction in the paper stacking unit and performs post-processing on the paper stacked in the paper stacking unit;
The sheet conveying device according to claim 8 is provided at a position above the sheet stacking unit,
When the post-processing means does not perform post-processing, the movable guide member moves to the vicinity of the end portion of the upper conveying means as the paper moves, while when the post-processing means performs post-processing, the movable guide member Is moved to the middle position of the upper conveying means in accordance with the movement of the paper, stops, and feeds the paper to the position of the post-processing means on the paper stacking unit. A paper stacking unit for stacking the received paper;
In this paper stacking unit, a restriction position is provided at a front end position of a post-processing position at which post-processing can be performed on the paper, and restricts and positions the front end position in the paper conveyance direction, and forward in the paper conveyance direction from the restriction position. A restricting member that is moved to a retracted position that allows the sheet to be discharged from the post-processing position, and a restricting member driving unit that moves the restricting member to the restricting position and the retracted position. Paper positioning means;
An alignment unit that aligns the sheets that have entered the sheet stacking unit and that is disposed at the post-processing position in a state where the aligned sheets are pressed against the restriction member at the restriction position;
Post-processing means for performing post-processing on the paper aligned by the alignment means;
Located in the upper side of the paper transport path in the state of extending in the paper transport direction, contacts the upper surface of the paper and moves the paper in the transport direction, and contacts the lower surface of the paper facing the upper transport means A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a movable guide member that is positioned on the lower side of the sheet conveying path and reciprocally moves along a sheet conveying path; and a sheet conveying apparatus provided at a position above the sheet stacking unit.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet post-processing device according to claim 1.   A document image reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a document table, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet based on an image read by the document image reading unit, and the image forming unit A paper discharge storage means for storing the image-formed paper, and any one of claims 1 to 7, 10 or 11 between the document image reading means and the image forming means and the paper discharge storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images