JP2006232451A - Post-processing device for medium to be recorded and image forming apparatus provided with the post-processing device for medium to be recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a post-processing for a medium to be recorded capable of enhancing alignment accuracy for aligning/adjusting both ends of the medium to be recorded without largely deviating a movement distance to a position where alignment and adjustment are performed even if workability for aligning/adjusting both ends of the medium to be recorded is enhanced, and an image forming apparatus provided with the post-processing for the medium to be recorded. <P>SOLUTION: The post-processing device for the medium to be recorded comprises a medium to be recorded conveying passage 1 for conveying the medium to be recorded conveyed after a recording image is formed; a delivery means 2 for delivering the medium to be recorded conveyed in the medium to be recorded conveying passage 1; a piling up means 3 for piling up the medium 2 to be recorded delivered from the delivery means 2; an alignment means 4 movably retained in a direction perpendicular to the delivery direction of the medium to be recorded delivered to the piling up means 3 and aligning/adjusting both ends of the medium to be recorded; and a movement drive means 5 for driving movement in a direction perpendicular to the delivery direction of the conveyed medium to be recorded of the alignment means 4 at a different movement speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a post-recording medium that performs post-processing of a recording medium after forming a recorded image. Inkjet printers such as a printing apparatus equipped with a processing apparatus and a recording medium post-processing apparatus, a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer, or a combination of these that forms a recorded image of toner in an image forming process of an electrophotographic method The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer.

Conventionally, a recording sheet of a recording medium that is disposed downstream of an image forming apparatus such as an inkjet printer such as a printing apparatus or a copying machine that forms a toner recording image in an image forming process of an electrophotographic method is output. 2. Description of the Related Art A recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as alignment of both ends, perforation, and binding is widely known.
In order to increase the sheet interval by the operation time for performing the processing by the returning means and the aligning means, the discharge speed of the sheet-like medium by the discharge means is increased so that the paper passing time of the discharge sensor is shortened. In order to increase the sheet interval by the operation time for performing the processing by the sorting means, the return operation by the return means is performed by reducing the discharge speed of the sheet-like medium by the discharge means so that the paper passing time of the discharge sensor is extended. A sheet-like medium aligning apparatus capable of keeping the time required for the aligning operation by the aligning means and the sorting operation by the sorting means within the conveyance time interval of the sheet-like medium is known (see Patent Document 1).
The base end portion of the aligning member is supported by a rotating shaft so that it can freely rotate within a range of a predetermined rotation angle. By controlling the amount of rotation of the rotating shaft, the aligning member is attached to the end portion of the sheet-like medium. Even when the sheet-shaped medium loaded on the stacking means is curled so that the posture can be adjusted to the alignment position where it can be sandwiched and retreated to a position separated from the sheet-shaped medium, A sheet-like medium aligning apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet-like medium post-processing apparatus that can perform a satisfactory aligning function with an aligning member are also known (see Patent Document 2).
Alignment control means is provided to control the return roller to start operation after a lapse of a predetermined time after the paper discharge sensor detects the trailing edge of the paper. During the predetermined time, the number of sheets stacked on the paper alignment mechanism is increased. Regardless of the number of sheets stored in the staple tray, the operation of hitting the return roller is always performed under the same conditions regardless of the number of sheets stored in the staple tray. Also known is a paper post-processing device that can prevent backflow jamming and misalignment and that can satisfactorily align the paper in the vertical direction (see Patent Document 3).
Further, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus, the operation position of the aligning member when aligning both ends in the direction perpendicular to the ejection direction of the recording medium to be ejected varies depending on the size of the recording medium and moves from the reference position. It was managed by quantity. The reference position was managed by the amount of movement from the position at which the alignment member passed the sensor of the position detection unit and the output of the sensor of the detection unit changed, for example, the number of rotation pulses of the drive motor and the rotation time. .
In order to determine that the sensor output of the detection unit has changed since the output of the sensor of the detection unit has changed, in order to prevent misrecognition due to chattering, noise, etc. of the sensor of the detection unit, A fixed time of a certain time or more, that is, a time to be fixed when the sensor output does not change for a certain time or longer is provided.
However, when the aligning member passes the sensor of the detection unit and determines the reference position, the movement is performed by the moving means for this determined time, so that a deviation between the actual reference position and the recognized position of the control means occurs. Was.

11 to 13, the recording medium post-processing apparatus 100 selects an alignment mode for both ends of the recording medium of the recording medium, and a size signal of the recording medium is sent from the image forming apparatus 150.
At that time, the aligning member 104 has the leading end of the recording medium carried into the entrance guide plate 101 a ₁ of the entrance conveyance path 101 a that is the recording medium conveyance path 101 from the image forming unit 151 of the image forming apparatus 150 to the paper discharge unit 102. First, the alignment member 104 is separated from the recording medium width by a predetermined amount by the drive motor 105b of the drive unit 105 before being discharged and stacked on the discharge tray 103 by the discharge roller 102a. (See FIG. 12).
At this time, when the alignment members 104 at both ends pass through the detection sensors 105a at both ends shown in FIG. 12, the sensor output changes, but in order to prevent misdetection due to noise and chattering generated in the circuit of the detection sensor 105a. In addition, the control unit 105c determines that the sensor output has changed when the sensor output of the detection sensor 105a has not changed for a certain period of time, several ms to several tens of ms, and that the reference position is aligned and the member 104 has passed. It is supposed to let you.
However, if the output confirmation time of the time from when the sensor output of the detection sensor 105a actually changes until it is confirmed is (T) and the moving speed of the aligning member 104 is (V), (T) * (V ), And an error occurs in the moving distance of the aligning member 104.
Since the accuracy of the alignment position of the alignment member 104 is related to the alignment accuracy, if the error is large, the alignment accuracy deteriorates.
In order to increase the productivity of the aligning work by the aligning member 104, it is better to move the aligning member 104 as fast as possible. However, if this is done, the moving distance within the above-described fixed time increases and the error increases. .
For example, when the drive frequency of the drive motor 105b in the drive unit 105 is set to 1000 pps, the movement distance per pulse is set to 0.25 mm, and the sensor output determination time is set to 5 ms, an error of 1.25 mm or more occurs. .
The higher the moving speed of the aligning member 104 for increasing the productivity of the aligning work, the more the moving distance to the position where the aligning member 104 is aligned is greatly shifted, resulting in variations in stop position accuracy when the recording media are aligned. As a result, the alignment accuracy of the alignment member 104 was lowered.
Therefore, in the conventional recording medium post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing apparatus, the moving speed of the aligning member for improving the productivity of aligning both ends of the recording medium The higher the speed, the greater the displacement distance of the alignment member to the alignment position, and the greater the variation in stop position accuracy when aligning the recording media, resulting in a decrease in alignment accuracy of the alignment member. Has occurred.
JP 2002-211829 A JP 2002-356270 A Japanese Patent No. 3423419

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such problems. That is, even if the workability of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved, the alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning the both ends of the recording medium is improved without causing a significant shift in the moving distance to the alignment position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium post-processing device that can be used, and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention described in claim 1 is a recording medium transport path for transporting a recording medium in a recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing of the recording medium subjected to image formation. A discharge means for discharging the recording medium transported through the recording medium transport path, a stacking means for stacking the recording medium discharged from the discharge means, and a recording medium discharged to the stacking means. Alignment means for reciprocating in the width direction perpendicular to the discharge direction to align both ends of the recording medium in the width direction, and movement drive means for driving movement of the alignment means in the width direction with different movement speed patterns It is characterized by that.
Alternatively, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording medium conveyance path includes a punch unit that performs punching processing of the conveyed recording medium. The main feature is that it is a recording medium post-processing device.
Alternatively, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the recording medium conveyance path includes a stapling unit that performs a binding process of the recording medium to be conveyed. The main characteristic is that the recording medium post-processing device is used.
Alternatively, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recorded medium post-processing apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, the discharge means includes a discharge roller that discharges the recorded medium. The main feature is that it is a device.
Alternatively, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the discharging unit includes a discharge sensor that detects the recording medium to be discharged. The main feature is that it is a recording medium post-processing device.
Alternatively, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, the stacking unit loads the recording medium to be discharged and returns the stacked recording medium. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing device comprises a surface.

Alternatively, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect, the stacking unit returns the recording medium to be ejected and stacked. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing apparatus includes a return roller.
Alternatively, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh aspect, the aligning means is at least a rotational center of a disk shape. Post-processing of a recording medium comprising an alignment member having a shape lacking except for an alignment portion that contacts the end surface of the recording medium stacked and connected to the base end portion, and aligns the end surface of the recording medium The main feature is that it is a device.
Alternatively, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the aligning member includes a rotating unit that is rotatably held in the vertical direction. The main feature is that it is a device.
Alternatively, according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to the ninth aspect, the rotation unit is a rotation that holds the base end portion of the alignment member and is rotatably held. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing apparatus has a shaft.
Alternatively, in the present invention described in claim 11, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the movement driving unit is a reference position of the aligning unit that aligns both ends of the recording medium. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing apparatus is driven so that the moving speed when the recording medium is confirmed is different from the moving speed when both ends of the recording medium are aligned by the aligning means.
Alternatively, according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to the eleventh aspect, the movement driving means is a moving speed when the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium is confirmed. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing device is driven at a lower speed than the moving speed when the aligning means aligns both ends of the recording medium.

Alternatively, according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, the movement driving unit is a reference position of the aligning unit that aligns both ends of the recording medium. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing device is driven so that the moving speed up to and the moving speed after passing through the reference position are different.
Alternatively, according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect, the movement driving means determines the movement speed to the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing device is driven at a lower speed than the moving speed after passing through the recording medium.
Alternatively, according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the movement driving unit sets the position of the aligning unit that aligns both ends of the recording medium. When the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium passes through the detection unit, the signal state of the detection signal of the detection unit is changed and then the signal state is confirmed to be changed. The main feature is that the recording medium post-processing device corrects the position of the aligning operation of the aligning means by measuring the distance traveled by the aligning means during the time required.
Alternatively, the present invention described in claim 16 is an image forming apparatus for forming a recorded image on a recording medium to be post-processed, and an image forming section for forming a recorded image on the recording medium and recording by the image forming section. An image forming apparatus comprising the recording medium post-processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 that performs post-processing of a recording medium after forming an image. To do.
Alternatively, the present invention described in claim 17 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image forming unit forms a recorded image of toner on a recording medium in an image forming process of an electrophotographic method. The main feature is that it is a device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the productivity (workability) for aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning does not greatly deviate. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the medium.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the productivity of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved by performing the punching process of the recording medium to be conveyed, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning is increased. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly deviating.
According to the third aspect of the invention, even if the binding of the recording medium to be conveyed is performed and the productivity of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning is increased. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly deviating.
According to the invention of claim 4, even if the recording medium is discharged to a precise position with a high precision timing by the discharge roller and the both ends of the recording medium are aligned, the alignment is aligned. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning both ends of a recording medium without greatly deviating the moving distance to the position to be performed.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the recording medium is ejected to an accurate position by the paper ejection sensor at a precise timing and the both ends of the recording medium are aligned, the productivity is improved. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly deviating the moving distance to the position where the recording is performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if the recording medium to be ejected is returned with a simple configuration at a low cost and the both ends of the recording medium are aligned and the productivity is increased, the alignment is performed. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly deviating the moving distance to the recording medium.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, even if the recording medium to be ejected is reliably returned and the productivity of aligning both ends of the recording medium is increased, the moving distance to the position where alignment is aligned is increased. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving the alignment accuracy of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly deviating.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the aligning means is small and light, can be easily moved, aligns both ends of the recording medium, and aligns even if productivity is improved. It is now possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus that can further improve the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium without aligning the moving distance to the position. .
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the aligning means is small and light, can be easily moved, and is positioned by a combination with an alignment operation in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the recording medium by turning in the vertical direction. It is now possible to align and align the end faces of the recording media stacked in a sorted state, aligning both ends of the recording media, and aligning even if productivity is improved. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus that can further improve the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium without causing a significant shift in the moving distance to the alignment position. It became so.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the aligning means is small and lightweight, can be easily moved, and is vertically aligned with the recording medium ejection direction by the vertical rotation of the rotation shaft. The end face can be aligned and aligned even with the recording medium loaded in the sorted state with the position shifted by the combination of the two, and both ends of the recording medium are aligned and aligned, further improving productivity. However, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing device that can further improve the alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly shifting the moving distance to the alignment and alignment position. I can do it now.
According to the invention of claim 11, the moving speed when the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium is confirmed by the movement driving means and the moving speed when the aligning means aligns both ends of the recording medium are different. Thus, even if the productivity of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved, the alignment of aligning both ends of the recording medium without causing a significant shift in the moving distance to the alignment and aligning position. It has become possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of improving accuracy.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the movement speed when confirming the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium by the movement driving means is lower than the moving speed when the aligning means aligns both ends of the recording medium. Even if the productivity is increased by aligning both ends of the recording medium by driving at a high speed, the both ends of the recording medium are aligned and aligned without greatly deviating the moving distance to the alignment position. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus with improved alignment accuracy.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the moving medium is driven so that the moving speed up to the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium is different from the moving speed after passing through the reference position. Even if the productivity is improved by aligning both ends of the recording medium, it is possible to improve alignment accuracy by aligning both ends of the recording medium without greatly shifting the moving distance to the position where alignment is performed. A recording medium post-processing apparatus can be provided.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the moving speed to the reference position of the aligning means for aligning both ends of the recording medium by the movement driving means is driven at a speed lower than the moving speed after passing through the reference position, and the recording medium Recording medium that improves alignment accuracy by aligning both ends of the recording medium without causing a significant shift in the moving distance to the position where alignment is aligned even if productivity is improved by aligning both ends of the recording medium An aftertreatment device can be provided.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the need to reduce the speed to the reference position, and even if productivity is improved by aligning both ends of the recording medium, it is possible to perform alignment evenly. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of further improving the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium without causing a significant shift in the movement distance of the recording medium.
According to the invention of claim 16, even if the productivity of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium on which the recorded image is formed is improved, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning is not greatly shifted. It has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus that performs post-processing by improving the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium.
According to the invention of claim 17, even if the productivity of aligning and aligning both ends of a recording medium on which a high-quality toner recording image is formed is increased, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning is large. Without shifting, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that performs post-processing by improving the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a recording medium post-processing apparatus 0 that performs post-processing of a recording medium that has undergone image formation conveys a recording medium that is carried in after the image is formed. A discharge means 2 for discharging the recording medium carried into the path 1, the inlet guide plate 1a ₁ of the inlet conveyance path 1a of the recording medium conveyance path 1, the discharge roller 2a of the discharge means 2 and the discharge sensor. 2b is orthogonal to the paper discharge tray of the stacking means 3 for stacking the recording medium discharged at an accurate position by the high-precision timing and the discharge direction (A) of the recording medium discharged to the stacking means 3. The aligning member 4a of the aligning means 4 that is held so as to be movable in the orthogonal direction (B) and aligns both ends in the width direction of the recording medium and aligns in the discharge direction (A) of the recording medium discharged from the aligning member 4a The movement in the orthogonal direction (B) is different Moving drive means 5 driven at a moving speed. According to this embodiment, even if the workability of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved, the both ends of the recording medium are aligned and aligned without greatly shifting the moving distance to the aligning and aligning position. The alignment accuracy can be improved.
The post-processing apparatus 0 is connected to the paper discharge side surface of the image forming apparatus 50 by a connecting member (not shown).
The post-processing device 0 can arbitrarily select the presence / absence of post-processing such as alignment processing in which the alignment member 4a aligns the recording medium, punching processing by the punch unit 6, and binding processing by the staple unit 7. Thus, the recording medium conveyance path 1 is switched depending on whether or not each post-processing is performed.
For example, punching is performed at the end of the recording medium by the punch unit 6 according to the user's selection, and punching processing is performed. The punch unit 6 punches with the punch blade 6a and the die 6b in a state where the conveyance of the recording medium is once stopped.
Although not shown, the present invention can also be applied to a rotary punch method in which a punch blade and a die are provided on a rotating body, and the punch blade and the die are combined by rotation to punch while conveying a recording medium.
Punch scraps that have been punched and punched by the punch unit 6 are accommodated in the hopper 6c and collected.

When the post-processing apparatus 0 discharges the recording medium in the straight mode, the recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus 50 passes through the entrance guide plate 1a ₁ and is carried by the transport roller 1a ₂ and the transport roller 1a ₃ . Is done.
The recording medium that has been carried into the entrance path 1a passes through the conveying roller 1b ₁ of the upper conveying passage 1b, inclined stacking surface of the external loading means 3 in synchronism with a predetermined timing by a discharge roller 2a and the discharge sensor 2b 3a is discharged to a precise position in the discharging direction (A) with high precision timing, returned to the direction of arrow (C) by the inclined loading surface 3a which is a low-cost and simple configuration, and further returned by the return roller 3b. A reliable return operation is performed, the alignment is performed on the inclined stacking surface 3a along the discharge direction (A), and the end in the orthogonal direction (B) can be aligned and aligned by the alignment operation by the alignment member 4a. It has become.
Further, if necessary, the aligning member 4a can load the recording medium in a sorting state in which the position is shifted by a predetermined number of sheets in the shift direction in the arrow (B) direction orthogonal to the discharge direction (A). (See FIGS. 2 and 3).
Arranging member 4a includes a base end portion 4a ₁ serving as the rotation center, align the contact with the end face in the width direction end surface of the recording medium (edges) which are stacked to extend from the base portion 4a ₁ matching and a alignment unit 4a ₂ as illustrated to. Thus, since the alignment member 4a is small and lightweight, it can be easily moved in the width direction to further improve the workability and alignment accuracy for alignment (see FIG. 3). .
A common inlet transport path 1a located upstream of the upper transport path 1b and the lower transport path 1c has an inlet sensor 1a ₄ for detecting a recording medium received from the image forming apparatus 50, a transport roller 1a ₂ downstream thereof, and a punch unit. 6, the conveyance roller 1a ₃ and the branch claw 8 are sequentially arranged downstream thereof.

The branch claw 8 is held in the state of the solid line in FIG. 1 by a spring (not shown), and turns on (ON) a solenoid (not shown) to rotate counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow (D). The recording medium is distributed in the direction 1c, and if the solenoid (not shown) is off (OFF), the recording medium is distributed to the upper conveyance path 1b.
The lower conveyance path 1c is provided with a staple tray discharge sensor 1c ₁ as a trigger for the presence / absence of a recording medium in the conveyance path and an alignment operation when the recording medium is discharged to the staple tray 9. Yes.
The recording medium sent to the lower conveyance path 1c is sequentially conveyed by the conveyance roller 1c ₂ , the conveyance roller 1c ₃ , the conveyance roller 1c ₄ , and the conveyance roller 1c ₅ , and after being stacked on the staple tray 9, is aligned and aligned. It is like that.
The recording medium loaded on the staple tray 9 is dropped downward at any time by the hitting roller 1c ₆ so that the lower ends thereof are aligned.
Tapping roller 1c ₆ is about a fulcrum 1c _7, pendulum motion of the arrow (E) direction of the figure given by tapping solenoid (not shown) intermittently applied to the recording medium frame advance to the Stable Bok Rei 9 Thus, the recording medium is abutted against a stopper (not shown).
The hitting roller 1c ₆ is moved in a direction in which the recording medium is moved downward in the conveying direction in the direction of the arrow (G) by a drive motor (not shown) in the counterclockwise direction in the direction of the arrow (F). It is rotating.
Alignment in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium arrow (G) loaded on the staple lay 9 is performed by the jogger fence 9a.
The hitting roller 1c ₆ , the stopper (not shown), the jogger fence 9a, etc. align the bundle of recording media in a direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the sheet conveying direction of the arrow (G). Is configured.
Thereafter, when the bundle of recording media is bound, the staple unit 7 performs the stapling process at a predetermined position, and the discharge claw 9c attached to the discharge belt 9b that rotates in the arrow (H) direction. The recording medium is transported upward in the direction of the arrow (G), and is ejected onto the stacking means 3 by the ejection roller 2a and the ejection sensor 2b at a precise position with high precision, and is aligned by the alignment member 4a. Matching processing can be performed.
The staple unit 7 includes a driver unit 7a that ejects a needle (not shown) and a clincher unit 7b that bends the tip of a needle (not shown) that is driven into a bundle of recording media.
In the stapling unit 7 in the post-processing apparatus 0, the driver unit 7a and the clincher unit 7b are configured separately, and the staple unit moving guide 7c moves in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction in the arrow (G) direction of the bundle of recording media. The driver unit 7a and the clincher unit 7b are provided with a relative positioning mechanism and a moving mechanism (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a structural view of the alignment member 4a and the like viewed from below.
4 and 5, the driving force from the moving drive means 5 a is a driving motor 5b (driving motor 5b ₁ and the driving motor 5b ₂₎ are respectively a timing belt 5d (timing belt _5d 1, _5d 2), timing pulley 5e the (timing pulley _5e 1, _{5e 2),} is transmitted to the moving member 5f which is fixed to the timing belt _5d 1, 5d ₂ (moving member _5f 1, 5f _2).
The drive motors 5b ₁ and 5b ₂ are step motors, and the movement distance per pulse is understood by the control unit 5c, so that the aligning member 4a can be accurately stopped at the target position.
The aligning member 4a is incorporated in the moving members 5f ₁ and 5f ₂ and can be moved left and right independently in the direction of the arrow (B) orthogonal to the paper discharge direction of the recording medium, and sandwiches the end surface of the recording medium. Align and align.
The transmission type sensor of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ which is the detection unit 5a disposed on both ends is for confirming the reference position of the alignment member 4a, and the sensor detection plate 5g of the moving members 5f ₁ and 5f ₂ ( The sensor output changes depending on whether or not the sensor detection plates 5g ₁ and 5g ₂ ) shield the transmission type sensor of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ disposed at both ends.
Based on the output signal of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ arranged at both ends and the number of drive pulse signals sent to the drive motor 5b ₁ and the drive motor 5b ₂ by the control unit 5c, the alignment member 4a moves from this reference position to which distance. Can recognize.
Also, arranging member 4a is held assembled to the pivot shaft 4b ₁ of the rotating unit 4b, the rotation of arranging member vertically retracted motor 4b ₂ is transmitted to the gear 4b _3, the pivot shaft 4b ₁ times 1 and is rotated up and down in the direction of the arrow (I) shown in FIG. 1, and the recording medium is moved in the direction (B) perpendicular to the discharge direction (A) as shown in FIG. By combining with the aligning operation, it is possible to align the end surfaces even with respect to the recording media stacked in the sorted state.

When the image forming apparatus 50 is turned on, the aligning member 4a moves to the reference position at the first speed and stops.
When a mode for aligning and aligning the recording media is selected and a size signal of the recording medium is sent from the image forming apparatus 50 to the control unit 5c, the alignment member 4a has the leading end of the recording medium conveyed in FIG. Before reaching the discharge sensor 2b shown in FIG. 2, the aligning members 4a at both ends move at a first moving speed to a first standby position that is a predetermined distance away from the recording medium width.
At this time, when the alignment member 4a passes the reference position sensor 5a ₁ disposed at both ends, the sensor output changes. However, in order to prevent misdetection due to noise generated in the sensor and circuit and chattering, the control unit 5c predetermined time, the number (ms) to several 10 (ms) order of time, when the sensor output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ did not change, that the sensor output is changed, members 4a aligned reference position has passed It has come to confirm that.
Assuming that the output decision time from the actual change of the sensor output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ to the decision is (T) and the moving speed of the aligning member 4a is (V), (T) * ( V) shifts by the distance, and an error occurs in the moving distance of the aligning member 4a.
In the post-processing apparatus 0 of the present invention, the reference position is used to reduce this error and improve the alignment accuracy without reducing the alignment workability of the recording medium by the alignment member 4a by the control from the control unit 5c. The first moving speed is set to the first moving speed, the moving speed when performing the aligning operation is set to the second moving speed, the first moving speed is set to be slower than the second moving speed, and the above-described determination is made. The moving distance error of time (T) is reduced.
For example, when the moving speed of the aligning member 4a up to the reference position is set to ½ of the aligning operation, the moving error is also halved (see FIG. 5).
Next, the rear end of the recording medium passes through the paper discharge roller 2a shown in FIG. 1, and after a predetermined time, the aligning member 4a is further moved to the second standby position near the end surface of the recording medium. Move and stop at speed.
The recording medium discharged from the discharge roller 2a enters between the alignment members 4a waiting at the second standby position of the receiving position, and is discharged onto the inclined stacking surface 3a of the stacking means 3 by the gravity (A). 1, the rear end side is abutted against the end fence 3 c by the return roller 3 b in the direction of the arrow (C) of the return roller 3 b shown in FIG. 1 along the inclination of the inclined loading surface 3 a, and the rear end side is aligned. It is done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear end side of the recording medium is abutted and aligned with the end fence 3c, and at the same time, the aligning member 4a moves to the end surface of the recording medium at the second moving speed and is recorded for a certain period of time. The width direction is aligned across the medium.
Thereafter, the alignment member 4a moves again to the first standby position at the second movement speed in order to receive the subsequent recording medium, and performs a processing operation for aligning and aligning the above operations repeatedly.
Or continuous by the driving of the driving motor 5b ₁ and the driving motor 5b ₂ in movement driving means 5, the moving speed to the reference position of the arranging member 4a carried by the first traveling speed, and the subsequent operation after passing the reference position Then, acceleration may be performed up to the second movement speed.
The movement drive means 5 includes reference position sensors 5a ₁ of the detecting portions 5a disposed at both ends for detecting the position of the alignment member 4a, and when the alignment member 4a passes the reference position sensor 5a ₁ , the reference position sensor In the time from when the signal state of the detection signal 5a ₁ changes to when it is determined that the signal state has changed, the control unit 5c measures the distance moved by the aligning member 4a, and aligns the aligning member 4a. The position is corrected.
In other words, the movement drive means 5 controls how many drive pulse signals of the drive motor 5b ₁ and the drive motor 5b ₂ are sent during the time from when the output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ changes until the output is determined. Control is performed so as to correct the distance by which the alignment member 4a is moved by counting by the portion 5c.
For example, when it is desired to move the aligning member 4a from the reference position by 100 pulses, if the error due to the fixed time is 5 pulses, the aligning member 4a actually moves to the position of 105 pulses. The number of pulses sent within the fixed time is subtracted by the control unit 5c so that the control unit 5c can stop at the position of 100 pulses accurately.
Therefore, since the movement error within the fixed time is counted by the control unit 5c, it is not necessary to slow down the speed to the reference position, and the workability of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium is improved. However, the recording medium post-processing device 0 that can further improve the alignment accuracy for aligning both ends of the recording medium without causing a large shift in the moving distance to the alignment and alignment position. It became possible to provide.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit for explaining a control system of the control unit 5c in the recording medium post-processing apparatus 0.
In FIG. 6, a (CPU) 5c ₁ exchanges information with a (ROM) 5c ₂ in which a control program is stored, and receives a clock signal from the clock 5c ₃ and performs the control shown in the following flowchart. Execute.
For this purpose, the (CPU) 5c ₁ sends and receives signals to and from the image forming apparatus 50 via the (I / F) 5c ₄ , and the reference is arranged at both ends of the detection unit 5a in the moving drive unit 5. position sensors 5a ₁ and alignment sensor 4b ₄ such sensors of the rotating unit 4b in means 4 to obtain the information from (see Figure 4), and outputs the information to the driver 5c _5.
The driver 5c _5, to control the rotary drive such as arranging member vertically retracted motor 4b ₂ of the rotating unit 4b of the driving motor 5b ₁ and the driving motor 5b ₂ and alignment means 4 of the driving motor 5b in a mobile drive unit 5 It has become.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of alignment processing by the aligning member 4a (see FIGS. 1 and 4).
The recording medium after forming the recording image output from the image forming apparatus 50 at the start passes through the inlet conveyance path 1a of the recording medium conveyance path 1 and the discharge sensor 2b of the discharge means 2 by the leading end of the recording medium. Confirming ON (step 1), a recording medium size signal is sent to confirm the recording medium size determination (step 2), and the aligning member 4a is the receiving position of the recording medium. (Step 3), if the aligning member 4a is not in the receiving position of the recording medium, it is moved to the receiving position by the rotational drive of the drive motor 5b (Step 4), and the recording medium by the discharge roller 2a Is confirmed to be off (OFF) (step 5), and the end of dropping of the recording medium discharged from the discharge roller 2a on the inclined stacking surface 3a of the stacking means 3 is checked (step 6). ), Drive motor 5 The aligning member 4a is moved by the rotation driving of the recording medium to align both ends of the recording medium to perform alignment processing (step 7), and the aligning member 4a is moved to the receiving position by the rotation driving of the driving motor 5b and retracted. (Step 8), it is determined whether there is a shift change request (step 9), and if there is no shift change request, the process ends (end). 4 rotates the aligning member up / down retraction motor 4b ₂ to lift and retreat the aligning member 4a (step 10), confirms the end of the shift change (step 11), and aligns means 4 the members vertically retracted motor 4b ₂ justified rotating unit 4b is driven rotated, and moves down the alignment member 4a (step 12) and ends at (end).

Next, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the movement speed of the aligning member 4a by the drive motor 5b is controlled by the following operation procedure (see FIGS. 1 and 4).
To determine whether the change in the output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ in the mobile drive unit 5 at the start there is (step 21), but ends at Without change in the output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ (end), the reference position sensor 5a if there is _one output changes, the reference position sensor 5a ₁ is to determine whether the oN (oN) (step 22), the reference position sensor 5a ₁ is equal oN (oN), the drive of the movement driving means 5 the moving speed of the member 4a aligned by the motor 5b is set to a low speed operation (step 23), but ends at (end), the reference position sensor 5a ₁ is not the oN (oN), the drive of the movement driving means 5 motor The moving speed of the aligning member 4a by 5b is set to a high normal speed and switched to move to a receiving position where the recording medium is aligned and aligned at high speed and stopped (step 24). It ends in command).

In the flowchart of FIG. 9, the control for correcting the position recognition error of the aligning member 4a by the control unit 5c of the movement driving means 5 in the recording medium post-processing device 0 is performed according to the following operation procedure (see FIGS. 1 and 4). reference).
At the start, it is determined whether there is a change in the output of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ (step 101). If there is a change in the output of the reference position sensor 5a _1, a correction pulse counter is started (step 102), and the reference position sensor 5a ₁ set the output data (step 103), clears the check counter of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ (step 104), the time of several ms to prevent erroneous detection due to noise in (step 101), the reference position sensor without change in the output of 5a _1, make sure that the check counter of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ exceeds (the N) (step 105), thereby determining the output data of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ (step 106) the pulses sent to the reference position sensor 5a ₁ to determine the output data from the moment of change in the correction pulse counter Leave O and und, object arranging member 4a position, for example, to move to the receiving standby position of the arranging member 4a is missing the reference position sensor 5a ₁ the arranging member 4a, the reference position sensor 5a ₁ is turned off (OFF The pulse count sent to the drive motor 5b is set, and by subtracting the correction pulse of the count value of the correction pulse counter from the movement pulse of the count value up to the target position, the pulse error and data to the target position are determined. by correcting the distance arranging member 4a proceeds to time (step 107), and ends at unless the check counter of the reference position sensor 5a ₁ exceeds N in (step 105), respectively (end).

In FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 50 performs an image forming unit 51 that forms a recording image on a recording medium, and post-processing of the recording medium after the recording image is formed by the image forming unit 51. Since the recording medium post-processing device 0 according to any one of the above is provided, even if the workability of aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium on which the recorded image is formed is improved, Alignment accuracy for aligning and aligning both ends of the recording medium can be improved without greatly shifting the moving distance.
In a copying machine that forms a high-quality toner recording image at high speed by the electrophotographic method of the image forming apparatus 50, a scanner 52 a of an original image reading apparatus 52 that reads an image of an original (O) is provided above the image forming section 51. And a circulation type automatic document feeder (ADF) 52b.
On the other hand, a recording medium supply device 53 for placing the image forming unit 51 and supplying a recording medium is disposed below the image forming unit 51.
In the original image reading device 52, a laser diode of the image writing means 51c is made to emit light by an electrophotographic method in which a recorded image of toner is formed from image data of an original image of the original (O) to be read, so that the charger 51b can uniformly An electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum-shaped photosensitive drum of the charged image carrier 51a.
The electrostatic latent image formed by causing the laser diode of the image writing means 51c to emit light is visualized by the developing device 51d to form a recorded image of toner.
The recorded toner image visualized by the developing device 51d is transferred and recorded on the recording medium conveyed from the recording medium supply device 53 by the transfer device 51e.
The recorded image of the toner transferred and recorded on the recording medium by the transfer device 51e is heated and pressed by the fixing device 51f, and the recording medium is recorded by the recording medium post-processing device 0 by the paper discharge roller 51g. is carried into the inlet guide plate 1a ₁ of the inlet conveying path 1a is a medium transport path 1, so that the predetermined post-processing is performed.
On the other hand, the drum-shaped photosensitive drum of the image carrier 51a transfers residual toner deposited on the drum-shaped photosensitive drum of the image carrier 51a after transferring and recording the recorded image of the toner on the recording medium. It is scraped off and cleaned by the cleaning member 51h to prepare for the next image formation.
Therefore, even if the workability for aligning and aligning both ends of a recording medium on which a high-quality toner recording image has been formed is improved, the moving distance to the position for aligning and aligning is not greatly shifted. It has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus 50 that performs post-processing with improved alignment accuracy by aligning both ends of the recording medium.

Explanatory drawing explaining the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the state of the principal part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The perspective view explaining the state of the other principal part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the other main part of the recording-medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The timing chart explaining operation | movement of the other main part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the control circuit explaining the other main part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the other main part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining other operation | movement of the other principal part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining other operation | movement of the other principal part of the recording medium post-processing apparatus which shows the embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus including a recording medium post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the conventional recording medium post-processing apparatus. Explanatory drawing explaining the principal part of the conventional recording medium post-processing apparatus. 9 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of another main part of a conventional recording medium post-processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

0 recording medium post-processing device 1 recording medium transport path,
1a Inlet conveyance path,
1a ₁ entrance guide plate,
1a ₂ transport rollers,
1a ₃ transport rollers,
1a ₄ inlet sensor,
1b Upper transport path,
1b ₁ transport roller,
1c Lower transport path,
1c ₁ paper discharge sensor,
1c ₂ transport rollers,
1c ₃ transport rollers,
1c ₄ transport rollers,
1c ₅ transport rollers,
1c ₆ tapping rollers,
1c ₇ fulcrums 2 Discharging means,
2a discharge roller,
2b Discharge sensor 3 Loading means,
3a inclined loading surface,
3b Return roller,
3c End fence 4 Alignment means,
4a Alignment member,
4a ₁ base end,
4a ₂ alignment part,
4b rotating unit,
4b ₁ rotation axis,
4b ₂ alignment member up and down retraction motor,
4b ₃ gears,
4b ₄ sensor 5 movement drive means,
5a detector,
5a ₁ reference position sensor,
5b drive motor,
5b ₁ drive motor,
5b ₂ drive motor,
5c control unit,
5c ₁ CPU,
5c ₂ ROM,
5c ₃ clocks,
5c ₄ I / F,
5c ₅ drivers,
5d timing belt,
5d ₁ timing belt,
5d ₂ timing belt,
5e Timing pulley,
5e ₁ timing pulley,
5e ₂ timing pulley,
5f moving member,
5f ₁ moving member,
5f ₂ moving member,
5g sensor detection plate,
5g ₁ sensor detection plate,
5g ₂ sensor detection plate,
6 Punch unit,
6a punch blade,
6b die,
6c Hopper 7 Staple unit,
7a Driver part,
7b clincher club,
7c Stapling unit moving guide 8 Branch claw 9 Staple tray,
9a Jogger fence,
9b discharge belt,
9c Release claw 50 Image forming device
51 Image forming unit,
51a image carrier,
51b charger,
51c image writing means,
51d Developer,
51e transfer device,
51f fixing device,
51g paper discharge roller,
51h Cleaning member 52 Document image reading device,
52a scanner,
52b Circulation type automatic document feeder (ARDF)
53 Recording medium supply apparatus 100 Recording medium post-processing apparatus 101 Recording medium conveyance path,
101a Inlet conveyance path,
101a ₁ entrance guide plate 102 paper discharge section,
102a Paper discharge roller 103 Paper discharge tray 104 Alignment member 105 Drive unit,
105a detection sensor,
105b drive motor,
105c Control unit 150 Image forming apparatus 151 Image forming unit

Claims (17)

  In a recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a recording medium that has undergone image formation, a recording medium conveyance path that conveys the recording medium, and a recording medium that is conveyed through the recording medium conveyance path are discharged. Ejecting means, stacking means for stacking the recording medium discharged from the discharging means, and width direction of the recording medium by reciprocating in the width direction perpendicular to the discharging direction of the recording medium discharged to the stacking means An apparatus for post-processing a recording medium, comprising: aligning means for aligning both ends; and movement drive means for driving movement of the aligning means in the width direction with different movement speed patterns.   2. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a punch unit that performs punching processing of the recording medium to be conveyed is disposed in the recording medium conveyance path.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a staple unit that performs binding processing of the recording medium to be conveyed is disposed in the recording medium conveyance path. apparatus.   4. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the discharge means includes a discharge roller for discharging the recording medium.   5. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharging means includes a discharge sensor that detects the recording medium to be discharged.   6. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stacking unit includes an inclined stacking surface on which the recording medium to be discharged is stacked and returned. Post-processing device.   7. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stacking means includes a return roller for returning the recording medium to be discharged and stacked. Recording medium post-processing device.   8. The post-recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning means includes a base end portion serving as a rotation center portion and a stack extending from the base end portion. A recording medium post-processing apparatus, comprising: an aligning member that includes an aligning portion that contacts an end surface of the recording medium to be aligned and aligns the end surface of the recording medium.   9. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the aligning member includes a rotation unit that holds the aligning member so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the rotation unit includes a rotation shaft that holds a base end portion of the alignment member and is rotatably held. Recording medium post-processing device.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement driving unit includes a moving speed when confirming a reference position of the aligning unit and both ends in the width direction of the recording medium. A recording medium post-processing device that is driven so as to have a different moving speed when the aligning means aligns.   12. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the movement driving unit moves when the alignment unit aligns both ends of the recording medium in the width direction when the reference position of the alignment unit is confirmed. A recording medium post-processing apparatus, wherein the recording medium post-processing apparatus is driven at a lower speed than the speed.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement driving unit has a movement speed up to a reference position of the aligning unit and a movement speed after passing through the reference position. And a recording medium post-processing apparatus.   14. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the movement driving unit drives the movement speed of the aligning unit to a reference position at a lower speed than the movement speed after passing through the reference position. A recording medium post-processing apparatus.   15. The post-recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement driving unit includes a detection unit that detects a position of the alignment unit, and the alignment unit includes the detection unit. Alignment operation of the aligning means by measuring the distance traveled by the aligning means during the time from when the signal state of the detection signal of the detection unit changes until it is determined that the signal state has changed. A post-processing apparatus for a recording medium, wherein the position of the recording medium is corrected.   The image forming unit for forming an image on the recording medium, and the post-recording medium after performing the post-processing of the recording medium after the image forming unit forms an image An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing apparatus.   17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the image forming unit forms a recorded image of toner on a recording medium by an image forming process of an electrophotographic method.

Images