JP2006248684A - Sheet post-treatment device and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent sheets from being curled and adhering to each other by effectively cooling the sheet itself or a mechanism part such as a post-treatment device for conveying the sheet from an image forming part to a loading tray with simple structure, and to facilitate maintenance of the post-treatment device. <P>SOLUTION: In this sheet post-treatment device, the loading tray to be temporarily loaded with sheets is arranged under a paper ejection opening of a paper ejection route for conveying out the image-formed sheets in order. A post-treatment unit 100 is provided to perform post-treatment such as binding and punching to the sheets on the loading tray, and the post-treatment unit is arranged to be moved in a direction crossing the sheet conveying direction under the paper ejection route. A cooling fan is provided to blow air to the post-treatment unit 100 from the movement direction thereof. With this structure, cold air from the cooling fan abuts on the post-treatment unit to cool it, and while the cold air is deflected to direct the paper ejection route to cool a guide member structuring the route and the sheet passing through the route. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as paper binding, punching, and stamping on a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and an image forming apparatus using the same. A sheet tray for temporarily placing a sheet is provided at a sheet discharge port of the forming apparatus, and a sheet post-processing apparatus that accommodates in a stacking tray after performing post-processing on the sheet on the stacking tray and the same The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In general, this type of sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with a mounting tray at a paper discharge port of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. It is widely used as a device that is equipped and performs a post-processing on a series of sheets carried out of an image forming apparatus and stores the processed sheets in a downstream stacking tray. The sheet post-processing apparatus is roughly classified into a so-called inner type incorporated as a unit in a paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus and a console type connected to the image forming apparatus. Both types have recently been reduced in size and weight, and further, high-speed color image formation or processing has been demanded, and the apparatus temperature has caused various problems.

For example, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, fixing is performed by applying a temperature of about 150 ° C. to 200 ° C. to a sheet in order to fix toner ink. For this reason, as the apparatus becomes smaller and faster, the temperature of the sheet post-processing section and the temperature of the sheet itself are substantially close to the fixing temperature. Conventionally, as a method for cooling the temperature in such a post-processing apparatus, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-31920), a cooling fan is provided above the mounting tray in the finisher apparatus to provide a sheet on the tray. It has been proposed to cool. This document discloses a configuration in which cool air is sent to a sheet placed on a placement tray from a fan disposed above the tray to cool the sheet.
JP 2003-312920 A

  As described above, when the image forming process is speeded up and further downsizing is performed, the sheet itself becomes a high temperature, and when the sheets are stacked in a bundle for curling or post-processing, the sheets adhere to each other due to the viscosity of the toner ink, A so-called blocking phenomenon (paper discharge adhesion) occurs. In order to prevent this phenomenon, the sheet cannot be efficiently cooled even if cool air is sent to the sheets stacked on the tray as in Patent Document 1 described above. In particular, when heat is accumulated in the sheet discharge path from the fixing device of the image forming apparatus to the sheet discharge outlet and the temperature becomes high, the sheet curls while passing through this path, and once the curled sheet is cooled, it can be corrected. Have difficulty.

  Furthermore, when the atmosphere temperature of the processing section becomes high, post-processing devices such as steplers and punches also become hot, and there is a problem of causing burns or discomfort when the user touches the device during maintenance such as malfunction or replacement of the staple needle. Will occur. In particular, if the housing of the post-processing apparatus is made of metal, the influence is great. In addition, when the image is formed on both sides of the sheet, or the post-processing apparatus is in a space surrounded by the sheet conveyance path (discharge path) and the image forming fixing unit. When arranged, it becomes a bigger problem.

  Therefore, the present invention effectively cools the mechanical components such as the sheet itself or the post-processing apparatus with a simple configuration in the process of conveying the sheet from the image forming unit to the loading tray, The main problem is to solve problems during maintenance of the post-processing apparatus. Furthermore, the present invention has an object to solve the above problems and to make the image forming apparatus smaller and faster.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. A loading tray (processing tray; hereinafter the same) for temporarily stacking sheets is disposed below a sheet discharge port of a sheet discharge path for sequentially carrying out the sheets on which images are formed. A post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as binding processing and punching processing on the sheet on the loading tray is provided, and the post-processing unit is positioned below the paper discharge path and moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. Arrange to do. A cooling fan that blows air from the moving direction toward the post-processing unit is provided. As a result, the cool air from the cooling fan hits the post-processing unit and cools it, and is deflected at the same time to be directed to the paper discharge path and to cool the guide member constituting the path and the sheet passing through the path, thereby achieving the above-mentioned problem. I can do it.

  A stapler for binding the post-processing unit to the sheet on the stacking tray; a guide member for supporting the stapler movably along the sheet rear edge on the stacking tray; And driving means for controlling movement along the guide member. The driving means moves along a guide member with a special moving mechanism by controlling movement of the stapler to a position for guiding the air blown by the cooling fan to the paper discharge path and a position for post-processing the sheet on the loading tray. It is possible to dispose the stapler at a position where the cooling effect is large without using.

  Further, by providing a plurality of vent holes in the area where the post-processing unit is disposed in the plate-shaped guide member constituting the paper discharge path, the cold air deflected by the post-processing unit directly cools the sheet passing simultaneously with the guide member. It becomes possible to do. The drive means controls the post-processing unit to move to a position separated from the cooling fan by a predetermined distance until the sheet is accommodated in the stacking tray, and exhausts air from the cooling fan by the post-processing unit. Deflection to the paper path.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sheet feeding unit that sequentially feeds sheets on the stacker, a printing unit that performs predetermined printing on a sheet from the sheet feeding unit, and a sheet that is fed from the printing unit. An image forming apparatus main body having a fixing unit for heat-fixing the upper ink and a paper discharge unit for sequentially carrying out sheets from the fixing unit from a paper discharge port; and a platen disposed above the image forming apparatus main body. An image reading device that reads an original image set on the upper side, a placement tray that is placed at a paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body and temporarily places a sheet, and a binding process that is placed on the placement tray and placed on the sheet And a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as a stamping process and a hole punching process.

  With such a configuration, the post-processing apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be detachably movable in the sheet carry-out direction to the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus main body. A post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as binding processing and punching processing on the sheet, and the post-processing unit is positioned below the paper discharge path that guides the sheet from the paper discharge unit to the placing tray. The post-processing apparatus includes a cooling fan that is arranged so as to move in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction and blows air from the moving direction toward the post-processing unit.

  In this case, the post-processing unit is disposed below the conveyance region of the sheet passing through the paper discharge path so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and the cooling fan is configured to move the sheet passing through the paper discharge path. The cooling fan is disposed on the side of the conveyance area and is configured to deflect the air blown from the cooling fan to the sheet passing area of the sheet discharge path by the post-processing unit. Further, the post-processing unit includes a stepler that performs a binding process on the sheet on the placement tray, and a guide member that supports the stapler movably along the sheet rear edge on the placement tray. Drive means for controlling movement of the stapler along the guide member. Then, the driving means controls the movement of the stapler along the guide member to a position where the cooling fan is guided to the discharge path and a position where post-processing is performed on the sheet on the placing tray. To do.

  According to the present invention, a post-processing unit that is movable in the sheet width direction is provided on a mounting tray on which sheets are temporarily stacked below a paper discharge port of a paper discharge path for sequentially carrying out image-formed sheets. The unit is disposed below the paper discharge path, and a cooling fan that blows air from the moving direction toward the post-processing unit is provided, whereby the cool air from the cooling fan hits the post-processing unit and cools it. At the same time, the guide member that is deflected and directed toward the sheet discharge path and the sheet passing through the path can be cooled.

  Therefore, in the process of transporting the sheet from the image forming unit to the loading tray, the mechanical component such as the sheet itself or the post-processing device can be effectively cooled with a simple configuration, and the curling of the sheet, the sticking between the sheets, There is an effect that the user is not burned or discomforted during maintenance of the post-processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an essential part in which the finisher unit portion is enlarged, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the finisher unit portion. The image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 includes an image forming unit A, an image reading unit B, and a finisher unit C. In the image forming unit A, a paper feeding unit 20, a printing unit 30, a fixing unit 40, and a paper discharge unit 50 are incorporated in the outer casing 10, and various configurations are known such as a copying machine and a printer. The illustrated sheet feeding unit 20 includes a sheet feeding cassette 21 and sheet feeding rollers (not illustrated) that sequentially separate and feed sheets in the sheet feeding cassette 21 one by one. Sheets of different sizes are stored in the paper feed cassette 21, and the sheets corresponding to the print size are selectively fed out.

  Each of the sheet feeding cassettes 21 is provided with a sheet feeding path 22 at the sheet feeding end. The sheet feeding path 22 feeds the sheet to the registration roller 23, and the registration roller 23 corrects the skew of the leading end of the sheet and then waits at this position. A printing unit 30 is provided downstream of the registration roller 23. The printing unit 30 includes various printing mechanisms such as electrostatic printing, inkjet printing, silk screen printing, and the illustrated one employs an electrostatic printing mechanism. A print head 32, a developing device 33, a transfer charger 34, and a cleaning head (not shown) are provided around the electrostatic drum 31. A latent image is formed on the electrostatic drum 31 by the print head 32, and toner is developed by the developing device 33. An ink is attached, and the transfer charger 34 transfers the ink onto a sheet to form an image. Although the illustrated one shows monochrome printing, in the case of color printing, for example, first, second, and two electrostatic drums (or belts) are provided, and the toner ink formed on the first electrostatic drum is supplied to the second static drum. The image is transferred to the electric drum, and this transfer is repeated a plurality of times according to each color component of Y (yellow), M (magic), and C (cyan) to form a color image on the second electrostatic drum. Next, the color image on the second electrostatic drum is transferred onto a sheet.

  The sheet having the toner ink transferred thereon is sent to the fixing unit 40 and fixed. The fixing unit 40 is provided with a pair of rollers (fixing rollers) 41 and is fixed by heating with the roller pairs. The fixing roller 41 applies heat of 150 ° C. to 200 ° C. to the image on the sheet to solidify the toner ink depending on the component of the toner ink. The sheet on which the image is formed by the fixing unit 40 is sent to the paper discharge unit 50. The paper discharge unit 50 includes a paper discharge path 51 that guides a sheet to a paper discharge port 52 and a paper discharge roller 53 provided in the path.

  Accordingly, it is sequentially sent to the print head 32 via an original image formed by an external device such as a computer or a hard disk or other data storage device transferred from an image reading unit B described later. The print head 32 irradiates the electrostatic drum 31 with light such as laser light according to the image data, the developer 33 attaches toner ink onto the drum, and the transfer charger 34 forms an image on the sheet. The sheets on which images are formed in this way are sequentially carried out from the paper discharge path 51 to the paper discharge port 52.

  Next, the image reading unit B will be described. The image reading unit B is arranged on the upper part of the image forming unit A and is widely known as a so-called scanner that reads an original image on a document sheet. Although this configuration is not shown, it is roughly as follows.

  In the figure, 55 is a unit casing, and 56 is a document placement table. A platen made of glass or the like is provided in the casing 55, and an optical mechanism such as a light source lamp and an imaging lens and a photoelectric conversion element are provided below the platen. Then, the light from the light source lamp is irradiated onto the original on the platen, and the reflected light is imaged on a line sensor or other photoelectric conversion element by an imaging optical mechanism such as a mirror or a lens. On the other hand, a feeder is provided above the platen to sequentially convey the document on the document table to the platen at a predetermined speed, and an image on the document fed by the feeder is electrically read by a photoelectric conversion element.

  Next, the finisher unit C will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the finisher unit C is disposed between the image forming unit A and the image reading unit B described above. The finisher unit C temporarily discharges a sheet from the sheet discharge path 62 (hereinafter referred to as a unit discharge path) connected to the sheet discharge port 52 (hereinafter referred to as a main body discharge port) of the image forming unit A and a sheet from the unit discharge path 62. A processing tray 64 to be placed on the processing tray, a post-processing device 100 that performs post-processing on the sheets on the processing tray 64, and a stacking tray 112 that stores processed sheets sent from the processing tray 64. The unit discharge path 62 includes a guide plate 62a for guiding the sheet, a conveyance roller 62b (driving side roller) and a conveyance roller 62g (driven roller) for conveying the sheet, and a path switching piece 62c for guiding the sheet to be described later to the overflow tray 111. Is provided. Reference numeral 62f denotes a shaft that supports the conveying roller 62g (driven roller) on the guide plate 62a.

  A discharge roller 69 is provided at the discharge port 63 of the unit discharge path 62 with a driving roller 69 a and a driven roller 69 b, and the sheets are sequentially carried out from the discharge port 63. A processing tray 64 is disposed on the lower side of the paper discharge port 63 with a height difference. Therefore, the driving roller 69a of the paper discharge port 63 is provided with a transfer means 66 for carrying out the sheet to a positioning means 65 described later. As the transfer means 66 provided in the sheet discharge port 63 as described above, a caterpillar belt, a paddle carry-out mechanism, and the like are known, but the illustrated one forms a plurality of protrusions on the surface of the endless belt, and these protrusions form the rear end of the sheet. A caterpillar belt 67 for extruding

  One end of the caterpillar belt 67 is fitted to a pulley provided on the drive shaft 69c of the drive side roller 69a. The other end of the caterpillar belt 67 is fitted to a pulley attached to a support arm 68 that is pivotally supported by a drive shaft 69c. Accordingly, the caterpillar belt 67 is supported in a swingable manner around the drive shaft 69c of the paper discharge roller 69, the leading end abuts on the sheet placed on the processing tray 64, and the base end portion is rotationally driven by the drive shaft 69c. Will be.

  Therefore, the sheets from the unit discharge path 62 are sequentially carried out from the discharge outlet 63 by the discharge rollers 69, sent to the processing tray 64 on the upper surface side of the caterpillar belt 67, and then to the uppermost sheet of the processing tray 64 on the lower surface side of the belt. It is conveyed in reverse. Note that 61 is a guide piece provided at the paper discharge port 63, and retracts upward when the leading edge of the sheet enters, and guides the trailing edge of the sheet along the caterpillar belt 67 in the direction of the processing tray. The processing tray 64 is provided with positioning means 65 for restricting the sheet to abut, and the sheets are aligned along the positioning means 65. The illustrated positioning means 65 is constituted by a protruding member protruding from the processing tray 64 at a position where the rear end in the sheet conveying direction is abutted and restricted.

  The characteristic feature of the illustrated embodiment is that a processing tray 64 is disposed with a step difference formed below the unit discharge path 62, and a positioning means 65 is provided on the processing tray 64 on the rear end side in the discharge direction. Then, the conveyance direction of the sheet is reversed (switched back) from the paper discharge port 63, and the rear end side is abutted against the positioning unit 65 and is regulated. The following post-processing apparatus 100 is disposed so as to perform post-processing on the rear end of the sheet regulated by the positioning means 65. As the post-processing apparatus 100, a punch mechanism for performing punching processing on a sheet stacked in a bundle at a restriction position on the processing tray 64, a stapling mechanism for performing binding processing, and the like will be described.

  In the post-processing apparatus 100 constituted by the staple mechanism 101, a staple head and an anvil block (not shown) are incorporated in a housing 106, a needle-like staple is bent into a U-shape and press-fitted into a sheet bundle, and the leading end thereof is an anvil block. It is configured to be folded and bound. The housing 106 is constituted by a frame member having a channel-shaped cross section, and a head block and an anvil block are disposed on a pair of left and right side frame frames 60a so as to be pressed against and separated from each other. Usually, a head block is attached to one of the upper and lower lever members whose base ends are supported by each other, and an anvil block is attached to the other. The upper and lower lever members are reciprocated from the separated position to the press contact position by a cam member attached to the side frame 60a and a cam drive motor M5 (not shown) for driving the cam member.

  In the course of this operation, the head block bends the linear staple needle into a U-shape with the former member, and then press-fits the U-shaped staple needle into the sheet bundle with the driver member. On the other hand, the anvil block is provided with an anvil (pedestal) that bends the tip of the press-fitted needle inward. Therefore, the post-processing apparatus 100 is unitized by a staple head, an anvil block, a cam member that binds both the separation head and the anvil block, and a cam drive motor M5 (not shown). A cartridge containing a staple is attached to the post-processing apparatus 100 so as to be detachable and replaceable.

  The post-processing apparatus 100 configured as described above is movably attached along a guide rail 107 provided on an apparatus frame of a finisher unit C described later. That is, the processing tray 64 and the positioning unit 65 are disposed below the unit discharge path 62 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction, and the staple mechanism 101 is movably disposed along the positioning unit 65. Post-processing is performed at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet by the mechanism 101.

  Further, the processing tray 64 is equipped with the following matching means 91. The aligning means 91 regulates the side edge of the sheet orthogonal to the transport direction and stores the sheet on the processing tray in a predetermined posture. In the illustrated apparatus, the sheet is carried out from the image forming unit A to the unit discharge path 62 on the basis of the center. For this reason, sheets having different width sizes are stacked on the processing tray 64 with reference to the center (center) in the transport direction from the sheet discharge outlet 63, and the rear end edge thereof is abutted against the positioning unit 65.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the aligning means 91 is composed of a pair of left and right aligning plates 93 including a right aligning plate 93a and a left aligning plate 93b. The tray-like processing tray 64 is provided with slit grooves 93c and 93d in the width direction, and an alignment plate 93 having an L-shaped cross section is movably fitted in the slit grooves 93c and 93d, and on the back side of the processing tray 64. A rack 95 having a tooth surface in the direction of the slit grooves 93 c and 93 d is provided integrally with the alignment plate 93. The left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b are slidably held in the slit grooves 93c and 93d, respectively, with the same configuration, and a pinion 94 is engaged with a rack 95 formed integrally. Alignment motors M6a and M6b are connected to the left and right pinions 94 via reduction gears.

  When the alignment motors M6a and M6b shown in the figure supply a predetermined power pulse by a stepping motor, the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b approach and separate from each other by the same amount. Each of the alignment plates 93a and 93b is provided with a position sensor S2, and the home position is set at a position where the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b are symmetrical with respect to the center of the sheet. When the left and right alignment motors M6a and M6b are rotated by the same amount from this position, the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b move to the center side, and the side edges of the sheet are brought closer to each other. Therefore, when the control unit (control CPU 90) of the finisher unit C receives a sheet width size signal carried out by the image forming unit A and supplies power pulses corresponding to the sheet width to the alignment motors M6a and M6b, the left and right alignment plates 93a. , 93b move to a standby position according to the sheet size, and after the sheet is conveyed onto the processing tray 64, it is possible to narrow the sheet and position it neatly with the center reference.

  Thus, the post-processing is performed on the sheets aligned on the processing tray 64 by the post-processing apparatus 100 described above. The post-processing apparatus 100 is slidably supported by a guide rail 107 provided in the finisher unit C. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rail 107 is composed of a guide shaft 107a and a slider 107b attached to the side frame 60a of the finisher unit C. The guide shaft 107a is inserted into a fitting hole 107c formed in the housing 106 of the post-processing device 100. The slider 107 b engages and supports a roller provided on the housing 106. A drive belt 108 is stretched between a pair of pulleys along the guide shaft 107a, the housing 106 is fixed to a part of the drive belt 108, and a unit moving motor M3 is attached to one pulley 108a (see FIG. 5). Are connected.

  The unit moving motor M3 is composed of a stepping motor, and moves the post-processing device 100 by a predetermined amount according to the supplied pulse current. Although not shown, the housing 106 is provided with a position sensor, which moves from a home position to a predetermined position in the sheet width direction according to the number of power supply pulses supplied to the unit moving motor M3. In this position sensor, for example, an actuator is provided on the housing 106 side, and a photo sensor is provided on the unit frame.

  Next, a transport mechanism for carrying out processed sheets from the processing tray 64 will be described. The processing tray 64 is provided with a conveying means 72 for carrying out a sheet to an adjacent later-described stacking tray 112. The conveying means 72 includes a driving roller 73 that conveys the sheet, and roller supporting means 75 that supports the driving roller 73 so as to be movable between an operation position where the driving roller 73 comes into contact with the sheet and a retracted position separated from the sheet.

  In the illustrated example, an arm member 76 having a base end supported on a driving rotary shaft 77 fixed to a unit frame (not shown) is provided, and two driving rollers 73a and 73b are provided at the distal end of the arm member 76 in the sheet width direction. The bearing means 72 is configured by transmitting the drive of the drive rotary shaft 77 to the drive roller 73 by the transmission belt 73c. Accordingly, the drive roller 73 rotates in the sheet conveying direction by driving the drive rotation shaft 77, and at the same time, the drive roller 73 swings about the drive rotation shaft 77 and moves between the operating position where the sheet contacts the sheet on the processing tray 64 and the retracted position. It is supported so that it can be raised and lowered.

  Therefore, the arm member 76 is provided with the following pressing force applying means 80. Similar to the arm member 76, a rotary lever 83 fixed to a unit frame (not shown) is provided with a pressure lever 82 whose base end is supported, and the distal end thereof is engaged with the arm member 76. As shown in FIG. 9, a pressure motor M4 comprising a stepping motor is connected to the rotation support shaft 83 via a drive gear 86, and the rotation support shaft 83 is integrally connected to the rotation gear 83. When the rotation support shaft 83 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9, the pressure lever 82 rises and descends in the clockwise direction.

  Further, the sector gear 85 is provided with an upper limit stopper 85a that prevents a predetermined rise or more, and abuts against a unit frame (not shown) to prohibit further rise. Similarly, an actuator 85b is integrally provided in the sector gear 85, and this is detected by a position sensor S2 attached to the unit frame. Accordingly, the position of the sector gear 85 is detected by the position sensor S2, and the vertical movement of the pressure lever 82 can be controlled by rotating the pressure motor M4 in a predetermined direction by a predetermined amount.

  Therefore, a wing-like engagement piece 82 a is provided at the tip of the pressure lever 82, and this engagement piece 82 a is fitted in an engagement groove 76 a formed in the arm member 76. An accumulator spring 81 is provided between the arm member 76 and the pressurizing lever 82, and the downward movement of the pressurizing lever 82 is transmitted to the arm member 76 via the accumulator spring 81. A driving roller 73 is supported by the bearing. On the other hand, the upward movement of the pressure lever 82 causes the engagement piece 82a to abut the upper wall of the engagement groove 76a to raise the arm member 76.

  Accordingly, the pressure lever 82 raises and lowers the arm member 76 by forward / reverse rotation of the pressure motor M4, and presses the driving roller 73 against the sheet on the processing tray 64 via the accumulating spring 81 when lowered. This pressing force can be increased or decreased by controlling the pulse current supplied to the pressing motor M4. Incidentally, 81b shown in the figure is a buffer lever, and is supported by a unit frame by a shaft 81c. The tip portion is disposed between the accumulating spring 81 and the pressure lever 82, and the engagement hole 76b of the arm member 76 so as to hold the spring. Is fitted.

  On the other hand, a pinch roller 74 is disposed on the processing tray 64 at a position facing the driving roller 73, and the sheet on the processing tray 64 is nipped by the driving roller 73 and the pinch roller 74. A stacking tray 112 is provided downstream of the processing tray 64 configured as described above, and stores processed sheets sent by the conveying means 72. The illustrated stacking tray 112 is cantilevered by a unit frame (not shown) and supported so as to be movable up and down along a guide rail on the frame side. Although not shown, the stacking tray 112 is lowered according to the stacking amount of the sheets by the tray lifting / lowering motor M7, and the position of the uppermost sheet is always kept at a predetermined position. 112a shown in the figure is a sensor for detecting the height of the paper surface, and 112b is an actuator thereof. The sensor 112a detects fullness at the same time as detecting the height position of the sheet on the tray.

  The finisher unit C described above is a unit separated from the image forming unit A, and the left and right side frame frames 60a are provided with the above-described processing tray 64 and the guide shaft 107a for supporting (carrying) the post-processing apparatus 100 and the slider 107b, respectively. Further, a guide rail 107 that supports the stacking tray 112 so as to be movable up and down is fixed, and is assembled into the paper discharge port 52 of the image forming unit A as a unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the finisher unit C is incorporated in the image forming unit A so as to be freely attached and detached. Therefore, a guide roller and a guide rail (not shown) are provided on the side frame 60a and the frame of the image forming apparatus, and both of them are slidably fitted. In the mounted state shown in FIG. A connector for supplying power and transmitting various signals is connected between the two. In view of this, the side frame 60a on the finisher unit C side is provided with a cooling fan 110 that sends cooling air toward the post-processing apparatus 100 described above.

  The cooling fan 110 is attached to the side frame 60a so as to blow in the moving direction of the post-processing apparatus 100, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance of the sheet conveyed through the unit discharge path 62. The guide plate 62a constituting the unit discharge path 62 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 62d. This is because the sheet passing through the unit discharge path 62 is fixed at a high temperature in the image forming unit A, so that the sheet itself and the guide plate 62a become hot, and the high temperature of the sheet causes curling, and the high temperature of the guide plate 62a Increase the ambient temperature. The post-processing device 100 located below the guide plate 62a simultaneously receives the temperature of the fixing device 41 of the image forming unit A and becomes substantially the same as the fixing temperature. In this state, for example, when the user touches the post-processing apparatus 100 for maintenance such as replacement of a staple, for example, the user may feel hot, and the cooling fan 110 can reduce the surface temperature to prevent this.

  Next, the drive mechanism will be described. As shown in FIG. 6a, the left and right side frame frames 60a constituting the unit frame include a driving shaft 69c for driving and rotating the paper discharge roller 69, a shaft 62e for driving and rotating the conveying roller 62b (driving side roller), and a driving roller. The drive rotation shaft 77 of 73 and the rotation support shaft 83 of the pressure lever 82 are respectively supported. A single (independent) pressure motor M4 is connected to the rotary support shaft 83 via a sector gear 85, and the pressure lever 82 is lowered or separated in a direction in which the pressure lever 82 is in pressure contact with the pulse control of the pressure motor M4. Ascend in the direction you want. The shaft 62e and the drive shaft 69c are connected to the first transport motor M1, and the transport roller 62b (drive side roller), the drive side discharge roller 69a, and the caterpillar belt 67 in the unit discharge path 62 are each transported in the sheet. Rotate to drive.

  Further, the second conveying motor M2 is coupled to the driving roller 73 on the rotational driving shaft 77, and the rotational driving shaft 77 and the driving roller 73 are coupled to each other by a transmission belt 73c. The second transport motor M2 is composed of a motor that can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions. After the sheet transported from the unit discharge path 62 is transported in the sheet discharge direction, the rear end of the sheet is transported onto the processing tray 64. The sheet is rotated in the reverse direction and conveyed in reverse until the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the positioning means 65.

  Next, the post-processing device 100 has a cam drive motor M5 (not shown) built in the housing 106, and the post-processing device 100 is moved along the guide rail 107 by the unit moving motor M3 as described above. To move. In addition, independent alignment motors M6a and M6b are connected to the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b constituting the alignment means 91 via a pinion 94 and a rack 95, respectively.

  The control of the finisher unit C will be described below. The control CPU 90 transmits a post-processing mode instruction signal from the image forming unit A and a signal (post-processing start signal) for transmitting a series (post-processing) sheet discharge end. And a signal for transmitting the sheet size (size signal) is transmitted. The control CPU 90 also includes a signal from the inlet sensor S1 for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the sheet provided in the unit discharge path 62, a signal from the level sensor S3 in the stacking tray 112, a signal from the position sensor in the aligning means 91, and pressurization. The position sensor signal of the sector gear 85 to which the rotation support shaft 83 of the lever 82 is attached and the position sensor signal of the post-processing device 100 are transmitted.

  On the other hand, from the control CPU 90, the drive circuits for the first and second transport motors M1, M2, the drive circuits for the alignment motors M6a and M6b of the alignment plate 91, the unit moving motor M3 of the post-processing device 100, and the cam drive motor M5. Are connected to the drive circuit of the cooling fan 110, the drive motor of the cooling fan 110, and the drive circuit of the pressure motor M4 connected to the pressure lever 82, respectively.

  Next, each operation will be described. In the above-described finisher unit C, the control CPU 90 constituting the control signal executes the following operations. First, upon receiving a sheet discharge instruction signal from the image forming unit A, the control CPU 90 activates the first transport motor M1, transport roller 62b (drive side roller), paper discharge roller 69a, and caterpillar belt 67 (transfer means) connected thereto. ) In the sheet discharge direction. At the same time, the control CPU 90 rotates the drive motor of the cooling fan 110 to start blowing air and rotationally controls the unit moving motor M3 of the post-processing device 100 to position the post-processing device 100 at a predetermined position. The post-processing apparatus 100 has a predetermined position set in advance in FIG. XX in the sheet width direction so that air from the cooling fan 110 is deflected to the guide plate 62a of the unit discharge path 62.

  FIG. 8 shows this state. In the figure, Z-Z is when the apparatus is activated, the post-processing apparatus 100 is located at the home position, XX is moved to a predetermined position, and the air blown from the cooling fan 110 strikes the housing 106. Cold air is sent to the guide plate 62a of the unit discharge path 62 which is deflected and positioned above the sheet, and the sheet is cooled from the vent hole 62d. In the control of the control CPU 90, the number of power pulses supplied to the drive circuit of the unit moving motor M3 of the post-processing device 100 is transmitted as an instruction signal, and the number of pulses is preset. Y-Y in the figure shows the position where the sheet is post-processed.

  Next, the control CPU 90 obtains the size signal of the image forming unit A, and drives the alignment motors M6a and M6b of the alignment unit 91. The alignment motors M6a and M6b move the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b to a standby position that is slightly larger than the width size of the fed sheet. The control of the alignment motors M6a and M6b supplies the motors with power pulses set so as to move the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b from their home positions to standby positions set in advance according to the sheet size. The number of pulses of the power source is issued from the control CPU 90.

  Next, the control CPU 90 obtains the sheet trailing edge detection signal from the entrance sensor S1 of the unit discharge path 62 and moves the drive roller 73 from the retracted position to the operating position after an estimated time for the sheet to reach the processing tray 64. To do. In this control, the pressure motor M4 connected to the rotation support shaft 83 of the pressure lever 82 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. This amount of rotation is set in advance so as to give a conveying force sufficient to carry out the sheet bundle on the processing tray 64. With the rotation of the pressure motor M4, the pressure lever 82 swings counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the tip of the lever presses the accumulating spring 81 to press the drive roller 73. After depressing the drive roller 73 from the retracted position to the operating position, the control CPU 90 rotationally drives the second transport motor M2. Then, the sheet carried out on the processing tray 64 is reversed and sent by the driving roller 73 with its rear end side directed toward the positioning means 65 on the processing tray 64.

  The control CPU 90 stops the second transport motor M <b> 2 after the expected time for the trailing edge of the sheet to reach the positioning means 65. At the same time, the control CPU 90 reversely rotates the operating motor M4 of the pressure lever 82 to move the drive roller 73 to the retracted position, and then stops.

  After the sheet is sent to a predetermined position on the processing tray 64 in this way, the control CPU 90 executes the following operation to align the sheets. That is, the control CPU 90 drives the alignment motors M6a and M6b by a predetermined amount after the expected time for the sheet to reach the positioning means 65 from the sheet trailing edge detection signal from the entrance sensor S1, and moves the left and right alignment plates 93a and 93b to the sheet. Move a predetermined amount around the center. Then, the sheets conveyed onto the processing tray 64 are aligned by aligning the left and right edges by the alignment plate 93.

  Control of the alignment motors M6a and M6b also controls the number of pulses of the power supply from the control CPU 90 to the drive circuit so as to reciprocate between the standby position and the alignment position (the stroke is preset according to the sheet width size). introduce. When a series of sheets are sequentially carried out in this manner, the control CPU 90 controls the start of the unit moving motor M3 of the post-processing apparatus 100 in response to an image formation end signal from the image forming unit A. At the same time, the control CPU 90 stops the first transport motor M1 and the second transport motor M2. The illustrated post-processing apparatus 100 is configured by a stapler, and moves the post-processing apparatus 100 to a position set in advance according to a processing mode signal sent from the image forming unit A.

  As described above, the operation from sheet unloading to alignment is repeated, and the control CPU 90 receives an image formation end signal from the image forming unit A after a series of sheets are stacked on the processing tray 64 from the image forming unit A. Perform processing operations. In the illustrated stapler processing mode, center two-point binding and corner binding or other binding positions are preset. When the center two-point binding is performed, the control CPU 90 controls the motor M3 to move the post-processing device 100 to the first position calculated in accordance with the sheet size (Y-Y state in FIG. 8), and the post-processing device 100 performs processing. An execution instruction signal is sent to execute the process. After the completion of this processing operation, the control CPU 90 moves the post-processing device 100 again to the next position (the state shown in FIG. 8X-X) and sends a processing execution signal. The unit moving motor M3 of the post-processing device 100 moves the post-processing device 100 to a predetermined position by the rotation direction based on the command signal sent from the control CPU 90 and the rotation amount based on the pulse number instruction signal.

  After completion of the post-processing operation as described above, the control CPU 90 carries out processed sheets on the processing tray 64 to the stacking tray 112. First, the control CPU 90 sets the rotational speed of the motor at this time so as to give a predetermined peripheral speed to the drive roller 73, and the sheet nipped between the pinch roller 74 by the rotation of the drive roller 73 is placed on the stacking tray 112. It is carried out toward.

  Next, the control CPU 90 calculates the rotational speed of the second transport motor M2 from the distance interval between the position of the driving roller 73 and the sheet rear end positioning means 65 and immediately before the rear end of the sheet reaches the roller position. At the same time as the speed is reduced, the pressing force of the pressure lever 82 is reduced. This is for reducing the speed and pressing force (nip force between the driven roller) and preventing the sheet trailing edge from collapsing when the sheet trailing edge separates from the driving roller 73.

  FIG. 11 shows the timing of the control. FIG. 11A shows the pressure applied by the pressure lever 82 and FIG. 11B shows the peripheral speed of the drive roller 73. The control CPU 90 receives the instruction signal for carrying out the sheet (for example, an operation end signal of the post-processing apparatus), drives the pressure motor M4, and the pressure lever 82 moves the driving roller 73 to the operating position where it abuts the sheet, for example, 10 Newton. Is set so that the force of is applied to the sheet. After this operation, the pressure motor M4 is stopped, and a constant pressing force (10N) is applied to the drive roller 73 from the pressure lever 82. Next, the control CPU 90 activates the second conveyance motor M2 to drive the drive roller 73 at the first peripheral speed 450 mm / s. Then, the sheet on the processing tray 64 is nipped by the driving roller 73 and the pinch roller 74 and is conveyed toward the stacking tray 112.

  The control CPU 90 rotates the pressure motor M4 in the reverse direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) by a predetermined amount immediately before the trailing edge of the sheet thus fed reaches the position of the drive roller 73 (the illustrated one is 80 mm to 100 mm). Then, the pressing force applied to the driving roller 73 by the pressure lever 82 is raised to a position where the pressing force is reduced to approximately 1/9 (the pressing force shown is 1 N). Then, the sheet bundle is nipped with a weak force between the driving roller 73 and the pinch roller 74 and is carried out by the rotation of the driving roller 73. At this time, prior to the pressure reduction, the control CPU 90 controls the second transport motor M2 so as to decelerate the peripheral speed of the drive roller 73 to approximately 1/4 to 1/5 (100 mm / s in the figure). .

  The reason why the pressing force of the driving roller 73 is reduced after the conveyance speed is reduced in this way is to prevent a slip between the sheet and the roller. By controlling the sheet bundle on the processing tray 64, the pressing force is reduced when the sheet bundle is separated from the driving roller 73, and the speed at which the sheet bundle is unloaded is reduced and gradually stored on the stacking tray 112. After carrying out the sheet, when the control CPU 90 rotates the pressure motor M4 in the reverse direction (clockwise in FIG. 3), the pressure lever 82 is engaged with the upper wall of the engagement groove 76a of the arm member 76. Then, the arm member 76 is raised and the drive roller 73 is retracted to the retracted position. After the pressurization motor M4 is stopped, it is held at that position by the motor detent torque to prepare for the next sheet discharge operation.

1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing which expanded the finisher unit part. Explanatory drawing of a finisher unit part. The top view of a finisher unit part. The perspective view which shows the structure of a finisher unit part. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the drive mechanism concerning this invention. The expansion perspective view which shows the structure of a roller support means. Explanatory drawing of the conveyance mechanism concerning this invention (The state which has a conveyance means in a retracted position). Explanatory drawing of the conveyance mechanism concerning this invention (state which a conveyance means exists in an operation position). Sectional drawing which shows the structure of a transfer means and a post-processing apparatus. The block diagram of a guide board. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the alignment plate and the operation of the post-processing apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the drive structure of a pressurization lever. The conceptual diagram of a conventional apparatus. It is a chart which shows the timing of the control concerning this invention, (A) shows the pressurizing force of a pressure lever, (B) shows the peripheral speed of a drive roller. The block diagram which shows control of a finisher unit.

Explanation of symbols

20 Feeding section 30 Printing section 62a Guide plate 62d Vent hole 64 Processing tray 65 Positioning means 66 Transfer means 67 Caterpillar belt 73 Driving roller 74 Pinch roller 75 Roller support means 80 Pressurizing means 81 Accumulating spring 82 Pressure lever 85 Fan shape Gear 90 control CPU
93a, 93b Alignment plate 94 Pinion 95 Rack 100 Post-processing means 101 Stepler 110 Cooling fan 112 Stacking tray A Image forming unit B Image reading unit C Finisher unit M1 First transport motor M2 Second transport motor M3 Unit moving motor M4 Pressurization Motor M6a, M6b Alignment motor S1 Inlet sensor S2 Position sensor

Claims (8)

A paper discharge path for sequentially carrying out the image-formed sheets from the paper discharge port;
A processing tray that is disposed below the paper discharge port and temporarily stacks sheets from the paper discharge path;
A post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as binding processing and punching processing on the sheet on the processing tray,
The post-processing unit is disposed below the paper discharge path so as to move in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, and includes a cooling fan that blows air from the moving direction toward the post-processing unit. A sheet post-processing apparatus.   The post-processing unit includes a stapler that performs a binding process on a sheet on the processing tray, a guide member that supports the stapler movably along a sheet rear end edge on the processing tray, and the stapler. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit configured to control movement along the guide member.   The drive means controls the movement of the stapler along the guide member to a position for guiding the air blown by the cooling fan to the discharge path and a position for post-processing the sheet on the processing tray. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The sheet discharge path is composed of a plate-shaped guide member for guiding a sheet, and the plate-shaped guide member is provided with a plurality of vent holes in a region where the post-processing unit is arranged. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The drive means moves the post-processing unit to a position spaced apart from the cooling fan by a predetermined distance before the sheet is accommodated in the processing tray, and the post-processing unit sends air from the cooling fan to the discharge path. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus deflects the sheet. A paper feed unit for sequentially feeding sheets on the stacker;
A printing unit that performs predetermined printing on a sheet from the paper feeding unit;
A fixing unit for heating and fixing the ink on the sheet sent from the printing unit;
An image forming apparatus main body including a paper discharge unit that sequentially carries out the sheet from the fixing unit from a paper discharge port;
An image reading device disposed above the image forming apparatus main body and reading an original image set on a platen;
A processing tray disposed at a paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus main body for temporarily placing a sheet;
A post-processing device that is arranged in the processing tray and performs post-processing such as binding processing, sealing processing, and punching processing on the sheet;
The post-processing apparatus is attached to the image forming apparatus main body so as to be detachably movable in a sheet carrying-out direction to a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus main body.
This post-processing apparatus has a post-processing unit that performs post-processing such as binding processing and punching processing on the sheet on the processing tray,
The post-processing unit is disposed below the paper discharge path that guides the sheet from the paper discharge unit to the processing tray and moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. An image forming apparatus, wherein the post-processing apparatus includes a cooling fan that blows air toward the processing unit. The post-processing unit is disposed below the conveyance region of the sheet passing through the paper discharge path so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.
The cooling fan is disposed at a side of a conveyance region of a sheet passing through the paper discharge path, and deflects the air blown from the cooling fan to a sheet passage area of the paper discharge path by a post-processing unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to 6. The post-processing unit includes a stapler that performs a binding process on a sheet on the processing tray, a guide member that supports the stapler movably along a sheet rear end edge on the processing tray, and the stapler. Drive means for controlling movement along the guide member,
The drive means moves and controls the stapler along the guide member to a position for guiding the cooling fan to the discharge path and a position for post-processing the sheet on the processing tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6.

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