JP2007084159A - Sheet handling device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet handling device capable of improving the treating easiness of a sheet bundle PB by avoiding overlapping of staples used in stapling the bundle of sheets for stabilizing the stacked condition of the sheet bundle PB without bringing about difficulty in processing the bundle PB of sheets stacked on a stack tray 18a, and an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: Staplers 90a and 90b installed on a moving plate 92 with the spacing fixed are made movable along the rear end of the sheets P together with the moving plate 92. A control device, not shown in figures, of this handling device dislocates the moving plate 92 alternately at three stages bundle by bundle to disperse the stapling position to three locations. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that accepts a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine, or another office machine, and performs stitch binding, and an image in which the sheet processing apparatus is incorporated / connected. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

  Accepts sheets delivered from image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, and performs various processes such as alignment, sorting, stacking, staple binding, folding, envelope filling, binding processing, bookbinding, punching, inspection, and processing. A sheet processing apparatus to be used has been put into practical use. Also, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, such a sheet processing apparatus is built in or connected as a purchase option.

  The sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 receives sheets from an image forming apparatus, performs staple binding (staple) processing collectively for each predetermined number of sheets, and stacks the bundle of sheets subjected to needle binding processing on a stacking tray. A staple binding device (stapler) is arranged in a conveyance path for bringing received sheets to the stacking tray.

  In the sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the trailing edge of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray is stapled, and the width direction of the sheet bundle is alternately shifted and stacked on the stacking tray.

  The sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 temporarily stacks sheets on a processing tray disposed on the upstream side of the final stacking tray, and performs alignment in the width direction and staple binding processing. They are stacked on the loading tray.

JP-A-11-322161 JP-A-10-250920 JP 07-306549 A

  In the sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the thickness of staples stapled destabilizes the stacked state of sheets. That is, the thickness of the overlapping parts of the needles is significantly different from the thickness of the overlapping parts of the sheets, and the individual sheets move so that the overlapping needles are displaced by the weight of the stacked sheets, and the overall stacking state is inclined. The stacked state collapses and the sheet falls from the stacking tray.

  In the sheet processing apparatus shown in Patent Document 2, since the sheet bundle is stacked by alternately shifting the width direction of the sheets, overlapping of the needles protruding on the surface of the sheet bundle can be avoided. However, sheet bundles stacked by alternately shifting sheet bundles in the width direction are difficult to handle, and the width becomes large, resulting in difficulty in taking out from the stacking tray and packing in a box.

  The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of stabilizing the stacking state of sheet bundles by avoiding overlapping of staples stapled without causing difficulty in handling the stacked sheet bundles. The purpose is to do.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a needle binding device that is movably arranged and capable of needle binding a sheet, and a control device that moves the needle binding device and staples a designated position of the sheet by the needle binding device. The control device distributes the needle binding position to a predetermined area including the designated position and causes the needle binding device to staple the sheet.

  In the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, even when the same designated position (upper right corner, center of the left side, two rear ends, etc.) is designated, the control device automatically performs staple binding by shifting the staple binding position. Since the positions of the staples bound are dispersed, the stacked sheets need not be overlapped with each other, and the sheet misalignment caused by the overlap between the needles can be avoided to stabilize the sheet stacking state.

  Hereinafter, a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of the sheet processing apparatus, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a conveyance system of the sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of sheet stacking, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of sheet alignment.

  The sheet processing apparatus B of the present embodiment includes, for example, stack trays 18a and 18b that are first sheet stacking members, staple tray 12 that is a second sheet stacking member, and staplers 90a and 90b that are staple binding devices, for example. For example, the control device includes a CPU 200, a moving base 92, a timing belt 93, and a moving motor 94.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus B according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed on a side portion of a copying machine main body A, accepts a sheet P formed with an image by the copying machine main body A, and performs a staple binding process. To do. The sheet processing apparatus B is a so-called finisher, and is designed to perform various functions such as punching, alignment, sorting and stacking, sorting, and folding in addition to staple binding (stapling) processing. .

  A document feeder 1 that automatically feeds documents one by one to the reading device 2 is mounted on the upper portion of the copying machine main body A. The reading device 2 is an image of a document automatically fed from the document feeding device 1. Is converted into a digital signal, and image data is formed and transmitted to the image forming unit 3.

  The image forming unit 3 forms an image using the image data transmitted from the reading device 2 and reproduces an image of a document on a sheet P such as plain paper or an OHP sheet. The image forming unit 3 writes a latent image on the photosensitive drum 3b with the laser light emitted from the light irradiation unit 3a based on the image data, develops the latent image to form a toner image, and forms a toner image from the sheet cartridge 4 5, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 b is transferred to the sheet P conveyed at the same timing. The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 6 and subjected to heating and pressurization, and the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet P.

  The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is sent to the sheet processing apparatus B as it is in the single-sided recording mode, but is switched back and conveyed to the retransmission path 7 in the double-sided recording mode, and again to the image forming unit 3. After the image is transferred to the back side, the image is transferred to the sheet processing apparatus B through the fixing unit 6 again.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the sheet processing apparatus B is set to the staple mode, the sheet P received by the first conveying roller pair 10 is discharged from the upstream discharge roller pair 16 to the staple tray 12 and temporarily stacked. Then, a sheet bundle PB for each part is formed on the staple tray 12 and stapled by the staple unit 42, and then the stapled sheet bundle PB is discharged from the downstream discharge roller pair 17 to be stacked on the stack trays 18a and 18b. To load.

  The stack trays 18a and 18b are supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction with respect to the support 37 (casing structure) of the sheet processing apparatus B. The stack trays 18a and 18b are controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 200, and by operating the stacker motors 209a and 209b, respectively, the rack gear 37a of the column 37 is driven by the pinion gear 225 to move up and down. Positioning / stopping at a height position is possible.

  The downstream discharge roller pair 17 includes a downstream discharge roller 17a and an upper roller 17b. The upper roller 17b is pivotally supported by a swing guide 20 that can be pivoted up and down, and is joined / separated from the downstream discharge roller 17a according to the pivot position of the swing guide 20.

  The distance measuring sensor 54 disposed above the swing guide 20 includes a light emitting unit that irradiates infrared light toward the stacking surface of the stack tray 18a, and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the stacking surface. The distance to the loading surface is detected by measuring the angle of the reflected light. The distance measuring sensor 54 detects the uppermost surface of the sheet bundle PB stacked on the stack tray 18a and generates an output corresponding to the distance.

  The CPU 200 joins the downstream discharge roller pair 17 and stacks the sheet bundle PB (or sheet P) on the stack tray 18a (or 18b) so that the output of the distance measuring sensor 54 becomes constant. The tray 18a (or 18b) is lowered to keep the stacking surface height on the stack tray 18a (or 18b) constant.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flapper 25 disposed downstream of the first conveying roller pair 10 is driven by a flapper solenoid 202 (FIG. 4) to convey the sheet P between the main path 13 and the buffer path 14. Switch. The second conveyance roller pair 15 disposed in the main path 13 conveys the sheet P received by the first conveyance roller pair 10, passes through the main path 13, and directly transfers it to the upstream discharge roller pair 16.

  The flapper 28 disposed in the buffer path 14 is driven by a flapper solenoid 203 (FIG. 4), and controls the delivery of the sheet P using the buffer roller 23. The buffer roller 23 can sandwich the sheet P received by the first conveying roller pair 10 with the driven roller 24 and wind and hold a plurality of sheets P around the buffer roller 23 with the leading ends aligned. Is possible. The held sheets P can be collectively merged into the main path 13 and delivered to the upstream discharge roller pair 16 in the first rotation after the flapper 28 is tilted inward.

  When buffering the sheet P on the buffer roller 23, the buffer roller 23 starts to rotate at a predetermined conveyance distance after the approach sensor 27 disposed on the downstream side of the first conveyance roller pair 10 detects the leading edge of the sheet P. Thereafter, the buffer roller 23 is braked / stopped at the timing when the buffer sensor 26 disposed in the buffer path 14 detects the leading edge of the sheet P.

  The first transport roller pair 10 is driven by a transport motor 211. The downstream discharge roller pair 17 is driven by a drive motor 208. The second conveyance roller pair 15, the buffer roller 23, and the upstream discharge roller pair 16 are driven by a discharge motor 205.

  In addition, each mechanism of the transport motor 211, the drive motor 208, and the discharge motor 205 is provided with an encoder (not shown), and generates a pulse output corresponding to each rotation speed, and the CPU 200 (FIGS. 2 and 4). ) Detects / controls the transport distance and transport speed of the sheet P by the first transport roller pair 10, the downstream discharge roller pair 17, the second transport roller pair 15, the buffer roller 23, and the upstream discharge roller pair 16 by pulse count. To do.

  The downstream discharge roller pair 17 is started to rotate at a timing when the discharge sensor 29 disposed upstream of the upstream discharge roller pair 16 detects the leading edge of the sheet P. After the discharge sensor 29 detects the trailing edge of the sheet P, a predetermined amount is set. Braking / stopping at a transport distance of.

  The paddle 31 disposed above the staple tray 12 is driven by connecting / cutting off the rotation of the drive motor by a paddle solenoid 206 (FIG. 4). As shown in Patent Document 1, each time the sheet P is discharged to the staple tray 12, the paddle 31 starts rotating counterclockwise in the drawing and makes one rotation, and the surface of the sheet P discharged to the staple tray 12. The sheet P is moved to the back side along the slope of the staple tray 12 in contact with.

  The knurled belt 32 disposed adjacent to the staple tray 12 circulates counterclockwise in the drawing in conjunction with the upstream discharge roller pair 16, and causes the sheet P discharged to the staple tray 12 along the slope of the staple tray 12. Move to the back side.

  The side guide 11 disposed on the staple tray 12 is driven by a side guide motor 207 (FIG. 4) to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and the side surface in the width direction of the sheet P discharged to the staple tray 12. To match.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 200 receives, as inputs, an approach sensor 28, a buffer sensor 26, a discharge sensor 29, a distance measuring sensor 54, a stack sensor 53, a reflective light sensor 107, a needle color detection sensor 143, and other sensors. Is connected. The CPU 200 outputs as stackers motors 209a and 209b, a transport motor 211, a drive motor 208, a discharge motor 205, flapper solenoids 202 and 203, a paddle solenoid 206, a side guide motor 207, and a stapler motor as outputs via drivers D1 to D12. 110, a moving motor 94, a driving motor 98, and other motors are connected.

  The reflective optical sensor 107, the stapler motor 110, the moving motor 94, and the drive motor 98 used for controlling the staple unit 42 will be described in detail later.

  The CPU 200 detects outputs of the entry sensor 28, the buffer sensor 26, the discharge sensor 29, the distance measuring sensor 54, the stack sensor 53, the reflection type optical sensor 107, and other sensors, and performs stacker motors 209a and 209b, a transport motor. 211, drive motor 208, discharge motor 205, flapper solenoids 202 and 203, paddle solenoid 206, side guide motor 207, stapler motor 110, moving motor 94, drive motor 98, and other motors are controlled to operate the copying machine main body A. The sheet processing apparatus B is caused to execute various modes of operation as described below in accordance with the setting contents set in the section 9.

  (1) Normal mode: The sheet P received from the first conveying roller pair 10 is conveyed on the main path 13 and simply stacked on the stack trays 18a and 18b from the downstream discharge roller pair 17.

  (2) Two-sheet discharge mode: The sheet P received from the first conveying roller pair 10 is retained in the buffer path 14, and then the two sheets are discharged simultaneously with the received sheet.

  (3) Punch mode: punches a sheet P received from the first conveying roller pair 10.

  (4) Sort mode: After the sheets P received from the first conveying roller pair 10 are shifted in the width direction and stacked on the staple tray 12, the bundles are discharged onto the stack trays 18a and 18b and stacked.

  (5) Staple mode: The sheets P received from the first conveying roller pair 10 are stacked / aligned on the staple tray 12 and stapled.

  In the staple mode, as shown in FIG. 5, the swing guide 20 is opened with the swing shaft 20a as a fulcrum, the downstream discharge roller pair 17 is separated, the discharge port 36 is opened, and the staple tray is separated from the upstream discharge roller pair 16. The sheets P are discharged one by one to 12.

  Then, each time the sheet P is discharged, the paddle 31 makes one rotation to contact / rubb against the surface of the sheet P, and the sheet P is pulled back to the upstream discharge roller pair 16 side. The pulled back sheet P is driven by the circulating knurled belt 32 and is abutted against the rear end stopper 33 at the innermost portion of the staple tray 12.

  Thereafter, when the pressure of the knurled belt 32 on the sheet P is released by means (not shown), the side guide 11 pushes the side surface of the sheet P toward the one side end side of the stacking tray 12 as shown in FIG. Here, when the pressure of the knurled belt 32 is increased again and the sheet P is held, the staple unit 42 moves along the rear end of the sheet P and staples one or a plurality of places.

  After the staple binding process is completed, the swing guide 20 is closed, the sheet bundle PB is sandwiched between the downstream discharge roller pair 17, and the downstream discharge roller pair 17 rotates to transfer the sheet bundle PB from the staple tray 12 to the stack trays 18a and 18b. Eject / load.

  In the stapling mode, when the sheet P is discharged from the copying machine main body A and leaves the restraint of the copying machine main body A, the conveying speed of the sheet P is increased to widen the space between the succeeding sheets and stapling time. So that the productivity of the copier body A is not reduced.

  If the number of sheets P to be stapled is about several, the sheet P is received from the copying machine main body A during the interval from the width direction alignment by the side guide 11 to the discharge / stacking onto the stack trays 18a and 18b. It is also possible to switch back to the staple tray 12 with several sheets P of the buffer roller 23 being stacked immediately after the sheet is stored in the buffer roller 23 and the preceding sheet bundle PB is discharged to the stack trays 18a and 18b. .

(Staple unit)
7 is a plan view of the staple unit, FIG. 8 is a side view of the staple unit, FIG. 9 is a plan view of the stapler in the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a side view of the stapler.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the staple unit 42 includes two staplers 90a and 90b, and the staplers 90a and 90b are driven by a built-in stapler motor 110 (FIG. 4) to staple the sheet bundle PB. As shown in FIG. 8, the staplers 90 a and 90 b are attached to the connecting base 100 that can be attached to and detached from the advancing and retracting base 95 one by one.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the movable table 92 is supported so as to be movable in the Y direction (direction along the rear end of the sheet P) with respect to the staple stay 91 fixed to the sheet processing apparatus B (FIG. 2). Is done. The moving base 92 is fixed to the timing belt 93 driven by the moving motor 94, and the moving base 92 moves in the positive and negative directions in the Y direction according to the rotation direction of the moving motor 94.

  The advancing / retreating table 95 arranged on the moving table 92 is supported so as to be movable with respect to the moving table 92 in the X direction (the conveying direction of the sheet P) in the figure. The staplers 90a and 90b attached to the advance / retreat table 95 move in the X direction in the drawing together with the advance / retreat table 95, and move in the Y direction in the drawing together with the moving table 92.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the advance / retreat platform 95 is connected to the connecting rod 97 at a fulcrum 97b, and the connecting rod 97 is connected to the crank pulley 96 at a fulcrum 97a.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the crank pulley 96 supported by the fulcrum 96 a is driven by timing belts 99 </ b> A and 99 </ b> B that transmit forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 98. When the crank pulley 96 is rotated by being driven by the drive motor 98, the connecting rod 97 is rotated and the fulcrum 97b drives the advance / retreat base 95, and the advance / retreat base 95 advances in the direction of the arrow X according to the rotation direction of the drive motor 98. /fall back.

  The staple unit 42 has staplers 90a and 90b arranged at fixed intervals on the moving table 92, and the CPU 200 (FIG. 4) operates the moving motor 94 to move the moving table 92 in the Y direction in the figure. As a result, the staplers 90a and 90b can be positioned at arbitrary positions along the rear end of the sheet P. The CPU 200 (FIG. 4) also operates the drive motor 98 to move the advance / retreat platform 95 in the X direction in the drawing to move the staplers 90a, 90b inward from the rear end of the sheet P by a predetermined distance. Can be stapled.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the stapler motor 110 rotates, the eccentric cam gear 108 rotates through the gear train 109, and as shown in FIG. 10, the forming unit 101 swings in the direction of the arrow to perform a clinching operation. The staple binding process is executed on the sheet bundle (PB) located under the section 101. The forming unit 101 separates the staples of the stapler needles 105 conveyed from the rear by the rollers 106 one by one, forms them into a U shape, and presses them against the staple table 102.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the stapler needle 105 is a sheet-like needle assembly in which linear needles in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface are continuous in the left-right direction. Several tens of staples 105 are loaded in a state where they are stacked in the cartridge 103 attached to the forming unit 101, and the entire staple needle 105 is pressed downward by a spring 104 from above, whereby the staple staple 105 at the bottom is moved to the roller 106. And the above-mentioned conveying force is applied.

  Further, the reflection type optical sensor 107 disposed below the cartridge 103 inverts the output according to the presence or absence of the needle 105 in the cartridge 103. The CPU 200 (FIG. 4) detects the absence of the staples in the staplers 90a and 90b based on the output of the reflective optical sensor 107 provided in the cartridge 103.

  11 and 12 are flowcharts of the staple binding position control, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams of stapler movement.

  In the first exemplary embodiment, when performing the staple binding process using the staplers 90a and 90b, the CPU 200 alternately shifts the staple binding position of the continuous sheet bundle PB in three stages if the staple position slide mode is selected. The stapled needles are not overlapped by the upper and lower sheet bundles PB (steps S109 to S121 in FIG. 12).

  In the staple position slide mode, the stackability of the sheet bundle is set more than the staple binding position, which is set in the operation unit 9 of the copying machine main body A in FIG. This is the priority mode.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the CPU 200 receives the stapling signal in step S100, in step S101, the CPU 200 determines the output of the reflection type optical sensor 107 and checks whether there is an abnormality such as no needle, needle jam, or no needle color. Check.

  If there is an abnormality in step S101, the process proceeds to step S102, and according to the content of the abnormality, needleless, needle jam, and needle color are displayed.

  If there is no abnormality in step S101, the process proceeds to step S103 to determine whether or not the staple position slide mode is selected. If the staple position slide mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S104 and whether or not the stapling position slide mode is one place. It is determined whether or not.

  If the staple is one place in step S104, the process proceeds to step S105, the stapler 90a is moved to the one standard position shown in FIG. 13B, and the one-point staple is executed. The staple binding process at one standard position is repeated until it is determined in step S106 that the discharge of the final sheet bundle PB has been completed. However, while the stapler 90a is moved by moving the stapler 90a to the standard position in the odd number, the stapler 90a is moved by moving the stapler 90b to the standard position in the even number of times. , 90b staple 105 is consumed almost evenly.

  On the other hand, if it does not correspond to one staple in step S104, the process proceeds to step S107, and the staplers 90a and 90b are moved to the two standard positions shown in FIG. The two-point staple binding (simultaneously at two locations) is executed, and the staple binding process at the two standard positions is repeated until it is determined in step S108 that the discharge of the final sheet bundle PB has been completed.

  On the other hand, if the staple position slide mode is selected in step S103, the process proceeds to step S109 in FIG. 12 to determine whether or not the staple is in one place.

  If the staple is one place in step S109, the process proceeds to step S110, and the staple position slide control in steps S110 to S115 is determined to be the completion of discharging the final sheet bundle PB in any of steps S111, S113, and S115. Repeat until

  That is, in step S110, the stapler 90a is moved to the one standard position shown in FIG. 13B to execute one-point staple binding. In the next sheet bundle PB, the process proceeds to step S112, and the stapler 90a is moved to the one-point right slide position shown in FIG. 13C to execute one-point staple binding. In the next sheet bundle PB, the process proceeds to step S114, and the stapler 90a is moved to the one-point left slide position shown in FIG. 13A to execute one-point staple binding.

  Also here, for the subsequent three sheet bundles, one standard position, one right slide position, and one left slide so that the staples 105 of the staplers 90a and 90b are substantially evenly reduced. In the order of the positions, one-point staple binding is performed by the stapler 90b, and the operation for returning to the staple binding (FIG. 13) by the stapler 90a is repeated for the subsequent three sheets.

  On the other hand, if the staple is not stapled at one place in step S109, the process proceeds to step S116, and the staple position slide control in steps S116 to S121 is determined to be the completion of discharging the final sheet bundle PB in any of steps S117, S119, and S121. Repeat until

  That is, in step S116, the staplers 90a and 90b are moved to the two standard positions shown in FIG. 14B to execute the two-point staple binding. In the next sheet bundle PB, the process proceeds to step S118, and the staplers 90a and 90b are moved to the two right slide positions shown in FIG. 14C to execute the two-point staple binding. In the next sheet bundle PB, the process proceeds to step S120, and the staplers 90a and 90b are moved to the two left-side slide positions shown in FIG.

  In this way, the sheet bundle PB discharged by the CPU 200 is stacked for each bundle by shifting the stapling position with respect to the sheet bundle PB, thereby reducing the rising of the staple portion, making the stacked sheet bundle difficult to collapse, and stackability. And the operability of the sheet bundle after stacking can be improved.

  That is, since the sheet bundle PB stacked on the stack trays 18a and 18b has the edges in the width direction aligned vertically, when the both ends are lifted up like a sheet bundle stacked alternately with the sheet bundle PB. It will not split into two and fall. Further, the width can be increased and the sheet P can be packed as it is without being difficult to hold.

  Since the staples of the sheet bundle PB are dispersed in three places, the stacking state is more stable and orderly than in the case where the staples are concentrated in one place, and the thickness of the staple binding part is reduced. Accordingly, the stacking height of the sheet bundle PB having the same number of books is lowered. Also, the fit when the number of books is filed together is improved.

  Further, since the staple binding positions are alternately distributed to three locations, the upper and lower needles collide with each other and are displaced, so that the misaligned needles are not caught and the relative movement of the sheet bundle PB is not hindered. It is easy to carry, pack, stack, collect and file with the edges of the sheet bundle PB aligned.

  Therefore, without causing difficulty in handling the stacked sheet bundle PB, it is possible to avoid overlapping of staples that have been stapled, to stabilize the stacking state of the sheet bundle PB, and to improve the handleability.

  In addition, since the staple position slide mode and the normal mode (fixed position binding mode in which staple binding is performed at the standard position) can be selected, the normal mode is used for external notification documents and patent application documents that require the needle binding position to be aligned. It can be selected and stapled as usual.

  Further, since the two staplers 90a and 90b are moved by the common support / drive mechanism and the motor, the staple unit 42 can be downsized as compared with the case where the support / drive mechanism and the motor are individually provided.

  In addition, the stapler 90a and 90b are alternately used at the time of one-point staple binding so that the difference in the remaining amount of the staple needle 105 does not increase. Thus, the staple needle 105 does not rust.

  Furthermore, the conventional stapling unit disclosed in Patent Document 3 is used as it is, and without adding new sensors, circuit elements, or mechanisms, the stacking state of the sheet bundle PB can be obtained by adding a small program in the CPU 200 of the sheet processing apparatus B. As a result, the development period and development costs are greatly reduced, and it is easy to upgrade from stock and sold sheet processing equipment.

  In the above description, the case where the staple position is slid in three stages using two staplers has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and using three, four, etc. staplers, The staple position may be slid in two steps, four steps, five steps, or the like.

  In the above description, the case where the staple position is slid in the Y direction (the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the movement shown in FIGS. The advancing / retreating stage 95 may be advanced in a plurality of stages with respect to the stage 92, and the stapling position may be shifted in the X direction (the width direction of the needle or the sheet material conveyance direction) in the drawing.

  By the way, the copying machine main body A moves the image forming unit 3 that forms an image on the sheet P, the staplers 90a and 90b that are movably disposed and can staple the sheet P, and the staplers 90a and 90b. The CPU 200 that staples the designated position of P by the staplers 90a and 90b may be housed in the same housing for commercialization. In this case, the control by the CPU 200 can be performed by a control device (not shown) that is provided in the copying machine main body A and controls the image forming unit 3.

  Further, even when the sheet processing apparatus B of another casing is connected to the downstream side of the copying machine main body A as in the present embodiment, the image forming unit 3 and the sheet processing apparatus B can be controlled by a common control apparatus. Good.

  In any case, the control device achieves the same effect as the sheet processing apparatus B of the present embodiment by distributing the staple binding positions in a predetermined area including the designated position and binding the sheets P by the staplers 90a and 90b. it can.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of a structure of a sheet processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the conveyance system of a sheet processing apparatus. It is a circuit block diagram of a control system of the sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of sheet stacking. It is explanatory drawing of sheet alignment. It is a top view of a staple unit. It is a side view of a staple unit. It is a top view of a stapler. It is a side view of a stapler. It is a flowchart of staple position slide control. It is a flowchart of staple position slide control. It is explanatory drawing of the movement of the stapler in one-point needle binding. It is explanatory drawing of the movement of the stapler in two-point needle binding.

Explanation of symbols

3 Image forming unit (image forming means)
12 Staple tray (second sheet stacking member)
18a, 18b Stack tray (first sheet stacking member)
42 Stapling units 90a, 90b Stapler (needle binding device)
92 Moving table (control device)
93 Timing belt (control device)
94 Moving motor (control device)
103 Cartridge 105 Staple needle 200 CPU (control device)
A Copier body B Sheet processing device P Sheet PB Sheet bundle

Claims (11)

A needle binding device that is arranged so as to be movable and can staple the sheet;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a control device that moves the needle binding device and causes the designated position of the sheet to be stapled by the needle binding device;
The control apparatus distributes the staple binding position to a predetermined area including the specified position and causes the staple binding apparatus to staple the sheet. Sheet stacking means for stacking staple-bound sheets;
A staple binding device that is arranged so that the received sheet can be moved along a conveyance path leading to the sheet stacking unit and can staple the sheet;
In the sheet processing apparatus, comprising: a control device that moves the needle binding device and causes the needle binding device to staple the designated position of the sheet.
The sheet processing apparatus, wherein the control device staples a plurality of staple binding positions dispersed in a predetermined area including the designated position in correspondence with the designated position. A first sheet stacking member on which the stapled sheets are stacked;
A second sheet stacking member disposed on the upstream side of the first sheet stacking member and stacking the sheets;
A needle binding device arranged to be movable along the sheets stacked on the second sheet stacking member and capable of binding the sheets;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a control device that moves the needle binding device and causes the designated position of the sheet to be stapled by the needle binding device;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device staples a plurality of staple binding positions dispersed in a predetermined area including the designated position in correspondence with the designated position.   4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device alternately staples the plurality of staple binding positions set in advance corresponding to the designated position. 5.   5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of staple binding positions are arranged such that the staples stapled adjacent to each other do not overlap vertically.   6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of staple binding positions are arranged such that the staples stapled are arranged linearly in the length direction thereof.   6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of staple binding positions are arranged such that the staples stapled are arranged at intervals in the width direction.   4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device causes the plurality of predetermined staple binding positions to be stapled at substantially the same frequency in the predetermined area. 5.   9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device is capable of executing by setting a fixed position binding mode in which the staple binding position is not dispersed with respect to the designated position. 10. Image forming means for forming an image on the sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a post-processing unit that receives the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit and performs the staple binding;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit is the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A needle binding device that is movably arranged and capable of needle binding the sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control device that moves the needle binding device and causes the specified position of the sheet to be stapled by the needle binding device;
The image forming apparatus, wherein the control device distributes the needle binding position to a predetermined area including the designated position and causes the sheet to be stapled by the needle binding device.

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