JP2007197112A - Sheet handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To handle sheet jamming easily when the sheet jamming occurs in a middle-folding handling part. <P>SOLUTION: This sheet handling device 1 for handling a sheet conveyed from an image forming device posteriorly has an outer frame 6, a staple handling part 9, a middle-folding handling part 10, a caster 12 for transportation, and a handle 5 for transportation. The staple handling part 9 is arranged in the outer frame 6, can retain the sheet conveyed from the image forming device temporarily, and applies staple handling to the retained sheet. The middle-folding handling part 10 can be pulled out of the outer frame 6, is arranged below the staple handling part 9, and folds the sheet conveyed from the staple handling part 9 in its middle part. The caster 12 for transportation is provided in the lower part of the middle-folding handling part 10. The handle 5 for transportation is connected with the middle-folding handling part 10 and can be extended above the middle-folding handling part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus.

The sheet processing apparatus is an apparatus arranged on the side of the image forming apparatus, and is a device for performing post-processing of a sheet such as a recording sheet on which an image is printed by the image forming apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus includes a stapling processing unit that performs stapling processing and a half-folding processing unit that performs center folding processing of the sheet (see Patent Document 1). The half-folding processing unit shown here is generally disposed below the stapling processing unit, and can be pulled out from the sheet processing apparatus main body in order to deal with a paper jam.
JP 2004-123319 A

  In the sheet processing apparatus described in the patent document, when a paper jam occurs in the center folding processing unit, the operator needs to pull out the center folding processing unit from the sheet processing apparatus main body and perform a paper jam processing. At this time, since the half-folding processing unit is disposed at the lower part of the sheet processing apparatus, it is necessary for the operator to pull out the middle folding processing unit while squatting and perform a paper jam repairing operation. For this reason, it is difficult to handle a paper jam in the half-fold processing unit.

  An object of the present invention is to make it easier to handle a paper jam when a paper jam occurs in a half-fold processing section.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a sheet processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, and includes a housing, a stapling processing unit, a half-folding processing unit, a caster, and a transporting device. And a handle. The staple processing unit is disposed in the housing and can temporarily retain a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus, and performs a stapling process on the retained sheet. The half-folding processing unit can be pulled out from the casing, and is disposed below the stapling processing unit, and performs the middle folding processing on the sheet conveyed from the stapling processing unit. The caster is provided in the lower part of the center folding processing part. The carrying handle is connected to the middle folding processing unit and can extend above the middle folding processing unit.

  In this sheet processing apparatus, a sheet on which an image is printed by the image forming apparatus is conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus. When performing the stapling process, the stapling unit waits until a certain number of sheets are stacked, and the stapling process is performed after a certain number of sheets are stacked. When performing the middle folding process, the stapled sheet is conveyed from the staple processing unit to the middle folding processing unit. The sheet is subjected to the middle folding process in the middle folding processing unit and then discharged. When a paper jam occurs in the middle folding processing unit, the handling handle is operated to pull out the middle folding processing unit from the housing to handle the paper jam.

  Here, the carrying handle can be operated at a relatively high position (a position higher than the middle folding processing portion), and the caster is provided at the lower part of the middle folding processing portion, so that the middle folding processing portion can be easily operated. Can be pulled out of the housing. For this reason, the operator can go through the process of the paper jam generated in the middle folding processing unit without first squatting, and the operability is improved.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to a second aspect is the sheet processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the casing has a sheet stacking section for stacking post-processed sheets, and the half-fold processing section and the sheet stacking section It is possible to select the case of pulling out as a unit and the case of pulling out only by the middle folding processing unit.

  In this sheet processing apparatus, the sheets that have been subjected to the stapling process and the middle folding process are stacked on the sheet stacking unit. When a paper jam occurs in the middle folding processing unit, it is possible to handle the paper jam by pulling out only the middle folding processing unit. Further, when the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit are transported, the sheet stacking unit and the half-folding processing unit can be pulled out and transported as a unit.

  Here, the conveyance efficiency is improved when conveying the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to a third aspect is the sheet processing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the sheet processing apparatus includes a base portion attached to the sheet stacking portion and a movable portion attached to the half-folding processing portion. A case where the processing unit and the sheet stacking unit are pulled out as a single unit or a case where the processing unit and the sheet stacking unit are pulled out only by the middle folding processing unit can be selected.

  Here, it is possible to select the case of pulling out as a single unit with the sheet stacking unit with a simple configuration and the case of pulling out only with the middle folding processing unit.

  The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sheet stacking unit is a plate-shaped member on which sheets are stacked, and the transport handle is a sheet of the sheet stacking unit. Are disposed on both sides in the width direction orthogonal to the direction in which the sheet is conveyed and have a sheet dropout prevention portion extending in the sheet stacking direction.

  In this sheet processing apparatus, when a sheet stacking unit in which a plurality of sheets subjected to stapling processing and half-folding processing are stacked is pulled out and transported integrally with the center folding processing unit, the stacked sheets are out of balance. However, since the end portion of the sheet comes into contact with and is supported by the sheet drop prevention member, the sheet is prevented from falling off.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the sheet processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the sheet fall-off preventing member is extendable in the vertical direction.

  Here, even if the sheets are piled up high, the sheets can be prevented from falling off by expanding and contracting the sheet falling-out preventing portion.

  According to the present invention, it is easy to handle a paper jam when a paper jam occurs in the half-fold processing unit.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of a sheet processing apparatus 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. The sheet processing apparatus 1 is disposed on the side of an image forming apparatus 2 such as a color printer or a copying machine. In the image forming apparatus 2, an image based on image data sent from the outside or read by the document reading unit is printed on a sheet such as a recording sheet and discharged from the side portion. The sheet processing apparatus 1 performs post-processing of a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2, and includes a box-shaped outer frame 6 (housing) and whether to perform stapling processing or half-folding processing on the sheet. Accordingly, a selection unit 8 that selects a sheet conveyance path, a staple processing unit 9 that can temporarily retain sheets and performs a stapling process on a plurality of sheets, and a sheet that has undergone stapling processing and a sheet that does not undergo post-processing are provided. A first sheet discharge unit 41 for discharging, a half-fold processing unit 10 for performing a half-folding process on the sheet conveyed from the staple processing unit 9, and a second sheet discharge unit 42 for discharging the sheet subjected to the half-folding process. In addition, it includes a transport caster 12 and a transport handle 5 that are disposed below the center folding processing unit 10.

  The outer frame 6 is a box-shaped member made of resin, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of third sheet stacking trays 27 arranged in the stacking direction on the upper side, and post-processing A first stacking tray 43 (sheet stacking unit) on which the formed sheets are stacked, a support member 44 to which the first stacking tray 43 is attached, and a second stacking tray 60 provided on the side of the center folding processing unit 10. And a support portion 28 that supports the plurality of third sheet stacking trays 27. Further, the outer frame 6 includes a sheet entrance 7 for receiving a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 2. The sheet entrance 7 is disposed at a position corresponding to a portion from which the sheet of the image forming apparatus 2 on the side of the outer frame 6 on the image forming apparatus 2 side is discharged. As shown in FIG. 5, sheet processing apparatus casters 13 are arranged below the outer frame 6 and at both ends in the width direction. The first stacking tray 43 is a tray for transporting a large amount of sheets, and can be moved in the vertical direction in order to easily stack a large amount of sheets. The first stacking tray 43 is a member provided in the vicinity of the first sheet discharge portion 41 and is disposed below the plurality of third sheet stacking trays 27. The support member 44 is disposed above the center folding processing unit 10, and is pulled out from the outer frame 6 as a unit with the center folding processing unit 10 and separated from the center folding processing unit 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Can be selected. That is, an Acculide (registered trademark) movable portion 47 is provided below the support member 44, and an Acculide base portion 48 is provided above the half-fold processing portion 10. Accordingly, it is possible to slide the movable portion 47 of the Acculide with respect to the base portion 48 of the Acculide and pull it out only by the middle folding processing portion 10. Note that the support member 44 and the middle folding processing portion 10 include an engaging portion (not shown) that engages with each other, and only the middle folding processing portion 10 is removed by disengaging the engaging portion. 6 can be extracted. The second stacking tray 60 is a member for discharging the sheets that have been subjected to the folding process. Further, the second stacking tray 60 is provided below the first stacking tray 43, and the sheets that have been subjected to the folding process by the folding unit 10 are stacked.

  The selection unit 8 includes a first upper conveyance path 15 that conveys a sheet that has entered the sheet processing apparatus 1 from the sheet entrance 7, a second upper conveyance path 16 that conveys the sheet to a first stacking tray 43 described later, A switching claw 17 that switches between conveying the sheet to the staple processing unit 9 side and conveying the sheet to the second upper conveying path 16 side, and a retracting drum 18 that temporarily retracts the sheet are provided. The first upper conveyance path 15 is a portion disposed on the upper side of the staple processing unit 9 and extends from the sheet entrance 7 to the switching claw 17. Two pairs of conveying rollers for conveying the sheet from the sheet entrance 7 to the switching claw 17 are disposed in the first upper conveying path 15.

  The staple processing unit 9 can change the relative position between the stack unit 20 for aligning the leading end portions of the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 2 and the sheets stacked on the stack unit 20 and the staple unit 21. And a stapling unit 21 for binding sheets stacked on the stacking unit 20. The stack unit 20 receives the endless belt 22, the center support member 23 for receiving the center of the leading end of the sheet and positioning the sheet at a predetermined position, and receiving the both ends at the leading end of the sheet to determine the end binding position of the sheet. The both end support members 24 are provided. The staple unit 21 includes a staple head 26 on which staples are installed, and a staple clinch 25 that receives the staples.

  The first discharge unit 41 includes a first discharge port 45 for discharging the sheet and a pair of discharge rollers 46 disposed in the first discharge port 45. The first discharge port 45 is disposed above the staple processing unit 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the center folding processing unit 10 is a part that can be pulled out from the outer frame 6 and that performs the center folding processing on the sheet that has been stapled by the staple processing unit 9. The half-folding processing unit 10 is a portion disposed below the stapling processing unit 9 and is configured to convey a sheet that has undergone stapling processing, a sheet conveying path 30, a first middle folding roller 31, and a second middle folding unit. It has a roller 32, a pressing die 33 that performs a folding process, a sheet leading edge receiving portion 34 that receives the leading edge of the conveyed sheet, and an endless belt 35 on which the sheet leading edge receiving portion 34 is disposed.

  The second discharge unit 42 is provided on the side of the center folding processing unit 10 and discharges the sheet that has been subjected to the center folding process.

  The transport caster 12 is a member provided below the center folding processing unit 10 and is a member for assisting transport of the center folding processing unit 10. Further, the transport caster 12 is provided with a brake function to prevent the sheet processing apparatus 1 from moving from a predetermined position determined by the operator.

The transport handle 5 is a member connected to the half-fold processing unit 10 and is used when the sheet processing apparatus 1 is transported. Further, the transport handle 5 includes a first side portion 51, a second side portion 52 having a smaller radius than the first side portion 51, and a third side portion having an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the second side portion 52. 54 and a handle portion 53 that couples the pair of third side portions 54. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first side portion 51 is a portion attached in the vicinity of the middle folding processing portion 10 and is disposed on both sides of the second stacking tray 60. The first side portion 51 is a cylindrical member. The second side part 52 is a cylindrical member provided on the top of the first side part 51. The third side portion 54 (sheet drop prevention portion) is a member that can house the second side portion 52 (sheet drop prevention portion) therein, and is a cylindrical member that extends upward in the vertical direction. An adjustment screw 55 is provided at the lower part of the third side portion 54 in the vertical direction, and the height positions of the second side portion 52 and the third side portion 54 are determined by the adjustment screw 55. The third side portions 54 are disposed on both sides in the width direction in the direction in which the sheets of the first stacking tray 43 are conveyed. The second side portion 52 can be stored inside the third side portion 54. The handle portion 53 is a portion that is operated when the transporter of the sheet processing apparatus 1 transports the handle.
(Operation)
A sheet on which an image is printed by the image forming apparatus 2 enters the sheet processing apparatus 1 from the sheet entrance 7 of the sheet processing apparatus 1. The sheet that has entered from the sheet entrance 7 passes through the first upper conveyance path 15 and is switched by the switching claw 17. When the stapling process is performed, the sheet is conveyed to the stapling unit 9 and the stapling process is performed. If not, it is transported to the second upper transport path 16 and transported to the first discharge portion 41. The sheet conveyed to the staple processing unit 9 is on standby until the number of sheets to be conveyed to the stack unit 20 and to be stapled are conveyed. When the number of sheets reaches the number of sheets to be stapled, the stacking unit 20 positions the end of the sheet with the staples after being positioned by the both-end support member 24 and the center support member 23, and then the staple process is performed. After the stapling process is performed in the stapling unit 21, the sheet is conveyed to the first discharge unit 41 when the half-folding process is not performed. On the other hand, when the folding process is performed after the stapling process is performed, the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance path 36 of the folding process unit 10. The sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path 36 is arranged at a position where the sheet is folded by the sheet leading edge receiving portion 34. Thereafter, the folding process is performed by the pressing die 33 and the sheet is conveyed to the second discharge unit 42. The sheets that have been post-processed in this way are stacked on the first stacking tray 43 and the second stacking tray 60.

  When the sheets stacked on the first stacking tray 43 and the second stacking tray 60 are transported, the support member 44 and the middle folding process are performed with the engagement portions of the support member 44 and the middle folding processing unit 10 engaged with each other. The unit 10 is pulled out from the outer frame 6 as a unit. Then, the operator carries the carrying handle 5 and carries it. Further, when a paper jam occurs in the middle folding processing unit 10, the supporting member 44 and the middle folding processing unit 10 are separated by releasing the engaging portion between the supporting member 44 and the middle folding processing unit 10, and the middle folding processing unit 10 is separated. Only the folding processing unit 10 is pulled out by the carrying handle 5. After the middle folding processing unit 10 is pulled out, the paper jam of the middle folding processing unit 10 is processed.

  Here, when the sheets subjected to the stapling process are stacked on the first stacking tray 43 and the second stacking tray 60, the support member 44 can be pulled out integrally with the half-folding processing unit 10 and thus can be easily transported. become. At this time, when a plurality of stapled sheets are stacked, the balance may be lost during transportation. However, the sheets on the first stacking tray 43 and the second stacking tray 60 may be disposed on both sides of the transport direction. Since the second side portion 52 or the third side portion 54 is present, the sheet can be prevented from falling off.

Further, when the transport handle 5 extends to a position higher than the staple processing unit and a paper jam occurs in the center folding processing unit 10, the transport handle 5 is separated after the center folding processing unit 10 is separated from the support member 44. By pulling 5, only the middle folding processing unit 10 can be pulled out. For this reason, it is not necessary for the operator to squat and pull out the half-folding processing unit 10, and it becomes easy to perform a work to remove a paper jam.
(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the side portion is extendable and contractible, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the handle portion 53 may be extendable and contractible. In this case, the carrying handle 5 can be used according to the size of the paper. Further, the carrying handle 5 may be detachable from the middle folding processing unit 10.

Sectional drawing which shows the outline of a sheet processing apparatus. The figure which pulled out the center folding processing apparatus from the outer frame 6. FIG. The figure which pulled out the support member and the middle folding process part integrally. FIG. 3 is a view of the sheet processing apparatus 1 as viewed from above in the vertical direction (the sheet stacking tray 27 is omitted). FIG. 2 is a front view of the sheet processing apparatus 1 (the sheet stacking tray 27 is omitted).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet processing apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus 5 Handle 6 for conveyance Outer frame (casing)
9 Staple processing unit 10 Folding processing unit 12 Transport caster (caster)
41 First discharge unit 42 Second discharge unit 43 First stacking tray (sheet stacking unit)
44 Support member 47 Movable portion of Acculide 48 Base portion of Acculide 51 First side portion 52 Second side portion (Sheet drop prevention portion)
53 Handle part 54 Third side part (sheet drop prevention part)

Claims (5)

A sheet processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus,
A housing,
A stapling processing unit that is disposed in the housing and is capable of temporarily retaining a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus, and stapling the retained sheet;
A half-folding processing unit that can be pulled out from the housing and disposed below the stapling processing unit and performs a half-folding process on the sheet conveyed from the stapling processing unit;
A caster provided at a lower portion of the half-fold processing portion;
A transport handle that is coupled to the center fold processing portion and can extend upward from the center fold processing portion;
Sheet processing apparatus equipped with The housing has a sheet stacking unit on which post-processed sheets are stacked,
The case where the middle folding processing unit and the sheet stacking unit are pulled out as a unit and the case where the middle folding processing unit is used alone can be selected.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   Only when the intermediate folding processing unit and the sheet stacking unit are pulled out as a whole by an accuride having a base attached to the sheet stacking unit and a movable unit attached to the middle folding processing unit, and only the middle folding processing unit The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus can be selected from a case where the sheet is pulled out. The sheet stacking unit is a plate-like member on which sheets are stacked,
The carrying handle has a sheet drop-off prevention unit that is disposed on both sides in the width direction orthogonal to the direction in which the sheets of the sheet stacking unit are conveyed, and extends in the sheet stacking direction.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sheet drop-off prevention unit is extendable in the vertical direction.

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