JP2009001370A - Sheet post-processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet post-processing device capable of providing a working space for effective use, and an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet post-processing device 7 comprises a paper discharge tray 19 for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming unit 3 for forming an image, and further comprises a shutter member 47 which is movable to the covering position for covering the paper discharge tray 19 and the exposing position for exposing the paper discharge tray. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as stipple processing on a sheet such as a transfer material or paper on which an image has been formed, and an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and a composite machine thereof. .

  In general, as shown in FIG. 6, in an image forming apparatus 100 such as a copying machine, after a post-process such as a stipple process is performed on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 100, a discharge tray 201, One having a finisher (sheet post-processing device) 200 that discharges paper to 202 is known. In the finisher 200, in recent years, the size has been increased in the same manner as the image forming apparatus 100, and the number of structural units connected to the finisher 200 such as the cover feeder 300 disposed on the upper surface of the finisher 200 has increased. It tends to continue.

  In such a tendency, since there is almost no work space on the upper surface of the finisher 200 on which the cover feeder 300 is disposed as described above, the finisher 200 has a front-rear direction indicated by an arrow A. A technique for securing a work space by providing a slideable table 213 that can be moved in and out is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-045794 A

  However, in the above-described finisher 200, since the working space is secured by projecting the slide table 213 forward of the finisher 200, the projecting slide table 213 may take up space and become an obstacle. As a result, there is a problem that the work space cannot be effectively used.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus that can provide a work space that can be effectively used, and an image forming apparatus using the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet discharge tray on which sheets discharged from an image forming unit for forming an image are stacked. And a shutter member that can be moved to an exposure position that exposes the paper discharge tray.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet discharge tray is formed on the upper surface of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body above the stacking unit for stacking sheets. When the shutter member is in the covering position, the opening of the paper discharge tray is blocked, and the upper surface of the shutter member and the upper surface of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body are flush with each other. The upper surface forms part of the upper surface of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, it is provided with covering detecting means for detecting that the shutter member is in the covering position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the covering detection means detects the detection piece provided on the shutter member and the discharge tray, and detects the detection piece on the shutter member. And a detector.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, a paper discharge unit that discharges a sheet to a paper discharge tray, and whether or not a shutter member is detected by the covering detection unit. It is characterized by comprising a determining means for determining whether or not to perform a paper discharge operation by the unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the determining unit is configured such that the shutter member is located at the coating position by the coating detection unit during the paper discharge operation to the paper discharge tray by the paper discharge unit. When this is detected, the paper discharge operation of the paper discharge unit is stopped.

  The invention described in claim 7 is the invention described in claim 5 or 6, further comprising full detection means for detecting that the sheet in the paper discharge tray is full, and the determination means is full detection means. Is detected, the paper discharge operation of the paper discharge unit is stopped.

  The invention described in claim 8 is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image, and includes the sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. An image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the shutter member that can move between the covering position that covers the paper discharge tray and the exposure position that exposes the paper discharge tray is provided. Therefore, when the shutter member is in the covering position, the upper surface of the shutter member is It can be used as a work space. Further, since the shutter member covers the existing paper discharge tray, there is no need to enlarge the arrangement area of the sheet post-processing device, such as projecting the work table from the sheet post-processing device in order to secure a working space. The work space can be secured in the original arrangement area of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and the work space can be used effectively. Furthermore, when the shutter member covers the paper discharge tray, falling objects into the paper discharge tray can be prevented.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a sheet post-processing apparatus in the copying machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in one copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control flow by the control unit shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the copying machine 1 as an image forming apparatus is connected to a main body 5 having an image forming section 3 for forming an image and is discharged from the image forming section 3. A sheet post-processing device 7 that performs post-processing such as stipple processing on a sheet such as a transfer material or paper is provided. As the image forming apparatus, in addition to the copying machine 1, a printer, a facsimile, or a combination machine of these and the copying machine 1 can be applied. In short, any apparatus capable of forming an image on a sheet may be used. . In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes a cover feeder that feeds a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit 3 and discharged to the sheet post-processing device 7, and the cover feeder 8 is not shown in FIG. 1. ing.

  In the main body 5, in addition to the image forming unit 3 described above, an operation unit 9 that is operated by a user to drive the copying machine 1 and a control that controls driving of the copying machine 1 by a command from the operation unit 9. Part (determining means) 11 is provided. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 9 is provided with an operation panel such as a touch panel, and the user operates the operation unit 9 to operate the staple mode in which sheets are bound and the sheet is discharged without binding. Various processing modes such as a non-stipple mode for paper can be selected.

  The image forming unit 3 corresponds to a reading unit that reads an image of a document, a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, a charging device that uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and an image read by the reading unit. An exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device, a developing device that forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum with toner, and a toner image on the photosensitive drum A transfer device for transferring the toner image, a fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet to the sheet, and the like are arranged. However, in the present embodiment, illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus 7 includes a main body (sheet post-processing apparatus main body) 7a, a conveyance unit 12 that conveys a sheet discharged from the image forming unit 3 in the staple mode, and the conveyance unit 12 to be described later. A post-processing unit 13 that performs stipple processing on a sheet conveyed by the younger brother 3 conveyance path 27, and a paper discharge unit that discharges the sheet discharged from the image forming unit 3 and sent into the sheet post-processing device 7. 15, a first discharge tray 17 and a second discharge tray (discharge tray) 19 on which sheets discharged by the discharge unit 15 are stacked and stacked, and a control unit 11 in the main body 5 of the copying machine 1. And a drive unit 21 (see FIG. 3) for driving the sheet post-processing apparatus 7 by the above control. The drive unit 21 has a drive mechanism such as a first discharge tray 17, a post-processing unit 13, a motor that drives a pair of conveyance rollers 35 and a shutter member 47, which will be described later, and a gear that transmits the drive of the motor. However, the illustration and description are simplified.

  The conveyance unit 12 includes a first conveyance path 23 that conveys a sheet fed from the main body 5 of the copying machine 1 into the main body 7 a of the sheet post-processing apparatus 7 via the image forming unit 3, and a first conveyance path. A second conveyance path 25 that conveys the sheet conveyed from the path 23 toward the second discharge tray 19 and a sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path 23 in the staple mode are conveyed toward the post-processing unit 13. A third transport path 27, and a fourth transport path 29 for transporting the sheet transported from the first transport path 23 toward the first paper discharge tray 17 in the non-stipple mode or the sorting mode for sorting the sheet bundle. , Branch claws 31 and 33 for distributing the sheet from the first conveyance path 23 to any one of the second conveyance path 25, the third conveyance path 27, and the fourth conveyance path 29. 2 , 29 is adapted to convey the sheet by the conveying roller pair 35 which is driven by the drive unit 21.

  The post-processing unit 13 includes an alignment tray 37 that aligns the sheets conveyed from the brother 3 conveyance path 27 and performs a stapling process for binding the aligned sheet bundle. In addition, the paper discharge unit 15 outputs the first sheet discharge roller pair 39 that discharges the sheets subjected to the stapling process by the alignment tray 37 to the first paper discharge tray 17 and the sheet conveyed from the second conveyance path 25. A second paper discharge roller pair 41 for discharging paper to the two paper discharge tray 19 is provided.

  The first paper discharge tray 17 is provided so as to protrude from the left side surface of the main body 7a of the sheet post-processing apparatus 7 in FIG. 1, and moves in the up and down and front and rear directions by the drive of the drive unit 21 in the sorting mode. Sheets ejected by the pair 39 can be sorted.

  The second discharge tray 19 has an opening 43 formed on the upper surface 7b of the main body 7a, and an upper surface gradually from the left side surface of the main body 7a toward the second discharge roller pair 41 (from the left side to the right side of the main body 7a). An inclined surface 45a that is inclined so as to be separated from the distance 7b and an upright surface 45b that rises upward from the lower end of the inclined surface 45a, and is a space within these inclined surface 45a and upright surface 45b. A loading unit 45 that stacks and stacks sheets discharged from the second discharge roller pair 41 and a shutter member 47 (see FIG. 2) that opens and closes the opening 43 are provided. In FIG. 1, the shutter member 47 is not shown.

  The shutter member 47 closes (closes) the opening 43 to cover the second discharge tray 19 and retracts from the covering position, and opens the opening 43 to expose the second discharge tray 19. Is slidable (see arrow B in FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the shutter member 47 is provided so as to be slid manually. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a pinion that transmits the drive of the motor provided in the drive unit 21 to the shutter member 47. A rack that meshes with each other, and a sliding movement between the covering position and the exposure position by driving the motor that receives a control signal from the control unit 11 caused by a user's operation on the operation unit 9 may be performed. good.

  When the shutter member 47 is in the covering position, the upper surface 47a of the shutter member 47 and the upper surface 7b of the main body 7a are flush with each other, and the upper surface 47a of the shutter member 47 forms a part of the upper surface 7b of the main body 7a. is doing. On the other hand, when the shutter member 47 is in the exposed position, the shutter member 47 is stored in a storage portion (not shown) provided in the main body 7a.

  Since the shutter member 47 slidably movable between the covering position and the exposure position is provided on the second discharge tray 19 having a lower use frequency (usage rate) than the first discharge tray 17, When the shutter member 47 is in the covering position, the upper surface 47a of the shutter member 47 can be effectively used as a work space. Further, since the shutter member 47 covers the existing second paper discharge tray 19, an arrangement area of the sheet post-processing device 7 such as a work table protruding from the sheet post-processing device 7 in order to secure a work space. There is no need to enlarge. Therefore, a work space can be secured in the original arrangement area of the sheet post-processing apparatus 7, and the work space can be effectively utilized. In addition, when the shutter member 47 covers the discharge tray, falling objects into the second discharge tray 19 can be prevented.

  Further, the second paper discharge tray 19 has an open / close detection sensor 49 (see FIG. 3) which is a covering detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the shutter member 47 and the sheets stacked on the stacking portion 45 of the second paper discharge tray 19. Is provided with a full detection sensor 51 (see FIG. 3), which is a full detection means for detecting that the sheet in the second paper discharge tray 19 is full by detecting that the sheet has reached a predetermined height. It has been.

  As the open / close detection sensor 49, for example, a photo sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a reflection type sensor, a push type sensor, or the like can be used. The opening / closing of the shutter member 47, in other words, the shutter member 47 is covered. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be detected at any of the position and the exposure position. Similarly, the fullness detection sensor 51 can similarly use the photo sensor, the reflection type sensor, and the like, and the sheets stacked on the stacking portion 45 of the second paper discharge tray 19 can detect a predetermined height. If it can do, it will not specifically limit.

  Next, the operation of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment will be described based on the configuration described above. When the user operates the operation unit 9 during copying by the copying machine 1 and selects the stipple mode, the branching claw 33 is switched in the direction in which the sheet is guided to the third conveyance path 27, whereby the image forming unit 3. From the sheet advances toward the alignment tray 37 via the first conveyance path 23 and the brother 3 conveyance path 27. In the alignment tray 37, the conveyed sheets are aligned one after another, and after a sheet bundle composed of these sheets is bound, the sheets are fed toward the first paper discharge roller pair 39, and the first conveyance roller pair 39 is fed out. The sheet bundle is discharged to the first discharge tray 17.

  On the other hand, when the non-stipple mode is selected and the first discharge tray 17 is selected as the discharge destination tray, the branching claws 31 and 33 are switched in the direction in which the sheet is guided to the fourth conveyance path 29. Thus, the first conveyance path 25 and the fourth conveyance path 29 convey the sheet from the image forming unit 3 toward the first discharge roller pair 39, and the first discharge roller pair 39 removes the conveyed sheet. Paper is discharged to the first paper discharge tray 17.

  Further, when the non-stipple mode is selected and the second discharge tray 19 is selected as the discharge destination tray, the branching claws 31 and 33 are switched in the direction in which the sheet is guided to the second transport path 25. Thus, the first conveyance path 23 and the second conveyance path 25 convey the sheet from the image forming unit 3 toward the second discharge roller pair 41, and the second discharge roller pair 41 removes the conveyed sheet. Paper is discharged to the first paper discharge tray 19.

  The control flow in the control unit 11 at this time will be described in detail based on the flow of FIG. When the control unit 11 determines that the non-stipple mode is selected and the second discharge tray 19 is selected as the discharge destination tray based on a signal from the operation unit 9 (Yes in step S1), the open / close detection sensor 49 Whether or not the shutter member 47 is in the covering position is determined based on this signal.

  When the shutter member 47 is in the covering position (Yes in step S2), the user is notified that the shutter member 47 is opened by a display unit provided in the operation unit 9 or the like. On the other hand, when the shutter member 47 is in the exposure position (No in step S2), the drive of the drive unit 21 is started, whereby the sheet is fed to the first conveyance path 23, the second conveyance path 25, and the second discharge roller pair 39. Are discharged and stacked on the second paper discharge tray 19 (step S4). Thus, in the closed state where the shutter member 47 is in the covering position and the opening 43 is closed by the shutter member 47, the paper discharge operation is not performed, so Sheet clogging can be prevented in advance.

  During the paper discharge operation, the control unit 11 determines that the sheet in the second paper discharge tray 19 is full based on a signal from the full detection sensor 51 (Yes in step S5), or is not full. However (No in step S5), when the open / close detection sensor 49 detects that the shutter member 47 is in the covering position, such as when the user or the like accidentally closes the shutter member 47 during the paper discharge operation (in step S6). Yes), the control unit 11 stops driving the drive unit 21 and stops the paper discharge operation (step S7). As described above, the sheet discharge is stopped at an appropriate timing such as when the sheet is full in the second discharge tray 19 or when the shutter member 47 is closed during the sheet discharge operation. It is possible to prevent sheet jamming inside.

  Then, when the user removes the sheet from the second paper discharge tray 19 or opens the shutter member 47 and moves the shutter member 47 to the exposed position, the user is full or the shutter member 47 is closed. When the trouble such as the state is resolved (Yes in step S8), the process returns to step S4 to restart the paper discharge operation, and thereafter the same operation is repeated.

  On the other hand, during the paper discharge operation, the sheet is not full (No in step S5), the shutter member 47 is not closed (No in step S6), and all sheets are discharged (step S6). S9), the paper discharge operation is terminated.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the modified examples described below, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sliding shutter member 47 is provided. However, in the case where there is not enough space for storing the shutter member 47 in the sheet post-processing apparatus 7, the sliding shutter member 47 is replaced. A detachable shutter member may be provided. This modification is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter member 53 according to the present embodiment is provided detachably with respect to the opening 43 of the second paper discharge tray 29. That is, the shutter member 53 is attached to (inserted into) the opening 43 and closes the opening 43 (covers the second paper discharge tray 19), and the shutter member 53 at the covering position is removed. It can be moved to the exposed position where the opening 43 is opened (the second discharge tray 19 is exposed). In the present embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiment, when the shutter member 53 is in the covering position, the upper surface of the shutter member 53 and the upper surface of the main body 7a of the sheet post-processing apparatus 7 are flush with each other. It is like that.

  The shutter member 53 is provided with a detection piece 53a for detecting that the shutter member 53 is in the covering position. Further, the opening 43 of the second paper discharge tray 29 is formed with a recess 43 a into which the detection piece 53 a of the shutter member 53 is fitted when the shutter member 53 is attached to the opening 43. The concave portion 43a is provided with a detection unit (not shown) such as a photosensor that detects the detection piece 53a. The detection piece 53a and the detection unit detect that the shutter member is in the covering position. The covering detection means is configured.

  That is, when the detection unit detects the detection piece 53a, the control unit 11 determines that the shutter member 53 is in the covering position, and when the detection unit does not detect the detection piece 53a, the control unit 11 It is determined that the shutter member is at the exposure position, and control similar to that in the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is performed based on these determinations. Even in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shutter member 47 covers the second paper discharge tray 19. However, the shutter member 47 may cover the first paper discharge tray 17. Even if it exists, there exists an effect similar to embodiment mentioned above.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a copier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a sheet post-processing apparatus in the copying machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part in the copying machine of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control by the control part shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the shutter member which concerns on a modification. It is a perspective view which shows the sheet post-processing apparatus which concerns on the past.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copying machine (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Image formation part 7 Sheet | seat post-processing apparatus 7a Sheet | seat post-processing apparatus main body 7b Upper surface of a sheet | seat post-processing apparatus main body 11 Control part (determination means)
15 Paper discharge unit 19 Second paper discharge tray (paper discharge tray)
43 Opening 45 Loading section 47, 53 Shutter member 47a Upper surface of shutter member 49 Open / close detection sensor (covering detection means)
51 Full detection sensor (full detection means)
53a Detection piece

Claims (8)

In a sheet post-processing apparatus including a sheet discharge tray on which sheets discharged from an image forming unit that forms an image are stacked.
A sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising: a shutter member that is movable between a covering position that covers the paper discharge tray and an exposure position that exposes the paper discharge tray.   The paper discharge tray includes a stacking unit for stacking sheets and an opening formed above the stacking unit and on the upper surface of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body. When the shutter member is at the covering position, The opening is closed, the upper surface of the shutter member is flush with the upper surface of the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and the upper surface of the shutter member forms a part of the upper surface of the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a covering detection unit configured to detect that the shutter member is in the covering position.   The sheet detection unit according to claim 3, wherein the covering detection unit includes a detection piece provided on the shutter member and a detection unit provided on the discharge tray and detecting the detection piece of the shutter member. Processing equipment.   A discharge unit that discharges a sheet to a discharge tray, and a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform a discharge operation by the discharge unit depending on whether or not a shutter member is detected by the covering detection unit. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4.   The determining means stops the paper discharge operation of the paper discharge section when the cover detection means detects that the shutter member is in the cover position during the paper discharge operation to the paper discharge tray by the paper discharge section. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 5. A full detection means for detecting that the sheet in the paper discharge tray is full,
7. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determining unit stops the sheet discharge operation of the sheet discharge unit when the full detection unit detects a full state. In an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image,
An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1.

Images