JP2009227387A - Post-treatment device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a post-treatment device for an image forming device capable of strengthening paper-folding strength of half fold recording paper and preventing generation of wrinkle or the like on the recording paper. <P>SOLUTION: The paper folding device 30 is constituted by two folding formation rollers 31, 32 arranged on a lead-in side conveying passage of the recording paper; and two fold-increasing rollers 33, 34 arranged on a downstream side in the recording paper conveying direction, and rotation shafts of the folding formation rollers 31, 32 and rotation shafts of the fold-increasing rollers 33, 34 are inclined by an angle α. By the inclination arrangement, pressurization to the half fold recording paper by the fold-increasing rollers 33, 34 is locally applied to strengthen the paper-folding strength. A conveying direction of the fold-increasing rollers 33, 34 is inclined relative to a conveying direction of the folding formation rollers 31, 32, and load is applied to the recording paper P in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction. At that time, since the folding formation rollers 31, 32 slide in an axial direction, the load of the recording paper is released and generation of the wrinkle or the like can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus attached to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a post-processing apparatus that folds a recording sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus in two.

  In the image forming apparatus, for example, a paper folding function is provided in which the recording paper on which images are recorded on both sides is folded in half, temporarily stored in a tray, and the plurality of stored double-folded recording papers are bound with staples or the like. If an image forming apparatus with such a post-processing device is used, conference materials and other materials can be printed in the form of a saddle-stitched booklet. It can be created in time (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  A conventional post-processing apparatus having a paper folding function uses a fold forming roller to fold a recording paper in two. However, paper folding at a fold is weak, so that the number of stacked sheets on the tray is reduced, or saddle stitching is performed. After that, it was pointed out that the saddle-stitched booklet was poorly used.

As a countermeasure against this, there has been proposed a method of increasing the paper folding strength by passing the folding recording paper that has passed through the folding roller through a folding roller inclined at a predetermined angle from the folding roller (Patent Document). 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-238201 JP 2002-29175 A

  In the conventional technique for increasing the paper folding strength as described above, the rotation shaft of the folding roller and the rotation shaft of the folding roller are arranged to be inclined. As a result, the pressure applied to the folded recording paper by the folding roller is locally applied, and the paper folding strength can be increased.

  However, since the rotation shaft of the folding roller and the rotation shaft of the folding roller are arranged to be inclined, the conveyance direction of the two-fold recording paper by the folding roller and the conveyance direction of the two-fold recording paper by the folding roller are Is different. For this reason, when the folded recording sheet is conveyed across both the recording sheet folding forming roller and the folding roller, there is a disadvantage that the folded recording sheet is greatly inclined or wrinkles are generated. The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

The present invention solves the above problems,
According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus for folding the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus in half, a pair of folding rollers for folding the recording paper in half, and the recording paper of the pair of folding rollers A pair of folding rollers disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis direction of the folding roller on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the pair of folding rollers slide in the rotation axis direction A post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus, wherein the post-processing apparatus is mounted.

  The pair of folding rollers are biased in the direction of the rotation axis so as to return to the reference position with a force that is weaker than at least the recording paper conveying force of the pair of additional rollers.

  The pair of folding rollers are mounted with a helical gear having a torsion angle that is slidable in the direction of the rotation axis by the rotation of the folding roller, and is mounted on the driving shaft of the driving source. It may be driven by meshing.

  The present invention relates to a post-processing device that folds a recording sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus in two, a pair of fold forming rollers that fold the recording sheet in two, and a recording sheet conveyance direction of the pair of fold forming rollers And a pair of folding rollers arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotational axis direction of the folding roller, and the pair of folding rollers are slidable in the rotational axis direction. It is mounted.

  After the recording sheet is folded in two by the folding roller, the sheet is further passed through a folding roller arranged at an inclination with respect to the rotation axis of the folding roller. Pressurization is applied locally and the paper folding strength can be increased.

  Since the recording paper transport direction by the folding roller is different from the recording paper transport direction by the folding roller, a load is applied to the recording paper P in the direction intersecting the transport direction. At this time, the folding roller rotates. Since the load applied to the recording paper by sliding in the axial direction is released, the generation of wrinkles or the like on the recording paper can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, a post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Copying system]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus including a post-processing apparatus 40 of the present invention. The post-processing apparatus 40 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 is a known electrophotographic image forming apparatus, forms an image on a recording sheet, and discharges the recording sheet on which the image is recorded, one sheet at a time.

  An automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 20 is mounted on a platen glass (not shown) that is a document placement surface of the image forming apparatus 10. The ADF 20 conveys documents one by one from a group of documents set on the paper feed tray 21 to a predetermined position on the platen glass, and discharges the documents that have been read to the discharge tray 22.

  A document placed on the platen glass automatically by the ADF 20 or manually by the operator is read by an image reader (not shown) installed in the image forming apparatus 10 and converted into digital image data. It is stored in the memory of the control unit.

  When the copy operation is started, the image data is read from the memory, and necessary image editing, for example, changing the page order of the document, changing the top / bottom of the image, 2 sheets or 4 sheets of one document Image editing such as processing for recording on recording paper and processing for recording on both sides of one recording paper is performed, and the edited image is recorded on the recording paper. And, the recording paper with the image recorded on one side is in a state where the surface on which the image is recorded is directed upward, and the recording paper on which the image is recorded on both sides is with the surface on which the image has been recorded first facing up Thus, the image is discharged from the discharge unit 11 to the outside of the image forming apparatus 10.

[Schematic configuration of post-processing apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 40 includes a non-sort tray 401 that stacks / accommodates recording paper discharged from the paper discharge unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, and stacks the recording paper, and then staples (binding). ) Staple processing unit 41 to be processed, recording paper storage unit 46 that stores a bundle of recording paper after staple processing, the above-described non-sort tray 401 for recording paper discharged from the paper discharge unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, and staple processing unit 41 or a recording paper transport unit 47 that selectively transports to the recording paper storage unit 46, and a paper folding device 30 installed in the recording paper transport unit 47. The paper folding device 30 is a characteristic part of the present invention and will be described in detail later.

[Schematic configuration of recording paper transport unit]
With reference to FIG. 1, an outline of the configuration of the recording paper transport unit 47 will be described. The recording paper transport unit 47 receives the recording paper discharged from the paper discharge unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and transports the recording paper downward, a switchback transport path 49 that reverses the front and back / front and back of the recording paper, and non-recording paper. A conveyance path 50 that conveys to the sort tray 401, a conveyance path 51 that branches from the conveyance path 50 and conveys the recording paper to the staple processing unit 41, and a branch from the conveyance path 50 that conveys the recording paper to the recording paper storage unit 46. And a conveyance path 52.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the conveyance path 48. The conveyance path 48 includes conveyance roller pairs 481 and 482 that rotate in the conveyance direction (direction of arrow c), guide plates 483 and 484, and a sensor SE1 for recording paper detection. The switchback conveyance path 49 includes a conveyance roller 491 that can rotate forward / reversely, a driven roller 492 that rotates in contact with the conveyance roller 491, and a conveyance roller pair 493 that conveys the switched-back recording paper in the direction of arrow d. , A guide plate 494 and a recording paper detection sensor SE2. A flexible resin sheet 497 is attached to the branch portion of the guide plate 494.

  Further, the tip of the switchback conveyance path 49 in the conveyance direction is connected to a conveyance path WY1 (see FIG. 5) on the carry-in side of the paper folding apparatus 30 described later, and a conveyance path WY2 on the carry-out side of the paper folding apparatus 30 (see FIG. 5). Is connected to a conveyance path (see FIG. 2) for conveying the recording paper in the direction of arrow d, and is further connected to a conveyance path 50 (see FIG. 3).

  The recording paper that has been conveyed in the direction of arrow c through the conveyance path 48 passes through the resin sheet 497 and is guided to the switchback conveyance path 49. When the trailing edge of the recording sheet is detected by the sensor SE2 and a predetermined time has elapsed, that is, when the trailing edge of the recording sheet passes through the resin sheet 497, the conveyance roller 491 is reversed and the recording sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow d. At this time, the resin sheet 497 functions so that the recording paper does not return to the conveyance path side constituted by the guide plates 483 and 484.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the transport path 50 (including the transport paths 51 and 52). The conveyance path 50 includes conveyance roller pairs 501, 502, 503, and 504 and conveyance roller pairs 505, guide plates 506 and 507, and recording sheet detection sensors SE3 and SE4 that convey the recording paper in the direction of arrow e. Yes. The conveyance path 50 is provided with a punch mechanism 90 that forms punch holes at the leading end or the trailing end of the recording paper, which is a kind of post-processing apparatus, during the conveyance of the recording paper. Since this is not directly related to the present invention, its description is omitted.

  The conveyance path 51 includes a switching claw 511 for switching the conveyance destination of the recording paper, a conveyance roller pair 512 and a discharge roller pair 513 for conveying the recording paper in the direction of arrow f, a guide plate 514 and 515, and a sensor SE5 for detecting the recording paper. It is composed of

  The conveyance path 52 includes a switching claw 521 for switching the conveyance destination of the recording paper, a conveyance roller pair 522, 523 and a discharge roller pair 524 for conveying the recording paper in the direction of the arrow g, a guide plate 525, 526, 527, and a recording paper detection. It comprises sensor SE6.

  The switching claws 511 and 521 can be rotated by solenoids (not shown) with the supporting shafts 511a and 521a as fulcrums, respectively, and the recording paper conveyed from the switchback conveying path 49 can be switched between the conveying paths 50 and 52 by the switching claw 521. To be guided. The recording paper that has been transported along the transport path 50 is transported as it is along the transport path 50 by the switching claw 511 or is guided to the transport path 51.

  The recording paper is fed from each discharge roller pair 505 to the non-sort tray 401, from the discharge roller pair 513 to the staple processing unit 41, and from the discharge roller pair 524 to the recording paper storage unit 46. Each of the discharge roller pairs 505, 513, and 524 has a rotational speed reduced immediately after the trailing edge of the recording paper is detected by the sensors SE4, SE5, and SE6, and the recording paper is discharged so as not to disturb the recording paper stacking state. .

[Recording paper storage section]
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper storage unit 46 includes a tray 475, a drive mechanism 476 that raises and lowers the tray 475, a sensor SE 7 that detects the storage amount of recording paper, and a sensor SE 8 that detects the lower limit position of the tray 475. It is configured. During mass copying, recording sheets are fed one by one from the conveyance path 52 and stacked on the tray 475. The recording paper bundle stapled by the staple processing unit 41 is also sent to the conveyance path 52 via the conveyance roller pair 474 (see FIG. 3) and the conveyance path 526 (see FIG. 3), and is stacked on the tray 475.

  Each time the recording paper or the recording paper bundle stored in the tray 475 is detected by the sensor SE7, the tray 475 is lowered by a predetermined amount by the driving mechanism 476. When the sensor SE8 detects that the tray 475 has reached the lower limit position, the tray 475 is full and the copying operation is stopped.

[Paper folding device]
A paper folding device 30 that is a feature of the present invention will be described. The paper folding device 30 is one of post-processing devices provided under the recording paper transport unit 47, and indicates a desired folding position provided in a direction that intersects the transport direction of the recording paper on which an image is recorded. An operation mode is provided in which a position instruction line is detected, a crease is formed at a position specified by the folding position instruction line, and the recording sheet is folded in two at the position specified by the folding position instruction line. In addition, although an operation mode of Z-folding or tri-folding can be provided, the description is omitted because it is not the subject of the present invention.

  The first operation mode is an operation mode for making a crease at a position designated by the folding position instruction line on the recording paper, and the second operation mode is an operation for folding the recording paper in half at the position designated by the folding position instruction line. Mode.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the basic operation of the paper folding apparatus 30 that detects the folding position instruction line F1 and performs folding in half. The folding position instruction line F1 is shown in FIG. In the image forming operation stage of the image forming apparatus, the image is recorded at a desired paper folding position on the recording paper.

  FIGS. 4B and 4C are diagrams for explaining the detection of the folding position indicating line and the formation of the folds by the paper folding device. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating that the recording paper is conveyed from the left side to the right side of the drawing. FIG. 4C shows a case where the recording paper is conveyed from the right side to the left side of the drawing.

  In any case, the folding position instruction line F1 on the recording paper is detected by the sensor BSE composed of photoelectric means, and the detected folding position instruction line F1 reaches the chopper CH which is a paper folding member of the paper folding apparatus. The time delay in the transport direction is corrected, and the chopper CH is projected toward the recording paper at the timing when the folding position instruction line F1 is directly above the chopper CH, and the formed substantially V-shaped projecting portion V is formed as a pair. This indicates that the recording paper is creased or folded by being bitten by the paper folding roller R. Thereby, the paper folding can be accurately executed at the position designated by the folding position instruction line.

  5 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the paper folding device 30. FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the folding rollers 31 and 32 viewed from the axial direction. The paper folding device 30 includes two fold forming rollers 31 and 32 disposed in contact with each other along the recording paper carry-in side conveyance path WY1, and the downstream side of the two fold forming rollers 31 and 32 in the recording paper conveyance direction. 2 and the folding rollers 33 and 34, and the carry-out side conveyance path WY2 arranged on the downstream side of the recording paper of the folding rollers 33 and 34, and the rotation shafts of the folding rollers 31 and 32 And the rotation axes of the folding rollers 33 and 34 are inclined by an angle α.

  By arranging the rotation shafts of the folding rollers 31 and 32 and the rotation shafts of the folding rollers 33 and 34 to be inclined, the folding rollers 33 and 34 locally apply pressure to the two-fold recording paper, The paper folding strength can be increased.

  In FIG. 5, a chopper CH, which is a paper folding member, is disposed at a position facing the nip N between the folding rollers 31 (36) and 32 (37). The chopper CH is made of a thin and highly tough elastic member, and a substantially V-shaped projecting portion is formed at the abutting portion by abutting the recording paper at a substantially right angle by the operation of a driving mechanism such as a solenoid (not shown). Then, the protruding portion formed on the recording paper is engaged with the nip portion N of the folding rollers 31 (36) and 32 (37) to fold the paper. It is assumed that the chopper CH is controlled so as to quickly retract and return to the initial position after the substantially V-shaped protruding portion of the recording paper is caught in the nip portion N of the paper folding roller.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the arrangement of the folding rollers 31 and 32 and the folding rollers 33 and 34 of the first embodiment. The folding rollers 31 and 32 of the first embodiment are arranged in pressure contact with each other and are urged by springs 35a and 35b so as to be slidable in the axial direction (A direction).

  With this configuration, when the leading edge of the recording paper P conveyed by the folding rollers 31 and 32 is conveyed while being pressed against the folding rollers 33 and 34 and conveyed, the conveyance direction of the folding rollers 31 and 32 is changed. However, a load is applied to the recording paper P in a direction crossing the transport direction. At this time, the folding rollers 31 and 32 slide in the axial direction and are added to the recording paper. It is possible to release the load and prevent wrinkles from occurring on the recording paper.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the arrangement of the folding rollers 36 and 37 and the folding rollers 33 and 34 of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a helical gear 39 is mounted on the drive shaft for driving the folding rollers 36 and 37, and the folding rollers 36 and 37 are arranged in pressure contact with each other and in the axial direction (A direction). Helical gears 38 a and 38 b meshing with a helical gear 39 are mounted on the rotation shafts of the folding rollers 36 and 37 so as to be driven.

  With this configuration, when the leading edge of the recording paper P conveyed by the folding rollers 36 and 37 is conveyed while being pressed against the folding rollers 33 and 34 and being conveyed, what is the conveyance direction of the folding rollers 36 and 37? At this time, the meshing surfaces of the helical gears 38a and 38b on the rotation shafts of the folding rollers 36 and 37 slide on the meshing surface of the helical gear 39, and the folding rollers 36 and 37 can slide in the axial direction (A direction) to release the load applied to the recording paper P and prevent wrinkles and the like from being generated on the recording paper.

  After the trailing edge of the recording paper P passes through the rollers 33 and 34, the folding rollers 36 and 37 slid in the axial direction are driven by the helical gear 39, and thus return to the initial position in the axial direction. .

  A post-processing device that folds the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus in half, the pair of folding forming rollers for folding the recording paper in half, and the pair of folding forming rollers on the downstream side in the recording paper conveyance direction A pair of folding rollers arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis direction of the folding roller, and the folding force is applied to the folded recording paper locally by the folding roller to strengthen the paper folding strength. This is a post-processing device that can increase the thickness and can prevent the occurrence of wrinkles on the recording paper by allowing the folding roller to slide in the rotation axis direction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of a conveyance path (the 1). The figure explaining the structure of a conveyance path (the 2). The figure explaining the basic operation | movement of the paper folding apparatus which detects a half-fold position instruction | indication line and performs a half-fold. The figure explaining the structure of a paper folding apparatus. The top view explaining arrangement | positioning of the fold forming roller and folding roller of 1st Example. The top view explaining arrangement | positioning of the fold-forming roller and folding roller of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Paper discharge part 20 Automatic document feeder (ADF)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Paper feed tray 22 Discharge tray 30 Paper folding device 40 Post-processing device 41 Staple processing part 46 Recording paper storage part 47 Recording paper conveyance part 48 Conveyance path 49 Switchback conveyance path 50, 51, 52 Conveyance path 90 Punch mechanism 401 Non-sort Tray 475 tray
476 Drive mechanism 481, 482 Conveying roller pair 483, 484 Guide plate 491 Conveying roller 492 Driven roller 493 Conveying roller pair 494 Guide plate 497 Resin sheet SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE7, SE8 Sensor 501, 502 503, 504 Conveying roller pair 505 Discharging roller pair 506, 507 Guide plate 511, 521 Switching claw 512 Conveying roller pair 513 Discharging roller pair 514, 515 Guide plate 522, 523 Conveying roller pair 524 Discharging roller pair 525, 526, 527 Guide Plate BSE sensor CH Chopper 31, 32 Folding roller (Folding roller of the first embodiment)
33, 34 Folding roller 35a, 35b Spring 36, 37 Folding roller (Folding roller of the second embodiment)
38a, 38a Helical gear 39 Helical gear

Claims (3)

In a post-processing apparatus that folds the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus in half,
A pair of folding rollers for folding the recording paper in half;
A pair of folding rollers disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis direction of the folding roller on the downstream side of the pair of folding rollers in the recording paper conveyance direction,
The pair of folding rollers are mounted so as to be slidable in the rotation axis direction. The pair of folding rollers are urged in the direction of the rotation axis so as to return to the reference position with a force weaker than at least the conveying force of the recording paper by the pair of additional rollers. A post-processing device according to 1. The pair of folding rollers is mounted with a helical gear having a torsion angle that is slidable in the rotation axis direction by rotation of the folding roller, and a helical gear mounted on a drive shaft of a driving source. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing apparatus is driven by meshing.

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