JP2010006549A - Sheet storing device and sheet processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet storing device capable of keeping a carrying state of a sheet on the opposite side to a carrying passage, even if the carrying state of the sheet changes on an upstream side or downstream side of the carrying passage; and a sheet processing system. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet storing device 1 comprises a storage portion 2, a carry-in roller 3, a carry-out roller 4, and sensors S1, S2, and a control portion 7. The storage portion 2 stores sheets. The carry-in roller 3 carries in the sheet from an upstream carrying passage 5 into the storage portion 2. The carry-out roller 4 carries out the sheet stored in the storage portion 2 to a downstream carrying passage 6. The sensors S1, S2 respectively detect piling-up or jamming of the sheets in the upstream carrying passage 5 and the downstream carrying passage 6. The control portion 7 controls motors M1, M2 on the basis of detection results of the sensors S1, S2, and keeps the carrying state of the sheet in the carrying passage on the opposite side even if the piling-up or jamming of the sheets occurs in the upstream carrying passage 5 or the downstream carrying passage 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet storage device that temporarily stores a sheet transported through a transport path, and a sheet processing system including the sheet storage device.

In a conveyance path that continuously conveys a large amount of sheets, if a conveyance failure occurs in a part, the conveyance of the sheet is stopped in the entire conveyance path until the recovery. Therefore, in order to continue the processing even if a conveyance failure occurs, there is one that includes a plurality of processing paths and processes sheets in parallel (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or 2).
JP 2003-292223 A JP 2004-343409 A

  Even if the sheets are processed in parallel, if a conveyance failure occurs in one processing path, all the sheets are processed in the other processing path. Will be delayed. If the conveyance of the sheet is delayed, it is necessary to suppress the processing speed on the upstream side and downstream side of the processing path. This means that the system control and the configuration are complicated, and the processing efficiency of the entire apparatus is lowered. This is undesirable because it invites

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to maintain the processing speed in other parts of the conveyance path even if sheet conveyance is delayed or stopped in a part of the conveyance path, and to make the system control and configuration complicated, as a whole apparatus It is in providing the sheet | seat storage apparatus and sheet processing system which can prevent the fall of processing efficiency of this.

  The sheet storage apparatus of the present invention includes a storage unit, a carry-in unit, a carry-out unit, a state acquisition unit, and a control unit. The storage unit stores the sheet. The carry-in unit carries the sheet into the storage unit from the conveyance path upstream of the storage unit. The carry-out unit carries out the sheet from the storage unit to the conveyance path on the downstream side of the storage unit. The state acquisition unit acquires the conveyance state of the sheet at a specific position on the conveyance path. The control unit controls the carry-in / out of the sheet to and from the storage unit by the carry-in unit and the carry-out unit based on the conveyance state acquired by the state acquisition unit, thereby, from the steady state of the conveyance state at a specific position on the conveyance path. Change, for example, even if a stoppage or a delay in conveyance occurs on the upstream side or downstream side of the conveyance path, the conveyance state of the sheet on the conveyance path on the opposite side to the specific position with the storage section as a boundary is maintained. .

  While the specific position is the first position set in the conveyance path on the downstream side of the storage unit, the control unit carries in while the state acquisition unit obtains the state in which the sheet stays at the first position. It is preferable that the sheet is carried into the storage unit via the unit, and the control unit causes the carry-out unit to stop carrying out the sheet. As a result, even if the sheet stays on the downstream side of the transport path, the sheet is not transported downstream of the transport path but is stored in the storage section while the sheet remains, and the transport state on the upstream side of the transport path is maintained. Can be maintained.

  While the specific position is the second position set in the conveyance path upstream of the storage unit, and the state acquisition unit acquires the state where the sheet stays at the second position, the control unit On the other hand, it is preferable to carry out the sheet to the storage unit. As a result, even if the sheet stays on the upstream side of the transport path, the sheet is transported from the storage unit to the downstream side of the transport path while the sheet remains, and the transport state on the downstream side of the transport path can be maintained.

  While the specific position is set as the third position set in the storage unit and the state acquisition unit acquires the state where the storage unit stores the sheet at the third position, the control unit controls the carry-in unit. It is preferable to carry the sheet into the storage section. Accordingly, the sheet can be carried out to the downstream side of the conveyance path while maintaining the conveyance order of the sheets conveyed on the upstream side of the conveyance path.

  The storage unit may include first and second stacker containers each storing a sheet. In this case, when the carry-in unit carries the sheet into the first stacker container, the carry-out unit carries out the sheet from the second stacker container, and when the carry-in unit carries the sheet into the second stacker container, Preferably, the part carries out the sheet from the first stacker container. Accordingly, the sheets can be discharged from the other stacker container independently of the order of carrying the sheets into one stacker container.

  The storage unit preferably includes a reversing unit that reverses the orientation of both surfaces of the stored sheet. Thereby, the order of carrying out the sheets can be changed.

  The sheet processing system of the present invention includes a pre-processing device, a post-processing device, and an intermediate device. The preprocessing device preprocesses the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path. The post-processing device performs post-processing on the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path. The intermediate device is provided between the pre-processing device and the post-processing device. And a storage part, a carrying-in part, a carrying-out part, a state acquisition part, and a control part are provided. The storage unit is provided in the intermediate device, and stores the sheet that is transported through the transport path. The carry-in unit carries the sheet from the conveyance path to the storage unit. The carry-out unit carries out the sheet from the storage unit to the conveyance path. The state acquisition unit is provided in at least one of the pre-processing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus, and acquires the sheet conveyance state. A control part controls carrying in / out of the sheet | seat with respect to the storage part by a carrying-in part and a carrying-out part based on the conveyance state acquired in the state acquisition part. Thus, even if the state acquisition unit grasps that the conveyance state of one of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device changes from the steady state, the sheet on the other of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device The conveyance state is maintained.

  According to the present invention, even if the sheet conveyance state changes from the steady state on the upstream side or downstream side of the conveyance path, the conveyance of the sheet via the storage unit is controlled, and the sheet on the opposite side of the conveyance path is controlled. Maintaining the conveyance state, it is possible to prevent system control and configuration from becoming complicated, and the processing efficiency of the entire apparatus from being lowered.

  FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a sheet storage device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  The sheet storage device 1 includes a storage unit 2, a carry-in roller 3, a carry-out roller 4, an upstream conveyance path 5, a downstream conveyance path 6, a control unit 7, motors M1 and M2, and sensors S1 and S2. The storage unit 2 stores a sheet. The upstream conveyance path 5 and the downstream conveyance path 6 convey sheets. The carry-in roller 3 is a carry-in unit of the present invention, and carries a sheet from the upstream conveyance path 5 to the storage unit 2. The carry-out roller 4 is a carry-out unit according to the present invention, and carries the sheet from the storage unit 2 to the downstream conveyance path 6. The motor M1 drives the carry-in roller 3. The motor M2 drives the carry-out roller 4. The sensor S1 detects the stay of the sheet in the upstream conveyance path 5. The sensor S2 detects the stay of the sheet in the downstream conveyance path 6. The control unit 7 generates and outputs control signals for the motors M1 and M2 based on the detection signals from the sensors S1 and S2.

  FIG. 1B is a table for explaining the correspondence between control signals generated by the control unit and detection signals.

  When the upstream conveyance path 5 changes from the steady state and the sheet S is detected by the sensor S1, the controller 7 stops the operation of the motor M1 while maintaining the operation of the motor M2. In addition, when the downstream conveyance path 6 changes from the steady state and the sheet S is detected by the sensor S2, the control unit 7 stops the operation of the motor M2 while maintaining the operation of the motor M1.

  By providing the storage unit 2 in this way and controlling the loading and unloading of the sheet to and from the storage unit 2 by the control unit 7, even if the sheet stays in the upstream conveyance path 5 or the downstream conveyance path 6, the storage is performed. It is possible to maintain the sheet conveyance state on the opposite conveyance path with the section 2 as a boundary. Therefore, in this sheet storage device 1, it is possible to prevent the system control and the configuration from becoming complicated and the processing efficiency of the entire device from being lowered.

  FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the sheet storage device 11 according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the reservoir is not provided in the main transport path, but is provided in the sub-transport path branched from the main transport path.

  The sheet storage device 11 includes a storage unit 12, a carry-in solenoid 13, a carry-out roller 14, an upstream conveyance path 15, a downstream conveyance path 16, a control unit 17, a main conveyance path 18, a sub conveyance path 19, motors M1, M2, and a sensor S1, S2. The storage unit 12 is provided in the sub conveyance path 19 and stores the sheet. The carry-in solenoid 13 sorts the sheet carried from the upstream conveyance path 15 to the main conveyance path 18 or the sub conveyance path 19. The carry-out roller 14 carries out the sheet from the storage unit 12 to the downstream conveyance path 16. The motor M1 drives the carry-in solenoid 13. The motor M2 drives the carry-out roller 14. The sensor S1 detects the presence or absence of a sheet in the storage unit 12. The sensor S2 detects sheet retention and sheet jamming in the downstream conveyance path 16. The control unit 17 generates and outputs control signals for the motors M1 and M2 based on the detection signals from the sensors S1 and S2.

  FIG. 2B is a table for explaining the correspondence between the control signal generated by the control unit 17 and the detection signal.

  The controller 7 does not drive the motor M1 and the carry-in solenoid 13 unless the sensor S1 detects the presence of a sheet in the storage unit 12 and the sensor S2 does not detect sheet retention or sheet jamming in the downstream conveyance path 16. . As a result, all sheets conveyed from the upstream conveyance path 15 are carried into the downstream conveyance path 16 as they are without passing through the storage unit 12. Further, when the sensor S1 does not detect the presence of the sheet in the storage unit 12 by the sensor S1 and detects the sheet retention or the sheet jam in the downstream conveyance path 16 by the sensor S2, the control unit 7 detects the motor M1 and the carry-in solenoid 13. Drive. Thereby, the sheet conveyed from the upstream conveyance path 15 is stored in the storage unit 12. Moreover, if the control part 17 detects that a sheet | seat exists in the storage part 12 by sensor S1, the motor M1 will be operated and the carrying-in solenoid 13 will be driven. Thereby, all the sheets conveyed from the upstream conveyance path 15 are carried into the storage unit 12.

  In this way, when the storage unit 12 is provided in the sub-conveying path 19, all sheets conveyed from the upstream conveyance path 15 are all stored in the storage unit 12 while the sheets are present in the storage unit 12. Store. Thus, the sheet can be carried out to the downstream conveyance path 16 while maintaining the conveyance order of the sheets conveyed on the upstream conveyance path 15.

  In this embodiment, a sensor for detecting sheet retention on the upstream conveyance path may be further provided. In this case, the control of the control unit may be changed based on the detection signal of the sensor.

  Next, a sheet processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking an image forming system that performs mass high-speed printing as an example.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming system 100. The image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 20, a stacker apparatus 30, a Z-shaped paper folding machine 70, a saddle apparatus 80, and a finisher apparatus 90. The stacker device 30 corresponds to the sheet storage device of the present invention, the image forming device 20 corresponds to the pre-processing device of the present invention, and the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70, the saddle device 80, and the finisher device 90 are the post-processing of the present invention. It corresponds to a device.

  The image forming apparatus 20 forms an image on a sheet fed from a large-capacity sheet cassette or the like and discharges it to the stacker apparatus 30. The stacker device 30 temporarily stores a part of the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus 20 according to the printing condition for each sheet and the conveyance state of the conveyance path. The Z-shaped paper folding machine 70 bends a part of the paper ejected by the stacker device 30 into a Z shape according to the printing conditions for each paper. The saddle device 80 folds a part of the sheet ejected by the Z-shaped sheet folding machine 70 according to the printing conditions for each sheet, or a plurality of the folded sheets as a part of a booklet at the center of the sheet. Close inside or close multiple sheets as a booklet at the edge of the sheet. The finisher device 90 aligns the ends of the paper and booklet discharged by the saddle device 80 and discharges them to the tray, or shifts the positions of the end portions and discharges them to the tray.

  The image forming apparatus 20 has a high processing time per sheet, but the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70, the saddle device 80, and the finisher apparatus 90 have a processing time per sheet that is longer than that of the image forming apparatus 20. slow. In particular, the processing time of the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70 is slower than that of other devices, and paper jams are likely to occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a stacker device 30 is provided between the image forming apparatus 20 and the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70 so that processing in the image forming apparatus can be performed at high speed regardless of the time required for post-processing. ing.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes an internal paper feeding unit 21, an image forming unit 22, and a document reading unit 25.

  The document reading unit 25 reads image data one by one from a document placed on the upper surface of the document table. The image forming unit 22 irradiates a laser beam from the LSU based on the input image data, guides the laser beam to the photosensitive drum, and forms a toner image. Then, this toner image is transferred to a sheet and thermally fixed by a heat fixing device. The internal paper feeding unit 21 includes a plurality of internal paper feeding cassettes, and accommodates sheets of A4 size, legal size, B5 size and the like.

  A paper having a size suitable for the printing conditions is fed to a conveyance path formed by a plurality of rollers. This sheet is first transported along the transport path 26A and stops at a position where the leading edge of the sheet is gripped by the registration roller 27A. The registration roller 27A carries out the paper to the conveyance path 26B in accordance with the image formation timing. The conveyance path 26 </ b> B conveys the sheet in the image forming unit 22 via a photosensitive drum, a heat fixing device, and the like. A branching section 28 is provided at the rear end of the transport path 26B, and the transport destination of the paper is distributed according to the printing conditions. More specifically, if single-sided printing face-up discharge is specified as the printing condition, the sheet is discharged toward the discharge roller 27B. If single-sided printing face-down paper discharge is specified as the printing condition, the paper is carried out to the conveyance path 26C and then discharged toward the paper discharge roller 27B. If double-sided printing is designated as the printing condition, the sheet is conveyed again to the conveyance path 26B via the conveyance path 26C and the conveyance path 26D, and then discharged toward the discharge roller 27B. Each of the transport paths 26 </ b> A to 26 </ b> D is provided with a plurality of sensors 29, and these sensors 29 transmit notification information to the stacker device 30 when detecting the stay of paper in the transport path. These sensors 29 correspond to the state acquisition unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70.

  The Z-shaped paper folding machine 70 includes a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of rollers in the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70 and bends a part of the paper fed from the stacker device 30 into a Z shape. Therefore, rollers 71A to 71I, sensors 79A to 79H, stoppers 73A and 73B, folding rollers 74A to 74C, a gate 75, and a brush 76 are provided.

  Sensors 79A to 79H detect passage of the front end and passage of the rear end of the paper. The rollers 71A and 71C to 71I convey paper. The roller 71B can switch between a closed state in which the sheet is sandwiched and an open state in which the sheet is not sandwiched. The stoppers 73A and 73B move to positions corresponding to the paper size, and regulate the position of the paper edge. The folding rollers 74 </ b> A to 74 </ b> C bend the paper at the nip portion where they are pressed against each other. The gate 75 operates according to the printing conditions of each sheet, and selectively opens and closes the conveyance path between the rollers 71A and 71I and the conveyance path between the rollers 71A and 71B. The brush 76 removes static electricity from the paper.

  If the printing condition is such that the sheet is not Z-folded, the gate 75 opens the conveyance path between the roller 71A and the roller 71I, and the roller 71I carries out the sheet to the saddle device 80.

  If the printing condition is to perform Z-folding of the paper, the gate 75 opens the conveyance path between the rollers 71A and 71B, the stoppers 73A and 73B move to positions corresponding to the paper size, and the roller 72B is open. Thus, the sheet is conveyed to a position where the leading end of the sheet contacts the stopper 73A. As the folding rollers 74A and 74B rotate, a portion about 1/3 from the leading edge of the sheet is bent by the nip portion of the folding rollers 74A and 74B. Thereafter, when the folding rollers 74B and 74C are rotated, a portion of about 2/3 from the front end of the sheet is bent by the nip portion of the folding rollers 74B and 74C. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the roller 71I via the rollers 71C to 71H, and the roller 71I carries out the sheet to the saddle device 80. Each sensor 79 </ b> A to 79 </ b> H detects a paper jam in the conveyance path inside the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70. These sensors 79 </ b> A to 79 </ b> H transmit notification information to the stacker device 30 when detecting the stay of the paper in the transport path. These sensors 79A to 79H correspond to the state acquisition unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the saddle device 80.

  The saddle device 80 includes a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of rollers, and saddle-stitches a part of the paper fed from the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70. Therefore, a straight conveyance path 81A, a standby conveyance path 81B, a saddle stitching conveyance path 81C, a middle folding process conveyance path 81D, a branching portion 82, a booklet tray 83, and a sensor 89 are provided.

  The branching unit 82 operates according to the printing condition of each sheet, and selectively opens and closes the straight conveyance path 81A or the standby conveyance path 81B. If the printing condition is not to perform saddle stitching on the sheet, the branching unit 82 opens the straight conveyance path 81A, and the straight conveyance path 81A carries out the sheet to the finisher device 90. If the printing condition is to perform sheet saddle stitching, the branching unit 82 opens the standby conveyance path 81B, and waits for each sheet in the standby conveyance path 81B until a series of sheets to be saddle-stitched are aligned. When a series of sheets to be saddle-stitched is prepared, the standby conveyance path 81B carries out the sheets to the saddle stitch processing conveyance path 81C. In the saddle stitching conveyance path 81C, the end portions of a series of sheets are aligned, and saddle stitching is performed as a partial booklet at the center of the sheet, and the booklet is carried out to the middle folding process conveyance path 81D. In the middle folding processing conveyance path 81 </ b> D, the booklet is folded at the center saddle stitched portion and is carried out to the booklet tray 83. Each of the transport paths 81 </ b> A to 81 </ b> D is provided with a plurality of sensors 89, and these sensors 89 transmit notification information to the stacker device 30 when detecting the stay of paper in the transport path. These sensors 89 correspond to the state acquisition unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the finisher device 90.

  The finisher device 90 includes a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of rollers, and binds sheets fed from the saddle device 80 at an end portion or sorts and discharges a plurality of sheets. For this purpose, a paper feed transport path 91A, a normal paper discharge transport path 91B, a sort transport path 91C, a staple transport path 91D, a branching unit 92, a proof tray 93, a sort tray 94, and a sensor 99 are provided.

  The branching unit 92 operates according to the printing condition of each sheet, and selectively opens the normal paper discharge conveyance path 91B, the sort conveyance path 91C, or the staple conveyance path 91D. If the printing conditions are such that the paper is not sorted or the edges are not bound, the branching unit 92 opens the normal paper discharge conveyance path 91 </ b> A, and the normal paper discharge conveyance path 91 </ b> A carries the paper to the proof tray 93. If the printing condition is that the paper is sorted, the branching unit 92 opens the sorting conveyance path 91C and carries the paper out to the saddle stitch processing conveyance path 81C. In the sort conveyance path 91 </ b> C, each sheet is carried out to the sort tray 94 while sorting the positions of the end portions of the sheets. If the paper is a printing condition for performing edge binding, the branching unit 92 opens the staple conveyance path 91D and carries the paper out to the staple conveyance path 91D. In the staple conveyance path 91 </ b> D, end portions of a series of sheets are aligned, the end portions of the sheets are bound as a partial booklet, and the booklet is carried out to the sort tray 94. Each of the transport paths 91 </ b> A to 91 </ b> D is provided with a plurality of sensors 99, and these sensors 99 transmit notification information to the stacker device 30 when detecting the stay of paper in the transport path. These sensors 99 correspond to the state acquisition unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the stacker device 30.

  The stacker device 30 includes a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of rollers, and temporarily stores a part of paper fed from the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, a straight conveyance path 31A, a separation conveyance path 31B, branch portions 32A and 32B, stacker containers 33A and 33B, pickup rollers 34A and 34B, and pressing plates 35A and 35B are provided.

  The branching section 32A operates according to the sheet conveyance state in the image forming apparatus 20, the Z-shaped sheet folding machine 70, the saddle apparatus 80, and the finisher apparatus 90, the printing condition of each sheet, and the straight conveyance path 31A or The separation conveyance path 31B is selectively opened.

  For paper that is not stored, the branching section 32A opens the straight conveyance path 31A and carries the paper to the subsequent Z-shaped paper folding machine 70. For the paper to be stored, the branching section 32A opens the separation conveyance path 31B and carries the paper out to the separation conveyance path 31B.

  In the separation conveyance path 31B, carry-out and carry-in of paper are alternately performed. Therefore, the branching section 32B alternately opens the stacker container 33A or the transport path to the stacker container 33B, carries the paper into one of the stacker containers 33A, 33B, and carries out the paper from the other. When the paper storage stacker container is full or the paper delivery stacker container is empty, the destination stacker container and the delivery source stacker container are switched. The pickup rollers 34A and 34B are swingably supported by the frame of the stacker device 30 and carry out the paper stored in the stacker containers 33A and 33B. The pressing plates 35A and 35B are swingably supported by the frame of the stacker device 30, and lift the front end of the sheet to bring the sheet and the pickup roller into pressure contact when the sheet is unloaded from the stacker containers 33A and 33B. By providing the plurality of stacker containers 33A and 33B, the sheets can be carried out of the stacker containers independently of the order in which the sheets are stored.

  In the stacker device 30 configured as described above, for example, while a sheet that is Z-folded by the Z-shaped sheet folding machine 70 stays in the Z-shaped sheet folding machine 70, the subsequent sheet is waited for. Can be made.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the stacker device 30.

  The stacker device 30 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, a network interface (network I / F) 44, a transport engine 45, and a storage sensor 46.

  The ROM 42 stores a conveyance path control program as one of the control programs. The RAM 43 develops a conveyance path control program. The CPU 41 executes the conveyance path control program developed in the RAM 43. The ROM 42 that stores the conveyance path control program, the RAM 43 that develops the conveyance path control program, and the CPU 41 that executes the conveyance path control program constitute a control unit of the present invention. The network I / F 44 is connected to the network and receives notification information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 20, the Z-shaped sheet folding machine 70, the saddle apparatus 80, and the finisher apparatus 90. The notification information is information for notifying that the retention of paper has occurred in each device, for example, information for notifying occurrence of paper jam or delay of paper processing in each device. The transport engine 45 is configured by a mechanism unit such as a transport motor and a solenoid (not shown), and performs paper transport on the transport path and selection of a transport path. The storage sensor 46 detects the presence of the paper stored in the stacker containers 33A and 33B.

  The CPU 41 controls the transport engine 45 based on the notification information acquired by the network I / F 44 and the detection signal detected by the storage sensor 46 by executing the transport path control program. More specifically, even if the paper stays in the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70, the saddle device 80, and the finisher device 90 at the rear stage of the stacker device 30, the sheet conveyance state at the image forming apparatus 20 at the front stage of the stacker device 30. And the sheets of paper carried in from the image forming apparatus 20 are stored. Further, when the paper stays in the image forming apparatus 20 at the front stage of the stacker apparatus 30, if there is a stored paper, the Z-shaped paper folding machine 70, the saddle apparatus 80, and the finisher apparatus 90 at the rear stage of the stacker apparatus 30. Then, the sheet is unloaded and the sheet conveyance state at the subsequent stage is maintained. If the sheets are stored in the stacker containers 33A and 33B, the subsequent sheets are stored in one of the stacker containers 33A and 33B.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the stacker container 33A. Although not described, the stacker container 33B is the same. Here, an operation state in the case of carrying out while maintaining the carrying-in order of the paper carried into the stacker container 33A is shown.

  The stacker container 33A includes a first container part 36A, a second container part 37A, a rotation motor (not shown), and a lifting solenoid (not shown). The second container portion 37A is supported by the frame of the stacker device 30 such that its side surface is rotatable. The rotation motor rotates the second container portion 37A. 36 A of 1st container parts are supported by 37 A of 2nd container parts so that raising / lowering is possible. The raising / lowering solenoid drives the first container portion 36A to move up and down. The first container portion 36A is provided with an opening so as not to block the movement of the pressing plate 35A, and the second container portion 37A is provided with an opening so as not to block the movement of the pickup roller 34A. The rotary motor and the lifting solenoid constitute the reversing part of the present invention.

  FIG. 10A shows a state in which a sheet is carried into the stacker container 33A. In this case, the second container part 37A is positioned below the first container part 36A in a state where the distance between the first container part 36A and the second container part 37A is wide. The sheets carried into the stacker container 33A accumulate on the second container portion 37A. In this state, the pickup roller 34A is raised and away from the paper, and the pressing plate 35A is lowered and away from the paper.

  FIG. 10B shows a state where the first container portion 36A is lowered from the state of FIG. When the carry-in of the paper into the stacker container 33A is completed, the first container part 36A descends, the interval between the first container part 36A and the second container part 37A is narrowed, and the first container part 36A is relative to the second container part 37A. And press the paper.

  FIG. 10C shows a state where the stacker container 33A is rotated from the state of FIG. In this state, the front and rear ends of the sheet are reversed as the stacker container 33A rotates.

  FIG. 10D shows a state where the stacker container 33A is lowered from the state of FIG. In this state, the interval between the first container portion 36A and the second container portion 37A is widened.

  FIG. 10E shows a state where the paper is carried out from the stacker container 33A. When the carry-out of the paper from the stacker container 33A is started, the pickup roller 34A is lowered and the pressing plate 35A is raised.

  In this way, if the orientations of both sides of the sheets stored in the stacker container 33A are reversed, the front and rear ends of the stored sheets can be exchanged, and the sheets can be carried out while maintaining the loading order.

  In the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment, even when a sheet stays in the pre-processing device or the post-processing device, the conveyance of the paper stored in the stacker device 30 is controlled so as not to stay. The conveyance state on the opposite side of the conveyance path is maintained. Therefore, it is not necessary to frequently change the processing speed in each apparatus, and the reduction in processing efficiency of the entire system can be prevented.

  In this embodiment, an example in which a plurality of apparatuses are provided as post-processing apparatuses has been described, but the present invention can be suitably implemented if at least one apparatus is provided.

  Finally, the description of the above-described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

It is a figure explaining the sheet storage device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the sheet | seat storage apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the image forming system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus provided in the image forming system. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the Z-shaped paper folding machine with which the image forming system is provided. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a saddle device provided in the image forming system. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a finisher device provided in the image forming system. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a stacker device provided in the image forming system. FIG. It is a block diagram of the same stacker device. It is a figure explaining the stacker container with which the same stacker device is provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 ... Sheet | seat storage apparatus 2,12 ... Storage part 3 ... Carry-in roller 4,14 ... Carry-out roller 5,15 ... Upstream conveyance path 6,16 ... Downstream conveyance path 7,17 ... Control part 13 ... Load-in solenoid 20 ... Image Forming device 30 ... Stacker device 31A ... Straight conveyance path 31B ... Separation conveyance path 32A, 32B ... Branch portions 33A, 33B ... Stacker containers 34A, 34B ... Pickup rollers 35A, 35B ... Press plate 36A ... First container portion 37A ... Second Container unit 41 ... CPU
42 ... ROM
43 ... RAM
45 ... Conveying engine 70 ... Z-shaped paper folding machine 80 ... Saddle device 90 ... Finisher device 100 ... Image forming system

Claims (7)

A storage section for storing the seat;
A carry-in unit for carrying a sheet into the storage unit from a conveyance path upstream of the storage unit;
An unloading section for unloading a sheet from the storage section to a conveyance path downstream of the storage section;
A state acquisition unit for acquiring the conveyance state of the sheet at a specific position on the conveyance path;
Based on the transport state acquired by the state acquisition unit, controlling the carry-in / out of the sheet to and from the storage unit by the carry-in unit and the carry-out unit, even if the transport state at the specific position changes from a steady state, And a control unit that maintains a conveyance state of the sheet on the conveyance path opposite to the specific position with the storage unit as a boundary. The specific position is a first position set in the conveyance path downstream of the storage unit,
While the state acquisition unit acquires the state where the sheet stays at the first position, the control unit causes the storage unit to carry the sheet into the storage unit via the carry-in unit, and causes the carry-out unit to transfer the sheet. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein unloading is stopped. The specific position is a second position set in the transport path upstream of the storage unit,
The said control part makes a sheet | seat unload from the said storage part via the said carrying-out part, while the said state acquisition part has acquired the state in which a sheet | seat stays in the said 2nd position. The sheet storage device according to 1. The specific position is a third position set in the storage unit,
The control unit causes the storage unit to carry a sheet through the carry-in unit while the state acquisition unit acquires a state in which the sheet is stored in the storage unit at the third position. The sheet | seat storage apparatus in any one of Claims 1-3. The storage section includes first and second stacker containers each storing a sheet,
When the carry-in unit carries a sheet into the first stacker container, the carry-out unit carries out the sheet from the second stacker container,
When the carry-in unit carries a sheet into the second stacker container, the carry-out unit carries out the sheet from the first stacker container;
The sheet | seat storage apparatus in any one of Claims 1-4.   The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit includes a reversing unit that reverses directions of both surfaces of the stored sheet. A pre-processing device for pre-processing a sheet conveyed on the conveyance path;
A post-processing device for post-processing a sheet conveyed through the conveyance path;
An intermediate apparatus provided between the pre-processing apparatus and the post-processing apparatus,
A storage unit that is provided in the intermediate device and stores a sheet conveyed through the conveyance path;
A carry-in unit for carrying a sheet from the conveyance path to the storage unit;
An unloading section for unloading the sheet from the storage section to the conveying path;
A state acquisition unit that is provided in at least one of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device, and acquires a conveyance state of the sheet;
Based on the conveyance state acquired by the state acquisition unit, the carrying-in / out of the sheet by the carry-in unit and the carry-out unit is controlled, and one of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device is conveyed Even if the state acquisition unit grasps that the state changes from the steady state, a control unit that maintains the sheet conveyance state on the other of the pre-processing device and the post-processing device;
A sheet processing system comprising:

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