JP2010126261A - Post-processing device and recording material processing device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide excellent installation without generating insufficiency of necessary members in any image forming device, when standardized post-processing devices are installed in a plurality of kinds of image forming devices. <P>SOLUTION: This post-processing device 2 is arranged adjacently to a side of the image forming device 1 to perform post-processing for a recording material from the image forming device 1. The post-processing device includes a device casing 3, a recording material conveying part 5 extending in a horizontal direction from the device casing 3 toward an image forming device casing 1a side, a holding member 6 provided to stretch over the clearances and to hold the positional relation between the image forming device casing 1a and the device casing 3 when the clearances of the number determined in advance or more are produced between the image forming device casing 1a and the device casing 3, and a storing part 7 for storing all of the holding member 6 or the elements stretching over the clearances of the holding member 6, when the clearances are provided at sections except the disposing section of a post-processing part 4 in the device casing 3 and the clearances of the number determined in advance or more are not produced between the image forming device casing 1a and the device casing 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus and a recording material processing apparatus using the same.

  For example, when a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as binding processing on a recording material on which an image is formed is disposed on the side of an image forming device such as an electrophotographic system, a standardized post-processing device is used for images of various sizes. Installation to the forming apparatus requires a dedicated holding member that fills the gap when a gap is generated between each image forming apparatus and the standardized post-processing apparatus. For this reason, when replacing the image forming apparatus, it is desirable to store the holding member integrally with the post-processing apparatus in order to eliminate the excess and deficiency of the members.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, in order to store the printer manual integrally with the printer, the printer is provided with a drawer tray for manual storage so that the contents of the manual can be checked whenever the printer is used. It is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-220741 (Embodiment of the Invention, FIG. 1)

  The technical problem of the present invention is that when a standardized post-processing apparatus is installed for a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses, a lack of members is required when performing the processing for any one of the plurality of types of image forming apparatuses. It is to make it possible to make a good installation without causing any problems.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording material that is disposed adjacent to a side of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit incorporated in an image forming apparatus housing and is discharged from the image forming apparatus is received in advance in the recording material. A post-processing device that performs predetermined post-processing, a device housing having a built-in post-processing unit and disposed adjacent to a side of the image forming device housing, and the image forming device housing from the device housing More than a predetermined amount between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, and a recording material conveying section that extends laterally toward the body side and guides the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus casing into the apparatus casing In addition to the holding member that is provided across the gap and holds the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, and the post-processing section in the apparatus casing other than the arrangement portion Between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing. A post-processing apparatus and a storage unit storing an element extending over the inter-gap of the whole or a holding member of the holding member when the above gap is not generated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, in the apparatus casing, a post-processing unit is disposed above the post-processing unit, and the storage unit is disposed below the post-processing unit. This is a post-processing apparatus.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the post-processing apparatus is provided with a partitioning portion for partitioning the post-processing unit and the storage unit therein. It is.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the apparatus housing is provided with an opening / closing door connected to the storage unit on a surface adjacent to the image forming apparatus housing. It is a post-processing device.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the apparatus housing is provided with a window through which the holding member stored in the storage unit can be visually recognized from the outside. It is a post-processing device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, and a recording material that is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus and that is discharged from the image forming apparatus are received on the recording material. A post-processing device that performs predetermined post-processing, and the image forming device includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material; an image forming device housing that includes the image forming unit; A recess that opens at least to the side of the post-processing apparatus is provided in a part of the image forming apparatus casing, and when the post-processing apparatus is not used, the recording material on which an image is formed in the image forming unit is discharged and accommodated. The post-processing device includes a device housing having a built-in post-processing portion and disposed adjacent to a side of the image forming device housing, and the device housing from the device housing. The recording material that extends along the recess and is discharged from the image forming apparatus When a gap larger than a predetermined gap is generated between the recording material transport unit guided into the mounting housing and the image forming apparatus housing, the image forming apparatus housing is provided across the gap. A holding member that holds the positional relationship between the body and the apparatus housing, and a portion other than a portion where the post-processing unit in the apparatus housing is disposed, and a predetermined amount between the image forming apparatus housing and the apparatus housing When the gap is not generated, the recording material processing apparatus has a storage unit that stores all of the holding members or elements of the holding members that straddle the gaps.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the standardized post-processing apparatus is installed in a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses, the necessary members are used for any of the plurality of types of image forming apparatuses. It can be installed satisfactorily without causing a shortage.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the securing of a wide storage part is attained.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the safety | security with respect to a user can be improved compared with the case where it does not have this structure.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, although it is a simple structure, a user's safety | security and the storage property of a holding member can be improved further.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where it does not have this structure, the storage state of a holding member can be confirmed now at a glance.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the standardized post-processing apparatus is installed in a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses, the necessary members are used for any of the plurality of types of image forming apparatuses. It is possible to provide a recording material processing apparatus that can be installed satisfactorily without causing a shortage.

First, an outline of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
Outline of Embodiment FIGS. 1A to 1C show an outline of a post-processing apparatus according to a representative model of an embodiment embodying the present invention. Here, (a) is a post-processing apparatus, and (b) and (c) represent a recording material processing apparatus in which the post-processing apparatuses are arranged adjacent to different types of image forming apparatuses.
In FIG. 1, the post-processing apparatus 2 is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, 1A, 1B) in which the image forming unit is built in the image forming apparatus casing 1a, and is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1. Is a post-processing apparatus 2 that receives a recording material to be processed and applies predetermined post-processing to the recording material, and includes a post-processing unit 4 and is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus housing 1a. Device housing 3 and a recording material that extends laterally from the device housing 3 toward the image forming device housing 1a and guides the recording material discharged from the image forming device housing 1a into the device housing 3. When a gap larger than a predetermined gap is generated between the conveyance unit 5 and the image forming apparatus casing 1a (the casing of the image forming apparatus 1B in this example) and the apparatus casing 3, the gap spans between the gaps. And the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing 1a and the apparatus casing 3 is maintained. Between the holding member 6 and the image forming apparatus case 1a (in this example, the case of the image forming apparatus 1A) provided between the holding case 6 and the post processing unit 4 in the apparatus case 3 and the apparatus case 3 The storage unit 7 stores all of the holding members 6 or elements of the holding members 6 that straddle the gaps when a gap larger than a predetermined gap is not generated.

Here, “between the gaps” means an aspect in which both the casings (image forming apparatus casing 1a and apparatus casing 3) are concerned. It means the state beyond.
Further, the post-processing apparatus 2 may be any apparatus as long as it has an apparatus main body having an apparatus housing 3 in which the recording material conveying section 5 and the post-processing section 4 are built. The post-processing section 4 further conveys the recording material. The unit 5 may also be provided. Further, the processing of the post-processing unit 4 may be any processing that can process the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus 1, and typically includes binding processing and folding processing, such as a sorter. It may be one that performs discharge destination processing. Furthermore, the type of the image forming apparatus 1 in which the post-processing apparatus 2 is disposed may be any type that can generate two or more types of gaps generated between the post-processing apparatus 2 and includes those in which no gap is generated. There may be two or more types, or the gap may be generated and the gaps may be different from each other, but there is typically an embodiment that includes a gap that is not generated. Examples of the apparatus 1 include two types of apparatuses, a color image forming apparatus and a monochrome image forming apparatus.

  The holding member 6 for arranging the post-processing apparatus 2 in the image forming apparatus 1 may be any member that holds the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing 1a and the apparatus casing 3, and includes a dedicated connector and the like. The element etc. which comprise a part of coupling tool are mentioned. As such a member, a dedicated member may be used for each image forming apparatus 1 or a part of the image forming apparatus 1 may be used. Therefore, the holding member 6 stored in the storage unit 7 is a member that is not used in a dedicated member, for example, and a member that is not used in the case of a configuration in which a part of the holding member 6 is used (straddles between the gaps). Element). Further, the storage unit 7 in which such a holding member 6 is stored may store other members than the holding member 6 together. For example, a gap cover that hides the gap may be stored in the storage unit 7. When a new apparatus is added to the recording material conveyance path as an additional apparatus, the removed conveyance path member may be stored in the storage unit 7. For example, in a mode in which the rigidity of the gap cover is increased and the positional relationship between the apparatus casings (between 1a and 3) is maintained by such a gap cover, such a gap cover is retained. Needless to say, the member 6 is obtained.

Furthermore, the apparatus housing 3 is disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus housing 1a, and may be configured mainly by a housing extending in the vertical direction. For example, the device housing 3 extends upward from the apparatus installation surface. A housing may be used, or a cradle may be provided between the apparatus housing 3 and the installation surface on the bottom surface side.
Further, from the viewpoint of securing a large space as the storage unit 7, the post-processing unit 4 is disposed in the upper side of the apparatus housing 3 and the storage unit 7 is disposed below the post-processing unit 4. Is preferred. At this time, for example, when an apparatus including various post-processing units 4 is further provided as an additional apparatus, such an additional apparatus may be connected to the outside of the apparatus housing 3.

  Further, from the viewpoint of preventing contact from the storage unit 7 side to the post-processing unit 4 side in order to increase the safety of the user, the apparatus housing 3 has an internal space between the post-processing unit 4 and the storage unit 7. It is preferable to provide a partition part for partitioning. As such a partition part, you may partition between both completely, the gap | interval which a user's hand cannot insert may be provided, and the shape is not specifically limited.

  Further, from the viewpoint of further enhancing the safety of the user with a simple configuration, the apparatus housing 3 is stored on the surface adjacent to the image forming apparatus 1 when it is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus 1. It is preferable that an opening / closing door connected to the portion 7 is provided. According to this, when the post-processing apparatus 2 is installed on the image forming apparatus 1, the opening / closing door cannot be opened after installation, and the user can be prevented from entering the storage section 7 and the storage section. There is no risk of losing the holding member 6 stored in 7. In order to take out the holding member 6 stored in the storage unit 7, the post-processing apparatus 2 may be separated from the image forming apparatus 1.

  Furthermore, from the viewpoint of easily confirming the holding member 6 stored in the storage unit 7, the apparatus housing 3 is provided with a window through which the holding member 6 stored in the storage unit 7 can be seen from the outside. It is preferable. As such a window, a simple opening or a window provided with a transparent member is preferable, and in the case of a simple opening, it is preferable to have a slit shape in which a hand cannot be inserted.

  A recording material processing apparatus using such a post-processing apparatus 2 may be as follows. That is, an image forming apparatus 1 that forms an image on a recording material and a recording material that is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus 1 and that is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 are received and determined in advance. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, an image forming apparatus housing 1a in which the image forming unit is built, and the image forming unit 1a. A recording material on which an image is formed by an image forming unit in the recess is provided in a part of the forming apparatus housing 1a. The recess is opened at least on the side of the post-processing apparatus 2 and the post-processing apparatus 2 is not used. The post-processing apparatus 2 includes a recording material storage section 1b that is discharged and stored, and an apparatus housing 3 that includes the post-processing section 4 and is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus housing 1a. The image forming apparatus 1 extends from the apparatus housing 3 along the recess. When a gap larger than a predetermined gap is generated between the recording material conveying section 5 for guiding the discharged recording material into the apparatus housing 3 and the image forming apparatus housing 1a and the apparatus housing 3, A holding member 6 provided across the gap and holding the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing 1a and the apparatus casing 3 and an image provided in a portion other than the arrangement site of the post-processing unit 4 in the apparatus casing 3 A storage unit 7 for storing all of the holding member 6 or elements of the holding member 6 that straddle the gap when a gap larger than a predetermined gap is not generated between the forming apparatus casing 1a and the apparatus casing 3; What is necessary is just to have it.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 shows Embodiment 1 of the recording material processing apparatus. In the figure, the recording material processing apparatus has a configuration in which a post-processing apparatus 30 is disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus 10 and is connected to each other for positioning. A recording material that is provided so as to extend toward the post-processing device 30 with respect to a part of the upper surface of the image forming apparatus housing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 and that can store a recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus 10. A storage portion 11a is formed, and the length of the upper surface of the recording material storage portion 11a in the lateral direction is L1. When the post-processing device 30 is installed in such an image forming apparatus 10, the recording material conveyance unit 50 of the post-processing device 30 is disposed corresponding to the upper surface of the recording material storage unit 11 a of the image forming apparatus 10, and image formation is performed. The image forming apparatus casing 11 of the apparatus 10 and the apparatus casing 41 of the apparatus main body 40 of the post-processing apparatus 30 are arranged with no gap (no gap more than predetermined). ing. In the figure, reference numeral 12 denotes an image reading unit provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus casing 11 of the image forming apparatus 10, and the recording material is installed by separating the space from the upper surface of the recording material accommodating part 11 a. There is no problem in discharging and storing the recording material in the storage portion 11a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a full-color image forming apparatus, and includes a recording material supply unit 13 (13 a to 13 d) provided below the image forming apparatus housing 11. The color image formed by the image forming unit 14 is transferred to and fixed on the recording material supplied from), and then discharged and accommodated on the recording material accommodating portion 11a. The image forming unit 14 forms toner images of four colors (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) by the respective image forming units 15 (15a to 15d) and multiplexes by sequentially transferring them onto the intermediate transfer body 16. Thus, the toner images multiplexed on the intermediate transfer body 16 are collectively transferred onto the recording material. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, two upper and lower discharge ports 18 (18a, 18b) are provided as discharge ports for discharging the recording material to the recording material container 11a. Corresponding to the discharge port 18a, the recording material conveyance unit 50 of the post-processing apparatus 30 is mounted.

  On the other hand, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 4, the post-processing device 30 includes a device housing 41 (the device main body 40 of the device main body 40) that includes a post-processing unit to be described later and is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus 10. Housing) and a recording material transport unit 50 that extends in the lateral direction from the apparatus housing 41 toward the image forming apparatus 10 and guides the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 to the apparatus main body 40. In addition, a saddle stitching device 400 that performs the saddle stitching process of the recording material bundle as an additional device is mounted on the upper rear side of the apparatus main body 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the recording material conveyance unit 50 includes a conveyance path 52 that conveys the recording material inside the casing 51. The conveyance path 52 includes a conveyance roll 53 that conveys the recording material. Are appropriately arranged. In this embodiment, a punching device (puncher) 100 that performs punching processing as post-processing on the recording material is mounted in the middle of the conveyance path 52.

  In addition, the apparatus main body 40 includes a folding line device 200 for placing a folding line as a post-process on the recording material in the upper part of the apparatus housing 41, and stacking and aligning recording materials, and end binding processing to the aligned recording material bundle An end binding device 300 for performing the above is disposed. Further, on the side of the apparatus housing 41, for example, a stack tray 60 that stores a recording material bundle that has been subjected to the end binding process in the end binding apparatus 300 is provided so that the stack can be moved up and down along the apparatus housing 41. It has become. Therefore, an elevating mechanism 70 that elevates and lowers the stack tray 60 is provided in the apparatus housing 41. In this embodiment, a storage unit 42 (area indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) that occupies a large space is provided below the apparatus housing 41 so that a holding member described later can be stored therein. It has become. A partition plate 41b as a partition is attached to the upper part of the storage unit 42 so that the hand does not touch the end binding device 300 side, for example, from the storage unit 42 side.

Here, the background for providing the storage unit 42 will be described. As the post-processing device 30, a recording material transport unit 50 is arranged in accordance with the discharge position height of the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus 10, and post-processing is performed on the recording material that has passed through the recording material transport unit 50. For this reason, each post-processing unit is generally at a high position from the installation surface. In order to increase the storage capacity of the recording material in the stack tray 60, it is preferable to increase the discharge position of the recording material post-processed by the post-processing unit. Therefore, there are few members that need to be arranged inside the apparatus main body portion 40 of the post-processing apparatus 30, and it is easy to ensure a wide space. On the other hand, the apparatus main body 40 supports the weight of the post-processing unit, and is further portable in consideration of safety and ease of installation by the user, and has a shape in which the apparatus housing 41 extends upward. Become. Therefore, it is possible to secure the storage unit 42 having a large space below the apparatus main body 40.
Furthermore, when the user tries to apply the post-processing apparatus 30 to another image forming apparatus, a holding member for connecting the apparatuses is required. Therefore, if the holding member necessary for the image forming apparatus that can be handled by the post-processing apparatus 30 is stored in the post-processing apparatus 30, the apparatus can be easily replaced by the user without causing excess or shortage of members. Will be made.
In addition, it becomes easy to store the member which a user requires here by providing the storage part 42 of a wide space.

In such an apparatus main body 40, a transparent window 43 is attached to the apparatus housing 41 so that the holding member stored in the storage section 42 can be seen from the outside. Further, in the present embodiment, the holding member is inserted into and removed from the storage unit 42 by providing an opening / closing door 44 on the side connected to the recording material transport unit 50 on the side wall of the apparatus housing 41, and installing the post-processing apparatus 30. In such a case, the open / close door 44 is not opened. In this case, even if there is a holding member or the like stored in the storage unit 42, it cannot be taken out from the post-processing apparatus 30 once installed, and there is no possibility that the holding member or the like stored on the contrary is lost. Here, the transparent window 43 is used in order to visually recognize the inside of the storage unit 42. However, for example, a slit that is visible to the inside of the storage unit 42 may be opened. 44 may be provided on the other side wall.
In the present embodiment, a connection housing 41a connected to the recording material transport unit 50 is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus housing 41 so as to partially protrude, and the recording material from the recording material transport unit 50 is supplied to the apparatus. The main body 40 is transported satisfactorily.

  FIG. 6 shows a state of the storage unit 42 according to the present embodiment, in which a holding member and the like are stored. The holding member includes the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing of the apparatus main body 40. For example, a spacer 45 (a member that constitutes a holding member and corresponds to an element that spans between the gaps) that is used when the recording material transport unit 50 is attached to the image forming apparatus is used as a member that is used to hold the gap with the body 41. It is put in a plastic bag 80 and stored in a storage container 48 provided with grooves 48a to 48c for receiving these holding members. In the present embodiment, as a member corresponding to the gap, a gap cover 46 that covers the gap when the gap is formed is also housed in the storage container 48. In this example, the gap cover 46 is stored in a state of being divided into two parts (46A and 46B). Then, in a state where these members are stored in the storage container 48, the storage container 48 is stored in the storage unit 42, and the storage container 48 is fixed in the storage unit 42. The storage container 48 is formed by, for example, foam having grooves 48a to 48c. A plastic bag 80 containing a spacer 45 is inserted into the groove 48a, and the gap cover 46 is inserted into the groove 48b in an upright state. Is done. In this example, a groove 48c is further formed in the storage container 48, and the user can store other members to be stored in the groove 48c. Further, the storage container 48 is not limited to this. For example, the holding member may be stored in a rectangular container.

  The gap cover 46 is divided into an upper cover 46A and a lower cover 46B. For example, the protrusion 461 of the upper cover 46A is overlapped with the concave portion 462 of the lower cover 46B. The clearance cover 46 is provided with locking claws 463 at two upper and lower portions, and the clearance cover 46 is stopped by locking the locking claws 463 while being inserted into the apparatus main body 40. Yes. A method of using the spacer 45 and the gap cover 46 will be described in the second embodiment described later.

Next, an outline of each device as a post-processing unit provided in the post-processing device 30 will be described.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are partial enlarged views of the perforation apparatus 100. FIG. 7A shows a state before perforation, and FIG. 7B shows a state during perforation. In the punching device 100, a plurality of punch pins 101 are arranged side by side in the width direction intersecting with the conveyance direction of the recording material, and holes are formed in the recording material by the selected punch pins 101. . A stud 102 is attached to the punch pin 101, and the stud 102 is inserted into a groove 104 formed in a sector gear 103 that swings around a support point. The teeth of the sector gear 103 mesh with a rack formed on the rod-like member 105. When the rod-like member 105 moves in the direction of the arrow by a motor or the like (not shown), the punch pin 101 moves downward. A hole is made in the recording material. Then, by appropriately selecting the punch pin 101 to be drilled, for example, two holes or four holes are drilled. At this time, the shape of the groove 104 provided in the sector gear 103 is formed so that the punch pin 101 can move along the vertical direction in the drawing by the swing of the sector gear 103.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show the operation of the folding device 200. FIG. 8A shows a state before the recording material is creased, and FIG. 8B shows the recording material. Indicates the attached state. The folding line device 200 has two positioning members 201 and 202 fixedly disposed on the upper portion, and a folding groove is formed between the positioning members 201 and 202. A recording material is placed below the positioning members 201 and 202. Holding members 203 and 204 that are pressed with a predetermined pressing force between the positioning members 201 and 202 are provided, and can be moved back and forth toward the positioning members 201 and 202, respectively. Further, a folding knife 205 is provided at a position corresponding to the folding groove so as to make a crease line on the recording material so that the recording material can be advanced and retracted toward the folding groove.

  In such a folding device 200, when the recording material is conveyed, the recording material stops at a predetermined position, and the pressing members 203 and 204 move upward to press the recording material, and the folding knife. Since the recording material 205 is lifted upward from the tip portion of the folding knife 205 by being moved upward, the recording material is held by the pressing members 203 and 204, so that the recording material is positioned at a position corresponding to the tip portion of the folding knife 205. The crease is given. At this time, the recording material can move between the positioning members 201 and 202 and the pressing members 203 and 204 in accordance with the recording material lifted by the folding knife 205. Thereafter, the folding knife 205 and the pressing members 203 and 204 are lowered, so that the recording material remains in a state where a crease is attached at a predetermined position, and the recording material with the crease is conveyed downstream. become. Here, an embodiment has been described in which the recording material is lifted upward to make a crease, but for example, the folding knife 205 can be lowered to attach a downward crease to the recording material.

  FIG. 9 shows an outline of the end binding apparatus 300. In order to align and align a plurality of recording materials, an alignment tray 301 on which recording materials are placed so that the recording materials are aligned on the rear end reference, An end binding tool (stapler) 302 for binding the recording material bundle with the binding needle, two paddles 303 and 304 for bringing the recording material toward the end binding tool 302 along the alignment tray 301, and the alignment tray 301. A tamper 305 that strikes and aligns the width direction of the upper recording material, a conveyance roll 306 that conveys the recording material that has passed through the folding device 200 toward the alignment tray 301, and a downstream side with the end-stitched recording material bundle interposed therebetween It is composed of a discharge roll 307 (307a, 307b) that can be contacted and separated.

  In the end binding device 300, the recording material to which the folding line is attached or the recording material to which the folding line is not attached is conveyed to the alignment tray 301 side by the conveyance roll 306. At this time, since the roll member 307b and the paddle 304 above the discharge roll 307 are lifted upward, the recording material is conveyed toward the discharge roll 307 as it is, and the rear end of the conveyed recording material When the sheet passes the transport roll 306, the rear end side falls on the alignment tray 301. Therefore, the paddle 304 moves downward and brings the recording material to the end binding tool 302 side, so that the other paddle 303 also acts, and the recording material is moved to the end binding tool 302 side in both paddles 303 and 304 thereafter. It will be aligned on the edge reference. Further, the width direction is aligned by the tamper 305, whereby the recording material is aligned in the transport direction and the width direction on the basis of the trailing edge. By repeating such an operation, the recording materials aligned on the rear end reference are aligned as a stacked recording material bundle. Then, when the predetermined number of sheets is aligned, the end binding is performed by the end binding tool 302. Thereafter, the end-stitched recording material bundle is sandwiched between discharge rolls 307 and discharged toward the stack tray 60 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 10 shows an outline of the saddle stitching apparatus 400. In the saddle stitching apparatus 400, a pair of binding tools, an upper binding tool 401 and a lower binding tool 402, are provided, for example, along the width direction of two sets of recording materials. It has become. The upper binding tool 401 is provided with a binding portion 403 for driving the binding needle toward the recording material, while the lower binding tool 402 is provided with an opposing member 404 for binding the binding needle. Further, an extended support member 402a for supporting the recording material is provided on the downstream side of the lower binding tool 402 in the recording material conveyance direction, and the posture at the time of saddle stitching is stabilized even for a long recording material. Yes.
Further, the upper binding tool 401 and the lower binding tool 402 are configured so as to be movable along the width direction of the recording material, respectively, so that the binding position can be freely selected and the width of the recording material is mutually selected. It can also be retracted outside the direction end.

Therefore, in such a saddle stitching apparatus 400, for example, the recording material with the folding line attached to the center of the recording material conveyance direction by the folding apparatus 200 is once aligned by the end binding apparatus 300, and the aligned recording material bundle is discharged to the discharge roll. The sheet is conveyed to the saddle stitching apparatus 400 by 307. In the saddle stitching apparatus 400, the recording material bundle is conveyed between the upper binding tool 401 and the lower binding tool 402 arranged at a predetermined position, and after the discharge roll 307 is stopped at the predetermined position, Saddle stitching with a binding needle is performed between the binding tool 401 and the lower binding tool 402. A recording material with a crease is easy to align the creases even when they are aligned, and the saddle stitching is also performed according to the crease.
The recording material bundle subjected to the saddle stitching is placed on the stack tray 60 positioned below the saddle stitching device 400 by the upper binding tool 401 and the lower binding tool 402 being retracted outside the width direction end of the recording material. Fall. Therefore, the discharge roll 307 is rotated to convey the recording material bundle and discharge it onto the stack tray 60.
Thereafter, the upper binding tool 401 and the lower binding tool 402 are moved to a predetermined position on the inner side to perform saddle stitching for the next recording material.

  FIG. 11 shows an elevating mechanism 70 for elevating and lowering the stack tray 60 in the present embodiment. A belt 71 for elevating and lowering the stack tray 60 corresponding to one end side of the stack tray 60 in the recording material width direction is provided in the apparatus housing 41. The belt 71 is connected to, for example, one end side of the stack tray 60 in the recording material width direction. The belt 71 is stretched around two pulleys 72 and 73 provided on the upper and lower sides, and can rotate in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction. Of the pulleys 72 and 73, for example, the upper pulley 72 is rotated by a driving force from a motor (not shown) so that the stack tray 60 is moved up and down.

  Such an elevating mechanism 70 is provided vertically long from the upper part to the lower part of the apparatus housing 41. For example, the belt 71 is close to the end in the recording material width direction in the apparatus housing 41 (for example, the front side in the figure). Further, since the member (not shown) that supports the stack tray 60 occupies the outside of the device casing 41 and the vicinity of the surface thereof, the member is not located in the lower portion inside the device casing 41. Has almost no area occupied by the lifting mechanism 70. Therefore, a large storage unit 42 (see FIG. 5) is secured inside the apparatus housing 41.

-Connection method between image forming device and post-processing device-
FIG. 12 shows a method of connecting the image forming apparatus 10 and the post-processing apparatus 30 in the present embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. The recording material conveyance unit 50 of the processing apparatus 30 is placed. Thereafter, a substantially L-shaped connecting part 47 is used to connect the recording material transport unit 50 and the image forming apparatus 10, and two claw portions of the connecting part 47 are hooked on corresponding parts of the recording material transport unit 50. Set. Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the recording material transport unit 50 is fixed to the image forming apparatus 10 by fastening the side of the connecting part 47 different from the claw portion to the image forming apparatus 10 using screws 49. And as shown in (c), the to-be-engaged part 411 provided in the corresponding | compatible site | part of the apparatus main body part 40 of the post-processing apparatus 30 is engaged with the three projection parts 471 provided in the connection part 47. The connection is made. At this time, the connecting part 47 is a member that holds the gap, but is not stored because it is a member that is also used, and the spacer 45 that is an element (holding member) straddling the gap that has become unnecessary at this time, or the gap The apparatus main body 40 is connected to the image forming apparatus 10 in a state where the gap cover 46 that is a member for handling is stored in the storage unit 42 in the apparatus main body 40.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, since the lateral length of the recording material accommodating portion 11 a of the image forming apparatus 10 is L <b> 1, the post-processing device 30 is disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus 10. At this time, there is no possibility of a gap between them, and a dedicated holding member (in this example, the spacer 45) is not required as compared with a member having a short lateral length. Therefore, the storage unit 42 of the post-processing device 30 is in a state where these members used in the case of other image forming apparatuses are stored.
In the recording material processing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the post-processing apparatus 30 is arranged in the image forming apparatus 10, the recording material on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 10 is directed toward the post-processing apparatus 30. It is discharged or it is discharged to the upper surface of the recording material transport unit 50 of the post-processing apparatus 30.

  Here, the role of the spacer 45 will be described in detail. FIGS. 13A and 13B schematically show how the post-processing device 30 is arranged on the side of the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20 having different lateral lengths of the recording material accommodating portions. 47 is used to couple the recording material conveyance unit 50 to the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20, and to further engage and engage the engaged portion 411 of the apparatus main body 40 with the projection 471 of the coupling part 47. FIG. 4A shows an example in which the lateral length of the recording material container is L1, and no gap is generated between the post-processing apparatus 30 and the apparatus main body 40, and FIG. The horizontal length is L2 (L1> L2), and an example is shown in which a gap is generated between the apparatus main body 40 of the post-processing apparatus 30.

In (a), since there is no gap d, when the connecting part 47 is fixed to the image forming apparatus 10, it is done by fixing directly using the screw 49, but when there is a gap d as shown in (b). If the same connecting part 47 is used, the connecting part 47 cannot be fixed to the image forming apparatus 20. Therefore, the spacer 45 is first fixed to the image forming apparatus 20 by screwing or the like using the spacer 45, and then the connecting part 47 is mounted and fixed to the spacer 45 using the screw 49.
Accordingly, in (a), since there is no gap d, the connecting part 47 can be directly fixed to the image forming apparatus 10. On the other hand, in (b), when the same connecting part 47 is used, a space corresponding to the gap d is generated between the image forming apparatus 20 and the connecting part 47, so that the connecting part 47 is fixed to the image forming apparatus 20 as it is. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the spacer 45 via the spacer 45, and the spacer 45 is an important holding member.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 14 shows Embodiment 2 of the recording material processing apparatus. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an image forming apparatus 20 of a different type from the image forming apparatus 10 used in the first embodiment is used. Specifically, the horizontal direction of a recording material container 21a described later is used. The direction length is L2 (<L1), which is shorter than that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the post-processing device 30 is arranged in the image forming apparatus 20, a gap is generated between them, and a gap cover 46 for covering the gap is also attached. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  In FIG. 14, the recording material processing apparatus has a post-processing device 30 disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus 20, and the two are connected for positioning. A recording material storage unit that is provided so as to extend toward the post-processing device 30 with respect to a part of the upper surface of the apparatus housing 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 and that can store recording materials discharged from the image forming apparatus 20. 21a is formed, and the horizontal length of the upper surface of the recording material accommodating portion 21a is L2 (<L1). Therefore, when the post-processing device 30 is disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus 20, the recording material transport unit 50 of the post-processing device 30 is disposed on the upper surface of the recording material container 21a, and the image forming apparatus 20 and the post-processing device are arranged. It is arranged in a state where a gap is generated between the apparatus main body 40 of the apparatus 30 and the apparatus housing 41. A gap cover 46 is attached between the image forming apparatus 20 and the apparatus housing 41 so as to cover the gap. An image reading unit 22 is attached to the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the image forming apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a monochrome image forming apparatus, and includes recording material supply units 23 (23 a to 23 d) provided below the apparatus housing 21. The monochrome image formed in the image forming unit 24 is transferred to and fixed on the supplied recording material, and then discharged and accommodated on the recording material accommodating portion 21a. The image forming apparatus 20 of the present embodiment has two upper and lower discharge ports 28 (28a, 28b) as discharge ports for discharging the recording material to the recording material container 21a. The recording material conveyance unit 50 of the post-processing apparatus 30 is arranged in accordance with the outlet 28a.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the post-processing device 30 is disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus 20, a holding member or the like described later is used, so that the storage unit 42 in the apparatus main body 40 of the post-processing device 30 is used. Such a member is not stored, and only the storage container 48 (see FIG. 6) is placed.

-Connection method between image forming device and post-processing device-
FIGS. 16 and 17 show a method of connecting the image forming apparatus 20 and the post-processing apparatus 30 in the present embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 16A, a spacer 45 that is a holding member is used to fill a gap between the image forming apparatus 20 and the apparatus main body 40, and the spacer 45 is disposed on the side (apparatus of the image forming apparatus 20). Fastened at two locations on the main body 40 side. Here, the spacer 45 is shown in a large size for easy understanding. Next, as shown in (b), the recording material conveyance unit 50 of the post-processing device 30 is placed on the recording material container 21 a of the image forming apparatus 20 to connect the recording material conveyance unit 50 and the image forming apparatus 20. A substantially L-shaped connecting part 47 is used, and the two claw parts of the connecting part 47 are hooked on the corresponding parts of the recording material conveying unit 50 and set. Next, as shown in (c), the side different from the claw portion of the connecting part 47 is fastened using a screw 49 to the spacer 45 fastened to the image forming apparatus 20. Thus, by fixing the connection part 47 using the spacer 45, the connection part 47 is firmly fixed to the image forming apparatus 20. If the spacer 45 is not used, the connecting part 47 is not fixed to the image forming apparatus 20.

Further, in the present embodiment, since a gap is formed between the image forming apparatus 20 and the apparatus main body 40 of the post-processing apparatus 30, the gap cover 46 that covers the gap is taken out as shown in FIG. For example, it is separated into two gap covers 46 (specifically, an upper cover 46A and a lower cover 46B). Then, as shown in (b), the upper cover 46 </ b> A and the lower cover 46 </ b> B are inserted into a gap opened at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 40. At this time, the respective locking claws 463 of the gap cover 46 are locked to the locked portions 412 provided at the corresponding positions of the device main body 40, so that the upper cover 46 </ b> A and the lower cover 46 </ b> B are attached to the device main body 40. Fixed. Then, as shown in (c), the engaged portion 411 provided at the corresponding portion of the apparatus main body 40 is engaged with the three protrusions 471 provided on the connecting part 47, thereby the image forming apparatus. 20 and the post-processing apparatus 30 are connected. Further, the gap cover 46 on the post-processing device 30 side approaches (or contacts) the image forming device 20 side, and covers the gap.
At this time, since the spacer 45 and the gap cover 46 are already used, these members are not stored in the storage unit 42 of the apparatus main body 40.

As described above, in Embodiments 1 and 2, since the horizontal lengths of the recording material storage portions of the image forming apparatuses are different, the post-processing apparatus 30 common to these image forming apparatuses will be arranged. If there is a gap, it is necessary to deal with the gap. For this reason, for example, when the post-processing device 30 is newly introduced and is arranged with respect to the existing image forming apparatus 10 or 20, a holding member for holding the gap and other members corresponding to the gap may be newly required. Or the holding member etc. which were used until now become unnecessary. Further, when the post-processing apparatus 30 once arranged is re-arranged in another image forming apparatus, a holding member or the like may be required again. In the above-described embodiment, since a member such as a necessary holding member is stored in the storage unit 42 when not in use, even if the applied image forming apparatus changes, the post-processing apparatus 30 and the image forming apparatus are not changed. Therefore, a good installation can be made by using a holding member or the like that holds the gap, and in particular, the user can easily cope with the change of the case.
Here, two types of image forming apparatuses are shown. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to two types, and a holding member or the like that holds the gaps may be stored even if there are three or more types.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the dual-purpose connecting part 47 is used as a part of the holding member, and the spacer 45 is added when there is a gap. However, various types of such holding members are assumed. Is done. For example, as shown in FIG. 18A, two connecting parts 47 and 47 ′ are prepared as the connecting part 47 itself, which is adapted to the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20, one being a single connecting part 47 and the other being a connecting part. It is also possible to prepare two holding members of the connecting part 47 ′ in which the 47 and the spacer 45 are integrated, and store either one according to the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20 to be applied.
Furthermore, an engaged portion is provided on the image forming apparatus 10, 20 side, and a protrusion that engages with the engaged portion is provided on the apparatus main body 40 side of the post-processing device 30. The recording material is obtained by fixing the portion 50 to the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20 first and, if there is no gap, directly engaging the protrusion of the apparatus main body 40 with the engaged portion provided in the image forming apparatus 10. For the image forming apparatus 20 having a gap between the conveying section 50 and the apparatus main body section 40, a spacer 45 '(holding member) as shown in FIG. And the protrusion of the apparatus main body 40 may be engaged with the engaged portion 45a of the spacer 45 ′.
Further, for example, when the gap cover 46 is rigid and the post-processing apparatus 30 is moved to the image forming apparatus 20 side, the gap cover 46 attached to the post-processing apparatus 30 (specifically, the apparatus main body 40) forms the image. The positional relationship between the image forming apparatus 20 and the post-processing apparatus 30 may be maintained by engaging with the apparatus 20 side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is explanatory drawing which shows the post-processing apparatus which concerns on the representative model of embodiment which embodies this invention, (a) is an apparatus structure, (b) And (c) shows the example combined with the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a recording material processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a post-processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a post-processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of a storage part. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a perforation apparatus. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a folding line apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of an end binding device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of a saddle stitching apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the raising / lowering mechanism of a post-processing apparatus. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the connection method of the image forming apparatus and post-processing apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the role of the spacer by the presence or absence of the clearance gap between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, (a) shows the case where there is no gap, (b) shows the case where there is a gap. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a recording material processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows a part of connection method of the image forming apparatus and post-processing apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the remainder of the connection method of the image forming apparatus and post-processing apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. The modification of a holding member is shown, (a) is an example which made the connection part a different aspect, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a spacer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1A, 1B) ... Image forming apparatus, 1a ... Image forming apparatus housing, 1b ... Recording material accommodating part, 2 ... Post-processing apparatus, 3 ... Apparatus housing, 4 ... Post-processing part, 5 ... Recording material conveyance part , 6 ... Holding member, 7 ... Storage section

Claims (6)

After receiving a recording material disposed adjacent to the side of an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit built in the image forming apparatus housing and discharging the image forming apparatus, and performing predetermined post-processing on the recording material A processing device comprising:
An apparatus housing having a built-in post-processing unit and disposed adjacent to a side of the image forming apparatus housing;
A recording material conveying section that extends laterally from the apparatus casing toward the image forming apparatus casing and guides the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus casing into the apparatus casing;
When a gap larger than a predetermined gap is generated between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, the gap is provided between the gaps and the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing is maintained. Holding member to be
When the gap between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing is not provided between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, the entire holding member or the holding member is provided. A post-processing apparatus comprising a storage unit that stores elements straddling the gap. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A post-processing apparatus, wherein a post-processing unit is disposed above the apparatus casing and the storage unit is disposed below the post-processing unit. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The post-processing apparatus characterized in that the apparatus casing is provided with a partition section for partitioning the post-processing section and the storage section. The post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The post-processing apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus casing is provided with an opening / closing door connected to the storage unit on a surface adjacent to the image forming apparatus casing. The post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The post-processing apparatus, wherein the apparatus housing is provided with a window through which a holding member stored in the storage unit can be visually recognized from the outside. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material, and a recording material that is disposed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus and that is discharged from the image forming apparatus, and performs predetermined post-processing on the recording material An aftertreatment device,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material;
An image forming apparatus housing in which the image forming unit is incorporated;
A part of the housing of the image forming apparatus is provided with a recess that opens at least to the side of the post-processing apparatus. When the post-processing apparatus is not used, the recording material on which an image is formed in the image forming unit is discharged. A recording material storage portion to be stored;
The post-processing device includes:
An apparatus housing having a built-in post-processing unit and disposed adjacent to a side of the image forming apparatus housing;
A recording material transport unit extending from the apparatus housing along the recess and guiding the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus into the apparatus housing;
When a gap larger than a predetermined gap is generated between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, the gap is provided between the gaps and the positional relationship between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing is maintained. Holding member to be
When the gap between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing is not provided between the image forming apparatus casing and the apparatus casing, the entire holding member or the holding member is provided. A recording material processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores elements straddling the gap.

Images