JP2010126294A - Post-processing device and image forming device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a post-processing device capable of properly performing an aligning processing and a post-processing for sheets even when a charged sheet is fed and an image forming device having the post-processing device. <P>SOLUTION: This post-processing device 20 includes a processing tray 24, a discharge tray 28, an aligning part, and a control part 50. The sheet subjected to a predetermined processing at an image forming part 14 is introduced into the processing tray 24. The discharge tray 28 is configured so as to store the sheet discharged from the processing tray 24. The aligning part includes a first aligning plate 245 and a second aligning plate 246 which are movable in the lateral direction of the processing tray. The control part 50 is configured so as to be able to control the operation of the aligning part. The control part 50 controls the aligning part so as to perform the aligning processing for the sheet introduced into the processing tray 24 at the introduction position where the sheet is introduced into the processing tray 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a post-processing device that is provided in a paper processing device that performs predetermined processing on paper, and is configured to perform post-processing on paper that has undergone predetermined processing in a paper processing unit, and The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including

  Some paper processing apparatuses such as image forming apparatuses are provided with a post-processing apparatus configured to perform binding processing such as stapling processing, punching processing, and offset processing.

The post-processing apparatus normally aligns a paper transport unit that transports paper introduced from a paper processing unit such as an image forming unit, a processing tray on which paper to be post-processed is placed, and a bundle of papers on the processing tray. An alignment plate for positioning, a positioning member for positioning the sheet at the alignment position, a conveying belt for conveying the sheet toward the positioning member, a post-processing unit for performing post-processing on the bundle of aligned sheets, and post-processing A paper discharge tray for storing discharged paper is provided (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a post-processing apparatus, each time a sheet is introduced onto the processing tray, the introduced sheets are sequentially moved one by one in the width direction orthogonal to the introduction direction, and the width direction with respect to the introduction position is determined. Alignment processing for a bundle of sheets has been executed at the alignment position shifted to the position.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-248685 JP 2006-124156 A

  However, in the conventional post-processing apparatus, when the introduced paper is moved in the width direction orthogonal to the introduction direction, the paper may not be properly moved in the width direction due to the influence of static electricity remaining on the paper. there were.

  For example, when the end in the length direction of the paper on the processing tray protrudes from the processing tray and contacts the paper on the discharge tray, the end in the length direction of the paper on the processing tray is the discharge tray. In some cases, the upper sheet is electrostatically attracted, and as a result, the sheet moving on the processing tray toward the alignment position is inclined. If the sheets on the processing tray are stacked in an inclined state, it will be difficult to properly align the bundle of sheets at the alignment position, so it is difficult to properly perform post-processing such as binding processing and offset processing. Can be.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device capable of appropriately performing alignment processing and post-processing on a sheet even when charged paper is conveyed, and an image forming apparatus including the post-processing device. It is to be.

  The post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided in a paper processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on paper, and is configured to perform post-processing on paper that has been subjected to predetermined processing by a paper processing unit. The post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a paper discharge tray, an alignment unit, and a control unit. In the processing tray, paper that has been subjected to predetermined processing by the paper processing unit is introduced. For example, paper that has undergone image formation processing by the image forming unit is introduced into the processing tray. The paper discharge tray is configured to store paper discharged from the processing tray.

  The alignment unit includes a first alignment plate and a second alignment plate that are movable in the width direction of the processing tray. Further, the aligning unit aligns the sheets on the processing tray by bringing the first aligning plate and the second aligning plate into contact with both side ends in the width direction of the sheet introduced onto the processing tray. Composed.

  The control unit is configured to be able to control the operation of the matching unit. The control unit controls the aligning unit to execute the aligning process on the sheet introduced into the processing tray at the introduction position where the sheet is introduced into the processing tray.

  In this configuration, when a sheet is introduced into the processing tray, alignment processing is performed on the sheet at the introduced position without moving the sheet in the width direction. For this reason, when aligning a stack of sheets, it is not necessary to move the sheets in the width direction. As a result, even when the leading edge of the paper on the processing tray is adsorbed to the paper on the paper discharge tray or other parts, there is a problem that the paper is inclined during the alignment process. It becomes difficult.

  Further, when the control unit moves the bundle of sheets from the introduction position to the offset position shifted in the width direction with respect to the introduction position, the control section sandwiches the bundle of sheets by the first alignment plate and the second alignment plate. In this state, it is preferable to control the aligning unit so as to move the bundle of sheets.

  If both ends of the sheet bundle are held by the first alignment plate and the second alignment plate, even if the leading end of the sheet bundle is adsorbed to the sheet or other part on the paper discharge tray Even so, the bundle of sheets is less likely to tilt and it is easy to maintain a straight state.

  Note that the sheet may be discharged as it is to the sheet discharge tray at the offset position, or a binding process (for example, stapling process) may be performed on a bundle of sheets at the offset position.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to properly perform alignment processing and post-processing on a sheet even when a charged sheet is conveyed.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an image forming apparatus 100 to which a post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 100 sequentially supplies paper to the image reading unit 12 that reads an image of a document and generates image data, the image forming unit 14 that performs image forming processing on the paper, and the image forming unit 14. And a post-processing device 20 that performs post-processing on the paper on which image forming processing has been performed by the image forming unit 14.

  The image reading unit 12 includes an optical unit 128 configured to read an image of a document on the document table 126 and an automatic document that sequentially conveys the document on the document table 122 to a document reading position on the document table 126. A transport unit 124 is provided.

  The image forming unit 14 includes a photosensitive drum 142 serving as an image carrier disposed so as to be in contact with the sheet conveyance path 186. Around the photosensitive drum 142, an exposure device 144, a developing device 146, a transfer device 148, and a cleaning device 150 are arranged. The exposure device 144 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 142 by exposing the photosensitive drum 142. The developing device 146 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 142 by supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum 142. The transfer device 148 transfers the developer image on the photosensitive drum 142 onto a sheet. The cleaning device 150 collects the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 142.

  The image forming unit 14 further includes a fixing unit 152 on the paper conveyance path 186 downstream of the photosensitive drum 142. The fixing unit 152 fixes the developer image transferred onto the sheet to the sheet with heat and pressure. An introduction roller 154 that introduces the paper on which image formation processing has been performed to the post-processing device 20 is provided downstream of the fixing unit 152 in the paper conveyance path 186.

  The paper supply unit 18 includes a plurality of paper storage cassettes 182 that store paper. Each paper storage cassette 182 is provided with a delivery mechanism that feeds paper one by one to the paper transport path 186. The paper supply unit 18 further includes a pair of registration rollers 184 for adjusting the timing of supplying paper to the image forming unit 14.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the post-processing device 20. The post-processing device 20 is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus 100. 1 and 2 show a state in which the post-processing device 20 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus 10. The post-processing device 20 is disposed between the image reading unit 12 and the image forming unit 14 when mounted on the image forming device 100.

  The post-processing device 20 includes a paper transport unit 22, a processing tray 24, a post-processing unit 26, and a paper discharge tray 28. The paper transport unit 22 introduces the paper introduced into the post-processing apparatus 20 by the introduction roller 154 to the processing tray 24. The sheet conveying unit 22 is connected to the sheet conveying path 186 in a state where the post-processing device 20 is pushed into the image forming apparatus 100. The processing tray 24 is configured to temporarily store a bundle of sheets to be processed by the post-processing unit 26. The post-processing unit 26 is configured to perform a binding process such as a staple process or a punching process on a sheet placed on the processing tray 24. The paper discharge tray 28 is configured to store paper discharged after being post-processed by the post-processing unit 26.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the paper transport unit 22, the processing tray 24, the post-processing unit 26, and the paper discharge tray 28. In the paper transport unit 22, a transport path 222 for transporting the paper sent from the image forming unit 14 in the horizontal direction is formed. A pair of transport rollers 224 and a pair of transport rollers 34 are arranged along the transport path 222. A sensor 226 configured to detect the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed sheet is provided downstream of the conveying roller 224 in the conveying path 222. The transport roller 34 is configured to discharge a sheet to be post-processed to the processing tray 24.

  A discharge roller 229 and a discharge roller 244 are provided downstream of the transfer roller 34 in the transfer path 222. The paper discharge roller 229 is pivotally supported at the front end of a paper discharge mechanism 225 that is swingably supported around the roller shaft 227 of the drive roller 228.

  A support arm 32 that can swing around a rotation shaft 38 of the transport roller 34 is connected to the transport roller 34. A pulley 30 is pivotally supported at the tip of the support arm 32. A caterpillar belt 31 is hung on the support arm 32 and the pulley 30. The caterpillar belt 31 guides the sheets on the processing tray 24 toward the alignment position where the sheets aligned by a first alignment plate 245 and a second alignment plate 246 described later are to be disposed. Specifically, the caterpillar belt 31 is configured to transmit the conveyance force to the sheet until the end of the sheet introduced into the processing tray 24 contacts the positioning member 242. The positioning member 242 is configured to contact the leading end of the sheet at the alignment position.

  The processing tray 24 is configured to be inclined upward in the discharge direction. The sheet discharged to the processing tray 24 is guided to the lower end side of the processing tray 24 by its own weight and the driving force of the caterpillar belt 31. The method of transporting the paper on the processing tray 24 is not limited to this, and another transport roller is further provided so that the paper is guided to the alignment position by joint work of the other transport roller and the caterpillar belt 31. Also good.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the processing tray 24. The processing tray 24 is provided with a first alignment plate 245 and a second alignment plate 246 supported so as to be movable in the width direction of the processing tray 24 (a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction). The first aligning plate 245 and the second aligning plate 246 are provided by a first driving unit 247 having a rack and pinion mechanism provided in the processing tray 24 and a motor for supplying driving force to the pinion gear. The processing tray 24 is configured to move in the width direction. However, the driving method of the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246 is not limited to that of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the post-processing unit 26 is also configured to be movable in the width direction of the processing tray 24. However, in carrying out the present invention, the post-processing unit 26 is moved in the width direction of the processing tray 24. Moving is not an essential requirement but an optional matter.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the post-processing device 20. As shown in the figure, the post-processing device 20 includes a control unit 50. The control unit 50 includes an I / F unit 52, a paper sensor 226, a first position sensor 228, a second position sensor 230, A first drive unit 247, a second drive unit 248, and a third drive unit 249 are connected.

  The I / F unit 52 is configured to receive various signals from a main control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the I / F unit 52 includes a signal indicating the size of the conveyed paper, a signal indicating the type of post-processing to be executed by the post-processing device 20, a signal instructing the start of post-processing, and an image for the paper A signal indicating that the formation process has been completed is input.

  The first position sensor 228 is configured to detect the positions of the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. The second position sensor 229 is configured to detect the position of the post-processing unit 26. The second driving unit 248 is configured to supply a driving force to the paper transport unit 22. The third driving unit 249 is configured to supply driving force to the post-processing unit 26.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the control unit 50 of the post-processing device 20. The control unit 50 waits until a signal is input from the main control unit of the image forming apparatus 100 (S1).

  When receiving a signal from the main control unit of the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 50 moves the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246 to the vicinity of both ends of the paper introduction position in the processing tray 24. (S2). In step S <b> 2, the control unit 50 conveys the interval between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246 based on the size of the conveyed sheet received from the main control unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The standby positions of the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246 are determined so as to be slightly wider than the width of the sheet.

  Subsequently, the control unit 50 waits until a sheet is actually introduced into the processing tray 24 (S3). When the sheet is introduced into the processing tray 24, the control unit 50 performs the alignment process on the sheet at the introduction position without moving the introduced sheet in the width direction, and the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate. 246 is executed (S4).

  Subsequently, the control unit 50 determines whether there is a subsequent sheet that should belong to the same bundle based on a signal from the main control unit of the image forming apparatus 100 (S5). In the determination step of S5, if there is a subsequent sheet, the process proceeds to step S3 again, and if there is no subsequent sheet, the process proceeds to step S6.

  Subsequently, the control unit 50 determines whether or not it is necessary to move the sheet in the width direction based on a signal from the main control unit of the image forming apparatus 100 (S6). For example, when a signal for executing post-processing such as offset processing shown in FIG. 7 or stapling processing shown in FIG. 8 is input, the control unit 50 determines that the sheet needs to be moved, The process proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, when the signal to execute post-processing is not input, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S8.

  In step S <b> 7, the control unit 50 moves the sheet bundle in the width direction with both ends of the sheet bundle sandwiched between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. If the offset process is designated, it is left as it is after the movement. If the staple process is designated, the post-processing unit 26 executes the staple process after the movement and then ejects it from the processing tray 24. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 28 (S8).

  The offset processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (A) to 7 (E). FIG. 7A shows a state where the paper introduced into the processing tray 24 is aligned at the introduction position without moving in the width direction. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the alignment process for the bundle of sheets to be offset processed is completed. FIG. 7C shows a state in which a bundle of sheets to be offset processed moves with both ends sandwiched between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. FIG. 7D shows a state in which the bundle of sheets subjected to the offset process is discharged from the offset position on the processing tray 24 to the discharge tray 28.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the bundle of sheets to be offset is moved with both ends sandwiched between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet bundle does not tilt during movement.

  Next, the stapling process will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 (A) to 8 (E). FIG. 8A shows a state in which the paper introduced into the processing tray 24 is aligned at the introduction position without moving in the width direction. FIG. 8B shows a state in which the alignment process for the bundle of sheets to be stapled is completed. FIG. 8C shows a state in which a bundle of sheets to be stapled is guided to the post-processing unit 26 with both ends sandwiched between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. ing. FIG. 8D shows a state in which a bundle of sheets that have undergone stapling is discharged from the offset position on the processing tray 24 to the paper discharge tray 28.

  As shown in FIG. 8C, the bundle of sheets to be stapled moves while the both ends are sandwiched between the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet bundle does not tilt during movement.

  According to the above embodiment, when aligning the sheets on the processing tray 24, the sheets are hardly moved in the width direction, so that the leading edge of the sheet on the processing tray 24 is attracted to the sheet on the discharge tray 28. Even in such a case, the sheet does not tilt during the alignment process. Further, when the sheet bundle is moved in the width direction, both the first alignment plate 245 and the second alignment plate 246 are brought into contact with both ends in the sheet width direction. It keeps straight while moving.

  For this reason, even when the paper into which the post-processing device 20 is introduced is charged, the paper can be aligned without tilting, and the paper bundle can be aligned without tilting the paper bundle. It is possible to execute post-processing for the.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the sheet processing apparatus to which the post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied is included in the image forming apparatus. It is not limited.

  The above description of the 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.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a post-processing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a paper transport unit, a processing tray, a post processing unit, and a paper discharge tray. It is a figure which shows the structure of a process tray. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a post-processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement procedure of a post-processing apparatus. It is a figure explaining the offset process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the staple process which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

20-Post-processing device 24-Processing tray 26-Post-processing unit 30-Pulley 31-Caterpillar belt 32-Support arm 50-Control unit 100-Image forming device 242-Positioning member 245-First alignment plate 246-Second Alignment plate

Claims (4)

A post-processing device provided in a paper processing device that performs predetermined processing on paper and configured to perform post-processing on paper that has undergone predetermined processing in a paper processing unit,
A processing tray into which paper that has undergone predetermined processing in the paper processing unit is introduced;
A paper discharge tray capable of storing paper discharged from the processing tray;
A first aligning plate and a second aligning plate that are movable in the width direction of the processing tray; and the first aligning plate and the second aligning plate at both ends in the width direction of the paper introduced on the processing tray. An alignment portion configured to align the sheets on the processing tray by bringing the second alignment plates into contact with each other; and
A control unit capable of controlling the operation of the matching unit;
With
The control unit is a post-processing device that controls the alignment unit so as to execute alignment processing on the paper introduced into the processing tray at an introduction position where the paper is introduced into the processing tray.   When the control unit moves the bundle of sheets from the introduction position to an offset position shifted in the width direction with respect to the introduction position, the control unit uses the first alignment plate and the second alignment plate to The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alignment unit is controlled to move the bundle of sheets in a state where the bundle of sheets is sandwiched.   The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a binding processing unit capable of executing a binding process on the bundle of sheets moved to the offset position.   An image forming apparatus comprising the post-processing device according to claim 1.

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