JP2011105490A - System for conveying sheet and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for conveying sheets which prevents the number of available sheets stacked in a sheet stacker from decreasing by half regardless of changing the attitude of the sheets; and also to provide an apparatus for forming images therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The body 1000 of the image forming apparatus includes an L-shaped conveying unit 1 which is arranged at the downstream of the sheet discharge direction, and even when the sheets with short and long sides are conveyed from the body 1000 with an attitude such that the long side is along a sheet discharge direction, or such that the short side is along that direction, the sheets are conveyed to a stacker 900 with the attitude of the short sides of the sheets aligned along the conveyance direction of the sheets, resulting in successfully stacking the sheets on each of the first and second trays 913, 914 in the stacker 900. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveyance system and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet conveyance system and an image forming apparatus that include a sheet conveyance device that can carry out the conveyance of a conveyed sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that creates a product such as a booklet in-line by connecting a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet stacking apparatus, and the like to an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a sheet is known. As such an image forming apparatus, for example, an inserter for inserting a cover or the like into a sheet bundle and a punch unit for performing a punching process on the sheet are arranged downstream of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, downstream of the punch unit, a sheet stacking apparatus that stacks and stores sheets on which images are formed, a folding machine that performs folding processing on the sheets, and a sheet processing apparatus that performs binding processing such as saddle stitching on the sheets are connected in series. There is something to arrange. According to this image forming apparatus, there is a variety by inserting a cover or the like into a sheet bundle, punching processing or folding processing for sheets stacked on the sheet stacking device or the sheet processing device. It is possible to efficiently create deliverables inline.

  By the way, as a sheet stacking apparatus incorporated in an image forming apparatus, there is one in which a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray capable of stacking sheets independently are provided along the sheet conveying direction (see Patent Document 1). . In this sheet stacking apparatus, when a sheet having a length in the sheet transport direction that is a predetermined length or less, for example, an A4 size sheet is transported by lateral feeding, the sheet is stacked on the first and second stacking trays. On the other hand, for example, even when an A4 size sheet is conveyed in a vertical state, the vertically fed sheets (hereinafter referred to as A4R size sheets) are adjusted by adjusting the heights of the first and second stacking trays. Sheets) are stacked on the first and second stacking trays. Furthermore, after stacking A4R size sheets in this way, the first and second stacking trays are simultaneously moved up and down so that a large amount of A4R size sheets can be stacked in a space efficient manner. ing.

  However, in the case of an image forming apparatus in which a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet stacking apparatus, and the like are connected in series to the main body of the image forming apparatus, since the installation efficiency and the installability are low, the image forming apparatus can be installed only in a limited place. Therefore, in order to improve installation efficiency and installability, the image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet conveyance system including a sheet conveyance apparatus that can carry out the conveyance of the carried-in sheet, and an L-shaped image. There exists what was made into the formation apparatus (refer patent document 2). There is also a stacker that stacks the transported sheets by changing the traveling direction by 90 ° (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2008-87965 A JP 2003-171051 A US Pat. No. 6,131,900

  By the way, in the conventional sheet conveying system and the image forming apparatus equipped with the same, when the sheet traveling direction is changed by 90 °, the direction (posture) of the sheet changes in the case of a sheet having a short side and a long side. For example, when an A4 size sheet is conveyed in a horizontal state, the sheet is conveyed as an A4R size sheet when the traveling direction of the sheet changes. If the direction of the sheet changes in this way, when the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking apparatus, the sheets are stacked so as to straddle the first and second stacking trays, and the number of sheets that can be stacked is reduced by half.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and even when the orientation of the sheet is changed, the sheet conveying system and the image forming that can prevent the number of sheets that can be stacked by the sheet stacking apparatus from being halved. The object is to provide an apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a sheet conveying apparatus capable of changing the direction of a loaded sheet and carrying it out, and a plurality of sheet stacking sections for stacking the sheets carried out from the sheet conveying apparatus are arranged along the sheet carrying-out direction. A plurality of sheet stacking units of the sheet stacking apparatus, wherein a sheet having a short side and a long side is unloaded from the sheet conveying apparatus in a direction in which the short side is along the sheet unloading direction. In addition, each of the sheets can be stacked, and the sheet conveying device can transfer the sheet even when the long side is loaded in the direction along the sheet loading direction and the short side in the direction along the sheet loading direction. Is transported to the sheet stacking apparatus with the short side in the direction along the sheet unloading direction.

  As in the present invention, even when the sheet conveying device changes the orientation of the sheet by conveying the sheet having the short side and the long side to the sheet stacking device with the short side in the direction along the sheet conveying direction, It is possible to prevent the number of sheets that can be stacked by the sheet stacking apparatus from being halved.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus including a sheet conveying system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating a sheet stacking operation of a stacker of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating the sheet stacking operation of the stacker. The perspective view which shows the structure of the L-shaped conveyance unit which comprises the said sheet | seat conveyance system. The figure which shows the structure of the 1st and 2nd conveyance roller provided in the said L-shaped conveyance unit. The figure explaining the sheet advancing direction switching operation | movement of the said 1st and 2nd conveyance roller. The control block diagram which shows the structure of the control part which controls the said L-shaped conveyance unit. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart showing sheet conveyance operation control of the L-shaped conveyance unit. 6 is a flowchart showing sheet conveyance operation control of the L-shaped conveyance unit. FIG. 6 is a first process diagram of a sheet conveying operation using a first conveying path of the L-shaped conveying unit. FIG. 10 is a second process diagram of a sheet conveying operation using the first conveying path. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a stacker stacking operation of sheets conveyed using the first conveyance path. FIG. 10 is a process diagram of a sheet conveying operation using a second conveying path of the L-shaped conveying unit. FIG. 6 is a process diagram illustrating a conveyance operation of a punched sheet of the L-shaped conveyance unit. The perspective view of the L-shaped conveyance unit which comprises the sheet | seat conveyance system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the L-shaped conveyance unit which comprises the sheet | seat conveyance system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a process diagram of a sheet conveying operation using a second conveying path of the L-shaped conveying unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet conveying system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, and an inserter 700, a punch unit 800, a stacker 900 that is a sheet stacking apparatus, a folding apparatus 400, and a finisher 500 are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the image forming apparatus main body 1000 in the sheet discharge direction. Has been. In this embodiment, an L-shaped conveyance unit 1 that is a sheet conveyance device that changes the sheet traveling direction (sheet conveyance direction) by 90 ° is provided between the punch unit 800 that is a punching device and the stacker 900. It has been. By providing such an L-shaped conveyance unit 1, the image forming apparatus 1000A according to the present embodiment is formed in an L-shape. In the present embodiment, the L-shaped transport unit 1 and the stacker 900 constitute a sheet transport system 1000B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus main body 1000 includes a document feeding unit 100, an image reader unit 200 having a scanner unit 104, an image forming unit 300, and the like. In FIG. 2, the L-shaped image forming apparatus 1000 </ b> A is drawn in series for the sake of explanation. As described above, the stacker 900 and the like of the image forming apparatus 1000 </ b> A are connected via the L-shaped transport unit 1. The punch unit 800 is disposed at a right angle. The document D is set on the document feeding unit 100 in a face-up state (the surface on which the image is formed is facing upward). The document D that has been set is set by the document feeding unit 100. The sheets are transported one by one in order from the first page.

  Then, the document D passes through the curved path and is conveyed from the left to the right on the platen glass 102, and is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 112. At this time, the scanner unit 104 is stopped at a predetermined document reading position, and the document D passes above the scanner unit 104 from left to right. At this time, the document D is irradiated by the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and reflected light from the document D is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105 to 107 and the lens 108.

  The image data of the document D read by the image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined image processing and sent to the exposure control unit 110. The exposure control unit 110 irradiates the photosensitive drum 111 with laser light corresponding to the image signal. . Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 111, and thereafter, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by the developing unit 113 and visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the sheet P such as recording paper is conveyed to the transfer unit 116 from any of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual sheet feeding unit 125, and the double-sided conveyance path 124, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 111 visualized in the transfer unit 116. The image is transferred to the sheet P. The toner image is fixed on the transferred sheet P by the fixing unit 117. The photosensitive drum 111, the developing device 113, and the like constitute an image forming unit 300.

  The sheet P that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is, for example, guided to the path 122 by the switching member 121 when the sheet P is reversed and discharged. 121 is guided to the discharge roller 118. Thereafter, the sheet P is discharged by the discharge roller 118 to the inserter 700 disposed downstream with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing down (face down).

  When the sheet P is discharged out of the apparatus in a face-down state in this way, image forming processing can be performed in order from the first page. For example, the page order can be aligned when performing image forming processing using the document feeder 100 or when performing image forming processing on image data from a computer. When images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, the sheet P is guided straight from the fixing unit 177 to the discharge roller 118, and immediately after the trailing end of the sheet P passes through the switching member 121, the sheet P is conveyed by switchback. Then, it is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 124 by the switching member 121. Next, the sheet P is conveyed again from the double-sided conveyance path 124 to the transfer unit 116, and an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet P. Thereafter, the sheet P is discharged to the inserter 700 by the discharge roller 118.

  The inserter 700 is a device that inserts a sheet (insert sheet) different from a normal sheet into the first page, last page, or intermediate page of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 1000. The inserter 700 sequentially separates the sheet bundles stacked on the insert trays 701 to 704 one by one, and passes through the punch unit 800 disposed downstream without passing through the image forming apparatus main body 1000 at a desired timing. It is sent to the stacker 900 and finisher 500. The punch unit 800 includes a punching unit 801 provided between the transport roller pair 805 and the transport roller pair 806. Then, the punching unit 801 positions the leading end of the conveyed sheet as necessary, and then punches holes (perforating processing is performed). The perforated waste is stored in the waste box 802.

  The stacker 900 located on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 has, for example, a short side and a long side. It is intended to stack sheets that have been changed by 90 °. In the stacker 900, first and second stacking trays 913 and 914, which are two (plural) sheet stacking units that can stack sheets independently, are provided along the sheet conveying direction. In the present embodiment, the stacker 900 can stack 10,000 sheets by the first and second stacking trays 913 and 914.

  In the stacker 900, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4A, a sheet having a length in the sheet conveying direction equal to or shorter than a predetermined length, for example, an A4 size sheet is laterally fed. When conveyed, the sheets are stacked on the first and second stacking trays 913 and 914. Further, when a sheet having a length in the sheet conveyance direction of a predetermined length or more, for example, an A4R size sheet is conveyed, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first and second stacking trays 913 and 914 By matching the height, the sheets are stacked on the first and second stacking trays. Further, after the sheets are stacked across the sheets as described above, the first and second stacking trays 913 and 914 are moved up and down at the same time, so that a large number of sheets can be stacked in a space efficient manner. In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 906 denotes an escape tray.

  A folding device 400 disposed downstream of the stacker 900 performs folding processing on a sheet whose traveling direction has been changed by 90 ° by the L-shaped transport unit 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the folding device 400 includes a switching member 135 that guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller 130 to the folding path 136. The sheet guided to the folding path 136 by the switching member 135 is abutted against the stopper 137 to form a loop, and then folded by the folding rollers 140 and 141.

  The sheet is Z-folded by folding the loop formed again by abutting the folded portion against the upper stopper 143 by the folding rollers 141 and 142. The Z-folded sheet is guided to the conveyance paths 145 and 131 and is discharged to the finisher 500 by the discharge roller pair 133. When the folding process is not performed, the switching member 135 switches to the side that guides the sheet to the finisher 500, so that the sheet conveyed from the upstream apparatus passes through the conveyance path 131 and the switching member 135. Directly sent to the finisher 500.

  The finisher 500 selectively performs processes such as a process of bundling a plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 1000 via the folding apparatus 400, a process of stapling a sheet bundle (binding process), a sort process, and a non-sort process. To do. The processed sheets are discharged to a stack tray 502 and a sample tray 501 that move up and down along the left side surface of the finisher body.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the L-shaped transport unit 1 that changes the traveling direction of the sheet by 90 °, that is, transports (unloads) the loaded sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction. . The L-shaped conveyance unit 1 receives a sheet conveyed (in) from a punch unit 800 as an upstream apparatus, and conveys the sheet to the downstream side, a first conveyance path PA1, and a second conveyance path. It has PA2. The L-shaped transport unit 1 includes a switching member 20 for switching and transporting the sheet transported from the entrance roller 19 to either the first transport path PA1 or the second transport path PA2. This switching member 20 is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 20a, and is rotated by an ON / OFF operation of a switching member solenoid SL shown in FIG. 8 to be described later to switch the sheet conveying direction.

  In the first conveyance path PA1, for example, a sheet having a short side and a long side is conveyed to the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 in a laterally fed state in which the short side is conveyed along the sheet conveyance direction. Is a path for transporting (unloading) to the stacker 900 in a laterally fed state. The first conveyance path PA1 in which the short side is conveyed in the direction along the sheet conveyance direction (sheet conveyance direction) and the short side is conveyed in the direction along the sheet discharge direction (sheet conveyance direction) is the first conveyance. A guide 16, a curved guide 21, and a second conveyance guide 18 are provided.

  Here, the first conveyance guide 16 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side of the L-shaped conveyance unit 1. Then, the first transport guide 16 is guided to the upper end of the first transport guide 16 by a downward guide that is transported from the entrance roller 19 and guided by the switching member 20 that is a guide member in a downward direction that is perpendicular to the sheet carry-in direction. A guide portion 16a is provided. Further, the first conveyance guide 16 changes the traveling direction of the first conveyance roller 4 as a third conveyance member that conveys the sheet downward and the sheet fed by the first conveyance roller 90 by 90 °. A second transport roller 10 that is a fourth transport member that transports the second transport roller 10 is provided. The curved guide 21 serving as the second guide unit guides the sheet conveyed by changing the traveling direction by 90 ° by the second conveyance roller 10 to the second conveyance guide 18, and conveys the sheet to the second conveyance guide 18. A third transport roller 23 is provided.

  The second conveyance guide 18 is provided on the stacker side of the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 and guides the sheet conveyed from the curved guide 21 upward by changing its traveling direction by 90 °. The second guide 18 is provided with a fourth transport roller 24 that is a fifth transport member that transports the sheet transported from the curved guide 21 along the traveling direction. Further, the second transport guide 18 transports the sheet sent by the fourth transport roller 24 upward by changing its traveling direction by 90 °, that is, transports the sheet in the direction opposite to the first transport roller 4. A fifth transport roller 25 that is a six transport member is provided.

  Further, a curved guide 26 and an exit roller 27 are provided at the upper end portion of the second guide 18 as a third guide portion for changing the conveyance direction of the sheet fed upward by the fifth conveyance roller 25 to the horizontal direction. Yes. And the 1st guide part 16a provided in this 1st conveyance path PA1, the 1st conveyance roller 4, the 2nd conveyance roller 10, the curve guide 21, the 2nd conveyance guide 18, the 4th conveyance roller 24, the 5th conveyance roller 25 and the curved guide 26 constitute a second sheet conveying unit.

  On the other hand, in the second conveyance path PA2, for example, the sheet conveyed in the longitudinal feeding state in which the long side is conveyed along the sheet conveyance direction to the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 is changed by 90 °. This is a path for transporting to the stacker 900 in the state of lateral feed. The second transport path PA2 receives a sheet transported horizontally from the entrance roller 19, and a sixth transport which is a first transport member for transporting the received sheet in the same direction as the sheet transport direction when received. A roller 28 and a third conveyance guide 17 are provided.

  The third conveyance guide 17 conveys the sheet sent by the sixth conveyance roller 28 by changing its traveling direction by 90 °, and is a second conveyance member that is a second conveyance member that conveys the sheet to the exit roller 27. Eight conveyance rollers 29 and 30 are provided. Then, the sixth sheet conveying roller 28, the seventh and eighth sheet conveying rollers 29, 30 provided in the second sheet conveying path PA2 constitute a first sheet conveying unit. In FIG. 5, 2 is an entrance sensor that detects the sheet conveyed from the entrance roller 19, 33 is a first detection sensor that detects the sheet conveyed by the sixth conveyance roller 28, and 34 is due to the fourth conveyance roller 24. It is a 2nd detection sensor which detects the conveyed sheet | seat.

  Here, it is assumed that the L-shaped transport unit 1 is connected and arranged at the corner. However, when the L-shaped transport unit 1 is placed at the corner, the access space is limited by the adjacent devices. It is assumed that the processing when a paper jam or the like occurs in the paths PA1 and PA2 is difficult. Furthermore, when it is difficult to access the first to third guides 16 to 18, the processing is difficult.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first transport guide 16 is disposed on the right side of the L-shaped transport unit 1, and the second transport guide 18 is disposed on the front side of the L-shaped transport unit 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 15 to be described later, the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 is provided with an a-surface portion accessible to the conveyance guide 16 and a b-surface portion accessible to the second conveyance guide 18. Then, by providing a cover that opens and closes the a-surface portion and the b-surface portion independently or integrally, access to the conveyance guides 16 and 18 is facilitated, and maintenance processing such as paper jam is facilitated. Further, in the paper jam processing in the second transport path PA2, a cover is provided on the upper surface so that the third transport guide 17 can be accessed from above.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the first conveyance roller 4 and the second conveyance roller 10 that are provided in the first conveyance guide 16 and change the sheet traveling direction by 90 °. The first transport roller 4 is rotatably supported by a bearing 4a and is driven to rotate by a transport motor 31. A follower roller 5 that is urged in the direction of the transport roller by a spring 9 and rotatably supported by a bearing 6 that is slidable in the direction of the transport roller is pressed against the transport roller 4. The driven roller 5 is provided with a link member 8 that slides the driven roller 5 in a direction in which the driven roller 5 can be brought into and out of contact with the first conveying roller 4 by the first roller separation solenoid 3.

  When the first roller separation solenoid 3 is turned on, the driven roller 5 is separated from the first conveyance roller 4, and when the first roller separation solenoid 3 is turned off, the driven roller 5 is pressed against the first conveyance roller 4 to convey the sheet. A nip force can be obtained. Similarly, the 2nd conveyance roller 10 arrange | positioned at right angle with respect to the axis line of the 1st conveyance roller 4 is rotatably supported by the bearing 10a, is driven by the conveyance motor 32, and rotates. A driven roller 11 that is urged in the direction of the conveying roller by a spring 14 and rotatably supported by a bearing 15 that is slidable in the direction of the conveying roller is pressed against the second conveying roller 10.

  The driven roller 11 is provided with a link member 13 for sliding the driven roller 11 in a direction in which the driven roller 11 can be brought into and out of contact with the second transport roller 10 by a second roller separation solenoid 12. When the second roller separation solenoid 12 is turned on, the driven roller 11 is separated from the second conveying roller 10, and when the second roller separating solenoid 12 is turned off, the driven roller 11 is pressed against the second conveying roller 10 to convey the sheet. A nip force can be obtained. The sixth and seventh transport rollers 28 and 29 and the fourth and fifth transport rollers 24 and 25 perform the same operation by turning on and off a solenoid (not shown).

  Next, switching operation of the sheet traveling direction by the first conveying roller 4 and the second conveying roller 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 7A shows a state when a sheet is fed from the entrance roller 19, and the driven roller 5 presses against the first conveying roller 4 to form a nip, and conveys the sheet. At this time, the driven roller 11 is separated from the second conveying roller 10. Then, after the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the entrance sensor 2, the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount, and eventually reaches the point where the traveling direction is changed by 90 °, the first conveying roller 4 stops. After that, as shown in FIG. 7B, the second roller separation solenoid 12 is turned OFF and the driven roller 11 is pressed against the second conveying roller 10 to form a nip, and the first roller separation solenoid. 3 is turned ON, and the driven roller 5 is separated from the first conveying roller 4. Thereafter, when the motor 32 rotates, the second conveying roller 10 rotates and conveys the sheet toward the front side of the apparatus.

  FIG. 8 is a control block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit that controls the L-shaped transport unit 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the L-shaped transport unit controller 90 is configured by a microcomputer system, and includes a CPU 60, a ROM 59, a RAM 61, and the like. The ROM 59 stores a sheet conveyance control program and the like in advance. The CPU 60 executes each program and performs input data processing while appropriately exchanging data with the RAM 61, thereby creating a predetermined control signal.

  Further, detection signals from the entrance sensor 2 and the first and second detection sensors 33 and 34 are input to the CPU 60 as input data via the input interface circuit 57, and various control signals are output from the CPU 60 to the output interface circuit 58. Is output via. The output signal is transmitted to a control device such as a motor driver, and controls the control device to operate the transport motor 31, the transport motor 32, the switching member solenoid SL, the first roller separation solenoid 3, and the second roller separation solenoid 12. Let Further, data is transmitted and received between a CPU circuit unit 150 (described later) provided on the main body side of the image forming apparatus main body 1000 and the CPU 60. In this embodiment, the L-shaped transport unit 1 is controlled by the L-shaped transport unit control unit 90, but a CPU circuit unit 150 described later directly controls the L-shaped transport unit 1. You may do it.

  FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body 1000. As shown in FIG. 9, a CPU circuit unit 150 that is a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1000 has a CPU (not shown). The CPU circuit unit 150 controls the document feeding control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the image signal control unit 202, and the printer control unit 301 based on the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the setting of the operation unit 1001. The CPU circuit unit 150 also includes a folding processing control unit 401, a finisher control unit 515, an L-shaped transport unit control unit 90, a stacker control unit (not shown), based on the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the setting of the operation unit 1001. The external I / F 203 is controlled.

  The document feeding control unit 101 is the document feeding unit 100, the image reader control unit 201 is the image reader unit 200, the printer control unit 301 is the image forming apparatus main body 1000, and the folding processing control unit 401 is the folding device 400. Control. The finisher control unit 515 controls the finisher 500 and the inserter 700, respectively. The operation unit 1001 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. The operation unit 1001 outputs a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key by the user to the CPU circuit unit 150, and displays corresponding information on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily holding control data and a work area for computations associated with control. An external I / F 203 is an interface between the image forming apparatus main body 1000 and an external computer 204. The print data from the computer 204 is expanded into a bitmap image and output to the image signal control unit 202 as image data. It has become. Further, the image of the original D read by the image sensor is output from the image reader control unit 201 to the image signal control unit 202.

  The printer control unit 301 outputs the image data from the image signal control unit 202 to the exposure control unit. Further, sheet information and conditions relating to the sheet type (plain paper, coated paper, special paper) and sheet size are input from the operation unit 1001, which is an input unit, by a user operation, and the CPU circuit unit 150 acquires the sheet conditions. Can be recognized. Further, from the operation unit 1001 to the CPU circuit unit 150, in addition to the sheet size, physical property values (surface properties) such as stiffness, thickness, basis weight, surface resistance, smoothness, and sheet discharge direction of a sheet to be described later Information about the orientation with respect to is also entered.

  Incidentally, the image forming apparatus 1000A according to the present embodiment includes a stacking mode in which sheets on which images are formed in the image forming apparatus main body 1000 are stacked on the stacker 900. For example, when the mode for conveying a sheet to the finisher 500 is selected, the sheet passes through the stacker 900 and is conveyed to the finisher 500 without being stacked and stored in the stacker 900.

  Next, a sheet conveying operation when the stacking mode is designated will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a sheet conveying operation when a sheet (A4 size) that can be stacked in parallel in the stacker 900 is conveyed in a laterally fed state will be described. In this case, based on information from the operation unit 1001, the L-shaped transport unit controller 90 determines whether the first transported sheet is a sheet that can be stacked in parallel, that is, a sheet that is laterally fed in A4 size (S10). ). When it is determined that the sheet is A4 size that can be stacked in parallel (Y in S10), the switching member solenoid SL is turned on and the second roller separation solenoid 12 is turned on so as to guide the sheet to the first conveyance path PA1. Turns on (S11). Thereby, the nip between the driven roller 11 and the second transport roller 10 is released. Further, the first roller separation solenoid 3 is turned OFF (S12), and the driven roller 5 is brought into pressure contact with the first conveying roller 4 to form a nip. Further, the entrance roller 19 and the first transport roller 4 are rotated (S13).

  Next, when the sheet P is conveyed from the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 12 by the sheet conveying operation by the upstream apparatus (S14), the sheet P is moved in the direction of arrow C by the switched switching member 20. Transport. After this, the sheet turns on the entrance sensor 2 (S15). Even after the sheet turns on the entrance sensor 2 in this way, the sheet conveying operation by the entrance roller 19 and the first conveying roller 4 is continued (S16), and when the sheet is conveyed for a predetermined distance (Y in S17), 1 The conveyance roller 4 is stopped (S18). As a result, the sheet stops at the second direction change position where the sheet conveyance direction is changed. In FIG. 12, P5 indicates the sheet in a state stopped at such a second direction change position. Next, the second roller separation solenoid 12 is turned off (S19), the driven roller 11 is pressed against the second transport roller 10 to form a nip, and then the first roller separation solenoid 3 is turned on (S20). 5 and the first conveyance roller 4 are released.

Next, the second to fourth transport rollers 10, 23, and 24 are rotated (S21), and the sheet is transported by the second to fourth transport rollers 10, 23, and 24 (S22), and the sheet is moved in the direction of arrow D. Transport to. Note that P2 indicates the sheet that has been conveyed in the direction of the arrow D as described above. Then, the sheet turns on the second detection sensor 34 provided on the second conveyance guide 18 (S23). Here, even after the sheet turns on the second detection sensor 34 in this way, the sheet conveying operation by the second to fourth conveying rollers 10, 23, 24 is continued (S24).
Thereafter, when the sheet is conveyed for a predetermined distance (Y in S25), the fourth conveying roller 24 is stopped (S26). As a result, the sheet stops at the third direction change position where the sheet conveyance direction is changed. Next, after the solenoid is turned off and the sheet is nipped by the fifth conveying roller 25 (S27), the solenoid is turned on to separate the fourth conveying roller 24 and release the nip (S28). Then, the exit roller 27 is rotated (S29). Thereafter, the sheet is directed toward the stacker 900 by the curved guide 26 and discharged to the stacker 900 by the exit roller 27 (S30). P1 indicates a sheet conveyed in the direction of the stacker 900 indicated by the arrow B by the exit roller 27 as described above.

  Next, the stacking of sheets in the stacker 900 is started (S31), and when this sheet is not the final sheet, that is, when the stacking of the final sheet is not completed (N in S32), the above operation is shown in FIG. Repeat as shown. Thereafter, when the last sheet stacking is finished (Y in S32), the job is finished. In this way, when transporting sheets of sizes that can be stacked in parallel to the stacker 900, the sheets are transported to the first transport path PA1, thereby transporting the A4 size sheets to the stacker 900 in the lateral feed direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, sheets P can be stacked in parallel on the trays 931 and 914, and a large amount of sheets can be stacked.

  On the other hand, if the sheet is not an A4 size sheet that can be stacked in parallel, that is, if the sheet is an A4R size sheet (N in S10), the switching member solenoid SL1 is turned OFF so as to guide the sheet to the second transport path PA2 ( S40). Further, the solenoid is turned on to release the nip of the seventh transport roller 29 (S41), and the solenoid is further turned off to form the nip of the sixth transport roller 28 (S42). The entrance roller 19 and the sixth transport roller 28 Is rotated (S43).

  Next, when the sheet P is conveyed from the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 15 by the sheet conveying operation by the upstream apparatus (S44), the sheet P is conveyed in the same direction by the switching member 20. Thereafter, the sheet P turns on the first detection sensor 33 (S45). Here, even after the sheet turns on the first detection sensor 33 in this way, the sheet conveying operation by the entrance roller 19 and the sixth conveying roller 28 is continued (S46). When the sheet P is conveyed a predetermined distance (Y in S47), the sixth conveyance roller 28 is stopped (S48). Accordingly, the sheet stops at the first direction change position where the sheet conveyance direction is changed.

  Next, after the solenoid is turned off and the sheet is nipped by the seventh conveying roller 29 (S49), the solenoid is turned on and the sixth conveying roller 28 is separated to release the nip (S50). The transport rollers 29 and 30 and the exit roller 27 are rotated (S51). Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the stacker 900 by the exit roller 27 (S30). As described above, when A4R size sheets that cannot be stacked in parallel are transported to the stacker 900, the sheets are transported to the second transport path PA2, thereby changing the sheet traveling direction by 90 ° and laterally feeding the sheets. The state is conveyed to the stacker 900. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, sheets P can be stacked in parallel on the respective trays 931 and 914, and a large amount of sheets can be stacked.

  As described above, the number of sheets that can be stacked in the stacker 900 is changed even when the direction of the sheet is changed by changing the direction of the A4R sheet by the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 and conveying the sheet to the stacker 900 as an A4 size sheet. Can be halved. That is, even when the orientation (posture) of the sheet is changed by transporting a sheet having a short side and a long side to the stacker 900 with the short side in a posture along the sheet transport direction, the stackable number of stackers 900 can be increased. It can prevent halving. As a result, it is possible to provide a sheet conveying apparatus system with high stacking efficiency and high installation efficiency, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a punch unit 800 is disposed upstream of the L-shaped transport unit 1, and a stacker 900 is disposed downstream. Here, as shown in FIG. 16, when punching on the leading end side of an A4R size sheet, if the punch unit 800 and the stacker 900 are arranged in series, the sheet size remains the A4R in the stacker 900, so that the stacking is performed in parallel. Becomes impossible.

  However, according to the present embodiment, even when the A4R sheet is perforated, the A4R sheet passes through the second path PA2 of the L-shaped conveyance unit 1, and the stacker 900 is changed by changing the sheet traveling direction by 90 °. Thus, parallel loading on two trays becomes possible. Further, when perforating an A4 size sheet, the stacker 900 can be stacked in parallel by transporting the first path PA1 of the L-shaped transport unit 1. The same effect can be obtained when not only the punch unit but also a sheet processing apparatus that performs unidirectional creasing on the sheet is provided upstream.

  In addition, when a large size sheet such as A3 is transported to the stacker 900, when the A3 size sheet is transported by lateral feeding, not only the receiving opening becomes large, but also the length in the front and back direction of the tray is required. Therefore, the apparatus becomes large. In addition, large-size sheets such as A3 cannot be stacked in the stacker 900 even if they are vertically fed. For this reason, in the present embodiment, when a large-size sheet is sent to the L-shaped conveyance unit 1, the sheet is conveyed through the first conveyance path PA1. Thereby, the front opening which receives a sheet | seat can be narrowed, the enlargement of the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 can be prevented, and space saving can be achieved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the L-shaped transport unit 1 constituting the sheet transport system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 17, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 40 denotes a reversing path unit that is provided at the junction of the first pass PA1 and the second pass PA2, and reverses and discharges the sheet. The reversing path unit 40 that is the reversing unit includes a curved guide. 41, a first switching member 42 and a second switching member 43 are provided.

  The curved guide 41 is a guide for guiding the sheet from the second conveyance guide 18 to the third conveyance guide 17 by the fifth conveyance roller 25, and the curved guide 41 is changed from the third conveyance guide 17 to the second conveyance guide 18. You can also guide the sheet. In the present embodiment, the fifth conveying roller 25, the seventh and eighth conveying rollers 29, 30 can rotate forward and backward, and for example, the sheet is fed by the seventh and eighth conveying rollers 29, 30 as indicated by the arrow B. Can be conveyed in both directions.

  Here, when the sheet passes through the first pass PA1, the front and back sides of the sheet are not reversed, but the front and back directions are opposite to those when the sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1000. In the case of transporting a sheet whose front and back directions are opposite to each other in the original state, for example, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1000 is reversed in advance by a process such as passing through a reversing path unit. After that, the problem can be dealt with by transporting to the L-shaped transport unit 1. On the other hand, when the sheet sent from the inserter 700 is reversed for each job, for example, or turned to the surface, the sheet bundle put in the insert trays 701 to 704 is turned over through the user (manual). Therefore, it takes time and effort. For this reason, it is desirable that the seat be a front surface, a back surface, or the front and rear direction can be freely changed according to the user's request.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, such a reversing path unit 40 is provided so as to convey a sheet whose front and back directions are reversed or by reversing the front and back. Next, a sheet reversing operation by the reversing path unit 40 provided in the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 will be described. When reversing the sheet that has passed through the first conveyance path PA1, the sheet P2 conveyed by the fifth conveyance roller 25 is first guided in the direction of arrow D by the curved guide 41 by switching the second switching member 43. Thus, the sheet P2 is conveyed to the third conveyance guide 17 and thereafter conveyed by the seventh and eighth conveyance rollers 29 and 30.

  At this time, the sixth conveyance roller 28 is in a state where the nip is released. Next, when a sheet is detected by the first detection sensor 33, the seventh and eighth transport rollers 29 and 30 are stopped, and the sheet is stopped at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the seventh and eighth transport rollers 29 and 30 are rotated in the reverse direction, and the sheet P2 is transported in the stacker direction by the seventh and eighth transport rollers 29 and 30 and the exit roller 27.

  When such a reversing path unit 40 is provided, the sheet conveyed on the second conveying path PA2 can be conveyed in a state where the front and back sides and the front and rear sides are reversed. Here, when the sheet conveyed on the second conveyance path PA <b> 2 is reversed, first, the sheet conveyed by the seventh and eighth conveyance rollers 29 and 30 is switched to the third conveyance guide by switching the first switching member 42. 17 is guided to the second conveyance guide 18 through the curved guide 41. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed by the reverse rotation of the fifth conveying roller 25. When the sheet is eventually detected by the second detection sensor 34, the fifth conveying roller 25 stops and the sheet stops at a predetermined position.

  At this time, the nip of the fourth conveying roller 24 is released. Next, by switching of the second switching member 43 and the forward rotation of the fifth transport roller 25, the sheet is transported in the stacker direction with the front and back and front and back reversed. As described above, by providing the reverse path unit 40, the L-shaped transport unit 1 can reverse the sheet that has passed through the first and second transport paths PA1 and PA2 and transport the sheet to the stacker side.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 18 is a top view of the L-shaped transport unit 1 constituting the sheet transport system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 18, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 16 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts. Here, the L-shaped conveyance unit 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to offset the sheet and convey it to the stacker 900 in order to easily identify the sheet bundle stacked on the stacker 900.

  Specifically, in the present embodiment, this is achieved by allowing the sheet stop position after being detected by the first detection sensor 33 to be arbitrarily changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, if the sheet P12 is stopped at the first stop position G indicated by a broken line and conveyed to the stacker, the sheet P12 is loaded on the stacker 900 with an offset toward the back as shown in FIG. be able to. Further, if the sheet is stopped at the second stop position H indicated by the solid line and transported to the stacker, it can be loaded on the stacker 900 with an offset toward the front as shown in FIG. In addition, by stacking sheets on the stacker in this way, it is not necessary to provide a separate sheet shift unit, and space saving of the downstream apparatus can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... L-shaped conveyance unit, 4 ... 1st conveyance roller, 10 ... 2nd conveyance roller, 20 ... Switching member, 24 ... 4th conveyance roller, 25 ... 5th conveyance roller, 28 ... 6th conveyance roller, 29 ... 1st 7 transport rollers, 30... 8th transport roller, 40 .. reverse path section, 90... L-shaped transport unit control section, 150... CPU circuit section, 800 ... punch unit, 900 ... stacker, 913, 914. Stack tray, 1000 ... image forming apparatus main body, 1000A ... image forming apparatus, 1000B ... sheet conveying system, PA1 ... first conveying path, PA2 ... second conveying path, P ... sheet

Claims (9)

A sheet conveying device capable of changing the direction of the carried-in sheet and carrying it out;
A sheet stacking device in which a plurality of sheet stacking units that stack the sheets transported from the sheet transporting device are arranged along the sheet unloading direction, and
The plurality of sheet stacking units of the sheet stacking device can each stack a sheet having a short side and a long side when the short side is unloaded from the sheet conveying device in a direction along the sheet unloading direction. ,
In the sheet conveying apparatus, the sheet is loaded in the direction in which the short side is along the sheet carrying-out direction, regardless of the direction in which the long side is along the sheet carrying-in direction and the short side is in the direction along the sheet carrying-in direction. And a sheet conveying system, wherein the sheet conveying system is carried out to the sheet stacking apparatus.   The sheet conveying device includes: a first sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet to the sheet stacking device with a short side in a direction along the sheet carrying-out direction when a sheet is loaded in a direction in which the long side is along the sheet carrying-in direction. A second sheet conveying section that carries out the sheet to the sheet stacking device when the sheet is loaded with the short side in the direction along the sheet loading direction. The sheet conveying system according to claim 1, wherein: The first sheet conveying unit conveys a sheet conveyed with a long side in a direction along the sheet loading direction to the first direction change position along the sheet loading direction and the first direction changing position. A second conveying member that changes the direction of the conveyed sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet carrying-in direction,
The second sheet conveying unit includes a first guide unit that guides a sheet conveyed horizontally with a short side in a direction along the sheet carrying-in direction in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, and a sheet guided by the first guide unit. A third transport member that transports the sheet transported to the second direction change position, a fourth transport member that transports the sheet transported to the second direction change position in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction by the third transport member, and the fourth A second guide portion for guiding the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction; a fifth conveyance member for conveying the sheet guided by the second guide portion to a third direction change position; A sixth transport member that transports a sheet transported to a three-direction change position in a direction opposite to the third transport member, and a sheet transported by the sixth transport member is directed toward the sheet stacking device. Sheet transport system according to claim 2, wherein a third guide portion that. A guide member that selectively guides the carried-in sheet to the first sheet conveyance unit or the second sheet conveyance unit;
An input unit for inputting information on the orientation of the sheet with respect to the sheet carry-in direction;
4. The sheet conveying system according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that switches a direction of guidance by the guide member based on information from the input unit.   The sheet stacking is performed by inverting sheets from the first sheet conveying unit and the second sheet conveying unit on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the first sheet conveying unit and on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the second sheet conveying unit. The sheet conveying system according to claim 2, further comprising a reversing unit that conveys the apparatus.   6. The sheet conveying system according to claim 2, wherein the first direction changing position of the first conveying unit is changeable in a sheet carrying-in direction. An image forming apparatus main body for forming and discharging an image on a sheet;
A sheet conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a sheet discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus is carried in, the direction of the carried-in sheet is changed, and the sheet is carried out. Image forming apparatus.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a sheet processing apparatus configured to perform processing on a sheet on which an image is formed between the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet conveying apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a punching apparatus that performs a punching process on an image-formed sheet.

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