JP2011195255A - Sheet processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device which has improved folding quality and productivity without giving extra loads to stacked sheets whose folding is competed.SOLUTION: The sheet processing device includes stoppers 141-143 protruded into a carrying passage for residing stacked sheets in the carrying passage, a stopper vertically driving motor for moving the stoppers along the carrying passage, folding rollers 111-115 for folding the deflected portions of the stacked sheets resided and deflected by the stoppers 141-143, a downstream carrying passage 162 extended to the downstream side beyond the movable range of the stopper 144 for guiding the stacked sheets downstream of the device, and a change-over mechanism 160 for evacuating the stopper 144 outside the carrying passage and protruding on the carrying passage a carriage driving roller 149 which carries the stacked sheets to the downstream carrying passage 162 and a sheet storage part 131 downstream of the device, to change over a stopper function into a carrying function. The stacked sheets folded by the upstream folding rollers are discharged to the sheet storage part 131 downstream of the device, as they are.

Description

  The present invention refers to a plurality of sheet-like recording media that are carried in (meaning all sheet-like recording media such as paper, OHP sheets, etc., all of which are collectively referred to as “sheets” in this specification). The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a sheet processing apparatus capable of folding various types, a copier, a printer, a facsimile including the sheet processing apparatus, and a digital multi-function peripheral having these functions combined.

  Various folding processes capable of performing a plurality of types of folding processes on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine have been proposed. The plural types of folding processes are, for example, two-fold, Z-fold, outer three-fold, inner three-fold, simple four-fold, and Kannon four-fold. These folds are performed by introducing a portion that becomes a fold of the sheet into the nip of the folding roller and passing through the nip of the folding roller.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional sheet folding apparatus. The sheet folding apparatus 100 is connected to, for example, a subsequent stage of an image forming apparatus (not shown). The image forming apparatus is any one of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a digital multifunction machine having at least two of these functions in combination. If the sheet, here the image-formed sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus, needs to be folded by the sheet folding apparatus 100, the sheet folding apparatus 100 performs the necessary folding process. If the folding process is unnecessary, the sheet folding apparatus 100 is bypassed and conveyed to the subsequent sheet post-processing apparatus. The sheet post-processing apparatus has a known function and mechanism, and can perform processes such as punching, alignment, edge binding, center folding, saddle stitching, and sorting.

  The sheet folding apparatus 100 is provided with a horizontal conveyance path for discharging the sheet straight from the sheet receiving port to the sheet discharge port. When folding the sheet, the first switching claw 121 is used to fold the sheet from the horizontal conveyance path. The sheet that has been subjected to the folding process is returned to the horizontal conveyance path from the sixth conveyance path 106 on the downstream side of the location where the first switching claw 121 is installed, and is conveyed from the discharge port to the sheet post-processing apparatus side.

  The conveyance path branched by the first switching claw 121 from the sheet receiving port is the first conveyance path 101, the second conveyance path 102, the third conveyance path 103, the fourth conveyance path 104, the fifth conveyance path 105, and the sixth conveyance path. 106, a seventh transport path 107, an eighth transport path 108, and a ninth transport path 109. The first conveyance path 101 and the second conveyance path 102 are divided by the first folding nip between the first and second folding rollers 111 and 112, and the second conveyance path 102 and the third conveyance path 103 are divided into the first and third folding paths. The third conveyance path 103 and the fourth conveyance path 104 are divided at the third folding nip between the second and third folding rollers 112 and 113. The fourth conveyance path 104 and the fifth conveyance path 105 are divided by the second switching claw 122, and the sixth conveyance path 6 is divided by the third folding nip between the fourth and fifth folding rollers 114, 115, and the sixth It extends from the branch point of the third switching claw 123 on the downstream side of the conveyance path 106 to the fourth switching claw 124 of the horizontal conveyance path. The eighth conveyance path 108 is a horizontal conveyance path from the first switching claw 121 to the fourth switching claw 124, and the ninth conveyance path 109 is a portion from the fourth switching claw 124 to the sheet storage unit 131.

  The first switching claw 121 guides the sheet supplied from the sheet receiving port to either the eighth conveyance path 108 or the first conveyance path 101. A first stopper 141 is provided on the second conveyance path 102 communicating with the first conveyance path 101 on the downstream side of the first conveyance path 1.

  A third transport path 103 communicating with the first transport path 101 and the second transport path 102 is located upstream of the second transport path 2 (first transport path 1 side). Is provided with a second stopper 142. The third conveyance path 103 communicates with the fourth conveyance path 104 via the second folding nip of the second and third folding rollers 112 and 113, and the fourth conveyance path 104 includes a pair of conveyance rollers and a third stopper 143. Is provided. A first folding roller 111 and a second folding roller 112 are provided between the upstream side of the second transport path 102 and the upstream side of the third transport path 103.

  A sixth transport path 106 that branches from the fourth transport path 4 is provided at an intermediate portion of the fourth transport path 104. The sixth transport path 106 extends to the third switching claw 123 through a folding roller mechanism 1151 including a plurality of transport roller pairs. Between the 4th conveyance path 104 and the 6th conveyance path 106, the 4th folding roller 114 and the 5th folding roller 115 which form a 3rd folding nip are provided.

  In addition, in the first to ninth conveyance paths 101 to 109, conveyance rollers are appropriately disposed at positions necessary for conveyance of the sheet, and it is intended that no sheet jam occurs.

  With the above-described configuration, each of the folding operations of two folds, Z folds, outer three folds, inner three folds, simple four folds, and kannon four folds is possible. Further, overlapping folding is also performed as necessary. Details of each folding operation will be described below.

<Z-fold>
In Z-folding, the conveyed sheet is guided to the first conveyance path 101 by the first switching claw 121. The sheet passes through the first fold nip between the first fold roller 111 and the second fold roller 112, and the sheet leading end abuts against the second stopper 142 that can move to the fold position disposed in the third conveyance path 103. When the sheet hits the second stopper 142, the bent portion of the sheet enters the second folding nip between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113, and the first folding is performed. The first folded sheet is conveyed to the fourth conveyance path 104 by the second switching claw 122. Each of the stoppers 141 to 143 can be moved within a predetermined range along the conveyance path by a moving mechanism (not shown).

  When the leading edge of the sheet hits the third stopper 143 that can move to the folding position arranged in the fourth conveyance path 104, the sheet bends in a space portion upstream of the nip between the fourth folding roller 114 and the fifth folding roller 115. The bent portion enters the third folding nip between the fourth folding roller 114 and the fifth folding roller 115, and the second folding is performed to complete the Z folding. The sheet that has been Z-folded is discharged from the sheet discharge port 13b to the subsequent sheet post-processing apparatus via the horizontal conveyance path 13 via the sixth conveyance path 106. At that time, the third switching claw 123 is switched to the side for guiding the sheet to the sheet discharge port. As a result, the Z-fold downstream paper discharge process is performed. When the sheet is discharged to the subsequent sheet post-processing apparatus, punching or the like can be executed by the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  On the other hand, when the third switching claw 123 has been switched to the guide side to the seventh conveyance path 107, the sheet reaches the ninth conveyance path 109 via the seventh conveyance path 107 and the fourth switching claw 124. The sheet is discharged to the sheet storage unit 131. Thereby, the Z-folded sheet storage unit paper discharge process is performed.

<Fold in half>
In the case of folding in half, the carried-in sheet is guided to the second conveyance path 102 via the first conveyance path 101 by the first switching claw 121. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the first stopper 141 that can be moved to the folding position disposed in the second conveyance path 102, the space on the upstream side of the first folding nip between the first folding roller 111 and the second folding roller 112 The sheet bends. When the bending progresses, the sheet enters the first folding nip, and the first folding is performed at the first folding nip to complete the second folding.

  After the folding is completed, the sheet does not enter the third conveyance path 103, passes through the nip between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113, and is guided to the fifth conveyance path 5 by the second switching claw 122. The sheet is stored in the sheet storage unit 131 via the sixth transport path 106, the seventh transport path 107, and the ninth transport path 109. The third and fourth switching claws 123 and 124 are switched so that the conveyance path communicates.

<Outer 3 fold, Inner 3 fold, Simple 4 fold>
In these folding operations, the loaded sheet is guided to the second conveyance path 102 via the first conveyance path 101 by the first switching claw 121. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the first stopper 141 of the second conveyance path 102, the sheet bends in the same manner as in the case of folding in half, and is folded in two at the first folding nip by the same operation and conveyed to the third conveyance path 103. Is done. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the second stopper 142 of the third conveyance path 103, the bent portion of the sheet enters the nip between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113 in the same manner as in the case of Z-folding. Folding is performed.

  At this time, the first stopper 141 and the second stopper 142 stop at controlled positions according to the outer three, inner three, and simple four folding modes and the sheet size, and the first and second folding positions. The folding direction is set. After the folding process is completed twice, the sheet is guided to the fifth conveyance path 105 by the second switching claw 122 and passes through the sixth conveyance path 106, the seventh conveyance path 107, and the ninth conveyance path 109. It is accommodated in the accommodating part 131. The third and fourth switching claws 123 and 124 are switched so that the conveyance path communicates.

<Kannon folded in four>
In the fourfold folding, the loaded sheet is guided by the first switching claw 121 to the second conveyance path 102 via the first conveyance path 101. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the first stopper 141 of the second conveyance path 102, the sheet bends in the same manner as in the case of folding in half, and is folded in two at the first folding nip by the same operation and conveyed to the third conveyance path 103. Is done. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the second stopper 142 of the third conveyance path 103, the bent portion of the sheet enters the nip between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113 in the same manner as in the case of Z-folding. Folding is performed.

  The sheet is guided to the fourth conveyance path 104 by the second switching claw 122. When the leading edge of the sheet hits the third stopper 143 of the fourth conveying path 104, the bent portion of the sheet enters the third folding nip between the fourth folding roller 114 and the fifth folding roller 115, and the sixth conveying path 106 side The third fold is performed, and the four-fold kannon is completed.

  In the four-fold folding, one end is folded at the first folding nip and the other end is folded at the second folding nip. Finally, a so-called quadrant folding is completed in which the central portion is folded inward and both ends are folded toward the central portion.

  After the folding is completed, the folded sheet is guided to the sixth conveyance path 106 and is accommodated in the sheet accommodation unit 131 via the seventh conveyance path 107 and the ninth conveyance path 109. In the description so far, the sheet can be conveyed from the sheet discharge port to the subsequent sheet post-processing apparatus instead of being accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 131. In this case, the third switching claw 123 opens the conveyance path leading to the sheet discharge port side and blocks the conveyance path reaching the seventh conveyance path 107 side.

  In order to convey the sheet to the downstream post-processing apparatus without folding, the first switching claw 121 directly discharges it from the sheet carry-out port, and when folding, the first switching claw 121 The sheet is guided to each conveyance path inside the folding apparatus, and each folding operation is performed. After the folding is completed, folding is further performed by the folding roller mechanism 151.

  That is, the folding is completed at the first folding nip between the first folding roller 111 and the second folding roller 112, but then passes through the nip between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113, 2 is guided to the fifth conveyance path 5 by the switching claw 122 and is accommodated in the sheet paper accommodation unit 131 via the sixth conveyance path 106, the seventh conveyance path 107, and the ninth conveyance path 109. This is as described above.

  As described above, in the sheet folding apparatus that has been practiced so far, the number of folding rollers is set to the number of nips corresponding to the maximum number of folds, and in the case of three folding, four or five folding rollers are used. For this reason, in a folding mode sheet bundle that has a relatively small number of folding processes, such as bi-folding, it is necessary to pass through the downstream folding mechanism even after the folding is completed, and the sheet bundle formed by the longer conveyance path The quality deteriorates and the productivity also decreases.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-99507), a stopper for determining a folding position and a conveyance path on which the stopper is arranged are linearly arranged from the nip direction immediately after the nip of the folding roller pair to be folded. An invention is disclosed which is arranged at various positions to improve the folding quality and shorten the conveyance path in a plurality of types of folding modes.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-196477) discloses a mechanism that changes a conveyance path for each folding mode in a folding mechanism that uses the deflection of a sheet bundle by roller reversal control.

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, with respect to the folding mode with a relatively small number of foldings, such as bi-folding, the folding process is completed and the folding nip portion composed of the downstream folding roller pair is passed. Further, an excessive load is applied to the sheet bundle that has been folded. Therefore, the concern has not been resolved.

  Further, the invention described in Patent Document 2 is a folding mechanism using roller reversal control, and is not applicable to a stopper abutment type folding mechanism.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve folding quality and productivity without applying an extra load to a sheet bundle that has been folded.

    In order to solve the above problems, the first means includes a conveying means for conveying the sheet bundle, a conveying path for guiding the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying means, and the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying means. A stopper means that protrudes in the conveyance path to stay in the path, a driving means that moves the stopper means along the conveyance path, and a bent portion of the bent sheet bundle that stays and bends by the stopper means. A sheet processing apparatus having folding means, and a downstream conveying path that extends downstream from a movable range of the stopper means and guides the sheet bundle downstream of the apparatus, and the stopper means is located outside the conveying path. Retracting, the downstream conveying means for conveying the sheet bundle to the downstream conveying path and downstream of the apparatus is projected on the conveying path, and the stopper function and the conveying function are switched. Characterized in that it comprises a means.

  The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, a transport driving roller is provided which nips when the downstream transport means protrudes on the transport path.

  The third means is characterized in that, in the second means, the transport driving roller always projects on the transport path.

  The fourth means is the second means in which, when the downstream conveying means protrudes on the conveying path, the conveying driving roller protrudes on the conveying path, and when the downstream conveying means does not protrude on the conveying path. The apparatus is characterized by further comprising a projecting and retracting means for retracting the transport driving roller from the transport path.

  According to a fifth means, in any one of the first to fourth means, a plurality of the stopper means and the folding means are provided for performing the folding process on the sheet bundle a plurality of times, and the sheet bundle is folded. The switching means positioned immediately after completion is switched to the downstream conveying means, and the sheet bundle is conveyed downstream.

  The sixth means includes a setting means in any one of the first to fifth means for setting the contact position between the stopper means of the switching means and the sheet bundle of the downstream conveying means to an arbitrary position. It is characterized by.

  In the embodiment described later, the conveying means is the conveying roller, the conveying path is the first to ninth conveying paths 101 to 109, the stopper means is the first to third stoppers 141 to 143, and the driving means is the stopper. The vertical drive motor 181, pulleys A, B182, 183 and timing belt B184 are switched to the first to fifth folding rollers 111 to 115, the sheet processing apparatus is switched to reference numeral 100, and the downstream conveyance path is switched to reference numeral 162. The means corresponds to the switching mechanism 142, the transport driving roller corresponds to the reference numeral 171, the protrusion / retraction means corresponds to the operating mechanism (not shown), and the setting means corresponds to the switching motor 192 and the timing belt C 191.

  According to the present invention, since the downstream conveying path for guiding the sheet bundle downstream of the apparatus and the switching means for switching the stopper function and the conveying function on the upstream side of the downstream conveying path are provided, It is possible to transport the sheet downstream without passing through the folding mechanism on the side, and as a result, no extra load is applied to the sheet bundle that has been folded, and folding quality and productivity can be improved. it can.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the sheet folding apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detail of the switching mechanism in Example 1, and shows the state which is functioning as a stopper. It is a figure which shows a state when the switching mechanism is operate | moving by a conveyance function in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows a state when the switching mechanism is operate | moving by the stopper function in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows a state when the switching mechanism is operate | moving by a conveyance function in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a position moving mechanism that changes the position of the switching mechanism in the conveyance path in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detail of the switching mechanism in Example 3, and shows the state which is functioning as a stopper. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the sheet folding apparatus implemented conventionally.

  According to the present invention, the load on the sheet bundle is reduced by shortening the conveyance path of the sheet bundle having a relatively small number of foldings, and the folding accuracy is improved and the folding quality is avoided. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The first embodiment is an example provided with a switching mechanism that allows the stopper to be retracted out of the conveyance path, and at the same time, convey means that conveys the sheet bundle to the downstream conveyance path and the apparatus downstream protrudes on the conveyance path.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet folding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment extends the third conveyance path 103 to the seventh conveyance path 107 and discharges paper from the seventh conveyance path 107 to the ninth conveyance path 109 with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. The difference is that the second stopper 142 is a switching mechanism 160 having a stopper function and a transport function. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the duplicate description is omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of the switching mechanism 160. The switching mechanism 160 includes a solenoid 146 and a transport roller arm 148 that is supported so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 147, and has an arm portion that functions as a stopper 144 around the support shaft 147 and a transport driven roller 149 at the tip. And a switching arm 145 connected to the drive end of the solenoid 146. As shown in FIG. 2, the switching arm 145 projects into the third conveyance path 103 when the solenoid 146 is operated (at the time of suction) and functions as a stopper, and when the solenoid 146 is not operated (at the time of release), FIG. The conveyance driven roller 149 protrudes into the third conveyance path 103 by rotating counterclockwise from this state. At that time, the transport drive roller that has been retracted in the state of FIG. 2 similarly projects into the third transport path 103, and forms a transport nip of the paper as shown in FIG.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2, when the sheet bundle is conveyed in the sheet bundle conveyance direction P by the upstream conveyance roller pair, the sheet bundle strikes the stopper 144 in accordance with the explanation of each folding in FIG. The second and third folding rollers 112 and 113 are folded at the nip. Therefore, the folding modes in which the switching mechanism 160 shown in FIG. 2 operates as a stopper are Z-folding, outer three-folding, inner three-folding, simple four-folding, and four-tone folding.

  On the other hand, the solenoid 146 is deactivated, and the conveyance state shown in FIG. 3 is established, and the sheet or sheet bundle can be conveyed to the downstream conveyance path 162. That is, when the holding of the solenoid 146 is released from the state of FIG. 2, the switching arm 145 is lowered (rotates counterclockwise). As a result, the stopper 144 and the transport roller arm 148 rotate around the support shaft 147, respectively, and the stopper 144 is retracted from the third transport path 103 and the downstream transport path 162 is opened. The driven roller 149 protrudes into the third transport path 103, and in parallel with this, the transport drive roller 171 projects into the third transport path 130 from the opposite side by an operating mechanism (not shown). As a result, the transport driving roller 171 and the transport driven roller 149 form a nip to form a transport roller pair.

  In the state of FIG. 3, the sheet bundle P <b> 1 folded from the upstream is conveyed by the upstream conveying roller pair. The sheet bundle is conveyed by a conveyance roller pair including a conveyance driving roller 171 and a conveyance driven roller 149 and conveyed to the downstream conveyance path 162. Further, the sheet is discharged from the ninth conveyance path 109 connected to the downstream conveyance path 162 to the sheet accommodation unit 131 and stored.

  A folding mode in which the switching mechanism 160 shown in FIG. 3 operates as a conveyance roller is a case of folding in half.

  Here, in more detail, when the first nip formed by the first folding roller 111 and the second folding roller 112 is passed, the folding is completed in half. Conventionally, the two-fold has passed through the second nip composed of the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113 after passing through the first nip, and is conveyed downstream. Here, when the switching mechanism 160 has the transport function shown in FIG. 3, the double fold that has passed through the first nip is transported downstream through the downstream transport path 162. In addition, since the Z-folding, the outer three-folding, the inner three-folding, the simple four-folding, and the kannon-fourfolding need to be given a folding process after the first nip and after the second nip, the switching mechanism 160 serves as a stopper Function. The switching mechanism 160 can be used in place of the first to third stoppers 141, 142, and 143.

  According to the present exemplary embodiment, in the sheet folding apparatus having a plurality of folding modes, the sheet bundle conveying path with a relatively small number of foldings is connected from the downstream conveying path 162 to the ninth conveying path 109, and the sheet storage unit 131. The sheet conveyance path length can be greatly shortened. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in folding quality and improve productivity with simple control.

  Further, by providing the switching mechanism 160 in each of the stoppers 141, 142, and 143, it is possible to deal with various types such as the size of the sheet bundle and the type of folding.

  In the first embodiment, when the stopper 144 functions as compared with the second embodiment, the driving roller is projected into the conveyance path on the upstream side of the stopper 144.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state when the switching mechanism 160 functions as a stopper in the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the solenoid 146 is energized, and the stopper 144 protrudes into the third conveyance path 103 and functions as a stopper. On the other hand, a conveyance driving roller 171 protrudes on the third conveyance path 103. The conveyance driving roller 171 is connected to the conveyance roller driving motor 172 via the timing belt A 173, and the driving force from the conveyance roller driving motor 172 is transmitted to the conveyance driving roller 171 via the timing belt A 173, thereby conveying the conveyance driving roller 171. Rotates. A stepping motor is preferably used for the transport roller drive motor 172.

  In the state of FIG. 4, when the sheet bundle P1 is conveyed in the sheet bundle conveyance direction P by the upstream conveyance roller pair, the sheet bundle P1 hits the stopper 144 according to the explanation of each folding in FIG. Folding is performed at the nip between the second and third folding rollers 112 and 113. At this time, when the sheet bundle P1 is thin and has a property of being easily buckled, the sheet bundle P1 is buckled and bent by the conveyance resistance due to friction received from the third conveyance path 103 before the sheet bundle P1 reaches the stopper 144. As a result, the second and third folding rollers 112 and 113 may be wound earlier than expected. In this way, when folding is performed earlier than expected, folding failure occurs.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the sheet drive P1 contacts the rotation driving roller 171 when the sheet bundle P1 reaches the third conveyance path 103 to reach the stopper 144, and assists the sheet bundle P1 to reach the stopper 144. A reasonable transport force. The conveyance drive roller drive 171 stops when the sheet bundle P1 reaches the stopper 144. It is desirable that the rotation amount of the transport driving roller 171 can be set arbitrarily.

  The folding modes in which the switching mechanism 160 shown in FIG. 4 operates as a stopper are Z-folding, outer three-folding, inner three-folding, simple four-folding, and four-tone folding. The folding in which the conveyance driving roller 171 functions as an auxiliary conveyance force to reach the stopper is a four-fold folding with a long distance to the stopper 144.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state when the switching mechanism 160 functions as a transport device. As shown in the figure, when the holding of the solenoid 146 is released, the switching arm 145 rotates counterclockwise as in the case described in FIG. 3, and the conveyance driven roller 149 protrudes into the third conveyance path 103. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyance driving roller 171 and the conveyance driven roller 149 that have already protruded into the conveyance path 103 form a nip to form a conveyance roller pair.

  In this state, when the folded sheet bundle P1 is conveyed from the upstream side, the sheet bundle is nipped by a conveyance roller pair including a conveyance driving roller 171 and a conveyance driven roller 149, and further conveyed to the downstream conveyance path 162. Is done. At this time, the conveyance drive motor rotates continuously. In this way, the folding mode in which the switching mechanism 160 functions as a transport device is bi-fold.

  The appearance position in the conveyance path is changed according to the switching mechanism 160 folding mode or the size of the sheet bundle. FIG. 6 is a view showing a position moving mechanism for changing the position of the switching mechanism 160 in the conveyance path, and is a side view of the switching mechanism 160 shown in FIG. In the figure, a stopper 144 and a transport driven roller 149 are connected to a solenoid 146 via a switching arm 145. The solenoid 146 is fixed to the fixed plate 144b. In FIG. 5, the switching arm 145 is hidden behind the support shaft 147 and does not appear on the drawing. The switching rotation shaft 147 is fixed to a rotation stopper unit 144a provided with a stopper 144 and a conveyance driven roller 149, and slides with respect to a hole provided in the fixed plate 144b. The fixing plate 144b is fixed to the timing belt B184, and the timing belt B184 is connected to the stopper vertical drive motor 181 via the pulley A182 and the pulley B183, and obtains a driving force from the motor 181 to obtain the third conveying path 103 or It moves up and down along the downstream conveyance path 162.

  When the switching mechanism 160 functions as a stopper, the position of the fixing plate 144b that moves as the stopper is changed depending on the folding mode. When the switching mechanism 160 functions as a transport device, the fixed plate 144b moves in accordance with the drive position as the transport roller disposed on the third transport path 103, and after the movement, the switching mechanism 160 operates to move the transport roller pair. Form. Therefore, also in this case, the stopper vertical drive motor 181 functions as a drive source of the switching mechanism 160.

  In this way, by causing the conveyance drive roller 171 facing the switching mechanism 160 to protrude in advance in the conveyance path, it also serves as an assist function for the sheet bundle to reach the stopper 144 and a mechanism for projecting the conveyance drive roller 171 is unnecessary. Become.

  In the first and second embodiments, a switching motor may be used in place of the solenoid 146 as a drive source for the switching arm 145. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a switching mechanism 160 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 7, a stepping motor is used as the switching motor 192. When the switching motor 192 is used as described above, the timing belt C is used instead of the switching arm 145, and the support shaft 147 is rotationally driven, the switching motor 192 is a stepping motor. The amount of rotation of 149 can be freely controlled. Therefore, it is possible to control the amount of rotation to adjust the nip pressure of the conveyance roller pair including the conveyance driven roller 149 and the conveyance driving roller 171 or to adjust the inclination of the stopper 144. Further, the rotation amount can be freely controlled by the sheet bundle size, paper thickness, stiffness, folding mode, and the like.

  As described above, the amount of movement of the stopper 144 and the conveyance driven roller 149 of the switching mechanism 160 can be adjusted, so that it is possible to finely cope with diversity such as the size of the sheet bundle and the type of folding.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible, and all technical matters included in the technical idea of the invention described in the scope of claims are the subject of the present invention. Needless to say.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Sheet processing apparatus 101-109 1st thru | or 9th conveyance path 111-115 1st thru | or 5th folding roller 114-143 1st thru | or 3rd stopper 144 Stopper 142 Switching mechanism 181 Stopper vertical drive motor 182 Pulley A
183 Pulley B
184 Timing belt B
162 downstream conveyance path 171 conveyance drive roller 191 timing belt C
192 switching motor

JP 2007-99507 A JP 2004-196477 A

Claims (7)

Conveying means for conveying the sheet bundle;
A conveyance path for guiding a sheet bundle conveyed by the conveyance means;
Stopper means for projecting into the transport path to retain the sheet bundle transported by the transport means in the transport path;
Drive means for moving the stopper means along the transport path;
Folding means for folding the bent portion of the sheet bundle that stays and is bent by the stopper means;
In a sheet processing apparatus having
A downstream conveyance path extending downstream from the movable range of the stopper means and guiding the sheet bundle downstream of the apparatus;
Switching means for retracting the stopper means out of the conveyance path, projecting a downstream conveyance means for conveying the sheet bundle to the downstream conveyance path and the apparatus downstream, and switching the stopper function and the conveyance function;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A sheet processing apparatus, comprising: a conveyance driving roller that nips when the downstream conveyance unit protrudes on the conveyance path. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The sheet processing apparatus, wherein the conveyance driving roller always protrudes on a conveyance path. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
Projection that causes the transport drive roller to project on the transport path when the downstream transport unit projects on the transport path, and retracts the transport drive roller from the transport path when the downstream transport unit does not project on the transport path A sheet processing apparatus comprising a retracting unit. In the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A plurality of the stopper means and the folding means are provided in order to perform the folding process a plurality of times on the sheet bundle,
A sheet processing apparatus, wherein a switching unit positioned immediately after the folding of the sheet bundle is completed is switched to a downstream conveying unit, and the sheet bundle is conveyed downstream. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set a contact position between the stopper unit of the switching unit and the sheet bundle of the downstream conveying unit to an arbitrary position.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.