JP2011201687A - Stapler driving device, post processing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce instability in stapling operation due to time series change.SOLUTION: The stapler driving device includes: a power supply part that supplies power to a motor of a stapler; a change detection part that detects a change of state of the stapler that affects an execution time of the stapling operation to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event that is set to the stapler; and a power decision part that decides the power where the change of state is reflected as a power that is supplied to the motor by the power supply part and causes the power supply part to supply the decided power to the motor, when the change of state is detected by the change detection part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a stapler driving device, a post-processing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  A post-processing apparatus may be connected to a subsequent stage of an image forming apparatus such as a printer that prints images or characters on paper. This post-processing device is equipped with a puncher that punches holes in the paper, a stapler that staples a stack of multiple sheets of paper with staples, and a paper folding machine that folds the paper, depending on the user's usage. Is done.

  Focusing on the stapler, a DC motor is mounted on the stapler, and a stapling operation is performed in which a staple is inserted into the sheet bundle and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the DC motor.

JP 2008-174382 A

  An object of the present invention is to reduce instability of a staple operation due to a change with time.

The stapler driving device according to claim 1 is:
A power supply unit that includes a motor and supplies power to the motor of a stapler that performs a stapling operation in which a staple is inserted into a bundle of paper sheets composed of a plurality of stacked recording media and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. When,
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. And an electric power determination unit for supplying the determined electric power.

The stapler driving device according to claim 2 is:
The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
The change detection unit is configured to monitor the monitoring event during a blanking operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as during a stapling operation when the motor rotates while the preparation position is empty. And

The stapler driving device according to claim 3 is:
The motor is a DC motor,
The peak current value in the startup process in which the change detection unit starts supplying power to the motor when the stapler is in the initial state is different from the peak current value in the previous startup process. Is monitored as the monitoring event.

The stapler driving device according to claim 4 is:
The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
A measuring unit that measures an actual blanking execution time spent for performing a blanking operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as during a stapling operation by rotating the motor in a state where the preparation position is empty;
The power determination unit is configured to determine the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit based on the idle execution time.

The stapler driving device according to claim 5 is:
The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
When the motor rotates in the state where the preparation position is empty, the idle driving execution time actually spent for executing the idle driving operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as in the stapling operation is used as power supplied to the motor. Equipped with a measuring unit that measures each of the multiple shots
The power determining unit supplies the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit, a plurality of idle driving execution times measured for the plurality of idle driving operations, and the idle driving execution with respect to the power supplied to the motor It is determined based on a correspondence relationship obtained in advance of time.

The post-processing device according to claim 6 comprises:
A bundle forming unit that receives a recording medium from an image forming apparatus that forms an image and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that includes a motor and executes a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. And an electric power determination unit for supplying the determined electric power.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 comprises:
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
A bundle forming unit that receives a recording medium from the image forming unit and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that includes a motor and executes a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. And an electric power determination unit for supplying the determined electric power.

  According to the stapler driving device of the first aspect, the stapling operation can be stabilized even if the stapler changes with time.

  According to the stapler driving device of the second aspect, the temporal change of the stapler itself can be monitored.

  According to the stapler driving device of the third aspect, it is possible to monitor the time-dependent change of the stapling operation.

  The changer of the stapler itself can also be reflected in the control by the stapler drive device according to the fourth aspect.

  According to the stapler driving device of the fifth aspect, compared to the stapler driving device of the first aspect, the stapling operation can be stabilized with high accuracy.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the stapling operation can be stabilized even when the stapler changes with time.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, it is possible to stabilize the stapling operation even if the stapler changes with time.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print system. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the mechanism around the stapler of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the guide member in which two rails were formed. It is the schematic diagram which showed the driving force transmission mechanism and sensor of a stapler. It is explanatory drawing of the operation mechanism of the pressing member with which the stapler was equipped. It is the figure which showed the positional relationship of a light-shielding plate and HP sensor. It is the figure which showed the shape of the staple. It is a top view which shows the state by which the needle plate was abutted by the needle stopper. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the staple needle is abutted against the needle stopper. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 1st step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 2nd step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 3rd step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 4th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 5th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 5th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 6th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 7th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 8th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 9th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is the figure which showed the operation | movement sound waveform in each process which comprises a series of staple operations. It is a block diagram of the control circuit which bears the operation control of the stapler in the post-processing device. It is a control conceptual diagram. FIG. 21 is a graph in which a corresponding current value (torque) waveform is attached to the operation waveform also shown in FIG. 20. It is a figure which shows the peak current value in the starting process obtained before and behind deterioration about the same stapler. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the required time of the binding process T2, and a duty. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a group table that classifies a sheet bundle into groups according to the paper type and the number of sheets. It is a figure which shows the content of a table.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system.

  The printing system 1A shown in FIG. 1 includes a printer 10, a paper transport device 20, and a post-processing device 30. This print system 1A is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  The printer 10 is an electrophotographic printer that receives an image signal from a host device (not shown) and forms an image based on the image signal on a sheet. An outline will be described.

  The printer 10 is provided with four paper storage units 111. Each paper storage unit 111 stores paper P having a different paper type, size, and orientation (portrait and landscape). . Information on the paper type, size, and orientation of the paper stored in each paper storage unit 111 is set in advance and stored in the main body control unit 120. When a print command is received from the host device, the paper P is taken out by the take-out roll 112 from the paper storage unit 111 that stores the paper corresponding to the command, and the taken-out paper P is supplied by the supply roll 113 and the transport roll 114. The leading edge of the paper is conveyed to the adjustment roll 115.

  On the other hand, the exposure device 121 exposes each photoconductor 122 arranged for each color of C, M, Y, and K, and forms an electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor 122. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor 122 is developed with each color toner by a developing device (not shown) to form a toner image, and each color toner image is stretched by a tension roll 124 by the action of the transfer roll 125. The toner images of the respective colors are transferred so as to overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 123 that circulates in the direction of the arrow A in a suspended state.

  The sheet P having the leading end reaching the adjustment roll 115 is sent to the secondary transfer position T together with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 123, and the secondary transfer roll 116 acts on the intermediate transfer belt 123. The toner image is transferred to the paper P. The sheet P that has received the transfer of the toner image is further conveyed, heated and pressurized by the fixing roll 117, and the toner image on the sheet is fixed to the sheet P, and a fixed image is formed on the sheet P. The paper P after fixing is further transported by the transport roll 118, and is discharged onto the paper discharge table 119 of the printer 10 when the paper transport device 20 is not present.

  In this printing system 1A, since the paper transport device 20 is installed on the paper discharge table 119, the paper P discharged from the printer 10 is inherited by the paper transport device 20, and the transport roll in the paper transport device 20 is used. 21 is further transported by the post-processing apparatus 30. The post-processing measure 30 will be described later.

  A command for each job is input to the printer 10 from the host device. Specifically, as an example, when the image signal for 10 sheets and the paper on which the image based on each image signal is formed are 1 to 10 pages, the paper of 1 to 10 pages is regarded as one sheet bundle, An instruction is issued such that ten sheets of paper bundles are created by binding with a staple needle for each paper bundle. For example, in the case of this example, the paper P is sequentially taken out from the paper storage unit 111 that stores paper according to the dimensions of the image, and the first page image, the second page are taken out to each paper P taken out in order. ,..., The 10th page image, the 1st page image, the 2nd page image,..., The 10th page image are sequentially printed for a total of 10 bundles (100 sheets). . The printed paper is sequentially sent to the post-processing device 30 via the paper transport device 20.

  The post-processing device 30 includes a puncher 31 and a stapler 32, and a sheet processing control unit 35 that controls operation of the puncher 31 and communication with the printer 10. The paper taken into the post-processing device 30 is transported by the transport roll 131, and when it is instructed to form punch holes at the edges of the paper, the puncher 31 is activated, and the paper with punch holes is further formed. The paper is conveyed and discharged onto the paper tray 136. The paper tray 136 is movable up and down between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, and descends in accordance with the total thickness of the sheets sequentially stacked on the paper tray 136.

  When the stapler 32 provided in the post-processing device 30 is instructed to bind the sheet bundle, the stapling operation by the stapler 32 is executed as follows.

  FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of a mechanism around the stapler of the post-processing device 30 shown in FIG.

  Here, a fixed plate 137 on which a sheet is placed and a movable plate 135 that can move forward and backward in the direction of arrow XX ′ are provided. In FIG. 2, the movable plate 135 has advanced in the direction of the arrow X. Further, here, a paper discharge roll 132 and a counter roll 133 are provided. The paper discharge roll 132 is movable up and down in the direction of arrow YY ′ shown in FIG. When the paper discharge roll 132 is lowered, the paper is sandwiched between the paper discharge roll 132 and the opposing roll 133, and is rotated to discharge the paper onto the paper tray 136 shown in FIG. Here, the paper discharge roll 132 is in a position raised in the arrow Y direction. Further, a paddle 134 and a lateral support plate 139 are provided here. The paddle 134 rotates in the direction of arrow B and plays a role of pushing the paper toward the stapler 32 side. The sheet pushed toward the stapler 32 is abutted against the abutting wall 138. Further, the lateral support plate 139 receives the contact of the paper struck in the horizontal direction by a striking plate (not shown) disposed so as to sandwich the paper from the left and right sides of the lateral support plate 139, and the paper It plays a role to align the horizontal position of.

  The paper that has passed through the arrangement area of the puncher 31 shown in FIG. 1 proceeds along the paper conveyance path P1 shown in FIG. At this time, the paper discharge roll 132 is in a position raised in the arrow Y direction, and the movable plate 135 is in the state of being advanced in the arrow X direction. The paper that has traveled along the paper transport path P1 is placed across the fixed plate 137 and the movable plate 135, and is abutted against the abutting wall 138 by the paddle 134 and at the same time the horizontal receiving plate 139 by a striking plate (not shown). In this way, positioning is performed both vertically and horizontally. The above operation is repeated while the number of sheets forming one sheet bundle (10 sheets in the above example) is sent, so that a plurality of sheets forming one sheet bundle are vertically and horizontally positioned. Are stacked together. The plurality of stacked sheets are bound by a stapler 32 into one sheet bundle. A staple 33 having two protrusions 331 is attached to the stapler 32, and the two protrusions 331 of the legs 33 are provided on the guide member 34 and extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Each of the rails 342 enters a groove 341 formed in the rail 342. The stapler 32 is guided by the two rails 342 and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Therefore, when the bundle of sheets is bound by the stapler 32, the sheet bundle is guided by the rail 342 and moved, for example, at a designated portion of the bundle of sheets such as two places near the center or one corner.

  The stapling operation itself by the stapler 32 will be described later.

  In synchronism with the binding of the sheet bundle by the stapler 32, the sheet discharge roll 132 descends in the direction of the arrow Y ′ and the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the opposing roll 133, and the movable plate 135 moves in the direction of the arrow X ′. Retreat to. When the binding operation to the sheet bundle is completed, the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet receiving plate 136 by the rotation of the sheet discharge roll 132.

  While the above binding operation is being performed, adjustment between the printer 10 and the post-processing device 30 prevents the next sheet from being further conveyed from the printer 10 (see FIG. 1). The printing operation is interrupted.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a guide member on which two rails are formed.

  Grooves 341 are respectively formed in the two rails 342 of the guide member 34, and the protrusion 331 of the foot 33 shown in FIG. 2 enters the groove 341 to guide the movement of the stapler 32. These rails 342 as a whole extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 but have curved shapes near both ends. This is because when corners of the sheet bundle are bound, corners of the sheet are bound obliquely with respect to the sheet.

  Here, the post-processing device 30 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be connected not only to the printer having the form shown in FIG. 1 but also to another form of printer.

  The main body control unit 120 of the printer 10 is responsible for storing image signals, storing commands by operating an operation panel (not shown), controlling the entire printer 10, and further communicating with the post-processing device 30. . The main body control unit 120 is also responsible for adjustments in operation with the post-processing device 30.

  In the above, the printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is shown as an apparatus to which the post-processing apparatus 30 is connected. However, the post-processing apparatus 30 is not limited to the printer 10 and may be configured to be connectable to a copying machine, for example. Further, the present invention is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and may be configured to be connectable to other printing methods such as an ink jet printer. This post-processing device 30 is an embodiment common to the stapler driving device of the present invention and the post-processing device of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the stapler itself will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving force transmission mechanism and a sensor of the stapler.

  The stapler 32 has a pressing member 328. The stapler 32 is provided with a DC motor 321. When the DC motor 321 rotates, the presser member 328 rotates in the direction of arrow DD ′.

  The driving force transmission mechanism from the DC motor 321 to the presser member 328 is as follows. When the DC motor 321 rotates, the driving force is transmitted in the order of the gear 322, the relay gear 323, and the driving gear 324, and the driving shaft 325 rotates. After the description of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the description will return to FIG. 4 again.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an operation mechanism of a pressing member provided in the stapler.

  The presser member 328 moves up and down between an upper position shown in FIG. 5A and a lower position shown in FIG. 5B by rotating around the rotation center 328a. Here, a drive cam 326 is attached to the drive shaft 325, and the presser member 328 moves up and down via a relay cam 327 that rotates about a rotation center 327a. When the drive shaft 325 rotates once, the presser member reciprocates once, and one stapling operation ends.

  Further, the light shielding plate 51 is attached to the drive shaft 325 at a position different from the drive cam 326 in the axial direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 5). The light shielding plate 51 is fixed to the drive shaft 325 and rotates by the same rotation angle at the same speed in synchronization with the rotation of the drive cam 326. An HP (home position) sensor 52 is provided in the vicinity of the light shielding plate 51.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the light shielding plate and the HP sensor.

  The HP sensor 52 is a photoelectric sensor that projects and receives light, and is fixed at a position where the rotating light-shielding plate 51 passes so as to block light projection and reception by the HP sensor 52. The HP sensor 52 outputs an L level signal while the light shielding plate 51 is passing, and outputs an H level signal when the light shielding plate 51 is separated from the HP sensor 52. Since the light shielding plate 51 rotates together with the rotation of the drive shaft 325, the rotation position of the drive shaft 325 is detected by the HP sensor 52. Here, this sensor is used to detect the initial position of the drive shaft 325.

  After the electric power is supplied to the DC motor 321 and the stapler 32 starts the stapling operation, the HP sensor 52 indicates that the drive shaft 325 rotates once and returns to the initial position even after a certain threshold time (for example, 500 msec) elapses. If not detected, the stapling operation is defective, the rotation of the DC motor 321 is stopped, and the DC motor 321 is reversed. When the DC motor 321 is reversed, the HP sensor 52 monitors whether the drive shaft 325 returns to the initial position within a certain threshold time (for example, 200 msec). Although the processing contents differ depending on whether or not the HP sensor 52 detects that the drive shaft 325 has returned to the initial position within the threshold time due to the reverse rotation of the DC motor 321, error processing is performed in either case.

  Returning to FIG. 4, various sensors provided in the stapler 32 will be described.

  The stapler 32 is provided with a sensor 53 and a sensor 54 in addition to the HP sensor 52. The sensor 53 is a sensor that detects whether or not a staple needle (described later) is in a state in which a staple operation for binding a sheet bundle can be performed. The sensor 54 is a sensor that detects that the remaining number of staples has decreased.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the shape of the staple needle.

  The staple needle 61 has a linear shape, and as shown in FIG. 7A, the linear staple needles 61 are arranged in a single plate shape and bonded so as not to be easily separated. 60 is formed. Here, as for the staple needle 61 in use, only the leading two staple needles 61 a and 61 b are bent in a direction in which both end portions thereof are erected at right angles from the needle plate 60.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the left and right tip portions of the staple needle 61 are formed in a tapered shape so that the thickness becomes thinner toward the tip, facilitating insertion into the sheet bundle.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the needle plate is abutted against the needle stopper. The staple stopper 62 has a first stopper 62a against which both ends of the linear staple needle 61 before being bent are abutted, and a leading staple needle 61a among the two staple needles 61a and 61b which are bent. And a second stopper 62b to be applied. A guide member 63 is placed on the needle plate 60. The leading end portion of the guide member 63 has a size that enters the inside of the two staple needles 61a and 61b that are bent.

  FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state in which the staple needle is abutted against the needle stopper.

  The guide member 63 is formed with an inclined surface 63a so as to cover the upper part of the bent staple needle 61a and expose the lower part. The guide member 63 is biased in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 9A by a spring (not shown).

  The stapler 32 further includes a needle push-up member 71 having a thickness substantially the same as the width of one staple needle 61 and a needle bending member 72 having a similar thickness. The needle push-up member 71 is disposed immediately below the folded leading staple needle 61a, and the needle bending member 72 is disposed directly below the third staple needle 61 from the leading end, that is, directly below the leading staple needle that has not yet been folded. Has been.

  When the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 4) provided in the stapler 32 rotates and the drive shaft 325 rotates, the needle push-up member 71 pushes up the staple needle 61a at the tip in the arrow G direction and inserts it into a sheet bundle (not shown). At the time of pushing up, the guide member 63 is pushed back by the thickness of one staple needle 61 in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. 9B against the spring bias. Then, by the needle bending member 72 that has been raised following the staple pushed up by the needle push-up member 71, the leading staple needle that has not been bent is bent with the leading end portion of the guide member 63 as a guide. When the staple operation for one bundle of sheets by the staple needle 61a pushed up by the needle push-up member 71 is completed, the needle push-up member 71 and the needle bending member 72 are lowered to the initial position shown in FIG.

  10 to 19 are diagrams illustrating member operations in each step of the staple operation by the stapler. As described above, the stapler 32 is provided with the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 4), and the drive shaft 325 is rotated by the rotation of the DC motor 321. The rotation of the drive shaft 325 causes each of the operations related to the stapling operation. The members operate in coordination.

  FIG. 10 shows an initial state immediately after the needle plate 60 is loaded on the stapler. A plurality of needle plates 60 are accommodated in a stacked manner. In addition to the needle stopper 62 composed of the first stopper 62a and the second stopper 62b, the needle push-up member 71 and the needle bending member 72 described with reference to FIGS. 73 is shown. The leaf spring 73 plays a role of feeding the lowermost needle plate 60a of the stacked needle plates 60 to the needle stopper 62 side. Also shown here are a needle bending member 74, a presser member 75, and an upper member 76, which are components constituting the presser member 328 shown in FIG. The needle folding member 74 plays a role of bending both ends of the staple needle penetrating the paper bundle and pressing them against the paper bundle, and the presser member 75 plays a role of pressing the needle folding member 74 from above. ing. The upper member 76 plays a role of pressing the sheet bundle from above.

  FIG. 11 shows the next step of the state shown in FIG.

  Here, the lowermost needle plate 60a is pushed and moved in the direction of arrow H by the leaf spring 73, both ends of the tip of the needle plate 60a are abutted against the first stopper 62a, and the upper member 76 is further bent. The member 74 and the presser member 75 are moved downward in the direction of arrow I while remaining on the top. The upper member 76 is formed with a groove 761 into which the needle bending member 74 is inserted. The lower part of the upper member 76 causes the needle bending member 74 to move relative to the upper member 76 so that the groove 761 is formed. It appears.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the needle push-up member 71 rises in the direction of the arrow J. At this stage, there is no staple needle 61a (see FIG. 8) that is abutted against the second stopper 62b. Therefore, the needle push-up member 71 is idle. As the needle push-up member 71 is raised, the needle bending member 72 is also raised, and both ends of the leading staple needle 61 abutted against the first stopper 62a are bent at right angles to the needle plate 60a. At this time, the leaf spring 73 continues to urge the needle plate 60a in the arrow H direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the presser member 75 is lowered in the direction of arrow K, and the needle bending member 74 is pushed into the groove 761. The leaf spring 73 once moves backward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the upper member 76 rises in the arrow L direction together with the needle bending member 74 and the presser member 75, and the needle pushup member 71 and needle bending member 72 are lowered in the arrow M direction. The staple plate 61a is pushed by the leaf spring 73 and the first staple needle 61a that is bent rubs through the first stopper 62a, and the second staple needle 61b that is not yet bent from the first is the first staple needle 61b. The state is abutted against the stopper 62a.

  Next, when the steps of FIGS. 12 to 14 are repeated once again, the leading two staple needles 61a and 61b are bent, and the leading staple needle 61a becomes the second stopper 62b as shown in FIG. It will be in a state of being hit.

  The sensor 53 shown in FIG. 4 is a sensor that detects that the leading staple needle 61a of the needle plate 60a bent as described above is in contact with the second stopper 62b. When this state is detected by the sensor 53, the actual stapling operation for binding the sheet bundle can be executed.

  Here, the idle driving operation shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 is repeated up to 13 times. This is because the feeding of the needle plate 60a by the leaf spring 73 may fail. If the sensor 53 does not detect the presence of the leading staple 61a even after repeating the steps of FIGS. 12 to 13 13 times, error processing is executed.

  FIG. 15 shows a state at the start of actual stapling operation.

  Here, the leading two staple needles 61a and 61b of the needle plate 60a are bent, and the leading staple needle 61a is abutted against the second stopper 62b. FIG. 15 also shows a sheet bundle P scheduled to be stapled.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the leaf spring 73 presses the needle plate 60a in the direction of arrow N to press the needle plate 60a against the needle stopper 62, and the upper member 76 moves down in the direction of arrow O to raise the sheet bundle P. It can be pressed from. At this time, a groove 761 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the needle push-up member 71 rises in the direction of arrow P, and the sheet bundle P is penetrated by the leading staple needle 61a. The needle bending member 72 is also raised, and the both side portions of the two adjacent straight leading staple needles 61 are bent upward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the presser member 75 is lowered in the direction of the arrow Q, the needle bending member 74 is pushed into the groove 761, and both ends of the staple needle 61a are bent inward. The groove 761 is formed slightly obliquely so that both ends of the staple needle 61a bent inward do not collide with each other.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the upper member 76 rises in the direction of arrow R, and accordingly, the needle folding member 74 and the presser member 75 also rise together with the upper member 76. In addition, the needle push-up member 71 and the needle bending member 72 are lowered in the arrow S direction. The needle plate 60a is pushed by the leaf spring 73, and the next leading staple is abutted against the second stopper 62b.

  Thereafter, the sheet bundle P bound by the staples is discharged to the outside of the post-processing device 30 as described with reference to FIG.

  The above steps of FIGS. 15 to 19 are repeated, and the sheet bundle P bound by the staple needle 61 is sequentially formed.

  Another sensor 54 shown in FIG. 4 is a sensor that detects that the number of remaining staples 61 has decreased as a result of consuming the staples 61 as described above. When the remaining staple needles 61 are low, a warning is given to the user.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation sound waveform in each process constituting a series of stapling operations. In FIG. 20, a light shielding plate 51 and an HP sensor 52 are also shown.

  Here, a series of stapling operations are divided into a starting step T1, a binding step T2, and a return step T3. In the present embodiment, the time length t1 of the starting process T1 is fixed at t1 = 50 msec. Further, the boundary between the binding process T2 and the return process T3 can be known from the change in the output of the HP sensor 52. Further, the end timing (that is, the initial state) of the return process T3 can be known from the output change of the HP sensor 52.

  The starting process T1 is a time of 50 msec from the time when the power supply to the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 4) is started in the initial state shown in FIG. The binding process T2 is a process that continues to the state of FIG. 18 following the activation process T1. The return step T3 is a step for performing the operation described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the time length of the start process T1 is t1, the time length of the binding process is t2, the time length of the return process is t3, and the time for one series of stapling operations from the start of the start process T1 to the end of the return process T3. The length is represented by t123. The total time length t1 + t2 of the starting process T1 and the binding process T2 is represented by t12.

  FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling the operation of the stapler in the post-processing apparatus.

  Here, a CPU 351, a RAM 352, a motor drive unit 353, a timer 356, a current detection circuit 355, and an oscillator 354 are shown. These are some of the components in the sheet processing control unit 35 shown in FIG.

  Also shown here are the DC motor 321, the stapling mechanism 39 including the various mechanical elements described above, and the HP sensor 52 as components of the stapler 32.

  Various data (to be described later) stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) is transferred to the RAM 352 when the power of the post-processing device 30 is turned on, and a stapler operation control program operating on the CPU 351 is also loaded on the RAM 352. . The CPU 351 receives the humidity information in the vicinity of the paper storage unit 111 that stores the paper constituting the paper bundle to be stapled by the post-processing device 30 from the connected printer 10 and the paper used for the current print. Information such as the type (paper type), the number of sheets per bundle, and the number of sheets is input. The CPU 351 also receives the output signal of the HP sensor 52, and the CPU 351 recognizes that the stapler 32 is in the initial state and that it is at the timing of switching from the binding process T2 to the return process T3.

  The current value detection circuit 355 detects the maximum current value when the DC motor 321 is activated, and transmits a signal representing the maximum current value to the CPU 351.

  Although described in detail later, the timer 356 measures the time of each step in the stapling operation.

  In the motor drive unit 353, the pulse width modulation power with the duty instructed by the CPU 351 is generated. The oscillator 354 generates a clock signal for generating pulse width modulation power (PWM power) in the motor driving unit 353. The motor drive unit 353 corresponds to an example of the power supply unit referred to in the present invention, and the combination of the current value detection circuit 355 and the CPU 351 corresponds to an example of the change detection unit referred to in the present invention. The CPU 51 corresponds to an example of the power determination unit referred to in the present invention.

  Here, PWM is a technique for modulating power into a periodic pulse-like waveform. The pulse height in the modulated waveform is equal to the rated voltage of the DC motor 321. The ratio of the pulse width to the pulse period in the modulated waveform is the ratio of the effective output to the rated output. This ratio is referred to as PWM power duty (output ratio). By adjusting this duty, the effective output of PWM power is adjusted between 0 and the rated power.

  The PWM power generated by the motor drive unit 353 is supplied to the DC motor 321, and the DC motor 321 rotates with the supplied PWM power. Here, the DC motor 321 rotates at a rotational speed approximately in accordance with the duty of the PWM power supplied to the DC motor 321, but depending on the individual difference of the stapler 32, the paper type and number of sheets to be bound, and the like. It varies greatly, and the duty and the rotational speed are not necessarily in a one-to-one relationship.

  FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram of control.

  The control to be performed here is to adjust the duty for each process. The starting step T1 is a step of starting the rotation of the DC motor 321 and requires a large amount of power, and is fixed at a duty of 100% here. The time length t1 of the starting process T1 is fixed at t1 = 50 msec as described above.

  In the next binding step T2, the duty is reduced from 100% within a range where the stapling operation is normally performed, and the operation sound is suppressed.

  Also in the next return step T3, the duty is reduced from 100% within a range where the stapling operation is normally performed, and the operation sound is suppressed.

  The maximum allowable time t123 required for a series of stapling operations including the starting step T1, the binding step T2, and the return step T3 is determined. This is because if a series of stapling operations takes too much time, there is a possibility that the productivity of the sheet bundle may be reduced.

  Here, when the duty is changed as shown by a solid line in FIG. 22, the actual rotational speed of the DC motor 321 follows the change of the duty with a time delay or the like as shown by a broken line here.

  In the following, a device for ensuring the productivity of the stapling operation by compensating for the change with time of the apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a graph in which a corresponding current value (torque) waveform is attached to the operation waveform also shown in FIG.

  FIG. 23 shows a change in the value of the current flowing through the DC motor 321 in the stapling operation process, and it can be read that the current value detected in the starting process (T1) among the three processes is the maximum throughout the process. .

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating peak current values in the startup process obtained before and after deterioration for the same stapler.

  FIG. 24 shows a change in current value in the starting process before and after the change with time for the same stapler, particularly before and after the deterioration with time.

  As shown in FIG. 24, when the deterioration of the stapler 32 with time progresses, the peak current value of the current value flowing through the DC motor 321 in the starting step T1 gradually increases.

  With respect to the post-processing device 30, in the first idle driving operation performed at the time of factory shipment, the duty of the starting process T1 is set to 100%, the duty of the binding process T2 is set to 50%, and the duty of the return process T3 is set to 50%. The binding step T2 in the second idle driving operation performed with the required time of the binding step T2 being 230 ms, the duty of the starting step T1 being 100%, the duty of the binding step T2 being 100%, and the duty of the return step T3 being 50%. The required time of 380 ms is detected by the timer 356, and the following relationship values are obtained. Note that the timer 356 corresponds to an example of a measurement unit according to the present invention.

  FIG. 25 is a graph showing the relationship between the required time of the binding process T2 and the duty.

  Part (a) of FIG. 25 shows the relationship between the duty of the binding step T2 and the required time in each of the first idle driving operation and the second idle driving operation.

In part (b) of FIG. 25, the two data shown in part (a) of FIG. 25 are plotted on a graph and shown in a straight line. About the stapler 32 of the post-processing device 30 Is the relationship between the duty of the binding step T2 and the required time for each of the first idle driving operation and the second idle driving operation before changing with time at the time of shipment from the factory. It is shown that the equation is y (required time) = − 3x (duty) +530. In the ROM (not shown) of the post-processing device 30, the value 3 which is the absolute value of −3 which is the slope of this equation is stored as the above relational value, and the required time when the duty of the binding step T2 is 50% is 380 ms. Is also stored (hereinafter, this required time 380 is referred to as a reference required time).

  Further, the maximum current value A0 (hereinafter, this maximum current value A0 is referred to as the maximum reference current value) that has flowed to the DC motor 361 in the starting step T1 of the first idle driving operation or the second idle driving operation is also post-processed. It is stored in a ROM (not shown) of the device 30.

  Thereafter, when the post-processing device 30 deteriorates with time, the maximum current value At detected by the current value detection circuit 355 shown in FIG. 21 is often larger than the maximum reference current value A0. In the post-processing device 30, when the maximum current value At is larger than the maximum reference current value A0, if the duty of the binding step T2 remains before that, the time until the end of the binding step T2 becomes long. More time is required for stapling than before.

  Therefore, in the post-processing device 30, for example, the maximum current value At in the start-up process T1 of the blanking operation (hereinafter referred to as the third blanking operation) performed at the time of cartridge replacement becomes the maximum reference current value A0. In the case of exceeding, the difference between the required time t of the third blanking operation T2 (50%) and the stored reference required time 380 ms is taken, and the absolute value of the difference is stored. The value (percentage) divided by the relationship value 3 is calculated. This calculation result is added to the duty set without considering the deterioration with time as the duty in the binding process T2 of the actual staple processing after the third idle driving operation. Note that when the maximum current value At in the start process T1 of the third blanking operation is less than the maximum reference current value A0, the duty of this calculation result is the actual stapling process after the third blanking operation. The duty in the binding step T2 is subtracted from the duty set without considering deterioration with time.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a group table for classifying a sheet bundle into groups according to the paper type and the number of sheets.

  In the group table shown here, the number of sheets to be stapled (the number of staples) is divided into five sections by dividing 10 sheets. Further, as the types of paper, six types of paper, “thin paper”, “plain paper 1”, “plain paper 2”, “thick paper”, “coated paper”, and “thick paper 2” are assumed in order from the thinnest. Yes. This group table indicates which group of what type of paper is to be bundled when it is bundled.

  As shown in FIG. 26, information on the paper type used for the current print, the number of sheets per bundle and the number of bundles is input from the printer 10 to the post-processing device 30. A group of sheet bundles is determined by referring to the group table using information on the paper type and the number of sheets per bundle.

  In the group table shown here, the sheet bundle to be bound is divided into three groups of A group, B group, and C group according to the paper type and the number of sheets. The load required for the stapling operation on the sheet bundle is a low load in the A group, a medium load in the B group, and a high load in the C group. For example, for plain paper 1 having a thin paper thickness, a bundle of 2 to 10 sheets belongs to the A group, and a bundle of 11 to 30 sheets belongs to the B group. If the number is 31 or more, it belongs to the C group. On the other hand, even two coated papers having a thick paper thickness belong to the C group.

  The information shown in FIG. 26 is stored in a non-illustrated nonvolatile memory, and is loaded into the RAM 352 shown in FIG. 21 prior to the operation.

  FIG. 27 shows the contents of the table.

  In the table shown in part (a) of FIG. 27, the duty set in the staple process T2 of the actual stapling process after the third idle driving operation without considering deterioration with time is a group of sheet bundles. In the table shown for each part and shown in part (b) of FIG. 27, the duty after the deterioration over time is added as the duty in the binding step T2 of the actual staple processing after the third idle driving operation. It is described for each group.

  Here, it is found that the maximum current value At in the starting process T1 exceeds the stored maximum reference current value A0 during the third idle driving operation, and the duty of the binding process T2 is set to 50%. Since the required time obtained in this way was 410 ms, a value 10 (%) obtained by dividing the absolute value 30 of the difference from the stored 380 ms (duty is 50%) by the stored relational value 3 ) Is obtained, the duty of the binding step (T2) of part (b) of FIG. 27 is a value obtained by adding 10% to the duty of the binding step (T2) of part (a) of FIG. It has become. As described above, the post-processing device 30 detects a change with time in the start process T1 of the third idle driving operation, and based on the time required for the binding process T2, the duty of the subsequent staple process T2 of the actual staple operation is determined. Is corrected, and a delay in the stapler operation time due to deterioration of the stapler 32 with time is prevented.

  In the above, the required time obtained by setting the duty of the binding process T2 of the third idle driving operation to 50%, and the stored duty obtained by setting the duty of the binding process T2 at factory shipment to 50%. Although an example in which the absolute value of the difference from the required time is used as the correction value has been described, in the present invention, the required time obtained by setting the duty of the third idle driving operation T2 to 100%, and the storage An example in which the absolute value of the difference from the required time (230 ms in this case) obtained by setting the duty of the binding process T2 to 100% at the time of shipment from the factory is the relation value 3 and the division value is the correction value. You may mention.

  Further, the relation value 3 and the required time when the duty of the binding process T2 of the actual stapling operation for the sheet bundle, which is performed at the time of factory shipment, is X%, are stored. The difference between the required time of the binding process T2 in the actual stapling operation for the sheet bundle having the same configuration as that at the time of shipment from the factory and the stored required time is X% after the idle driving operation of A value obtained by dividing the absolute value of 1 by the relation value 3 may be used as the correction value.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A Print system 10 Printer 20 Paper conveying apparatus 30 Post-processing apparatus 31 Puncher 32 Stapler 33 Foot part 34 Guide member 35 Paper processing control part 39 Staple mechanism 51 Light-shielding plate 52 HP (home position) sensor 53, 53a, 54 Sensor 60, 60a Needle plate 61, 61a, 61b Staple needle 62, 62a, 62b Needle stopper 63 Guide member 71 Needle push-up member 72 Needle bending member 73 Leaf spring 74 Needle bending member 75 Pressing member 76 Upper member 111 Paper storage portion 112 Take-out roll 113 Supply Roll 114, 118, 121, 131 Transport roll 115 Adjustment roll 116 Secondary transfer roll 117 Fixing roll 119 Paper discharge table 120 Main body control unit 134 Padra 135 Movable plate 136 Paper receiving plate 137 Fixed plate 13 Abutment wall 139 horizontal receiving plate 321 DC motor 322 gear 323 relay gear 324 driven gear 325 drive shaft 326 drive cam 327 relay cam 327a, 328a rotational center 328 pressing member 331 projections 341,761 groove 342 rail 351 CPU
352 RAM
353 Motor drive unit 354 Oscillator 355 Current value detection circuit 356 Timer

Claims (7)

A power supply unit that includes a motor and supplies power to the motor of a stapler that performs a stapling operation in which a staple is inserted into a bundle of paper sheets composed of a plurality of stacked recording media and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. When,
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. A stapler driving device comprising: a power determining unit that supplies the determined power toward the head. The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
The change detection unit is configured to monitor the monitoring event during a blanking operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as during a stapling operation when the motor rotates while the preparation position is empty. The stapler driving device according to claim 1. The motor is a DC motor;
The peak current value in the startup process in which the change detection unit starts supplying power to the motor when the stapler is in an initial state is different from the peak current value in the previous startup process. The stapler driving device according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring event is monitored as the monitoring event. The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
A measuring unit that measures a blanking execution time actually spent in performing a blanking operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as during a stapling operation by rotating the motor in a state where the preparation position is empty;
The said electric power determination part determines the electric power which the said electric power supply part supplies toward the said motor based on the said idling execution time, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Stapler drive device. The stapler includes a motor and an internal mechanism that is moved by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. By the movement of the internal mechanism, a staple that is prepared at a preparation position is inserted into the bundle as the stapling operation. It is bent and the next staple is sent to this preparation position.
The idle driving execution time actually spent for executing the idle driving operation in which the internal mechanism moves in the same manner as the stapling operation by rotating the motor with the preparation position being empty is the power supplied to the motor. Equipped with a measuring unit that measures each of the multiple shots
The power determining unit supplies the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit, a plurality of blanking execution times measured for the plurality of blanking operations, and the blanking execution for the power supplied to the motor The stapler driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stapler driving device is determined based on a correspondence relationship obtained in advance for time. A bundle forming unit that receives a recording medium from an image forming apparatus that forms an image and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that includes a motor and executes a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. A post-processing device comprising: a power determining unit that supplies the determined power toward the head. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
A bundle forming unit that receives a recording medium from the image forming unit and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that includes a motor and executes a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A change detection unit that detects a change in the state of the stapler that affects the execution time of the staple operation with respect to the supplied power by monitoring a monitoring event set for the stapler;
When the state change is detected by the change detection unit, the power supplied to the motor by the power supply unit is determined as the power reflecting the state change, and the motor is supplied to the power supply unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a power determining unit that supplies the determined power toward the head.

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