JP2012218825A - Sheet post-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet post-processing apparatus configured to appropriately and successively stack stapled sheet bundles on a sheet discharge tray in the state where the stapled sheet bundles are arrayed while aligning the trailing ends thereof in the discharging direction with one another.SOLUTION: The sheet post-processing apparatus 20 includes: a binding device 23 configured to staple a plurality of sheets p after image formation by a stapling member 23a and form the sheet bundle P; a discharge device 24 to discharge the sheet bundles; and the sheet discharge tray 25 on which the sheet bundles discharged by the discharge device are stacked; wherein a guide member 27 for holding the sheet bundle discharged from the discharge device while projecting in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle is provided so as to be protruded and retracted between the discharge device and the sheet discharge tray.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine of these, and a plurality of sheets after image formation are bound by a binding member such as a staple to form a sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is discharged by a discharge device. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that sequentially discharges and stacks on a tray. In particular, when the sheet bundles are sequentially discharged onto the sheet discharge tray, the rear end side in the discharge direction of the next discharged sheet bundle may be caught by the binding member portion of the previously discharged sheet bundle. However, it is characterized in that each sheet bundle discharged on the paper discharge tray is properly stacked in order on the paper discharge tray with the rear end side in the discharge direction aligned. .

  Conventionally, as a function of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a multifunction machine of these, a plurality of sheets after image formation are bound by a binding member such as a staple to form a sheet bundle, and then the sheet bundle is discharged. There are some which are discharged and stacked on the paper discharge tray.

  Further, when the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray by the discharge device and stacked, the sheet discharge tray is generally provided so as to be inclined upward in the sheet bundle discharge direction. The sheet bundle discharged onto the sheet discharge tray slides in the direction opposite to the discharge direction along the inclination of the sheet discharge tray, and the rear end side in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle sequentially discharged is aligned.

  However, when the sheet bundles bound by the binding members such as staples as described above are sequentially discharged and stacked on the discharge tray, as shown in FIG. The rear end side of the discharged sheet bundle P in the discharging direction is caught on the binding member 2 portion of the discharged sheet bundle P, and the discharged sheet bundle P is in a state of being inclined in order. There is a problem that it is impossible to stack the sheet bundle P on the discharge tray 1 in a state where the rear ends of the P discharge direction are aligned.

  Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707, when a drop portion in which a part of the paper falls at an appropriate position of the paper discharge tray is provided, the stapled paper bundle is discharged onto the paper discharge tray. In addition, there has been proposed one in which the stapled portion is guided into the depressed portion.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, when discharging a stapled sheet bundle onto a paper discharge tray by a discharge device, the discharge speed at which the paper bundle is discharged by the discharge device is controlled, and It has been proposed that the positions of staples in each sheet bundle discharged are dispersed to prevent the staple positions in each sheet bundle from overlapping.

  However, in the above-described Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the rear end in the discharge direction of the next sheet bundle discharged to the binding member portion of the sheet bundle previously discharged onto the sheet discharge tray is used. The stack of paper is still in a state of being inclined in order, the rear end side of the paper bundle in the discharge direction is aligned, and the stack of paper is stacked on the output tray. I couldn't.

JP-A-2-233456 JP 2009-113958 A

  The present invention relates to a case where a plurality of sheets after image formation are bound by a binding member such as a staple to form a sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is sequentially discharged onto a discharge tray by a discharge device and stacked. It is an object to solve the above problems.

  In other words, according to the present invention, the rear end side in the discharge direction of the next discharged sheet bundle is caught on the binding member portion of the previously discharged sheet bundle, and the discharged sheet bundle is inclined. It is another object of the present invention to properly stack the bundles of paper discharged on the paper discharge tray one after another on the paper discharge tray in a state where the rear end sides in the discharge direction are aligned. .

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, a binding device that binds a plurality of sheets after image formation with a binding member to form a sheet bundle, and discharge that discharges the sheet bundle. A paper post-processing apparatus having a device and a paper discharge tray on which a paper bundle discharged by the discharge device is stacked holds the paper bundle that is projected in the paper discharge direction and discharged from the discharge device. The guide member was provided so as to be able to be taken in and out between the discharge device and the discharge tray.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the rear end side in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle discharged from the discharge apparatus is held in this manner by the guide member protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle. The guide member protruded into the sheet is stored, and the sheet bundle is discharged to the sheet discharge tray.

  Here, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, when the rear end side of the sheet bundle discharged onto the sheet discharge tray is aligned, the sheet discharge tray is directed toward the sheet bundle discharge direction. The sheet bundle discharged on the paper discharge tray moves to the opposite side of the paper bundle discharge direction along the inclination of the paper discharge tray, and the discharged paper bundle is discharged. The direction rear end side comes to be aligned.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, when stacking the sheet bundle discharged by the discharge device on the discharge tray in order, the discharged sheet bundle is first discharged onto the discharge tray. In order to allow a large number of paper bundles to be stacked on the paper discharge tray without hitting the paper bundle, the paper discharge tray is preferably provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the sheet bundle discharged on the sheet discharge tray is prevented from floating and a large number of sheet bundles can be stacked on the sheet discharge tray. It is preferable to press the sheet bundle that has been discharged onto the paper discharge tray by the guide member, or press the paper bundle that has been discharged onto the paper discharge tray by the pressing member.

  Furthermore, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, when the sheet bundle bound by the binding member as described above is stacked on the discharge tray, the portions bound by the binding member are overlapped to form a binding portion. In order to suppress only the lifting, it is preferable to provide a recess in the paper discharge tray so as to correspond to the binding portion of the sheet bundle.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention is provided so that a stack of sheets bound by a binding member can be taken in and out between the discharge device and the discharge tray when the discharge device discharges the stack of paper onto the discharge tray. Since the guide member protrudes in the paper bundle discharge direction and the paper bundle discharged from the discharge device is held by the guide member, the guide member is moved in a direction opposite to the paper bundle discharge direction. The end of the sheet bundle held by the guide member opposite to the discharge direction of the sheet bundle is not caught by the binding member of the previously discharged sheet bundle, It will be properly discharged so as to overlap.

  As a result, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of sheets after image formation are bound by a binding member such as staples to form a sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is sequentially placed on the discharge tray by the discharge device. In the case of discharging, each end of the sheet bundle is not tilted because the end opposite to the discharge direction of the sheet bundle to be discharged is caught by the binding member of the previously discharged sheet bundle. The rear ends of the bundle in the discharge direction are aligned, and the sheet bundles are properly stacked in order on the sheet discharge tray.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which each bundle of sheets discharged onto a sheet discharge tray is stacked in an inclined manner in a conventional sheet post-processing apparatus. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in an image forming apparatus. In the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the sheet bundle discharged onto the sheet discharge tray moves along the inclination of the sheet discharge tray, and the rear end side in the discharge direction of the stapled sheet bundle is the sheet post-processing apparatus. It is the schematic plan view which showed the state which contacted the flame | frame and became linear. In the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a partial explanation showing a state in which the stapled paper bundle starts to be discharged from the paper discharge roller and the guide member protrudes from the paper post-processing apparatus in the paper bundle discharge direction. FIG. In the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the sheet bundle is discharged so that the guide member protruding in the sheet bundle discharging direction from the sheet post-processing apparatus holds the rear end side in the sheet bundle discharging direction. FIG. 6 is a partial explanatory view showing a state where a sheet is discharged onto a sheet bundle that has been discharged to a tray first. In the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the guide member that is protruded in the paper bundle discharge direction is moved in a direction to return the paper bundle into the paper post-processing apparatus, and the guide member is first discharged to the paper discharge tray. FIG. 6 is a partial explanatory view showing a state where a sheet bundle being pressed is pressed. In the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above embodiment, the guide member protruding in the paper bundle discharge direction is returned into the paper post-processing apparatus, and the next paper bundle is discharged on the previously discharged paper bundle. It is the partial explanatory view showing the state done. In the paper post-processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the paper bundle is placed on the paper discharge tray so that the staple portion of the paper bundle discharged onto the paper discharge tray enters the recess provided in the paper discharge tray. It is the schematic plan view and schematic side view which showed the state loaded on. In the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first modified example in which the driving means used to drive the guide member is changed, a state in which the guide member protrudes from the sheet post-processing apparatus in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle, FIG. 10 is a partial explanatory view showing a state in which a guide member protruding in the discharge direction is returned into the sheet post-processing apparatus. In the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the second modified example in which the driving means used to drive the guide member is changed, a state in which the guide member protrudes from the sheet post-processing apparatus in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle, FIG. 10 is a partial explanatory view showing a state in which a guide member protruding in the discharge direction is returned into the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the one shown in the following embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper p on which an image is formed in the image forming apparatus 10 is sent to the paper post-processing device 20, and the paper p is provided in the paper post-processing device 20. The paper p conveyed by the feeding rollers 21a and 21b and stacked on the alignment tray 22 in order is aligned in this manner. A plurality of sheets p aligned in this way are bound by a staple (binding member) 23a by a stapling device (binding device) 23, and the sheet bundle P thus bound by the staple 23a is discharged by a discharge roller (discharge device). ) 24 is discharged onto the discharge tray 25.

  Here, in the paper post-processing apparatus 20 of this embodiment, the paper discharge tray 25 is provided so as to be inclined upward in the discharge direction of the paper bundle P, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 25. The sheet bundle P moves to the opposite side of the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P along the inclination of the sheet discharge tray 25 due to its own weight, and the rear end side in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P bound by the staple 23a is the sheet post-processing device 20. The rear end side in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P is aligned in a straight line.

  Further, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 of this embodiment, a detection sensor 26 for detecting the state of the sheet bundle P discharged by the sheet discharge roller 24 is provided in the vicinity of the sheet discharge roller 24 and the sheet is discharged. At a position between the roller 24 and the paper discharge tray 25, a guide member 27 is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. 20, the guide member 27 protruding in this way is returned to the sheet post-processing apparatus 20.

  Here, as the driving means 30, in this embodiment, a pair of circular rotating plates 31 rotated by a rotating device (not shown) are provided in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P via a required interval. The guide members 27 are held at positions away from the rotation center of the rotating plate 31. As the pair of rotation plates 31 rotate, the guide member 27 moves while drawing an arc in the vertical direction, and protrudes from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. The protruding guide member 27 is returned into the sheet post-processing apparatus 20.

  Next, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 of this embodiment, the operation of discharging the next sheet bundle P onto the sheet bundle P that has been previously discharged and placed on the sheet discharge tray 25 is shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet bundle P bound by the staples 23a is guided to the sheet discharge roller 24, and when the sheet bundle P starts to be discharged by the rotation of the sheet discharge roller 24, this is described above. Based on this, the pair of rotating plates 31 are rotated by a rotating device (not shown), and the guide member 27 is discharged from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. To project.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the pair of rotating plates 31 are rotated, the guide member 27 is sufficiently protruded from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. The bundle P is discharged from the paper discharge roller 24 to the paper discharge tray 25. In this way, the front end side of the discharged sheet bundle P in the discharge direction is stacked on the sheet bundle P that has been previously discharged onto the discharge tray 25, while the sheet bundle bound by the staples 23a. The rear end portion in the discharge direction of P is held by the guide member 27 protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P.

  Further, when the sheet bundle P is discharged from the discharge roller 24 to the discharge tray 25 as described above, this is detected by the detection sensor 26, and based on this, the rotating plate 31 is further rotated. As shown in FIG. 6, the rotating plate 31 returns the guide member 27, which has been projected in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P, to the inside of the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 while drawing a downward arc. Try to move it. Then, the sheet bundle P that has been discharged to the sheet discharge tray 25 is pressed by the guide member 27 that is returned into the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 while drawing an arc downward.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 27 is returned into the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 while pressing the previous sheet bundle P discharged to the discharge tray 25 by the guide member 27 in this way. To do.

  In this way, the previous sheet bundle P discharged to the paper discharge tray 25 is pressed by the guide member 27, and the rear end portion in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P held by the guide member 27 is the guide member 27. The paper bundle P overlaps on the previously discharged paper bundle P without being caught by the staples 23a of the previously discharged paper bundle P. Is discharged.

  By repeating such an operation, the rear end portion in the discharge direction of the next sheet bundle P is pressed while the previous sheet bundle P discharged to the discharge tray 25 is pressed against the guide member 27. Without being caught by the staples 23a in the previously ejected sheet bundle, the sheets are ejected so as to sequentially overlap the previously ejected sheet bundle P, and each ejected sheet bundle P does not tilt. Then, the rear end sides in the discharge direction of the respective sheet bundles P are aligned, and the respective sheet bundles P are properly stacked in order on the discharge tray 25 in an aligned state.

  Further, when a plurality of sheet bundles P are stacked on the discharge tray 25 as described above, the staple 23a portion of each sheet bundle P overlaps and only the staple 23a portion is lifted. 8A and 8B, in the paper discharge tray 25, a concave portion 25a is provided in a portion corresponding to the staple 23a of the stack of paper sheets P to be stacked, and the concave portion of the paper discharge tray 25 is provided. The portion of the staples 23a in each sheet bundle P can enter into 25a. In this way, the staple 23a portion of each sheet bundle P stacked on the discharge tray 25 does not enter the recess 25a of the discharge tray 25, and only the staple 23a portion is not lifted. The sheet bundle P becomes flat and is properly stacked on the sheet discharge tray 25 one after another.

  Further, as described above, the drive unit 30 that protrudes the guide member 27 from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P and returns the protruding guide member 27 into the sheet post-processing device 20 includes: In particular, it is not limited to what was shown in said embodiment.

  For example, in the first modification shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, as the driving means 30, a rotating arm having an angled shape at the tip of the telescopic rod 32a in the cylinder 32 using a solenoid or the like. One end of the rotation arm 33 is rotatably held, and the other end of the rotation arm 33 is rotatably held at the end opposite to the protruding direction of the guide member 27, and the expansion / contraction rod 32a in the cylinder 32 is expanded / contracted. The pivot arm 33 is pivoted, and the pivot arm 33 causes the guide member 27 to project from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P, and the projecting guide is thus projected. The member 27 is returned into the paper post-processing apparatus 20. In this embodiment, a pressing member 28 that presses the sheet bundle P that is rotated and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 25 is provided above the guide member 27.

  In the first modified example, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), the telescopic rod 32a in the cylinder 32 is contracted, and the guide member 27 is post-processed through the rotating arm 33. The sheet bundle P protrudes from the apparatus 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P, and the sheet bundle P is discharged from the discharge roller 24 to the discharge tray 25. The leading end side of the discharged sheet bundle P in the discharge direction is placed on the discharge tray 25. The rear end portion in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P bound by the staple 23a is placed on the guide member 27 protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. Try to keep it.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 10B, the telescopic rod 32a in the cylinder 32 is extended, and the guide member 27 protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P is moved through the rotating arm 33. The sheet bundle P is returned to the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 and discharged so as to overlap the previously discharged sheet bundle P, and the pressing member 28 is rotated. Thus, the discharged sheet bundle P is pressed.

  In this way, as in the case of the above embodiment, the rear end portion in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P held by the guide member 27 is gradually separated from the guide member 27, and after the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. The end of the sheet bundle P is discharged so as not to be caught by the staples 23a in the sheet bundle P that has been discharged first, so as to overlap the sheet bundle P that has been discharged first. It is prevented that the sheet bundle P is pressed by the pressing member 28 and the sheet bundle P discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 25 is lifted.

  In the second modification shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a gear 34 is provided under the guide member 27 as the driving means 30 and the lower surface of the guide member 27 A rack 27a that meshes with the gear 34 is provided, and the gear 34 is rotated in one direction so that the guide member 27 protrudes from the sheet post-processing device 20 in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P, while the gear 34 is reversed. The protruding guide member 27 is returned to the sheet post-processing apparatus 20 by rotating, and the sheet bundle P rotated and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 25 is pressed above the guide member 27. A pressing member 28 is provided.

  In the second modified example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the gear 34 is rotated in one direction, and the guide member 27 is discharged from the sheet post-processing device 20 to discharge the sheet bundle P. The sheet bundle P is discharged from the sheet discharge roller 24 to the sheet discharge tray 25, and the leading end side in the discharge direction of the discharged sheet bundle P is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 25 first. While being stacked on the bundle P, the trailing end of the sheet bundle P bound by the staples 23a is held by the guide member 27 protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 11B, the gear 34 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the guide member 27 protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P is returned into the sheet post-processing device 20, and the sheet The bundle P is discharged so as to overlap the previously discharged sheet bundle P, and the pressing member 28 is rotated so that the discharged sheet bundle P is pressed by the pressing member 28 as described above. To.

  In this way, as in the case of the above embodiment, the rear end portion in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P held by the guide member 27 is gradually separated from the guide member 27, and after the discharge direction of the sheet bundle P. The end of the sheet bundle P is discharged so as not to be caught by the staples 23a in the sheet bundle P that has been discharged first, so as to overlap the sheet bundle P that has been discharged first. It is prevented that the sheet bundle P is pressed by the pressing member 28 and the sheet bundle P discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 25 is lifted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Paper post-processing apparatus 21a, 21b Feed roller 22 Alignment tray 23 Staple apparatus (binding apparatus)
23a Staple (binding member)
24 Paper discharge roller (discharge device)
25 discharge tray 26 detection sensor 27 guide member 27a rack 28 pressing member 30 driving means 31 rotating plate 32 cylinder 32a telescopic rod 33 rotating arm 34 gear p paper P paper bundle

Claims (7)

  A binding device that binds a plurality of sheets after image formation with a binding member to form a sheet bundle, a discharge device that discharges the sheet bundle, and a discharge tray that stacks the sheet bundle discharged by the discharge device. In the provided sheet post-processing apparatus, a guide member that holds the above-described sheet bundle that protrudes in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle and is discharged from the discharge apparatus is provided between the discharge apparatus and the discharge tray. A sheet post-processing apparatus.   2. The paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding guide is in a state where the rear end side in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle discharged from the discharge device is held by the guide member protruding in the discharge direction of the sheet bundle. A paper post-processing apparatus characterized in that a member is accommodated.   3. The paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharge tray is provided so as to be inclined upward in a paper bundle discharge direction.   4. The paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper discharge tray is provided so as to be movable in a vertical direction.   5. The paper post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member presses a paper bundle that has been previously ejected onto a paper ejection tray. 6. Post-processing device.   6. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member that presses the sheet bundle ejected onto the sheet ejection tray. Paper post-processing device.   The paper post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the paper discharge tray is provided with a recess corresponding to a binding portion of the paper bundle discharged onto the paper discharge tray. A sheet post-processing apparatus.

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