JP2013112524A - Sheet treating device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve high quality sorting of transported transfer sheets.SOLUTION: A sheet treating device has a main transporting unit which rotates at the center of an axis and an accessory transporting unit which rotates around a point, the point being on the same line as the center following the rotation of the main transporting unit. An outer periphery of the main transporting unit is formed to have an arc shape with a predetermined radius from the center and a cutout shape obtained by cutting out an arc having a size smaller than the radius in a cross-sectional view. An outer periphery of the accessory transporting unit is formed to have an arc shape with a predetermined radius from the center in a cross-sectional view. When a sheet is transported on an abutting face between the main transporting unit and the accessory transporting unit, an angle formed by a straight line connecting the center of the accessory transporting unit with a contact point where the cutout shape contacts the outer periphery of the accessory transporting unit and the same straight line is minimum in a cross-sectional view.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  When a recording material on which an image has been formed (hereinafter also referred to as “transfer paper”) is discharged to a discharge tray, the transfer member is provided in a transfer path and supports the transfer member with the transfer paper sandwiched between them. There is known a technique for sorting transfer sheets on which image formation has been performed by changing the discharge position of the transfer sheet with respect to the discharge tray by moving the shaft using a shift unit that moves in the axial direction.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that before the driven roller comes into pressure contact with the driving roller, the holding portion or the driven roller is brought into contact with the contact portion to reduce an impact when the driven roller comes into pressure contact with the driving roller. Yes. Further, it is described that the driven roller and the driving roller are brought into contact with each other at the timing when the vibration due to the shock starts to attenuate.

  In Patent Document 2, after the transfer paper trailing edge passes through the transport roller upstream of the shift roller, the shift roller is moved in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and after the transfer paper trailing edge passes through the shift roller, the next transfer paper is transferred. It is described that the shift roller is controlled so as to return to the original position (center) before the tip reaches the shift roller.

  In Patent Document 1, before the driven roller is brought into pressure contact with the driving roller, the holding portion or the driven roller is brought into contact with the contact portion to reduce an impact when the driven roller comes into pressure contact with the driving roller. However, since such a method requires a complicated mechanism, there is a problem that the cost is high, the apparatus is large, and power consumption is increased.

  In Patent Document 2, after the transfer paper trailing edge passes through the conveyance roller upstream of the shift roller, the shift roller is moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and after the transfer paper trailing edge passes through the shift roller, the next transfer paper leading edge is transferred. Is controlled so as to return the shift roller to the original position (center) until it reaches the shift roller. However, in such a method, in a high-speed machine with a short sheet interval, the shift roller cannot return to the original position (center) until the next transfer sheet arrives, and so-called jam occurs. There was a problem.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can perform high-quality sorting on transferred transfer paper. And

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the sheet processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a main transport unit that rotates about an axis, and the main transport unit that has a point on the same straight line as the center as a central axis. A sub-conveying means that rotates in dependence on the rotation of the main conveying means, and the outer circumference of the main conveying means is cut out in an arc shape having a predetermined radius from the center and an arc having a dimension smaller than the radius in a sectional view. The outer periphery of the sub-transport means has an arc shape having a predetermined radius from the center in the cross-sectional view, and the paper is carried into the contact surface between the main transport means and the sub-transport means. In the cross-sectional view, the angle formed between the same straight line and the straight line connecting the center of the sub-transport means and the contact point where the notch shape contacts the outer periphery of the sub-transport means is the smallest. Features that are To.

  According to the present invention, since the occurrence of vibration due to the impact between the driving roller and the driven roller is reduced, low-cost, small-sized, and high-quality sorting with low power consumption is performed without providing a pressure releasing mechanism or a vibration reducing mechanism. It is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can perform the above processing.

1 is a schematic side view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a transfer paper conveyance path having a shift unit of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a shift unit of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a driven roller is attached to an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a reference position (home position) of a shift unit and a transfer sheet of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a first shift position (position A) and a transfer sheet with respect to a reference position (home position) of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a relationship between a second shift position (position B) with respect to a reference position (home position) and transfer paper of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the timing of a shift operation of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of mode processing of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of shift processing of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the transfer paper of the image forming apparatus equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention and the positions of the carry-out roller, the shift roller, and the discharge roller. (A) The shift roller transfers the transfer paper. FIG. 4B shows a received state, (b) a state in which the transfer paper is conveyed by the shift roller, (c) a state in which the transfer paper has been shifted, and (d) a state in which the shift roller has returned to the reference position (home position). It is. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between a driven roller and a shift roller of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) a state immediately before the shift roller receives transfer paper or a shift roller Is returned to the reference position (home position), (b) the transfer sheet is conveyed by the shift roller, (c) the transfer sheet is just shifted, and (d) the transfer sheet is completely shifted. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a contact angle between a driven roller and a shift roller and a radius of the shift roller of an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified thru | or abbreviate | omitted suitably. This will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This sheet processing apparatus is mounted on a side portion of the image forming apparatus 1 that is a supply side of a transfer sheet S as a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus stacks the transfer sheet S on which the image has been discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 to the proof tray 3 serving as a transfer material receiving member by the deflection claw 2 and a stack of a large number of transfer sheets S. And it is comprised so that it may guide to the conveyance path B which performs a staple binding.

  The sheet processing apparatus guides the transfer sheet S in the transport path B to the transport path C that guides the transfer sheet S to the discharge tray 5 that can be raised and lowered by the deflection claw 4 disposed in the transport path, and the transport path D for performing stapling. Is configured to do.

  The stapled transfer sheet S is finally positioned on the most downstream side and is stacked and discharged onto a discharge tray 5 protruding outside the image forming apparatus 1. The transport rollers 6 are a pair of upper and lower rollers that receive the transfer paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus 1, and an entrance sensor S <b> 1 is provided immediately before that.

  One of the pair of transport rollers 6 is a transport roller on the driving side, and the other is a driven roller. The inlet sensor S1 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S being conveyed. The entrance sensor S1 is an optical sensor that is turned on while the transfer sheet S is being detected.

  The deflection claw 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the transport roller 6 so as to be swingable. The deflection claw 2 is configured to switch between the transport paths A and B by being driven and swung by a solenoid and a sprink (not shown). A transport roller 7, a driven roller 8 driven by the roller, and a proof tray 3 are disposed in the transport path A located on the downstream side of the deflection claw 2, and the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1. S is discharged to the proof tray 3.

  In the conveyance path B located between the deflection claw 2 and the deflection claw 4, a conveyance roller 9 and a driven roller 10 that follows the conveyance roller 9 are arranged. In the conveyance path C, a shift roller 11 as a pair of conveyance members functioning as a shift member for sorting and a driven roller 12 driven by the pair, a discharge roller 13 and a driven roller 14 driven by the discharge roller 13 are located upstream of the shift roller 11. Are arranged. A paper discharge sensor S4 that detects passage of the rear end of the transfer paper S is disposed immediately upstream of the discharge roller 13. The paper discharge sensor S4 is composed of an optical sensor that is turned on while the transfer paper S is being detected.

  In the conveyance path D for performing staple binding, a plurality of conveyance rollers 81, 15, 16 and driven rollers 17, 18, 19 driven opposite to the respective rollers are arranged, and the transfer paper S is stapled. It is configured to lead to the pull unit E.

  The staple unit E includes jogger fences 20 and 21 that align the transfer paper S in the horizontal direction (paper width direction), a return roller 22 that aligns the transfer paper S in the vertical direction, and rear end fences 23 and 24. A stapler 25 that can move in the lateral direction according to the size and binding position of the transfer sheet S and a discharge claw 26 for pushing out the stapled transfer sheet bundle to the discharge tray 5 are provided. Above the discharge tray 5, a paper surface detection sensor S2 that detects the amount of the transfer paper S to be discharged is disposed.

  The discharge tray 5 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction by an elevating mechanism (not shown), and is lowered when the amount of the transfer paper S detected by the paper surface detection sensor S2 increases. In the present embodiment, a rotational driving force is transmitted to each roller by a driving mechanism (not shown).

  Next, the conveyance path C having the shift roller 11 that sorts the transfer paper S will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a transfer paper conveyance path having shift means of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The conveyance path C is formed between the open / close guide member 31 and the lower guide member 41 for jam processing. The opening / closing guide member 31 is supported so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around a support shaft 55 arranged in the width direction of the conveyance path C (hereinafter referred to as “Y direction”) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet indicated by the arrow X. The conveyance path C can be opened and closed.

  The open / close guide member 31 rotatably supports the driven roller 12 by a shaft 60 arranged in the Y direction as shown in FIG. 4, and the open / close guide member 31 is closed at the closed position as shown in FIG. In this case, a part of the lower guide member 41 is configured to come into contact with the shift roller 11 disposed so as to face the conveyance path C. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an attached state of the driven roller of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The lower guide member 41 is detachably fastened to the base (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 with a screw.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13D, the shift roller 11 has an outer peripheral surface formed by an arc shape 11A and a notch shape 11B, and contacts the driven roller 12 with the arc shape 11A. The shape 11B is configured to be separated from the driven roller 12. When the driven roller 12 is separated from the shift roller 11, the driven roller 12 is positioned about 1 mm below the contact position with the shift roller 11 by the force of the coil spring 76 (FIG. 4). When the notch shape 11B of the shift roller 11 is an arc shape 11A as drawn with a broken line shown in FIG. 13A, the broken line shape shown with a broken line in FIG. The impact caused by the collision between the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 is large and vibration is generated.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing the positional relationship between the driven roller and the shift roller of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) The shift roller receives the transfer paper. The state immediately before or the state where the shift roller has returned to the reference position (home position), (b) the state where the shift roller conveys the transfer paper, (c) the state immediately before the shift of the transfer paper is completed, (d) the transfer paper FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the shift of the roller is completed, and FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a contact angle between the driven roller and the shift roller and a radius of the shift roller of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the shift roller 11 rotates, and the collision angle when the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 come into contact with each other (as shown in FIG. 13, the rotation center of the driven roller 12 and the shift center). Angle formed between a straight line connecting the notch shape 11B of the roller 11 to the contact point in contact with the outer periphery of the driven roller 12 and a straight line connecting the rotation center of the shift roller 11 and the rotation center of the driven roller 12) Even when the “contact angle” increases), the notch shape 11B of the shift roller 11 is formed such that the displacement of the radius R from the rotation center of the shift roller 11 does not increase (in FIG. 14). Therefore, the solid line graph of the radius R has a shape that gradually increases as the contact angle θ increases.) Therefore, the vibration is reduced by reducing the collision between the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12. The structure is less likely to cause movement.

  Further, the length of the arc shape 11A of the shift roller 11 is set to a length C or longer that can be conveyed to the downstream discharge roller 13 as shown in FIG. As described above, the shift roller 11 is formed into a deformed shape including the circular arc shape 11A and the cutout shape 11B for carrying the pressure, thereby realizing the pressure release with a simple configuration.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the transfer paper and the positions of the carry-out roller, shift roller, and discharge roller of the image forming apparatus equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The state in which the shift roller has received the transfer paper, (b) the state in which the transfer roller transports the transfer paper, (c) the state in which the shift of the transfer paper has been completed, and (d) the shift roller has returned to the reference position (home position). It is a figure which shows a state, respectively.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the shaft 60 is slidably supported in the Y direction by thrust bearings 71 and 72 provided on the opening / closing guide member 31. The thrust bearings 71 and 72 are pressed downward by coil springs 76 and 76 as urging means so that the driven roller 12 supported by the shaft 60 is pressed against the shift roller 11 shown in FIG. The opening / closing guide member 31 is mounted.

  Retaining rings 73 and 74 are fitted to both ends of the shaft 60. Return shafts 75 and 75 are mounted on the shaft 60 between the retaining ring 73 and the thrust bearing 71 and between the retaining ring 74 and the thrust bearing 72, respectively, and return to the reference position shown in FIG. Gives return habits.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is disposed on the downstream side of the opening / closing guide member 31. The paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is supported so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around the support shaft 53 so that the conveyance path C can be opened and closed. A thin plate-like elastic member 42 attached to the lower guide member 41 is in pressure contact with the discharge opening / closing guide member 51 in a wide range from the center to the front end. The conveyance path C is formed in

  In FIG. 2, the driven roller 14 is rotatably supported by a paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51. When the paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is in the closed position shown in FIG. And the discharge roller 13 rotatably supported by the guide member 54 disposed opposite to the guide member 54.

  The guide member 54 is detachably fastened to the base (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1 with a screw. In the vicinity of the paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51, an open / close guide detection sensor S5 for detecting the open / close state of the paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is disposed. The open / close guide detection sensor S5 is configured to be turned on while the paper discharge open / close guide member 51 is closed.

  The paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is configured to move slightly upward by a swinging means (not shown) during the shift operation so that the discharge roller 13 and the driven roller 14 are separated from each other. Therefore, the transfer sheet S is not sandwiched between the discharge roller 13 and the driven roller 14 during the shift operation, and transmission of the rotational driving force from the discharge roller 13 is cut off.

  Next, the shift means according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the shift means of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the shift means 90 selectively moves the drive shaft 80 that supports the shift roller 11 in the Y direction orthogonal to the transport direction X.

  The drive shaft 80 is rotatably supported by a fixed bearing 77 and a thrust bearing 78 and is disposed in parallel with the shaft 60. A shift drive motor 62 and a link gear 63 constituting the shift drive unit 99 are attached to the bracket 61 fixed to the base of the image forming apparatus 1 (not shown).

  The link gear 63 is disposed so as to mesh with a drive gear 64 mounted on the output shaft of the shift drive motor 62. The shift drive motor 62 is a motor that can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. The link gear 63 is provided with a pin 63a at a position offset from the rotation center by a predetermined distance to the outer peripheral side.

  The pin 63a is inserted into and engaged with a long groove 52a of a link member 52 provided on one end side of the drive shaft 80. A shift home sensor S <b> 3 for detecting the reference position of the shift roller 11 is attached to the bracket 61. The reference position of the shift roller 11 is a standby position where the transfer sheet S is received in the conveyance path C and is nipped and pressed. The shift home sensor S3 is composed of an optical sensor configured to be turned on when the shift roller 11 is located at the reference position (home position) shown in FIG.

  The thrust bearing 78 is fixed to the base of the image forming apparatus 1 (not shown), and supports the drive shaft 80 slidably in the Y direction. The fixed bearing 77 is provided integrally with the link member 52 and rotatably supports the drive shaft 80. A drive shaft 80 in the vicinity of the fixed bearing 77 is provided with a pulley 79 that rotates once for each sheet of transfer paper S that is carried in by receiving a rotational driving force transmitted from a shift conveyance motor (not shown).

  The pulley 79 supports the drive shaft 80 so as to be slidable in the Y direction, and is splined to the drive shaft 80 so as to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 80 when a rotational driving force is transmitted. The member to which the rotational driving force is transmitted may use a gear instead of the pulley. The width of the shift roller 11 in the Y direction is set such that the driven roller 12 is not detached from the shift roller 11 even if a shift occurs and the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are displaced.

  In FIG. 3, when the link gear 63 rotates in the clockwise direction, the link member 52 also rotates in the same direction, and the drive shaft 80 and the shift roller 11 are on one side in the Y direction with respect to the reference position (home position). Move in the direction. When the link gear 63 rotates counterclockwise, the link member 52 also rotates in the same direction, and the drive shaft 80 and the shift roller 11 are in the Y2 direction, which is the other end side in the Y direction, with the reference position (home position) as a boundary. Moving.

  That is, the drive shaft 80 and the shift roller 11 are displaced to both sides of the reference position (home position). As shown in FIG. 5, a filler 63 b detected by the shift home sensor S <b> 3 protrudes from the outer periphery of the link gear 63 on the link gear 63. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the reference position (home position) of the shift means and the transfer sheet of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Next, a circuit configuration of the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control means of the image forming apparatus equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the sheet processing apparatus includes a control unit 91. The control unit 91 includes a known microcomputer, and is connected to a shift drive circuit 92, a shift transport drive circuit 98, and a paper discharge opening / closing guide plate drive circuit 93.

  The shift drive circuit 92 is electrically connected to a shift drive unit (motor or the like) 62 that is a drive source of the shift means 90 (FIG. 3). A shift conveyance drive unit (such as a motor) 99 (not shown) is electrically connected to the shift conveyance drive circuit 98. The paper discharge opening / closing guide plate driving circuit 93 is electrically connected to a paper discharge opening / closing guide driving unit (motor or the like) 94 of the paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51.

  The control unit 91 is electrically connected to a shift mode key 95 as a shift mode selection unit, a non-shift mode key 96 as a normal mode selection unit that cancels the shift mode and sets the normal mode, and sensors S1 to S5. Has been.

  The rotation angle of the shift drive unit (motor) 62 is preset in the control unit 91. The control unit 91 stops when the shift drive unit (motor) 62 is rotated by a predetermined angle, and when the shift operation is finished, reverses the shift drive unit (motor) 62 until the filler 63b is detected by the shift home sensor S3. It is configured to rotate.

  The control unit 91 uses a shift driving unit (motor) so that the shift roller 11 moves in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction by a distance half the offset discharge amount α on the discharge tray 5 with the reference position (home position) as a boundary. 62 is controlled.

  Next, a schematic operation of the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 12A to 12D, the conveyance roller 9, the shift roller 11, and the discharge roller 13 are sequentially conveyed from the bottom to the right side, and the transfer state of the transfer sheet S at each stage is illustrated on the left side. It is described how the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 having 11B and the arc shape 11A are rotated through the transfer paper S at each stage.

  When the transfer sheet S supplied from the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 is transported to the transport path C and the transfer sheet S is detected by the entrance sensor S1, a drive motor of a drive mechanism (not shown) is driven to shift the shift roller. Each roller except 11 starts to rotate.

  When the supplied transfer sheet S is guided between the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 by switching the deflection claw 2, as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 13 (a), a shift conveyance drive unit ( The motor 99 is driven. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the collision angle (contact angle) when the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 come into contact (as shown in FIG. 13, the rotation center of the driven roller 12 and the shift roller 11). The angle (θ) between the straight line connecting the notch shape 11B of the roller 11 and the contact point in contact with the outer periphery of the driven roller 12 and the straight line connecting the rotation center of the shift roller 11 and the rotation center of the driven roller 12 is made as small as possible. Thus, the vibration generated when the driven roller 12 and the shift roller 11 collide is reduced.

  When the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S passes between the transport roller 9 and the driven roller 10 (FIG. 1B) (FIG. 12B), the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 sandwich the transfer sheet S ( The shift operation is started by the shift means 90 shown in FIGS.

  The transfer sheet S is in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction X up to the position A in FIG. 6 or the position B in FIG. 7 that is shifted from the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. It is moved in either the shift direction Y1 or Y2 direction. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the first shift position (position A) and the transfer paper with respect to the reference position (home position) of the image forming apparatus equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the relationship between the transfer position and the second shift position (position B) with respect to the reference position (home position) of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  That is, the transfer paper S is moved in the axial direction (Y direction) of the shift roller 11. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12C, the shift roller 11 is in a state where the transfer sheet S is held at a position rotated by 180 °. The paper discharge opening / closing guide member 51 (FIG. 2) is held in the open state until the shift operation is completed. For this reason, the rotational driving force of the discharge roller 13 is not transmitted to the transfer paper S and does not hinder the shift operation.

  When the shift operation is completed, the connection opening / closing guide driving unit (motor) 94 rotates in the closing direction, and the sheet discharge opening / closing guide member 51 is brought into the closed state shown in FIG. Thus, the transfer sheet S shifted to position A (FIG. 6) or position B (FIG. 7) is offset in the Y1 direction or Y2 direction with respect to the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. Discharged.

  When the closed state of the opening / closing guide member 51 is completed, the shift roller 11 is rotated from the driven roller 12 (FIG. 13 (a)) by one rotation from FIG. 12 (a) as shown in FIG. 12 (d). Stop at position. After stopping, in preparation for receiving the next transfer sheet S, the shift roller 11 moves from the shift position shown in FIG. 6 or 7 to the reference position (home position) shown in FIG.

  At this time, since the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are separated from each other, even if the shift roller 11 is moved, the transfer sheet S being conveyed does not move together. Even when the next transfer sheet S1 reaches the shift roller 11, the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are separated from each other, so that the transfer sheet S can be reliably received.

  Next, a shift process of the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The shift operation performed by the shift process is operated by the shift mode key 95 shown in FIG. 8, and the shift mode is set in step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 100 in FIG. 10 (S100: YES). To be executed. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the mode processing operation of the image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  A shift conveyance motor (not shown) is driven from the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. 12A to rotate the shift roller 11. After that, when the shift drive unit (motor) 62 is driven from the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. 5 and the link gear 63 (FIG. 3) rotates clockwise, the pin 63 a also rotates in the same direction and the link 52. Is moved in the Y2 direction.

  As a result, the shift roller 11 moves in the Y2 direction, and along with this movement, the transfer sheet S moves to the position A indicated by the broken line in FIG. 6, and the driven roller 12 that is in pressure contact with the transfer sheet S also shifts. The movement of the shift roller 11 is followed by the pressurization due to the friction and the friction between the transfer paper S.

  While the shift roller 11 is moving in the Y2 direction, the shift roller 11 rotates and conveys the transfer paper S. The conveyance by the shift roller 11 continues even after the shift is completed, and stops at the position where the driven roller 12 has made one rotation.

  Thereafter, the shift roller 11 and the drive shaft 80 (FIG. 3) return to the reference position (home position), the driven roller 12 is separated from the shift roller 11, and the reference spring shown in FIG. Return to position (home position). For this reason, at the start of the shift operation, the driven roller 12 is always at the reference position (home position) shown in FIG.

  The shift operation is performed for each sheet of transfer paper S being conveyed. As shown in FIG. 5, the shift roller 11 receives the transfer sheet S at the reference position (home position). Then, as shown in position A in FIG. 6, when the link gear 63 rotates, for example, 90 degrees by the rotation of the shift drive unit (motor) 62, the shift roller 11 moves to the position indicated by the broken line, and the shift roller 11 and the driven roller are moved. The transfer sheet S sandwiched between 12 moves by a predetermined shift amount while being conveyed, and is moved to a shift position Sa indicated by a broken line. When the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S with respect to the conveyance direction X is released from the nip portion where the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are in contact with each other, the shift driving unit (motor) 62 rotates in the reverse direction. The shift roller 11 returns to the reference position (home position) shown in FIG.

  When the filler 63b shields the shift home sensor S3, the shift drive unit (motor) 62 stops and the return operation ends. Within the same job (within a predetermined number of transfer sheets S determined in advance), the operation cycle from the reference position (home position) to position A and from position A to reference position (home position) is repeated. This cycle is hereinafter referred to as “cycle A”.

  When the shift operation of a predetermined number of transfer sheets S is completed, the operation shifts to the next job. In the next job, the shift roller 11 receives the transfer sheet S at the reference position (home position), and in the previous job, the direction opposite to the rotational direction in which the shift roller 11 is moved from the reference position (home position) to position A. The shift drive unit (motor) 62 is rotated, for example, the link gear 63 is rotated 90 degrees.

  Then, as shown in position B in FIG. 7, the shift roller 11 moves to the position indicated by the broken line, and the transfer paper S sandwiched between the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 is transported by a predetermined shift. It moves by the amount and moves to the shift position Sb indicated by the broken line. When the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S with respect to the conveyance direction X is released from the nip portion where the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are in contact with each other, the shift driving unit (motor) 62 rotates in the reverse direction. When the filler 63b shields the shift home sensor S3, the shift drive unit (motor) 62 stops, and the return operation for returning the shift roller 11 to the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. 5 is completed.

  Within the same job (within a predetermined number of predetermined transfer sheets S), the aforementioned operation cycle is repeated from the reference position (home position) to position B and from position B to reference position (home position). This cycle is hereinafter referred to as “cycle B”.

  By repeating these cycles A and B, sorting of the discharge position of the transfer sheet S with respect to the discharge tray 5 is selectively executed. The offset discharge amount of the transfer sheet S when discharging and sorting the transfer sheet S to the discharge tray 5 is α, and the home position of the shift roller 11 is the reference position as shown in FIG.

  With the reference position (home position) as a boundary, the transfer sheet S is moved using the shift means 90 (FIG. 3) in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction that are both sides of the Y direction that is the axial direction of the drive shaft 80 (FIG. 3). Accordingly, the operation amount of each shift can be performed by half the offset discharge amount α of the transfer paper S, that is, α / 2. In this embodiment, the discharge position of the transfer sheet S with respect to the discharge tray 5 is a total of three positions, that is, the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. 5 and the two shift positions shown in FIGS. Here, an example in which the order of the shift operation starts from the cycle A and shifts to the cycle B has been described. However, it may be configured to start from the cycle B and shift to the cycle A.

  The non-shift process, which is a normal discharge operation, is executed when the non-shift mode key 96 (FIG. 8) is operated and the shift mode is not set in S100 of FIG. 10 (S100: NO). That is, in the normal transfer paper discharge mode, which is a non-shift mode that does not require sorting of the transfer paper S, the shift roller 11 receives the transfer paper S at the reference position (home position) shown in FIG. While being held, the transfer sheet S is nipped and conveyed by the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 and discharged to the discharge tray 5. At this time, the shift roller rotates once as in the shift mode described above.

  Thus, as the control timing of the shift means 90 (FIG. 3), the shift process is performed when the shift mode is set in the process of S100 shown in FIG. 10 (S100: YES), and the shift mode is set. If not (S100: NO), non-shift processing is performed.

  The operation of the shift means 90 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the timing of the shift operation of the image forming apparatus equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is equipped with the paper processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of shift processing of the image forming apparatus.

  In FIG. 11, in the processing of S110, it is determined whether or not the leading edge of the paper (transfer paper S) conveyed to the paper processing apparatus has passed through the nip portion where the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are in contact. The As shown in FIG. 9, this determination is made after the leading edge of the transfer sheet S has passed through the inlet sensor S1 and the sensor is turned on ("H" level), and then the shift conveyance drive unit (motor) 99 is turned on ("H" It is performed within T3, which is the time until “level”. In S110, when the leading edge of the sheet (transfer sheet S) passes through the nip portion where the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are in contact (S110: YES), the process proceeds to S111, and the sheet (transfer sheet S). When the tip of the roller does not pass through the nip portion that is the contact portion between the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 (S110: NO), it waits until it passes.

  When the time T3 elapses, in the process of S111 in FIG. 11, the shift conveyance drive unit (motor) 99 (FIG. 8) is driven (ON) (“H” level), whereby the shift roller 11 is rotated once and transferred. The paper S is conveyed. Next, in the process of S101, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S that has been transported to the sheet processing apparatus has passed through the nip portion of the transport roller 9 and the driven roller 10.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the determination is made by the shift drive unit (motor) 62 (FIG. 8) after the trailing edge of the transfer sheet S passes through the entrance sensor S1 and the sensor is turned off (“L” level). This is performed within a time T1 until the signal is turned on (“H” level). In S101, when the rear end of the sheet (transfer sheet S) passes through the nip portion where the shift roller 9 and the driven roller 10 are in contact (S101: YES), the process proceeds to S102 and the sheet (transfer sheet S) is transferred. ), When the rear end does not pass through the nip portion where the shift roller 9 and the driven roller 10 are in contact (S101: NO), the process returns to S110.

  When the time T1 elapses, in the process of S102, the shift roller 11 is moved by driving (turning on) ("H" level) the shift drive unit (motor) 62, and the transfer sheet S is moved (shifted) by a predetermined amount. Let In this case, the shift direction is moved in the direction opposite to the movement direction in the previous job.

  In the process of S103, it is determined whether or not the shift operation is completed. When the shift operation is completed (S103: YES), the process proceeds to S104 and the paper discharge opening / closing guide driving unit (motor) 94 (FIG. 8). ) Is driven to close the discharge opening / closing guide 51 (FIG. 2), and the driven roller 14 is pressed against the discharge roller 13. When the shift operation is not completed (S103: NO), the process waits until it is completed.

  In the process of S105, it is determined whether or not the rear end of the sheet (transfer sheet S) is released from the nip portion where the shift roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are in contact with each other. This determination is made based on the relative time after the trailing edge of the sheet (transfer sheet S) passes through the entrance sensor S1 and the sensor is turned off.

  When the trailing edge of the sheet (transfer sheet S) passes through the shift roller 11 (S105: YES), the process proceeds to S106, and the shift drive unit (motor) 62 rotates in the opposite direction to the process of S102. By doing so, the shift roller 11 is returned to the reference position (home position). In the process of S105, when the trailing edge of the sheet (transfer sheet S) does not pass through the shift roller 11 (S105: NO), the process waits until it passes. In the process of S107, it is determined whether or not the rear end of the sheet (transfer sheet S) is released from the nip portion where the discharge roller 13 and the driven roller 14 are in contact with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 9, this determination is made after the trailing edge of the sheet (transfer sheet S) has passed through the sheet discharge sensor S4 and the sensor is turned off ("L" level). ) 94 (FIG. 8) is performed within the time T2 until the reverse rotation ("L" level). When the time T2 elapses, in the process of S108, the paper discharge opening / closing guide driving unit (motor) 94 is driven (ON) ("L" level) to open the paper discharge opening / closing guide 51 (FIG. 2). Move on to processing.

  In the process of S109, it is determined whether or not the job for the set number of transfer sheets S has been completed. When the job has not been completed (S109: NO), the above process is repeated. When the next job is executed after the previous job is completed, the transfer sheet S is shifted by moving the shift roller 11 in the opposite direction to the previous job in the process of S102.

  In the process of S109, when all the jobs are completed (S109: YES), the process ends. In this way, by selectively repeating the shift operation, sorting discharge in which the transfer sheet S is selectively shifted with respect to the discharge tray 5 and discharged is realized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the conveyance roller is formed by the nipping part that nips the transfer paper and the non-nipping part that does not nip, and the driving roller is driven by reducing the collision angle between the driven roller and the nipping part. Since the vibration due to the impact between the roller and the driven roller is reduced, a paper processing apparatus and image forming that can perform high-quality sorting with low cost, small size, and low power consumption without providing a pressure release mechanism or vibration reduction mechanism An apparatus can be provided.

  Further, according to the present invention, the outer periphery of one rotation of the conveyance roller is formed by a nipping part that nips the transfer paper sheet and a non-nipping part that does not nip, and the conveyance and shift are performed by the nipping part, and the return operation is performed by the non-nipping part Accordingly, the next transfer sheet can be received while performing the return operation, and a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus with high production efficiency can be provided.

  The present invention has been described above by the preferred embodiments of the present invention. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2, 4 Deflection claw 3 Proof tray 5 Discharge tray 6 Conveying roller (pair)
7, 9, 15, 16, 81 Conveying roller 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 Drive roller 11 Shift roller 11A Arc shape 11B Notch shape 12, 14 Drive roller 13 Discharge roller 20, 21 Jogger fence 22 Return rollers 23, 24 Rear end fence 25 Stiplar 26 Release claw 31 Opening / closing guide member 41 Lower guide member 42 Elastic member 51 Discharge opening / closing guide member 52 Link member 52a Long groove 53, 55 Support shaft 54 Guide member 55 Support shaft 60 Shaft 61 Bracket 62 Shift drive (motor, etc.)
63 Link gear 63a Pin 63b Filler 64 Drive gear 71, 72 Thrust bearing 73, 74 Retaining ring 75 Return spring 76 Coil spring 77 Fixed bearing 78 Thrust bearing 79 Pulley 80 Drive shaft 90 Shift means 91 Control unit 92 Shift drive circuit 93 Discharge opening / closing Guide plate drive circuit 94 Paper discharge open / close guide drive (motor, etc.)
95 Shift mode selection means (shift mode key)
96 Normal mode selection means (non-shift mode key)
98 Shift conveyance drive circuit 99 Shift conveyance drive unit (motor, etc.)
α Offset discharge amount α / 2 Half of offset discharge amount A, B, C, D Conveyance path E Staple unit R Radius S Recording material (transfer paper)
S1 Entrance sensor S2 Paper surface detection sensor S3 Shift home sensor S4 Paper discharge sensor S5 Open / close guide detection sensor S6 Shift conveyance sensor X Conveyance direction Y Width direction

JP 2009-286561 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-033459

Claims (8)

A main conveying means that rotates about an axis;
A sub-conveying means that rotates depending on the rotation of the main conveying means with a point on the same straight line as the center as a central axis,
The outer periphery of the main conveying means has an arc shape having a predetermined radius from the center and a notch shape in which an arc having a dimension smaller than the radius is cut out in a sectional view,
The outer periphery of the sub-transport means has an arc shape having a predetermined radius from the center in the cross-sectional view,
When a sheet is carried into the contact surface between the main transport unit and the sub transport unit, the center of the sub transport unit and the contact point at which the notch shape contacts the outer periphery of the sub transport unit in the sectional view. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein an angle formed between a connecting straight line and the same straight line is minimum.   A moving unit configured to move the main conveying unit in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the paper is carried in; the paper carried out from the contact surface is orthogonal to the carrying-out direction of the paper by the moving unit; The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is moved to a predetermined position.   3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the sheet is moved to the predetermined position, the arc shape of the main conveying unit and the sub conveying unit abuts on the contact surface. .   3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein after the sheet is moved to a predetermined position, the moving unit returns the main conveying unit to a position before the movement.   The notch shape of the main transport unit and the arc shape of the sub transport unit are opposed to the contact surface when the main transport unit is returned to the position before the movement. Item 5. A sheet processing apparatus according to Item 4.   The apparatus further includes a discharge unit that is provided at a subsequent stage of the main transport unit and discharges the unloaded paper to the outside. The length of the arc of the arc shape of the main transport unit is between the main transport unit and the discharge unit. 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus has a distance equal to or greater than the distance.   There are a plurality of directions orthogonal to the direction in which the paper is carried in, and the moving means selects an orthogonal direction different from the orthogonal direction selected most recently when moving the main conveying means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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