JP2015009955A - Sheet processing device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device and an image formation device such that a press member can be moved to a press position and a standby position without using any dedicated motor.SOLUTION: When a sheet is loaded in sheet loading means, a bundle presser 115 is driven by one-way drive means 115A to rotate, and the sheet is moved to a press position where the sheet is pressed while a press part 115a stays elastically deformed. Once the driving by the one-way drive means 115A is ceased, reversing restriction means 115B restricts rotation of the bundle presser 115 in a pressing release direction caused by restoring force of the press part 115a staying elastically deformed. After a next sheet is discharged, the bundle presser 115 is driven by the one-way drive means 115A to rotate, so that the bundle presser 115 is moved to a standby position where the bundle presser 115 separates from the sheet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a configuration of a pressing unit that presses a sheet discharged to a sheet stacking unit after processing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile, and a composite machine thereof include a sheet processing apparatus that performs a binding process on a sheet on which an image is formed. This sheet processing apparatus is provided with an intermediate processing tray in the apparatus, a plurality of sheets are stacked on the intermediate processing tray to form a sheet bundle, and after the sheet bundle is subjected to processing such as binding processing, the sheet It discharges to the loading means.

  The sheet processing apparatus receives the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, and then stacks the sheet on the processing tray, performs sheet alignment and binding processing on the processing tray, and performs the processing after performing such processing. The discharged sheet bundle is discharged to the sheet stacking means.

  By the way, in such a sheet processing apparatus, when sheets or sheet bundles are sequentially discharged to the sheet stacking means, the sheets or sheet bundles discharged and stacked on the sheet stacking means in advance are discharged subsequently or There is a case where the sheet is moved by being pushed by the sheet bundle. In this case, the stackability of sheets and sheet bundles (hereinafter referred to as sheets) discharged to the sheet stacking means is lowered. Therefore, conventionally, there is a technique in which the trailing end of the discharged sheet or the like is pressed by a pressing member so that the discharged sheet or the like is not pushed out by the sheet stacking unit (see Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2009-173401 A

  By the way, in the conventional sheet processing apparatus including the pressing member and the image forming apparatus including the pressing member, after the sheet or the like is discharged to the sheet stacking unit, the sheet or the like is moved to a predetermined stacking position of the sheet stacking unit. Move to a retracted position that does not hinder the movement of the. That is, conventionally, when pressing the rear end of a discharged sheet or the like, the pressing member is moved to the pressing position, and when the sheet or the like is discharged to the stacking tray, the pressing member is moved to the retracted position. .

  Here, the pressing position and retraction position of the pressing member are moved by forward / reverse rotation driving of a dedicated motor. However, when the dedicated motor is used in this way, the cost becomes high.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of moving a pressing member to a pressing position and a retracted position without using a dedicated motor. It is intended to do.

  In the sheet processing apparatus, the present invention includes a processing unit that processes sheets, a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets processed by the processing unit, and an elastic pressing unit, and is stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A rotatable pressing means for pressing and holding one end portion of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction while elastically deforming the pressing portion, and driving the pressing means to rotate in the pressing direction for pressing the sheet, A one-way driving means that does not drive in a direction that rotates in a direction opposite to the direction, and a reverse rotation restricting means that allows rotation of the pressing means in the pressing direction and restricts rotation in the pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction. When the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking means, the pressing means is rotated by the one-way driving means to elastically change the pressing section. When the drive of the one-way drive means stops when the sheet is moved in the pressed state and the driving of the one-way drive means stops, the presser of the presser means by the restoring force of the presser part in the elastically deformed state by the reverse rotation restricting means The rotation in the release direction is restricted, and after the next sheet is discharged, the pressing means is rotated by the one-way driving means to move the pressing means from the pressing position to a retracted position that is separated from the sheet. It is what.

  As in the present invention, the pressing member is moved to the pressing position and the retracted position by the one-way driving means, and the pressing member is held at the pressing position by the reverse rotation restricting means, so that the pressing member can be moved without using a dedicated motor. It can be moved to the holding position and the retracted position.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the finisher which is the said sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the finisher. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a sheet binding process operation of the finisher. The figure explaining the sheet | seat binding process operation | movement of the said finisher. The figure explaining the drive mechanism which drives the drawing-in paddle of the said finisher. The figure explaining the drive mechanism which drives a bundle presser while raising / lowering the drawing-in paddle of the said finisher. The principal part enlarged view of the drive mechanism which drives the bundle presser while raising / lowering the said drawing paddle. The figure which shows operation | movement of the drive mechanism which drives the bundle presser while raising / lowering the pull-in paddle of the said finisher.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 900 denotes an image forming apparatus, 900A denotes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body), and 900B denotes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet. Reference numeral 950 denotes an image reading apparatus provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 900A and provided with a document conveying apparatus 950A. Reference numeral 100 denotes a finisher which is a sheet processing apparatus disposed between the upper surface of the apparatus main body 900A and the image reading apparatus 950. is there.

  Here, the image forming unit 900B irradiates the photosensitive drums a to d that form toner images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and irradiates a laser beam on the photosensitive drum based on the image information. An exposure device 906 for forming an electrostatic latent image is provided. The photosensitive drums a to d are driven by a motor (not shown), and a primary charger, a developing device, and a transfer charger (not shown) are arranged around the process drums 901a to 901a. It is unitized as 901d.

  Further, the image forming unit 900B includes an intermediate transfer belt 902 that is rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow, a secondary transfer unit 903 that sequentially transfers a full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 902 to the sheet P, and the like. Then, a transfer bias is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 902 by the transfer chargers 902a to 902d, whereby each color toner image on the photosensitive drum is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 902 in a multiple transfer manner. As a result, a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt.

  The secondary transfer unit 903 includes a secondary transfer counter roller 903b that supports the intermediate transfer belt 902, and a secondary transfer roller 903a that contacts the secondary transfer counter roller 903b via the intermediate transfer belt 902. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 909 denotes a registration roller, 904 denotes a paper feed cassette, and 908 denotes a pickup roller that feeds the sheet P stored in the paper feed cassette 904.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 900 configured as described above will be described. When the image forming operation is started, the exposure device 906 first irradiates a laser beam based on image information from a personal computer (not shown), and the surface of the photosensitive drum a is uniformly charged with a predetermined polarity and potential. The surfaces of -d are sequentially exposed to form electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums a-d. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner and visualized.

  For example, the photosensitive drum a is first irradiated with laser light based on the image signal of the yellow component color of the original document through a polygon mirror of the exposure device 906 to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum a. The yellow electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner from a developing device and visualized as a yellow toner image. Thereafter, the toner image arrives at the primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drum a and the intermediate transfer belt 902 come into contact with the rotation of the photosensitive drum a. When the toner image arrives at the primary transfer portion in this way, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 902 by the primary transfer bias applied to the transfer charger 902a (1 Next transfer).

  Next, when the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 902 carrying the yellow toner image moves, the magenta toner image formed on the photosensitive drum b by the same method as described above is transferred from the yellow toner image to the intermediate transfer belt. Transferred to 902. Similarly, as the intermediate transfer belt 902 moves, the cyan toner image and the black toner image are transferred onto the yellow toner image and the magenta toner image, respectively, in the primary transfer portion. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 902.

  In parallel with this toner image forming operation, the sheets P stored in the paper feed cassette 904 are sent out one by one by the pickup roller 908. Then, the sheet P reaches the registration roller 909, the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 909, and then conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 903. Thereafter, in the secondary transfer portion 903, the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 902 are collectively transferred onto the sheet P by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 903a serving as a transfer unit. (Secondary transfer).

  Next, the sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is guided from the secondary transfer unit 903 to the conveyance guide 920 and conveyed to the fixing unit 905, and is fixed by receiving heat and pressure when passing through the fixing unit 905. . Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image is fixed in this manner passes through a discharge passage 921 provided downstream of the fixing unit 905, is discharged by a discharge roller pair 918, and is conveyed to the finisher 100.

  Here, the finisher 100 sequentially takes in the sheets discharged from the apparatus main body 900A, aligns the plurality of received sheets and bundles them into one bundle, and the upstream end (hereinafter, rear end) of the bundled sheet bundle in the sheet discharge direction. Binding process is performed. As shown in FIG. 2, the finisher 100 includes a processing unit 139 that performs binding processing as necessary, and discharges and stacks sheets on the stacking tray 114. The processing unit 139 includes an intermediate processing tray 107 that is a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets to be bound, and a binding unit 100A that includes a stapler 110 that binds the sheets P stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107. .

  Further, the intermediate processing tray 107 has a front and a rear side that regulate (align) both side end positions in the width direction (depth direction) of the sheet conveyed from the direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the apparatus main body 900A to the intermediate processing tray 107. Matching plates 109a and 109b are provided. The front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b, which are side edge alignment means for aligning the width side edge positions of the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107, are driven by an alignment motor M253 shown in FIG. 4 to be described later. To move in the width direction.

  The front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b are normally moved to a receiving position for receiving a sheet by an alignment motor M253 that is driven based on a detection signal from an alignment HP sensor (not shown). When regulating the positions of both side edges of the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107, the alignment motor M253 is driven, and the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b are moved along the width direction so as to be on the intermediate processing tray. It is made to contact | abut to the both ends of the sheet | seat loaded in.

  In addition, a pull-in paddle 106 is disposed above and below the intermediate processing tray 107 in the transport direction so as to be movable up and down. The pull-in paddle 106 drives the paddle elevating / bundle holding motor M252 based on detection information of a paddle HP sensor S243 shown in FIG. 4 to be described later before the sheet is carried into the processing unit 139. It will be in the state where it waited in the upper direction without getting in the way.

  Further, when the sheet is discharged to the intermediate processing tray 107, the pull-in paddle 106 moves downward and comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet, and is counterclockwise at an appropriate timing by a conveyance motor M250 shown in FIG. Rotates while elastically deforming. By this rotation, the sheet is pulled in, and the trailing end of the sheet, which is one end in the sheet discharging direction, is abutted against the trailing end stopper 108. Here, in the present embodiment, the pull-in paddle 106, the rear end stopper 108, and the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b constitute an alignment unit 130 that aligns the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107. The

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 112 denotes a rear end assist that is a moving means that can move along the sheet discharging direction. The rear end assist 112 is moved from a position not hindering movement of the stapler 110 to a receiving position for receiving a sheet by an assist motor M254 driven based on a detection signal of an assist HP sensor S244 shown in FIG. The trailing edge assist 112 is driven by an assist motor M254 to discharge the sheet bundle to the stacking tray 114 after the binding process is performed on the sheet bundle as will be described later.

  Further, the finisher 100 includes an entrance roller 101 and a discharge roller 103 for taking a sheet into the apparatus, and the sheet P discharged from the apparatus main body 900 </ b> A is delivered to the entrance roller 101. At this time, the sheet delivery timing is also detected by the entrance sensor S240. Then, the sheets P delivered to the entrance roller 101 are sequentially discharged to the intermediate processing tray 107 by the discharge roller 103 which is a sheet discharge means, and thereafter, the trailing edge stopper is returned by the return means such as the pull-in paddle 106 and the knurled belt 117. 108. Thereby, alignment of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction is performed, and a sheet bundle subjected to alignment processing is formed.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 105 denotes a trailing edge drop, and the trailing edge drop 105 is pushed up by the sheet P passing through the discharge roller 103 as shown in FIG. Then, when the sheet P passes through the discharge roller 103, the trailing edge drop 105 falls by its own weight and pushes down the trailing edge of the sheet P from above as shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a static elimination needle, and 115 denotes a bundle presser. The bundle presser 115 is rotated by a paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 shown in FIG. 4 to be described later, thereby pressing a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 114. S242 is a tray lower limit sensor, and S245 is a bundle presser HP sensor. S241 is a tray HP sensor, and when a sheet bundle shields the tray HP sensor S241, the stacking tray 114 is lowered by the tray lifting motor M251 shown in FIG. 4 to be described later until the tray HP sensor S241 is in a transmissive state. To determine the paper surface position.

  3 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 900. In FIG. 3, a control unit 200 is disposed at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 900A and controls the apparatus main body 900A and the finisher 100 as shown in FIG. This is a CPU circuit unit. The CPU circuit unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202 that stores control programs and the like, an area for temporarily storing control data, and a RAM 203 that is used as a work area for operations associated with control.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 209 denotes an external interface between the image forming apparatus 900 and an external PC (computer) 208. When the external interface 209 receives print data from the external PC 208, the external interface 209 expands the data into a bitmap image and outputs it as image data to the image signal control unit 206.

  The image signal control unit 206 outputs the data to the printer control unit 207, and the printer control unit 207 outputs the data from the image signal control unit 206 to an exposure control unit (not shown). An image of a document read by an image sensor (not shown) provided in the image reading device 950 is output from the image reader control unit 205 to the image signal control unit 206, and the image signal control unit 206 outputs this image output. Output to the printer control unit 207.

  The operation unit 210 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. Then, a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key by the user is output to the CPU circuit unit 200, and corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 200.

  The CPU circuit unit 200 controls the image signal control unit 206 in accordance with the control program stored in the ROM 202 and the setting of the operation unit 210, and at the same time the document conveying device 950A (FIG. 1) via the DF (document conveying device) control unit 204. Control). Further, the image reading device 950 (see FIG. 1) via the image reader control unit 205, the image forming unit 900B (see FIG. 1) via the printer control unit 207, and the finisher 100 via the finisher control unit 220, respectively. Control.

  In the present embodiment, a finisher control unit 220 that is a control unit is mounted on the finisher 100 and performs drive control of the finisher 100 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 200. Alternatively, the finisher control unit 220 may be disposed integrally with the CPU circuit unit 200 on the apparatus main body side so as to control the finisher 100 directly from the apparatus main body side.

  FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the finisher 100 according to the present embodiment. The finisher control unit 220 includes a CPU (microcomputer) 221, a ROM 222, and a RAM 223. The finisher control unit 220 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 200 via the communication IC 224 to exchange data, executes various programs stored in the ROM 222 based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 200, and executes the finisher 100. The drive control is performed.

  Further, the finisher control unit 220 drives a transport motor M250, a tray lifting / lowering motor M251, a paddle lifting / bundling motor M252, an alignment motor M253, an assist motor M254, an STP motor M256, and the like via a driver 225. The finisher control unit 220 is connected with an inlet sensor S240, a paper discharge sensor S246, a tray HP sensor S241, a tray lower limit sensor S242, a paddle HP sensor S243, an assist HP sensor S244, and a bundle presser HP sensor S245. The finisher control unit 220 drives the transport motor M250, the paddle lifting / bundling motor M252, the alignment motor M253, the STP motor M256, and the like based on the detection signals from these sensors.

  Next, the sheet binding processing operation of the finisher 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 900 is delivered to the entrance roller 101 driven by the carry motor M250 as shown in FIG. At this time, the leading edge of the sheet P is simultaneously detected by the entrance sensor S240.

  Here, when the job is started, the finisher control unit 220 moves the bundle presser 115 to a bundle press position for pressing the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 114 (S801). Note that there is no sheet bundle on the stacking tray 114 at the start of the job. Then, after the sheet P transferred to the entrance roller 101 is transferred to the discharge roller 103, as shown in FIG. Then, the sheet is discharged to the intermediate processing tray 107 while discharging (S802). The sheet P discharged to the intermediate processing tray 107 by the discharge roller 103 is pressed from above by the weight of the trailing edge drop 105, so that the time for the trailing edge of the sheet P to fall on the intermediate processing tray 107 is shortened. The

  Next, the finisher control unit 220 performs control in the intermediate processing tray based on the sheet trailing edge signal detected by the sheet discharge sensor S246. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B described above, the pull-in paddle 106 is lowered to the intermediate processing tray 107 side by the paddle raising / lowering / bundle pressing motor M252 and brought into contact with the sheet P. At this time, since the drawing paddle 106 is rotated counterclockwise by the conveyance motor M250, the sheet P is conveyed by the drawing paddle 106 toward the rear end stopper 108 in the right direction in the drawing, and thereafter, the sheet P The rear end is transferred to the knurled belt 117. When the rear end of the sheet P is transferred to the knurled belt 117, the paddle lifting / bucking motor M252 rotates and the pull-in paddle 106 rises. Then, when the paddle HP sensor S243 detects that the raised pull-in paddle 106 has reached HP, the finisher control unit 220 stops driving the paddle lifting / bundling motor M252.

  The sheet P conveyed by the pull-in paddle 106 is conveyed to the rear end stopper 108 by the knurled belt 117. The knurled belt 117 always urges the sheet P toward the trailing edge stopper 108 by conveying the sheet P to the trailing edge stopper 108 and then conveying the sheet P while slipping against the sheet P. By this slip conveyance, the skew of the sheet P can be corrected by abutting the sheet P against the rear end stopper 108. Next, after the sheet P is conveyed to the trailing end stopper 108 in this way (S803), the finisher control unit 220 drives the alignment motor M253 to move the alignment plate 109 in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction. The position in the width direction of P is aligned.

  After the alignment process by the alignment plate 109 (S804), it is determined whether the aligned sheet is the last sheet in the bundle (S805). If it is not the last sheet (N in S805), the processes from S802 to S804 are repeated. . As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, a sheet bundle PA aligned on the intermediate processing tray 107 is formed. When the aligned sheet is the last sheet (Y in S805), the finisher control unit 220 determines whether or not the binding process is set (S806). If the binding process is set (Y in S806), the STP motor M256 is driven to perform the binding process by the stapler 110 (S807).

  Thereafter, the finisher control unit 220 drives the assist motor M254 that moves the rear end assist 112 and the discharge claw 113. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the rear end assist 112 and the discharge claw 113 move while contacting the rear end of the sheet bundle PA, and the sheet bundle PA on the intermediate processing tray 107 is moved downstream in the sheet discharge direction. The sheet is discharged onto the stacking tray 114 that is inclined so that the side becomes higher (S808). If the binding process is not set (N in S806), the sheet bundle PA on the intermediate processing tray 107 is discharged onto the stacking tray 114 without performing the binding process (S808).

  Then, the discharged sheet bundle PA constitutes alignment means for aligning the position of the sheet bundle PA in the sheet discharge direction with the rear end that is one end in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet bundle PA by the inclination and the own weight of the stacking tray 114. Abutting against the matching wall surface 100a. Note that an opening 100b is formed in the alignment wall surface 100a so that the bundle retainer 115 can move to the bundle retainer position and the retreat position away from the sheets on the stacking tray.

  Here, the finisher control unit 220 shows the bundle presser 115 that has been moved to the bundle press position before landing on the stacking tray at the rear end of the sheet bundle discharged onto the stacking tray 114 as shown in FIG. It moves to the position retracted from the indicated stacking tray (S809). Then, after the rear end of the sheet bundle has landed on the stacking tray and abutted against the aligning wall surface 100a, the bundle presser 115 is rotated counterclockwise to pass through the opening 100b as shown in FIG. Then, the sheet is moved to a bundle pressing position for pressing the rear end portion of the sheet bundle PA (S810).

  Accordingly, the sheet bundle PA stacked on the stacking tray 114 and in contact with the alignment wall surface 100a can be prevented from being pushed out in the discharge direction by the sheet bundle to be discharged next. The finisher control unit 220 controls the driving of the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 based on the HP detection signal of the bundle retainer 115 from the bundle retainer HP sensor S245 to control the bundle retainer 115 to the bundle retaining position and the position. After moving to the retracted position, stop.

  When the sheet bundle PA blocks the tray HP sensor S241 after the bundle pressing operation by the bundle presser 115 is completed, the stacking tray 114 is lowered by the tray lifting / lowering motor M251 until the tray HP sensor S241 is in the transmission state. To determine the position of the page. By repeating the series of operations so far, a required number of sheet bundles PA can be discharged onto the stacking tray 114.

  During operation, when the stacking tray 114 descends and the tray lower limit sensor S242 is shielded, the full capacity of the stacking tray 114 is notified from the finisher control unit 220 to the CPU circuit unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 900, and image formation is performed. Canceled. Thereafter, when the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 114 is removed, the stacking tray 114 rises until the tray HP sensor S241 is shielded from light, and then descends and passes through the tray HP sensor S241. Confirmed.

  Thereby, image formation of the image forming apparatus 900 is resumed. Such an operation is repeated until the final sheet bundle is discharged. When the final sheet bundle is discharged (Y in S811), the bundle presser 115 is moved to the retracted position so that the user can easily take the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 114. (S812) and the job ends.

  Next, a driving mechanism for the pull-in paddle 106 and the bundle presser 115 and a paddle lifting mechanism for lifting the pull-in paddle 106 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a drive mechanism that drives the pull-in paddle 106, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a drive mechanism that drives the bundle presser 115 while moving the pull-in paddle 106 up and down.

  In FIG. 7, reference numeral 501 denotes a swing guide which is a support means provided so as to be movable up and down above the intermediate processing tray 107. The bottom surface of the swing guide 501 constitutes a guide when a sheet is conveyed. The swing guide 501 swings around a paddle drive shaft 502 rotatably supported by a finisher body (not shown), and a pull-in paddle 106 made of rubber having a large friction coefficient is provided at one swing end. The paddle rotation shaft 504 is supported so as to be rotatable. The paddle rotation shaft 504 is connected to the paddle drive shaft 502 via a paddle drive belt 505, whereby the pull-in paddle 106 rotates when the paddle drive shaft 502 rotates.

  The paddle drive shaft 502 is connected to the roller shaft 103a of the discharge roller 103 via a drive transmission belt 506, and the roller shaft 103a of the discharge roller 103 and the roller shaft 101a of the inlet roller 101 are connected via a conveyance transmission belt 509. Has been. The roller shaft 101a of the entrance roller 101 is connected to the drive shaft 250a of the transport motor M250 via the transport drive belt 510. With this drive configuration, the entrance roller 101, the discharge roller 103, and the pull-in paddle 106 rotate in the same direction in synchronization with the rotation of the transport motor M250. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 511 denotes a cam slide shaft protruding from the side surface of the swing guide 501.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 514 denotes a guide raising / lowering cam that rotates about a cam rotation shaft 513. ing. When the guide raising / lowering cam 514 rotates, the swing guide 501 moves up and down between the sheet receiving position (standby position) above the intermediate processing tray for receiving the sheet into the intermediate processing tray 107 and the sheet return position (conveying position). . The sheet receiving position is a position where the pull-in paddle 106 is separated from the intermediate processing tray 107 which does not prevent the sheet from being received. The sheet returning position is a position where the pull-in paddle 106 contacts the sheet and the sheet faces the trailing end stopper 108. This is the transport position.

  In the present embodiment, the cam slide shaft 511 enters a cam groove 514b formed in a guide elevating cam 514 shown in FIG. When the guide raising / lowering cam 514 rotates, the cam slide shaft 511 slides in the cam groove, so that the swing guide 501 moves up and down.

  Here, the cam rotation shaft 513 is provided with a one-way gear 512 which is a one-way clutch means including a one-way clutch (not shown) that transmits only one-way rotational drive. The one-way gear 512 is connected to a motor gear 523 of a paddle lifting / bucking motor M252. As shown in FIG. 9, a cam HP sensor flag 514a is provided on the side surface of the guide lifting cam 514. The paddle HP sensor S243 detects the cam HP sensor flag 514a, and the guide lifting cam 514 HP (home position) detection is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the bundle retainer 115 as the retainer includes a retainer 115 a made of an elastic member such as rubber and disposed on a bundle retainer shaft 518. The bundle presser shaft 518 is provided with a bundle presser HP sensor flag 520. When the bundle presser HP sensor flag 520 is detected by the bundle presser HP sensor S245, the HP of the bundle presser 115 is changed. To detect.

  At one end of the bundle pressing shaft 518, a one-way pulley 517 having a not-shown one-way clutch that transmits only one-way driving input is disposed. The one-way pulley 517 is connected to a paddle raising / lowering / bundle pressing motor M252 via a bundle pressing driving belt 516, a bundle pressing idler pulley / gear 515, and a motor gear 523. When the paddle elevating / bundle holding motor M252 is rotated, the bundle holding shaft 518 is rotated, and the bundle holding member 115 is pressed against the bundle holding position for pressing the rear end of the sheet bundle shown in FIG. The intermediate processing tray 107 shown in (a) of FIG.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the paddle lifting / bundling presser motor M252 is a pulse motor that can rotate forward and backward, and swings when the paddle lifting / bundling presser motor M252 rotates in the first rotation direction, that is, when it rotates forward. The guide 501 can be moved up and down. Further, when the paddle raising / lowering / bundle pressing motor M252 rotates in the second rotation direction, that is, when reverse, the bundle pressing 115 can be rotated and moved to a bundle pressing position for pressing the trailing edge of the sheet bundle.

  In FIG. 8, 115A transmits a driving force to the bundle retainer 115 so that the bundle retainer 115 rotates in the retaining direction for pressing the sheet bundle, and the bundle retainer 115 rotates in the direction opposite to the retaining direction. It is a one-way drive means that does not transmit drive. The one-way driving means 115A is composed of a one-way pulley 517, a bundle pressing drive belt 516, a bundle pressing idler pulley / gear 515, a motor gear 523, and a paddle lifting / lowering pressing motor M252 which is a drive means capable of forward and reverse rotation. When the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 is reversely rotated by the one-way driving means 115A, the bundle pressing member 115 can be rotated. However, even if the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 rotates forward, the bundle pressing member 115 remains in the pressing direction. Does not rotate in the reverse direction.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 115 </ b> B denotes reverse rotation restricting means that allows rotation in the pressing direction of the bundle presser 115 and restricts rotation in the pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction. The reverse rotation restricting means 115 </ b> B includes a bundle pressing gear 521 disposed at the other end of the bundle pressing shaft 518. Further, the reverse rotation restricting means 115B includes a reverse rotation preventing one-way gear 522 that is disposed on a shaft 522a fixed to a frame (not shown) via a one-way clutch (not shown) and is drivingly connected to the bundle pressing gear 521. Yes.

  Here, the direction of the one-way clutch of the reverse rotation preventing one-way gear 522 is set so as to restrict rotation in the direction opposite to the direction in which the bundle pressing shaft 518 rotates by the one-way pulley 517. Thereby, when the drive input to the bundle pressing shaft 518 is interrupted, it is possible to prevent the bundle pressing shaft 518 from rotating backward. As a result, in the state where the trailing edge of the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 114 is pressed, even if the input driving is interrupted, the bundle presser 115 is reversely rotated by the restoring force of the pressing portion 115a that is elastically deformed to hold the sheet. Can be regulated.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing the operation of the swing guide 501 and the bundle presser 115 according to the rotational direction of the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252. FIG. 10A shows a state in which the pull-in paddle 106 is in the raised position and the bundle presser 115 is in the bundle presser position. FIG. 10B shows the operation when the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 is driven to rotate forward.

  When the paddle raising / lowering / bundle pressing motor M252 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the motor gear 523 is driven to rotate in the arrow X direction. The rotation of the motor gear 523 rotates in the direction in which the one-way gear 512 transmits drive to the cam rotation shaft 513, so that the guide lifting cam 514 rotates clockwise. When the guide elevating cam 514 rotates in this way, the cam slide shaft 511 moves along the cam groove 514b, and the swing guide 501 moves up and down accordingly. At this time, the rotation of the motor gear 523 is transmitted to the one-way pulley 517, and the one-way pulley 517 rotates clockwise. However, even if the one-way pulley 517 rotates in this way, the one-way clutch incorporated in the one-way pulley 517 does not transmit driving to the bundle pressing shaft 518 and the bundle pressing 115 does not rotate.

  FIG. 10C shows the operation when the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 is rotated in the reverse direction. At this time, the motor gear 523 is driven and rotated in the arrow Y direction. In this case, since the one-way pulley 517 rotates in a direction to transmit the drive to the bundle pressing shaft 518, the bundle pressing shaft 518 is driven to rotate counterclockwise.

  Then, the rotation of the bundle pressing shaft 518 causes the bundle pressing member 115 to pass through the opening 100b formed in the alignment wall surface 100a shown in FIG. 6 described above while bending the pressing member 115a. Is moved to the bundle pressing position shown in FIG. At this time, the rotation direction of the motor gear 523 is the direction in which the one-way clutch of the one-way gear 512 is idle, so that the drive is not transmitted to the cam rotation shaft 513, and the swing guide 501 remains stopped.

  Next, when the bundle retainer 115 is moved to the bundle retainer position, the paddle raising / lowering / bundle retainer motor M252 is stopped, and the drive transmission to the bundle retainer 115 by the one-way driving means 115A is stopped. Thereby, the bundle presser 115 prepares for the discharge of the next sheet bundle in a state where the rear end portion of the discharged sheet bundle is pressed. Here, when the bundle presser 115 moves to the bundle presser position, the bundle presser 115 presses the sheet bundle P while bending it, so that the bundle presser shaft 518 tries to rotate clockwise by the elastic force in the direction of the dotted arrow T of the bundle presser 115. To do.

  However, even if the bundle pressing shaft 518 attempts to rotate in this direction, the bundle pressing gear 521 disposed at the other end of the bundle pressing shaft 518 is connected to the reverse rotation preventing one-way gear 522 as described above. The rotation of the pressing shaft 518 in the reverse direction is restricted. As a result, the bundle retainer shaft 518 does not rotate in the reverse direction, and the bundle retainer 115 maintains the bundle retainer position as it is. Thereafter, in order to process the next sheet bundle, the paddle lifting / bundling holding motor M252 is driven to rotate forward, but even when the paddle lifting / bundling holding motor M252 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, the reverse rotation restriction is performed. The rotation of the bundle pressing shaft 518 in the reverse direction is restricted by the means 115B. Thereby, the bundle presser 115 maintains the bundle press position as it is.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the one-way pulley 517 transmits the one-way drive of the paddle lifting / bundling motor M252 to the bundle pressing shaft 518 to move the bundle pressing 115 to the retracted position and the bundle pressing position. I try to let them. Further, the reverse rotation preventing one-way gear 522 restricts the rotation of the bundle pressing shaft 518 in the reverse direction after the bundle pressing 115 is moved to the bundle pressing position.

  As a result, the paddle lifting / bundling presser motor M252 that allows the pull-in paddle 106 to be lifted / lowered can be used as a common motor for driving the bundle presser 115, and cost reduction and space saving can be achieved. Further, when the bundle retainer 115 is in the bundle retainer position, even if the driving from the one-way driving means 115A is interrupted, the reverse rotation due to the bending elastic force (restoring force) of the retainer 115a that is generated to retain the sheet is restricted. It is possible to hold the bundle holding state.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the bundle retainer 115 is moved to the bundle retainer position and the retracted position by the one-way driving means 115A, and the bundle retainer 115 is held at the retainer position by the reverse rotation restricting means 115B. . Accordingly, the bundle retainer 115 can be moved to the bundle retainer position and the retracted position without using a dedicated motor, and the bundle retainer 115 can be retained at the bundle retainer position. As a result, cost reduction and space saving can be achieved. Can be planned.

  Further, by using a one-way clutch as the reverse rotation restricting means 115B as in the present embodiment, the resistance when the bundle presser 115 rotates in the press direction can be reduced, and the load on the drive side can be increased. And reverse rotation can be prevented. A damper having frictional resistance or viscous resistance may be used instead of the one-way gear.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Finisher, 100a ... Alignment wall surface, 100b ... Opening part, 107 ... Intermediate processing tray, 108 ... Rear end stopper, 110 ... Stapler, 114 ... Loading tray, 115 ... Bunch presser, 115A ... One-way drive means, 115B ... Reverse Rotation restricting means, 115a ... pressing unit, 200 ... CPU circuit unit, 220 ... finisher control unit, 517 ... one-way pulley, 518 ... bundle pressing shaft, 521 ... pressing gear, 522 ... reverse rotation preventing one-way gear, 900 ... image forming apparatus, 900A: Image forming apparatus main body, 900B: Image forming unit, M252: Paddle elevating / bundle holding motor, S245: HP sensor, P: Sheet bundle

Claims (15)

A processing unit for processing the sheet;
Sheet stacking means for stacking sheets processed by the processing unit;
A rotatable pressing means having an elastic pressing part and pressing and holding one end in the sheet discharge direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means while elastically deforming the pressing part;
Unidirectional drive means for driving the pressing means to rotate in a pressing direction for pressing the sheet and not driving in a direction rotating in the direction opposite to the pressing direction;
Reverse rotation restricting means for allowing rotation of the pressing means in the pressing direction and restricting rotation in the pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction;
When a sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking unit, the one-way driving unit rotates the pressing unit and moves the pressing unit to a pressing position that presses the sheet in a state where the pressing unit is elastically deformed. Is stopped, the reverse rotation restricting means restricts the rotation of the pressing means in the pressing release direction by the restoring force of the pressing portion in the elastically deformed state, and after the next sheet is discharged, A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the pressing unit is rotated by a direction driving unit to move the pressing unit from the pressing position to a retracted position separated from the sheet. One end of the sheet stacking direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit abuts, and includes an alignment unit that aligns the position of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction
2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is moved from the retracted position to a pressing position for pressing the sheet after the sheet is aligned by the aligning unit.   The alignment means is formed with an opening through which the pressing portion passes, and when the pressing portion moves from the pressing position to the retracted position, the pressing portion passes through the opening while elastically deforming the pressing portion. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein   The one-way drive means includes a drive means capable of forward / reverse rotation and a one-way clutch means for transmitting rotation in one direction of the drive means to the pressing means, and the one-way drive means transmitted by the one-way clutch means The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressing unit is rotated by the rotation of the sheet and moved to the pressing position and the retracted position. A detection means for detecting the position of the pressing member;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the driving unit is driven based on a detection signal from the detection unit to move the pressing unit to the pressing position and the retracted position.   6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a driving unit that drives another unit is used as the driving unit.   2. The reverse rotation restricting means includes a one-way clutch means that allows rotation of the pressing means in the pressing direction and restricts rotation in a pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   An image comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 that processes a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit. Forming equipment. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets discharged after the image is formed by the image forming unit;
A rotatable pressing means having an elastic pressing part and pressing and holding one end in the sheet discharge direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means while elastically deforming the pressing part;
Unidirectional drive means that transmits driving to the pressing means so that the pressing means rotates in a pressing direction for pressing the sheet, and that does not transmit driving in a direction in which the pressing means rotates in a direction opposite to the pressing direction. ,
Reverse rotation restricting means for allowing rotation of the pressing means in the pressing direction and restricting rotation in the pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction;
When a sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking means, the pressing means is rotated to a pressing position for pressing the sheet in a state where the pressing portion is elastically deformed, and after the next sheet is discharged, the pressing means is Control means for controlling the driving of the one-way driving means so as to rotate from a pressing position to a retracted position separated from the sheet,
When the driving by the one-way driving unit is stopped, the reverse rotation regulating unit regulates the rotation of the pressing unit in the pressing release direction by the restoring force of the pressing unit in an elastically deformed state. apparatus. One end of the sheet stacking direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit abuts, and includes an alignment unit that aligns the position of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction
The control unit controls driving of the one-way driving unit so that the pressing member is moved from the retracted position to a pressing position for pressing the sheet after the sheet is aligned by the alignment unit. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to Item 9.   The alignment means is formed with an opening through which the pressing portion passes, and when the pressing portion moves from the pressing position to the retracted position, the pressing portion passes through the opening while elastically deforming the pressing portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.   The one-way drive means includes a drive means capable of forward / reverse rotation and a one-way clutch means for transmitting rotation in one direction of the drive means to the pressing means, and the one-way drive means transmitted by the one-way clutch means 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the pressing unit is rotated to move the pressing unit to the pressing position and the retracted position. A detection means for detecting the position of the pressing member;
The control means drives the drive means based on a detection signal from the detection means, and controls the drive of the drive means to move the pressing means to the pressing position and the retracted position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12.   14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a driving unit that drives another unit is used as the driving unit.   10. The reverse rotation restricting means includes a one-way clutch means that allows rotation of the pressing means in the pressing direction and restricts rotation in a pressing release direction opposite to the pressing direction. 15. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 14 to 14.

Images