JP2015054763A - Sheet processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device which does not use a screw for inclination adjustment of a stopper for receiving a tip (lower end) of a sheet, and an image forming device.SOLUTION: A sheet processing device includes: a stopper 38s having a stopper surface for receiving a tip of a conveyed sheet; a bookbinding processing part disposed on an upstream side in a sheet conveyance direction of the stopper and processing a portion in a sheet width direction of the sheet received by the stopper; a support member for supporting the stopper rotatably in a direction approaching/separating with respect to a folding blade of the bookbinding processing part; a horizontal long hole 71a and an inclination long hole 38k formed at the stopper and the support member in the sheet width direction and crossing with each other; and an adjustment shaft 38e provided movably in the horizontal long hole and engaged movably with the inclination long hole. When the adjustment shaft is moved by the crossing portion of the horizontal long hole and the inclination long hole, with the horizontal long hole being a guide, the stopper rotates with respect to the support member, and the inclination of the stopper surface of the stopper with respect to the folding blade can be adjusted.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that processes sheets, and an image forming apparatus that includes the sheet processing apparatus in an apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile that forms an image on a sheet may include a sheet processing apparatus in the apparatus main body. The sheet processing apparatus has a function of performing at least one process such as a binding process for binding sheets, a folding process for folding sheets, a bookbinding process for binding sheets into a booklet, and a punching process for punching holes in sheets.

  Among these processes, the bookbinding process involves binding the center of the sheet bundle with a stapler, then protruding the bound portion with a folding blade and pushing the sheet bundle into a pair of rotating folding rollers to form a booklet. It has become. In the bookbinding process, there is a case where only the folding process is performed without binding the sheet bundle. In this case, not only the sheet bundle but also only one sheet may be bent.

  When the sheet is folded, it is necessary to receive the leading end (lower end) of the sheet with a stopper in order to bend the sheet while standing. For this reason, if the stopper and the folding blade are not parallel, the edges of the folded sheet are not aligned.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet folding device that can adjust the stopper in parallel with the folding blade. In this sheet processing apparatus, the inclination of the stopper is adjusted by a screw mechanism so that the edges of the folded sheet are aligned.

JP 2006-1736 A

  However, since the conventional sheet processing apparatus adjusts the inclination of the stopper with a screw, when the screw is slightly rotated to the left and right to finely adjust the inclination, fine adjustment is made by screw backlash. There was a problem that it was difficult to do.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus that does not use a screw for adjusting the inclination of a stopper that receives the leading end (lower end) of a sheet, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.

  The sheet processing apparatus of the present invention includes a stopper having a stopper surface for receiving the leading edge of the conveyed sheet, and a sheet width direction of the sheet disposed on the upstream side of the stopper in the sheet conveying direction and received by the stopper. A processing means for processing the part, a support member for rotatably supporting the stopper in a direction approaching and separating from the processing means, and the stopper and the support member, formed in the sheet width direction, A pair of guide portions intersecting each other, and a moving member that is movably provided in one guide portion of the pair of guide portions and movably engaged with the other guide portion, When the moving member is moved with the one guide portion as a guide and the crossing portion of the pair of guide portions is moved, the stopper rotates with respect to the support member and faces the processing means. It is possible to adjust the inclination of the stopper surface of the stopper, it is characterized in that.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet processing apparatus that processes the sheet on which the image is formed, and the sheet processing apparatus is the sheet processing apparatus described above. It is a feature.

  Since the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention is configured to adjust the inclination of the stopper by moving the moving member without using a screw, there is no backlash of the screw, and the fine adjustment of the inclination of the stopper can be accurately performed. And can be done promptly.

  Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sheet processing apparatus that can accurately process a sheet, there are few sheets for forming an image again, and the operation efficiency for forming an image on the sheet can be improved.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention along the sheet conveying direction. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an end binding portion in the sheet processing apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a bookbinding processing unit in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a page order for forming an image on a sheet in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure of the sheet | seat bending part of FIG. (A) is a cross section in the sheet conveying direction. (B) is the figure which looked at the folding roller pair from the arrow Xb direction of (A). It is a figure of each part of a sheet bending part. (A) is a figure of the drive mechanism of a folding roller pair. (B) is a figure of a folding blade. (C) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a one-way clutch. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a sheet folding operation of a sheet folding unit in FIG. 2. (A) is a diagram of a state in which the sheet bundle is positioned and set at the folding position. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an initial state of the folding operation of the sheet bundle. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet bundle is inserted into the nip of the pair of folding rollers. FIG. 6D is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet bundle is folded by a pair of folding rollers and is carried out. (E) is a figure which shows the state which retracted the folding blade. It is a figure for demonstrating folding operation | movement of a folding roller pair. (A) is a figure of the state which has a folding blade in a standby position. (B) is a diagram showing an initial state of the folding operation. FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a folded sheet discharge state. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is an enlarged view of the stopper in FIG. It is a figure for operation | movement description of the stopper in FIG. (A) is a diagram of a state in which the first sheet has entered the stacking guide. (B) is a state diagram when the succeeding sheet enters the stacking guide. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the stopper, following FIG. 12. (A) is a diagram of a state in which the sheet bundle accumulated in the accumulation guide is positioned at the binding position. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the bundle of sheets accumulated by the accumulation guide is positioned at the folding position. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a stopper provided with a stopper inclination adjusting mechanism, as viewed from the direction of arrow Xa in FIG. 11. It is the figure which looked at the stopper of FIG. 14 from the arrow Xa direction. It is the figure which looked at the supporting member of FIG. 14 from the arrow Xb direction, and is the figure seen from the arrow Xb direction of FIG. It is the figure which looked at the supporting member of FIG. 16 from the arrow Xb direction. It is the schematic for operation | movement description of a stopper inclination adjustment mechanism, and is the figure which looked at the stopper from the arrow Xb of FIG. 14, FIG. It is the schematic for operation | movement description of the stopper inclination adjustment mechanism different from FIG. 18, and is the figure which looked at the stopper from the arrow Xb of FIG. 14, FIG.

  Hereinafter, a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus in a main body of the apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the sheet conveying direction of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the sheet conveying direction of the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an end binding portion in the sheet processing apparatus of FIG.

(Image forming device)
In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an apparatus main body 100 </ b> A, a sheet processing apparatus 101, and an image reading apparatus 102. The image reading apparatus 102 is not always necessary. The image forming apparatus 100 sends a sheet P from the sheet feeding unit 1 (1a, 1b) to the image forming unit 2, and after the image forming unit 2 forms an image on the sheet, the main body discharge port 3 transfers the sheet P to the sheet processing apparatus 101. It comes to send. The sheet feeding unit 1 separates sheets designated by the user one by one from a plurality of size sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassettes 1 a and 1 b and feeds them to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 4, a print head (laser light emitting device) 5 disposed around the photosensitive drum 4, a developing device 6, a transfer charger 7, and the like. The image forming unit 2 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 4 with a laser emitter 5, attaches toner to the developer drum 6, and transfers a toner image onto a sheet with a transfer charger 7. ing. The fixing device 8 heats the sheet to fix the toner image on the sheet.

  In this way, the sheet on which the toner image is formed is sequentially sent from the main body discharge port 3 to the sheet processing apparatus 101. When images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet on which the toner image is formed on the front side is switchback-conveyed by the main body switchback path 10 and turned upside down and sent to the circulation path 9. Then, the sheet is fed again to the image forming unit 2, the toner image is transferred to the other side, and sent to the sheet processing apparatus 101 from the main body discharge port 3.

  The image reading apparatus 102 scans a document set on the platen glass 12 with the scan unit 13 and electrically reads it with a photoelectric conversion element (not shown). The read image data is digitally processed by the image processing unit, then transferred to the data storage unit 17 and sent to the laser emitter 5 as an image signal. The document feeder 15 of the image reading apparatus feeds the document D accommodated in the stacker 16 to the platen glass 12.

  The image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above is provided with a control unit (controller) 50 shown in FIG. The controller 50 selects image forming conditions such as sheet size designation, color / monochrome printing designation, print number designation, single-sided / double-sided printing designation, enlarged / reduced printing designation, etc. from the controller panel 18 by the user. It has become so.

  On the other hand, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is stored in the data storage unit 17. Image data is transferred from the data storage unit 17 to the buffer memory 19, and data signals are sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

  From the controller panel 18, the user inputs and designates sheet processing conditions as well as image forming conditions. The sheet processing conditions include “print out mode”, “edge binding mode”, “sheet bundle folding mode”, and the like. The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on the sheet according to the image forming condition and the sheet processing condition.

  In this case, the order of pages for forming an image on a sheet is related to the sheet processing of the sheet processing apparatus, and the order of pages for forming an image on a sheet will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, “double-sided printing” is set as the image forming condition, “sheet bundle folding mode” is set as the sheet processing condition, and “2 in 1 printing (images for two pages are formed on one side of the sheet)” is set as the printing style. It is a figure for description about the case where it is designated. Note that the last page is n pages (a multiple of 4).

  In FIG. 5, the first sheet has an (n / 2) page image and an ((n / 2) +1) page image formed on the front side, and ((n / 2)) on the back side. -1) The image of the page and the image of the ((n / 2) +2) page are formed and carried out from the main body discharge port 3. The sheet is carried into the sheet carry-in path SP of the sheet processing apparatus 101 with the surface on which the image is finally formed up. The loaded sheet is heated by the fixing device 8 in the apparatus main body 100A, and therefore tends to be conveyed in a U-shape upwardly as illustrated in FIG. Accordingly, the sheet processing apparatus 101 stores the sheet in the stacking guide 35 by receiving the sheet from a sheet carry-in path SP by a stopper 38s described later. In the next sheet, an image of ((n / 2) -2) page and an image of ((n / 2) +3) page are formed on the front side, and ((n / 2)) -3) The image of the page and the image of the ((n / 2) +4) page are formed and carried out from the main body discharge port 3. Then, the sheet processing apparatus 101 stacks the sheets on the previous sheet.

  In this way, the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 forms images on the sheets in an order suitable for the stacking tray structure of the sheet processing apparatus 101. The page order is determined by the control unit 50 calculating the printing order and controlling the print head (laser emitter) 5 when transferring image data from the data storage unit 17 (FIG. 1) to the buffer memory 19. .

  Then, the sheet processing apparatus 101 stacks the sheets from the sheet carry-in path SP on the accumulation guide 35 and stores them in a bundle shape. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet on which the image has been formed is conveyed in a U-shape curvedly into the sheet carry-in path SP, and is inverted U-shaped from the second switchback conveyance path SP2 described later to the stacking guide 35. And are stacked one above the other.

(Sheet processing equipment)
The sheet processing apparatus 101 receives a sheet on which an image is formed from the main body discharge port 3 of the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100, and performs any one of the following three modes. . First, a printout mode in which sheets are stored in the paper discharge tray 21. Second, an end binding mode in which sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, and then stored in the discharge tray 21. Third, a sheet bundle folding mode in which the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are arranged in a bundle and then folded into a booklet and stored in the second discharge tray 22.

  In FIG. 2, the sheet processing apparatus 101 includes an end binding unit 101B that binds the end of the sheet bundle to perform the end binding mode, and a bookbinding processing unit 101C to perform the sheet bundle folding mode. The end binding portion 101B includes the stacking tray 29, the end binding stapler 33, and the like. The bookbinding processing unit 101C includes a sheet front end regulating unit 38, a saddle stitching stapler 40, a sheet folding unit 70, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the casing 20 of the sheet processing apparatus 101, a sheet carry-in path SP having a carry-in port 23 connected to the main body discharge port 3, a first discharge tray 21, a second discharge tray 22, and the like. Is provided. The sheet carry-in path SP is a substantially horizontal straight path. Further, the casing 20 is provided with a first switchback conveyance path SP1 that branches off from the sheet carry-in path SP and transfers the sheet in the reverse direction, and a second switchback conveyance path SP2. The first switchback transport path SP1 is branched from the sheet carry-in path SP, and the second switchback transport path SP2 is branched from the sheet carry-in path SP to the upstream side of the sheet carry-in path SP. The first switchback transport path SP1 and the second switchback transport path SP2 are arranged at a distance from each other.

  A stacking tray 29 is disposed on the downstream side of the first switchback transport path SP <b> 1, and a first discharge tray 21 is provided on the downstream side of the stacking tray 29. In addition, an accumulation guide 35 is disposed on the downstream side of the second switchback conveyance path SP2, and a second discharge tray 22 is provided on the downstream side of the accumulation guide 35.

  A carry-in roller 24 and a paper discharge roller pair 25 are disposed in the sheet carry-in path SP (FIG. 3). These rollers are connected to a drive motor M1 (FIG. 10) capable of forward and reverse rotation. Further, a path switching piece 27 for guiding the sheet to the second switchback transport path SP2 is disposed in the sheet carry-in path SP. The path switching piece 27 is tilted by a solenoid. Further, a buffer guide 26 is provided in the sheet carry-in path SP to temporarily retain and hold the sheet reaching the second switchback conveyance path SP2. Between the carry-in entrance 23 and the carry-in roller 24, a post-processing unit 28 for performing post-processing such as stamping (stamping means) and punching (punching means) on the sheet from the image forming apparatus 100 is provided.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 25 and a paper discharge port 25a are provided at the exit end of the first switchback transport path SP1. A stacking tray 29 is provided below the discharge port 25a with a step.

  The stacking tray 29 is configured to stack and support sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a. A forward / reverse roller 30 is disposed above the stacking tray 29. The forward / reverse roller 30 can move up and down between a position in contact with the sheet on the stacking tray 29 and a separated standby position (chain line position in FIG. 3). A forward / reverse motor M <b> 2 is connected to the forward / reverse roller 30. The forward / reverse roller 30 rotates to the right in FIG. 3 when a sheet enters the stacking tray 29, and rotates to the left after the trailing edge of the sheet enters the stacking tray. The forward / reverse roller 30 is in contact with or separated from a driven roller 30b provided on the stacking tray 29 with a sheet therebetween. Therefore, the first switchback transport path SP1 is formed on the stacking tray 29. One end of the conveyance belt 31 is sandwiched between a pair of paper discharge rollers 25. The transport belt 31 is supported by the pulley shaft 31a so as to be swingable so that the other end hangs down on the stacking tray 29 with the pulley shaft 31a of the paper discharge roller 25b as the center.

  The sheet P from the paper discharge outlet 25 a enters the stacking tray 29 and is transferred toward the first paper discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30. After the rear end of the sheet enters the stacking tray 29 from the paper discharge outlet 25a, the sheet is transferred in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction when the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 rotates in the reverse direction (left rotation in FIG. 3). At this time, the conveyance belt 31 cooperates with the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 to carry the sheet back along the stacking tray 29.

  A rear end regulating member 32 for regulating the position of the rear end of the sheet and an end binding stapler 33 are disposed at the rear end (right end in FIG. 3) of the stacking tray 29 in the sheet discharge direction. The end binding stapler 33 is configured to bind one or a plurality of positions at the rear end of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 29 with a needle. In addition to the function of regulating the position of the trailing edge of the sheet, the trailing edge regulating member 32 also has a function of carrying out the bound sheet bundle to the first paper discharge tray 21 so as to reciprocate along the stacking tray 29. It has become.

  The rear end regulating member 32 includes a grip claw 32a that grips the sheet bundle and a rear end regulating surface 32b that receives the rear end of the sheet, and is arranged along the guide rail (not shown) provided in the casing 20 in the left and right directions in FIG. It is designed to reciprocate in the direction. The drive arm 34a is configured to reciprocate the trailing end regulating member 32 by the rotation of the paper discharge motor M3.

  The stacking tray 29 is provided with a pair of side alignment plates 34b for performing width alignment of the sheets stacked on the stacking tray 29 (in FIG. 3, they are overlapped). The side alignment plate 34b is moved toward and away from the center in the width direction of the sheet by a motor (not shown) so as to align the sheet with the center reference.

  As described above, when the first switchback transport path SP1 is in the “end binding mode”, the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a are aligned on the stacking tray 29, and the sheet bundle is aligned by the end binding stapler 33. One or more rear end portions can be stapled. Further, the first switchback conveyance path SP1 is configured so that the sheet fed from the sheet discharge outlet 25a along the stacking tray 29 is directly between the forward / reverse roller 30 and the driven roller 30b in the “print-out mode”. The first paper discharge tray 21 can be carried out. In this way, the sheet processing apparatus 101 is compactly formed by bridging and supporting the sheets to be stapled by the stacking tray 29 and the first discharge tray 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an accumulation guide 35 is connected to the second switchback transport path SP2. The accumulation guide 35 is formed by a sheet entry path 35a, a curved guide part 35b, a switchback entry path 35c, an exit guide part 35d, and the like. The sheet entry path 35a is an exit portion of the second switchback conveyance path SP2, and the curved guide portion 35b is disposed through a step. Further, a switchback approach path 35c is branched from the seat entry path 35a at a branch point 35f.

  The sheet P sent from the sheet entry path 35a to the curved guide portion 35b is then sent to the switchback entry path 35c at the rear end (upper end). Therefore, the sheets sent from the sheet entry path 35a to the curved guide portion 35b are sequentially stacked on top.

  Based on FIG. 4, the bending guide part 35b, the saddle stitching stapler 40 disposed in the bending guide part 35b, and the folding roller pair 45 will be described. The folding roller pair 45 includes an upper folding roller 45a and a lower folding roller 45b. The curved guide portion 35b is configured such that sheets sent from the second switchback conveying path SP2 are received by the stopper 38s and accumulated. The sheet received by the stopper 38s is positioned at a position corresponding to a binding position X, which will be described later, and then positioned at a position corresponding to the folding position Y. A saddle stitch stapler 40, which will be described later, is disposed at the binding position X, and a folding roller pair 45 and a folding blade 46 are disposed at the folding position Y.

  The curved guide portion 35b is formed by a pair of guide plates 35ba and 35bb. The pair of guide plates 35ba and 35bb are formed in a curved shape or a bent shape so that the accumulated sheet bundle protrudes and bends at the folding position Y toward the folding roller pair 45 side. Accordingly, the sheets from the sheet carry-in path SP are sequentially stacked and accumulated on the curved guide portion 35b, and protrude to the folding roller pair 45 side so as to be bent (curved).

  At the folding position Y of the curved guide part 35b, an outlet guide part 35d is formed to open. The exit guide portion 35d is formed of a pair of guide pieces 35da and 35db narrowed so as to gradually bend the sheet bundle as shown in FIG. In other words, the curved guide portion 35b is formed to have a length that can accommodate the maximum-size sheet, and the sheets from the carry-in port 23 can be stacked in succession on the preceding sheet.

  In FIG. 4, the curved guide portion 35 b is formed in a curved or bent shape so as to protrude to the side where the saddle stitching stapler 40 and the folding roller pair 45 described later are disposed. The switchback entry path 35c overlaps the leading edge of the succeeding sheet fed from the sheet entry path 35a on the trailing end (upper end) of the stacked preceding sheet supported by the curved guide portion 35b. In this way, the page order of sheets can be secured. Further, a stopper 38 s for receiving the leading end (lower end) of the sheet is disposed on the downstream side of the stacking guide 35.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the stopper 38 s is formed with a stopper surface 38 sa that receives the leading edge of the sheet carried in along the curved guide portion 35 b. The stopper surface 38sa is formed in a U-shaped section. The stopper 38s is provided on a support member 71 described later. A pair of upper and lower guide rollers 54 and 55 are provided on both sides of the support member 71 (FIGS. 11, 14, and 15). The support member 71 is supported by the guide rail 38g via the guide rollers 54 and 55 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down integrally with the stopper 38s along the curved guide portion 35b. The guide rails 38g are provided on the casing 20 (FIG. 2) so as to face both sides of the support member 71.

  The stopper 38s configured in this manner is configured to move up and down the sheet folding position Sh1, the sheet binding position Sh2, and the sheet receiving position Sh3 by the lifting drive unit MS shown in FIG. The elevating drive unit MS includes a stepping motor M38, a pinion 38p connected to the stepping motor M38, and a rack gear 38r formed integrally with the support member 71. The stopper 38s moves up and down to the respective positions Sh1, Sh2, and Sh3 by rotating the stepping motor M38 by a predetermined amount based on a detection signal from the home position sensor.

  The elevating drive unit MS is configured to stop the elevating and lowering the stopper 38s at the positions Sh1, Sh2, and Sh3. The sheet folding position Sh <b> 1 is a position of the stopper 38 s when positioning the sheet at the folding position Y when the sheets stacked on the stacking guide 35 are folded by the pair of folding rollers 45. The sheet binding position Sh2 is the position of the stopper 38s when positioning the sheet at the binding position X when the sheets stacked on the stacking guide 35 are bound by the saddle stitching stapler 40. In the sheet receiving position Sh3, when the succeeding sheet is stacked on the preceding sheet accumulated in the accumulation guide 35, the preceding sheet is once lowered below the branch point 35f and then raised, and the preceding sheet is moved to the switchback entrance path 35c. This is the lowering position of the stopper when entering.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 12B, when the stopper 38s is positioned at the sheet receiving position Sh3, the rear end (upper end) of the preceding sheet (bundle) supported by the stacking guide 35 becomes the switchback entry path 35c. enter in. In this state, the succeeding sheet fed from the sheet entry path 35a is surely stacked above the accumulated preceding sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when the stopper 38s is positioned at the sheet binding position Sh2, the center of the sheet (bundle) supported by the stacking guide 35 is positioned at the binding position X of the saddle stitching stapler 40. Can do. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the stopper 38s is positioned at the sheet folding position Sh1, the bound portion of the sheet bundle that is stapled and supported by the stacking guide 35 is moved to the folding roller pair 45. It can be positioned at the folding position Y. Note that the sheet folding position Sh1, the sheet binding position Sh2, and the sheet receiving position Sh3 are different for each sheet size (length in the transport direction) and are stored in advance in the RAM 63 (FIG. 10).

  Further, the stopper 38s is provided with a pair of width alignment plates (not shown) (not shown) that perform sheet width alignment. The pair of width alignment plates are moved toward and away from each other by a motor (not shown) so that the sheets are width aligned at the center.

(Saddle stitching stapler)
A saddle stitch stapler 40 is disposed at a binding position X along the accumulation guide 35. The saddle stitching stapler 40 includes a driver unit 40A and an anvil unit 40B, and each unit is separately disposed at a position facing each other with the curved guide portion 35b interposed therebetween. A needle cartridge (not shown) is mounted on the driver unit 40A, and a needle connected in a belt shape is built in the cartridge. Then, by a driver member that moves up and down between the top dead center and the bottom bottom dead center, the tip needle is bent into a U shape by the former member, and then this needle is inserted into the sheet bundle. It has become. Therefore, the driver unit 40A includes a drive motor (not shown), a drive arm that moves the driver member up and down, a drive cam that drives the arm, and the like.

  On the other hand, the anvil unit 40B is provided with a bending groove (not shown) for bending the tip of the staple needle inserted into the sheet bundle. The saddle stitching stapler 40 configured as described above is arranged so that the driver unit 40A and the anvil unit 40B are separated and face each other, and a sheet bundle can pass between them. Therefore, the saddle stitching stapler 40 is capable of binding not only the central portion of the sheet bundle but also any other position.

(Sheet bending part)
4 to 9, at the folding position Y on the downstream side of the saddle stitching stapler 40, a folding roller pair 45 for folding the sheet bundle and a flat plate for inserting the sheet bundle into the nip NP of the folding roller pair 45. A folding blade 46 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the pair of folding rollers 45 is composed of a pair of folding rollers 45 that are in pressure contact with each other, and each roller is formed to have a substantially maximum sheet width. The pair of folding rollers 45 are fitted with rotary shafts 45ax and 45bx in the long grooves of the apparatus frame so as to be in pressure contact with each other, and are urged in the pressure contact direction by compression springs 45aS and 45bS.

  The upper folding roller 45 a is rotatably supported by the swing bracket 44. The base end portion of the swing bracket 44 is rotatably supported by the shaft 43x of the paper discharge roller pair 43 that is pivotally supported by the apparatus frame. Therefore, the upper folding roller 45a is pressed against and separated from the lower folding roller 45b as the swinging bracket 44 rotates. The cam member 42 is rotatably provided on the fixed member, and rotates the swing bracket 44 in the arrow J direction against the compression spring 45aS to separate the upper folding roller 45a from the lower folding roller 45b. ing. A cam member 42 and a sector gear 42g are integrally attached to the shaft 42a of the cam member 42.

  The sector gear 42g meshes with a rack 46Sa of a cam lifting / lowering drive unit 46S provided on the folding blade 46. For this reason, the swinging bracket 44 swings in the vertical direction in conjunction with the folding blade 46 so that the upper folding roller 45a is pressed against and separated from the lower folding roller 45b.

  The pair of folding rollers 45 is made of a material having a relatively large friction coefficient such as a rubber roller or a resin. This is for transferring the sheet in a rotating direction while bending the sheet with a soft material such as rubber, and may be formed by lining the rubber material. As shown in FIG. 6B, the folding roller pair 45 has a gap 45g formed by the concavo-convex portions along the axial direction. The gap 45g has an arrangement relationship that coincides with the unevenness of the folding blade 46 (FIG. 7B) described later, and is formed so that the tip of the folding blade can easily enter between the roller nips.

  At the same time, the gap 45g is formed at a width position that coincides with a staple binding portion for binding the sheet bundle. That is, the pair of folding rollers 45 that are in pressure contact with each other are formed in an uneven shape by a gap 45g in the sheet width direction, and the needle binding portion of the sheet and the cutting edge of the folding blade 46 formed in an uneven shape in the gap 45g. And come to enter.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the folding roller pair 45 is rotated by a roller driving unit RM. The roller drive unit RM includes a roller drive motor M6 and a rotational force transmission mechanism 47V. The rotational force transmission mechanism 47V has a transmission belt that decelerates the rotation of the roller drive motor M6 and transmits it to the transmission shaft 47X. A clutch 45c is provided between the transmission shaft 47X and the rotation shaft 45ax of the upper folding roller 45a. Similarly, a clutch 45c is disposed between the transmission shaft 47X and the rotation shaft 45bx of the lower folding roller 45b.

  The clutch 45c is an electromagnetic clutch, a one-way clutch (one-way clutch), a sliding friction clutch (spring clutch), or the like, and is configured to transmit and block the driving rotation of the roller driving motor M6 to the folding roller pair 45, respectively. .

  The clutch 45c is a one-way clutch and is configured to transmit the rotation of the transmission shaft 47X to the transmission collar 47Z only in one direction between the transmission shaft 47X and the transmission collar 47Z. The upper folding roller 45a is geared to the transmission collar 47Z, and the lower folding roller 45b is coupled by a belt 47U. Thus, the folding roller pair 45 connected to the roller drive motor M6 via the clutch 45c is transmitted only in one direction of rotation of the motor, and at the same time, the folding roller pair 45 is configured to freely rotate in the sheet feeding direction. Has been.

  The folding roller pair 45 is located on the curved or bent protruding side of the accumulation guide 35, and is a position separated from the sheet bundle accumulated in the curved guide portion 35b of the accumulation guide 35 by a distance h shown in FIG. Is offset. That is, the folding roller pair 45 is disposed at a position that does not contact the sheet (bundle) accumulated in the curved guide portion 35b with an offset distance h. And the exit guide part 35d is arrange | positioned between the folding roller pair 45 and the curved guide part 35b by which offset arrangement | positioning was carried out.

  A folding blade 46 having a knife edge is provided at a position facing the pair of folding rollers 45 across the sheet bundle. The folding blade 46 is supported by a pair of guide rails 46g so as to be able to reciprocate between a standby position Wp indicated by a chain line in FIG. 7B and a nip NP indicated by a solid line in FIG. The pair of guide rails 46g is provided on a fixing member (not shown).

  The folding blade 46 is reciprocated by a blade drive motor M7 between a standby position Wp retracted from the sheet bundle supported by the stacking guide 35 and a nip NP between the pressure contacts of the folding roller pair 45. The folding blade 46 is formed in a plate shape with a material having a relatively small friction coefficient such as metal. As shown in FIG. 7B, the tip of the folding blade 46 is formed in an uneven surface. The tip of the folding blade 46 is formed in a shape that enters the gap 45g (see FIG. 6B) of the pair of folding rollers 45 as described above.

  The relationship between the friction coefficient ν1 between the pair of folding rollers 45 and the sheet, the friction coefficient ν2 between the sheets, and the friction coefficient ν3 between the sheet and the folding blade 46 is set to a relationship of (ν1> ν2> ν3). It is. Therefore, in a state where the sheet bundle shown in FIG. 8C is inserted between the upper folding roller 45a and the lower folding roller 45b by the folding blade 46, the pressure contact force applied to the folding roller pair 45 is folded between the roller and the sheet bundle. It is designed to join the blade equally. At this time, since the friction coefficient is set to the above relationship, the sheet bundle is smoothly fed in the feeding direction (left side in the figure).

  Next, the configuration of the blade drive unit BM of the folding blade 46 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7B, the folding blade 46 is supported on the apparatus frame so as to be movable in the sheet folding directions Xc and Xd by the guide rail 46g. Has been. The folding blade 46 can reciprocate between the standby position Wp retracted from the sheet supported by the curved guide portion 35 b and the nip NP of the pair of folding rollers 45.

  The blade drive unit BM that reciprocates the folding blade 46 includes a blade drive motor M7 and a transmission unit 46V that transmits the rotation of the blade drive motor M7. The transmission part 46V has a transmission belt, and transmits the rotation of the blade drive motor M7 to the transmission rotation shaft 46X by the transmission belt. A transmission pinion 46p is provided on the transmission rotation shaft 46X. The transmission pinion 46p meshes with a rack gear 46L attached to the folding blade 46 integrally. When the blade drive motor M7 rotates forward and backward, the folding blade 46 reciprocates between the standby position Wp and the nip NP along the guide rail 46g.

  The interlocking relationship between the upper folding roller 45a and the folding blade 46 interlocked by the cam member 42 and the cam lifting / lowering drive unit 46S shown in FIG. 9 will be described. FIG. 9A shows the folding blade 46 at the standby position Wp. (B) is a diagram showing a state of an initial operation in which a folding blade inserts a sheet bundle between rollers. (C) is a view showing a nip state of the folding roller pair 45.

  When the folding blade 46 is at the standby position Wp, the cam elevating drive unit 46S pushes up the swing bracket 44 by the cam member 42 and holds the upper folding roller 45a away from the lower folding roller 45b. In this state, the upper folding roller 45a is not in contact with the sheet bundle even if there is a sheet bundle fed between the upper folding roller 45a and the lower folding roller 45b. When the folding blade 46 moves from the standby position Wp to the nip NP side, the cam member 42 rotates clockwise in FIG. 9 by the sector gear 42g. Then, the swing bracket 44 is lowered.

  Accordingly, the upper folding roller 45a is pressed against the lower folding roller 45b by the elasticity of the compression spring 45aS. Further, when the folding blade 46 moves to the nip NP of the pair of folding rollers 45, the cam member 42 moves away from the swing bracket 44. The upper folding roller 45a is maintained in pressure contact with the lower folding roller 45b.

(Operation of sheet folding part)
The operation of the sheet folding unit 70 including the folding roller pair 45, the folding blade 46, and the like will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8E, FIG. 9, and FIG. In FIG. 8A, the sheet bundle PB accumulated in the curved guide portion 35b is received by the stopper 38s (FIG. 4) and positioned at the folding position Y in a state where the fold position is stapled. At this time, the sheet bundle PB is supported by the stopper 38s in a state of being bent so as to protrude toward the folding roller pair 45 side. The folding blade 46 is positioned at the standby position Wp (home position), and the upper folding roller 45a is retracted to a retracted position separated from the lower folding roller 45b (state of FIG. 9A).

  Therefore, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d (FIG. 10), which will be described later, activates the blade drive motor M7 (FIG. 7B) upon obtaining a sheet bundle setting end signal. Then, the folding blade 46 moves from the standby position Wp toward the nip NP in the state shown in FIG. 9B. When the cam member 42 is separated from the swing bracket 44 by the movement of the folding blade 46, the upper folding roller 45a is pressed against the lower folding roller 45b (FIG. 8B).

  At the same time as the activation of the blade drive motor M7, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d turns off the clutch 45c. As a result, the folding roller pair 45 is driven to rotate by the sheet bundle inserted into the nip NP of the folding roller pair 45 by the folding blade 46.

  Next, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d switches the clutch 45c (FIG. 7) to the ON state to drive and rotate the folding roller pair 45. Then, the sheet bundle is sent out in the feeding direction (left side in FIG. 8). Thereafter, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d transfers the sheet bundle PB from the folding roller pair 45 to the paper discharge roller pair 43 in the state of FIG. 8E, and then returns the folding blade 46 from the nip NP to the standby position Wp.

  When the folding blade 46 returns to the standby position Wp, the cam lifting / lowering drive unit 46S rotates the sector gear 42g and the cam member 42 to rotate the swing bracket 44 upward. Due to the upward rotation of the swing bracket 44, the upper folding roller 45a is separated from the lower folding roller 45b (FIG. 8E). The sheet bundle is carried out to the second paper discharge tray 22 by a paper discharge roller pair 43 disposed on the downstream side of the folding roller pair 45. At this time, the sheet (bundle) is not folded by the separated folding roller pair 45, and image rubbing is not caused.

(Control unit of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a control unit of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a main body control unit 50 of the apparatus main body in the apparatus main body 100A, and a processing control unit 60 that controls the sheet processing apparatus in the sheet processing apparatus 101. Either the main body control unit 50 or the processing control unit 60 may be incorporated in the other.

  The main body control unit 50 is connected to the image formation control unit 51, the paper feed control unit 52, and the input unit 53. The image formation control unit 51 and the paper feed control unit 52 may be incorporated in the main body control unit 50. The controller panel 18 provided in the input unit 53 can perform mode settings such as “image forming mode” and “post-processing mode”. In the image forming mode, the number of printouts, sheet size, color / monochrome printing, enlargement / reduction printing, duplex / single-sided printing, and other image formation conditions can be set.

  The main body control unit 50 controls the image forming control unit 51 and the paper feed control unit 52 according to the set image forming conditions to form an image on a predetermined sheet, and then the sheet processing apparatus 101 from the main body discharge port 3. The sheet is sequentially carried out. At the same time, the post-processing mode is set by input from the controller panel 18. The post-processing modes include “print-out mode”, “edge binding mode”, “sheet bundle folding mode”, and the like.

  The main body control unit 50 transfers post-processing finishing mode, the number of sheets, the upper number of copies, and the binding mode (one-position binding or two or more bindings) information to the processing control unit 60. At the same time, the main body control unit 50 transfers a job end signal to the processing control unit 60 every time image formation is completed.

  The processing control unit 60 includes a control unit CPU 61 that operates the sheet processing apparatus 101 according to a designated finishing mode, a ROM 62 that stores an operation program, and a RAM 63 that stores control data. The RAM 63 stores position data of the sheet folding position Sh1, the sheet binding position Sh2, and the sheet receiving position Sh3 of the stopper 38s in accordance with the size (the length in the conveying direction) of the sheet to which the stacking guide 35 is transferred.

  The control unit CPU 61 includes the following control unit. A sheet conveyance control unit 64a that conveys the sheet sent to the carry-in port 23. A sheet stacking operation control unit 64b that executes a stacking operation of sheets. A sheet binding processing operation control unit 64c that executes the sheet binding processing. A sheet folding operation control unit 64d that executes a sheet folding operation.

  The sheet conveyance control unit 64a is connected to the control circuit of the drive motor M1 for the carry-in roller 24 and the discharge roller pair 25 in the sheet carry-in path SP, and the sheet sensor S1 disposed in the sheet carry-in path SP (FIG. 2). The sheet detection signal is received. The sheet stacking operation control unit 64b is connected to each drive circuit of the forward / reverse rotation motor M2 of the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and the discharge motor M3 of the rear end regulating member 32 in order to stack sheets on the stacking tray 29. The sheet binding processing operation control unit 64 c is connected to each drive circuit of the end binding stapler 33 of the stacking tray 29 and the drive motor M built in the saddle stitching stapler 40 of the stacking guide 35.

  The sheet folding operation control unit 64d is connected to a drive circuit of a roller drive motor M6 that drives and rotates the pair of folding rollers 45 and a control circuit of the clutch 45c. In addition, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d is connected to a control circuit of an elevating drive unit MS that controls movement of the conveyance rollers 36 and 37 of the sheet entrance path 35a and the stopper 38s of the stacking guide 35 to predetermined positions. Further, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d is configured to receive a detection signal from a sheet sensor disposed in the sheet entry path 35a.

  The main body control unit 50 and the processing control unit 60 perform the following processing operation.

(Printout mode)
In the printout mode, the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 carries out the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 to the sheet processing apparatus 101 in page order with the image forming surface facing down (face down). The sheet processing apparatus 101 retracts the buffer guide 26 of the sheet carry-in path SP upward as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3, and rotates the path switching piece 27 to the position of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path SP is guided to the paper discharge roller pair 25.

  When the sheet conveyance control unit 64a detects that the leading edge of the sheet has reached the paper discharge outlet 25a, the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 after the expected time for the leading edge of the sheet to reach the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 of the stacking tray 29 is detected. Is lowered onto the stacking tray 29 from the upper standby position. Then, the sheet conveyance control unit 64a rotates the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 in the clockwise direction (right rotation) in FIG. Then, the sheet that has entered the stacking tray 29 is transported toward the first paper discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and stacked on the first paper discharge tray 21. In this way, the sheet conveyance control unit 64 a sequentially carries out subsequent sheets to the first paper discharge tray 21 and stacks them on the first paper discharge tray 21.

  In this printout mode, a sheet on which an image is formed by the apparatus main body 100A is discharged to the first sheet discharge tray 21 in a face-down state via the sheet carry-in path SP of the sheet processing apparatus 101, and is over the preceding sheet. Subsequent sheets are stacked. In the printout mode, the sheet is not guided to the first switchback conveyance path SP1 and the second switchback conveyance path SP2.

(Edge binding mode)
In the edge binding mode, as in the print-out mode, the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 causes the sheet processing apparatus 101 from the main body discharge port 3 to place the sheets in the page order with the image forming surface facing down (face down). To be taken out. The sheet processing apparatus 101 retracts the buffer guide 26 of the sheet carry-in path SP upward as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3, and rotates the path switching piece 27 to the position of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path SP is guided to the paper discharge roller pair 25.

  The sheet conveyance control unit 64a moves the forward / reverse roller 30 upward after an expected time for the front end of the sheet to reach the forward / reverse roller 30 of the stacking tray 29 based on the signal detected by the paper discharge port 25a. It is lowered from the standby position onto the stacking tray 29. Then, the sheet conveyance control unit 64a rotates the forward / reverse roller 30 in the clockwise direction (right rotation) in FIG. 3 and then rotates in the counterclockwise direction (left rotation).

  Then, the sheet that has entered from the paper discharge outlet 25a is switched back and conveyed onto the stacking tray 29 along the first switchback conveyance path SP1. By repeating this sheet conveyance, a series of sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 29 in a face-down state.

  Each time the sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 29, the control unit CPU 61 operates a side alignment plate (not shown) to align the width direction positions of the stacked sheets. Next, in response to a job end signal from the apparatus main body 100 </ b> A, the control unit CPU 61 operates the end binding stapler 33 to bind the rear end portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 29. After this binding operation, the control unit CPU 61 moves the rear end regulating member 32 that also serves as the bundle carry-out unit from the position of the solid line in FIG. 3 to the position of the broken line. Then, the staple-bound sheet bundle is carried out onto the first paper discharge tray 21. As a result, a series of sheets on which an image is formed by the apparatus main body 100 </ b> A of the image forming apparatus 100 can be bound by the stapler 33 and stored in the first paper discharge tray 21.

(Sheet bundle folding mode)
The sheet bundle folding mode is a mode in which a sheet processing apparatus 101 finishes a sheet on which an image is formed in the order described by the apparatus main body 100A of the image forming apparatus 100 with reference to FIG. Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus 101 retracts the buffer guide 26 of the sheet carry-in path SP upward as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 3, and rotates the path switching piece 27 to the position of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path SP is guided to the paper discharge roller pair 25.

  After the sheet sensor S1 (FIG. 2) detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the control unit CPU 61 stops the rotation of the discharge roller pair 25 at the timing when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the path switching piece 27, and at the same time, the path The switching piece 27 is rotated to the position of the broken line in FIG. Then, the control unit CPU 61 rotates the paper discharge roller pair 25 in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3, counterclockwise). Then, the conveyance direction is reversed and the sheet is guided from the path switching piece 27 to the second switchback conveyance path SP2. The sheet guided to the second switchback conveyance path SP2 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 36 and 37 disposed in the second switchback conveyance path SP2 through the sheet entry path 35a to the curved guide portion 35b of the sheet folding section 70. Is done.

  The control unit CPU 61 rotates the stepping motor M38 (FIG. 11) by the sheet folding operation control unit 64d at the timing when the sheet is carried into the bending guide unit 35b from the sheet entry path 35a, and the stopper 38s is moved to the sheet folding position Sh1. Lower. The control unit CPU 61 reads the sheet folding position Sh1 of the stopper 38s from the position data stored in the RAM 63 corresponding to the sheet size information (length in the conveyance direction) from the apparatus main body 100A. Then, as shown in FIG. 12A, the control unit CPU 61 stops at the sheet folding position Sh1 corresponding to the length of the sheet. When the sheet is received by the stopper 38s stopped at the sheet folding position Sh1, the control unit CPU 61 performs sheet width alignment with a width alignment plate (not shown).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12B, the control unit CPU 61 moves the stopper 38s to a position sheet receiving position Sh3 where the rear end of the sheet enters the switchback entry path 35c. From the position data stored in the RAM 63, the control unit CPU 61 raises the stopper 38s to the sheet receiving position Sh3 where the rear end of the sheet enters the switchback entry path 35c.

  Then, the rear end (upper end) of the sheet supported by the accumulation guide 35 enters the switchback entry path 35c. In this state, the control unit CPU 61 sends the succeeding sheet P2 from the sheet entry path 35a onto the curved guide part 35b, and stacks the succeeding sheet P2 on the preceding sheet P1. Then, the control unit CPU 61 lowers the stopper 38s from the sheet receiving position Sh3 position to the sheet folding position Sh1 position in accordance with the carry-in of the succeeding sheet P2 (FIG. 12A).

  Next, the control unit CPU 61 performs a width alignment process for the succeeding sheet P2 received by the stopper 38s. In this way, every time a sheet is fed, the control unit CPU 61 moves the stopper 38s back and forth between the sheet folding position Sh1 and the sheet receiving position Sh3, and the width of the sheet is adjusted by a width alignment plate (not shown). Align. Note that this width-alignment alignment may be performed either when a predetermined number of sheets have been fed each time the sheets are fed or when all the sheets have been fed.

  When the predetermined number of sheets are received by the stopper 38s and the job end signal is received, the control unit CPU 61 raises and lowers the stopper 38s to the sheet binding position Sh2 as shown in FIG. Position to the binding position X. The control unit CPU 61 raises and lowers the stopper 38 s to the sheet binding position Sh <b> 2, and then staples one or a plurality of locations in the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet conveying direction by the saddle stitching stapler 40. The binding position when there are a plurality of binding locations is a position arranged in a straight line in the width direction of the sheet.

  In response to the binding operation completion signal, the control unit CPU 61 lowers the stopper 38s to the sheet folding position Sh1 and positions the center of the sheet at the folding position Y, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the control unit CPU 61 bends the sheet bundle in the order shown in FIGS. 8A to 8E and carries it out to the second paper discharge tray 22. The sheet bundle discharged to the second paper discharge tray 22 is formed in a booklet shape.

  The saddle stitching stapler 40 is disposed at the binding position X on the stacking guide 35. However, the sheet processing path is disposed in the order of the stacking guide, the binding position, and the folding position. The sheet folding part 70 may be disposed on the side. Further, the sheet bundle may be folded and conveyed to the second paper discharge tray 22 without binding the sheet bundle with the saddle stitching stapler 40. Further, only one sheet may be folded and carried out to the second paper discharge tray 22.

  By the way, when the sheet is folded, it is necessary to receive the leading end (lower end) of the sheet with the stopper 38s because the sheet is folded while standing on the stopper 38s. Further, the entire sheet folding portion 70 may be inclined, and the folding roller pair 45 and the folding blade 46 may be inclined. In this case, if the nip NP and folding blade 46 of the folding roller pair 45 and the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s are not parallel, the edges of the folded sheet may not be aligned. Further, when the saddle stitching stapler is bound in a straight line in the width direction of the sheet, the saddle stitching stapler is arranged in the sheet conveying direction unless the bound arrangement position and the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s are parallel to each other. The sheet cannot be bound at a right angle to the sheet.

  Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus 101 of the present invention includes a stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 that can adjust the inclination of the stopper 38 s in parallel with the binding direction of the saddle stitching stapler 40 and the folding blade 46. In other words, the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 causes the inclination of the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s to the sheet bending portion 70 or the saddle stitching stapler 40 as processing means for processing the sheet width direction portion of the sheet received by the stopper 38s. It can be adjusted. Hereinafter, the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the stopper provided with the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80, as viewed from the direction of the arrow Xa in FIG. FIG. 15 is a view of the stopper 38s of FIG. 14 as viewed from the direction of the arrow Xa. 16 is a view of the support member 71 of FIG. 14 as viewed from the direction of the arrow Xb, and is a view of the support member 71 as viewed from the direction of the arrow Xb in FIG. FIG. 17 is a view of the support member 71 of FIG. 16 as viewed from the direction of the arrow Xb.

  The stopper 38 s is moved in the directions K and Q (FIG. 17) in which the support member 71 of FIGS. 11, 16, and 17 is moved closer to and away from the saddle stitching stapler 40 (FIG. 4) and the folding blade 46 by the support shaft 81. It is supported rotatably. The support member 71 is formed with a linear horizontal long hole 71a as a guide portion perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction Aa (FIG. 11). The stopper 38s is formed with a linear inclined long hole 38k as a guide portion intersecting with the horizontal long hole 71a. For this reason, the horizontal long hole 71a and the inclined long hole 38k as a pair of guide portions intersect each other.

  In the horizontal long hole 71a, an adjustment shaft 38e as a moving member penetrating the inclined long hole 38k is movably provided (engaged). The stopper 38s is provided with a tightening screw 38n. The fastening screw 38n is provided on the opposite side of the support shaft 81 in the stopper 38s. The fastening screw 38n penetrates the support member 71 through the vertically long hole 71b along the rotation directions K and Q of the stopper 38s.

  The support member 71 is provided with an inclination angle display scale 71c indicating the relationship between the position of the adjustment shaft 38e in the sheet width direction and the inclination angle of the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s. The inclination angle display scale 71c may be provided on the stopper 38s. In the above configuration, the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 is formed by the support member 71, the horizontal long hole 71a, the inclined long hole 38k, the adjusting shaft 38e, and the like.

  FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80, and is a view of the stopper as viewed from the arrow Xb in FIGS. In FIG. 18, a long hole indicated by a broken line is a horizontal long hole 71 a formed in the support member 71.

  A procedure for adjusting the inclination of the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s will be described. In FIG. 11, when the folding blade 46 is viewed from the direction of the arrow Xb, it is assumed that the entire sheet folding portion 70 is inclined downward to the right and the folding blade 46 is inclined downward to the right. For this reason, the stopper 38s needs to be lowered to the right according to the inclination of the folding blade 46.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for adjusting the stopper 38s downwardly in accordance with the inclination of the folding blade 46 when the entire sheet bending portion 70 is inclined will be described. In FIG. 18 (A), the horizontal long hole 71a formed in the support member 71 is horizontal. In addition, the width center (CL1) of the horizontal elongated hole 71a coincides with the center 81a of the support shaft 81. The inclined long hole 38k is a slanted hole in which the width center (CL2) of the inclined long hole 38k intersects the width center (CL1) of the horizontal long hole 71a when the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper is horizontal. In this case, the left end portion 38ka of the inclined long hole 38k is positioned above the left end portion 71aa of the horizontal long hole 71a, and the right end portion 38kb of the inclined long hole 38k is below the right end portion 71ab of the horizontal long hole 71a. positioned.

  The adjustment shaft 38e is moved from the position shown in FIG. 18 (A) to the left of the arrow Ya as shown in FIG. 18 (B). Then, the intersection T between the horizontal elongated hole 71a and the inclined elongated hole 38k also moves to the left. At this time, the adjustment shaft 38e is guided to the horizontal long hole 71a and horizontally moves to the left, and also moves to the left in the inclined long hole 38k, which is a slanted hole, to lower the left end portion 38ka of the inclined long hole 38k. . That is, the adjustment shaft 38e tilts the stopper 38s about the support shaft 81 in the direction of arrow Q through the inclined long hole 38k with reference to the horizontal long hole 71a formed in the support member 71. As a result, the right end 38 sb of the stopper 38 s is lowered, and the stopper 38 s is inclined downward as in the case of the folding blade 46.

  The amount of inclination of the stopper 38s is determined by the position of the adjustment shaft 38e. The amount of inclination is obtained by aligning the adjustment axis 38e with the inclination angle display scale 71c. When the stopper face 38sa of the stopper 38s is aligned with the inclination of the folding blade 46 and then the fastening screw 38n is tightened, the stopper 38s is fixed and integrated with the support member 71.

  When the folding blade 46 is downwardly lowered when viewed from the direction of the arrow Xb in FIG. 11, the adjustment shaft 38e is moved from the position shown in FIG. 18 (A) to the position shown in FIG. 18 (C). In this way, it is moved in the right direction of the arrow Yb. Then, the intersection T between the horizontal elongated hole 71a and the inclined elongated hole 38k also moves to the right, the stopper 38s tilts in the direction of the arrow K, and the right end 38sb of the stopper 38s rises. As a result, the stopper 38 s is tilted to the left in the same manner as the folding blade 46.

  In the above description, in FIG. 18, the inclined long hole 38K is inclined downward to the right, but may be inclined downward to the left. In this case, when the adjustment shaft 38e is moved to the left, the stopper 38s is tilted to the left and the right end 38sb is raised, and when moved to the right, the stopper 38s is moved to the right by the right end 38sb being lowered. Tilt down.

  Moreover, a horizontal long hole may be formed in a stopper and an inclined long hole may be formed in a support member. Or you may form the inclination long hole from which an inclination direction mutually differs in both a stopper and a support member.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the adjustment shaft 38e is provided in the long hole formed in the support member, but may be provided in the long hole of the stopper.

  As described above, when the folding blade 46 is tilted by the stopper tilt adjusting mechanism 80, the sheet processing apparatus 101 can adjust the tilt of the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper to the tilt. For this reason, when the sheet processing apparatus 101 folds the sheet bundle (one sheet), the edges of the folded sheet bundle (one sheet) can be aligned to improve the appearance.

  In the above description, the inclination of the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper 38s is described to match the inclination of the folding blade 46, but may be adjusted to the inclination of the nip NP of the pair of folding rollers 45. Further, it can be similarly adjusted to a binding position where the saddle stitching stapler 40 is arranged in a straight line in the width direction of the sheet and bound. In this case, the binding positions can be arranged in a straight line in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Further, the sheet bundle bound in this way can be improved in appearance by aligning the edges of the sheet bundle when the portion bound by the folding blade 46 is folded into a booklet.

  By the way, the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 described above is configured such that one end of the stopper 38s is rotatably supported by the support shaft 81 and the other end is rotated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18B, the amount of rotation of the stopper when the adjustment shaft 38e moves near the support shaft 81 is separated from the support shaft 81 as shown in FIG. More than the amount of rotation of the stopper when moving the place. That is, the amount of rotation of the stopper 138s decreases as the adjustment shaft 38e moves away from the support shaft 81. For this reason, since the amount of movement of the adjustment shaft 38e and the amount of rotation of the stopper are not directly proportional, it may be difficult to adjust the inclination of the stopper. This becomes prominent as the inclination angle of the long hole increases.

  Accordingly, the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 180 shown in FIG. 19 has the inclined long hole 38k in the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 18 as an inclined long hole 138k curved downward, and the amount of movement of the adjusting shaft 38e and the stopper 138s. The amount of rotation is in direct proportion. In the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 180, the parts other than the inclined long hole 138k are the same as the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80 shown in FIG. 18, and therefore the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. .

  In the state where the stopper surface 38sa of the stopper is horizontal, the left end 138ka of the inclined long hole 138k is located above the left end 71aa of the horizontal long hole 71a, and the right end 138kb of the inclined long hole 138k is the horizontal long hole 71a. It is located below the right end portion 71ab. In this case, the shift amount G11 of the left end portion 138ka of the inclined long hole 138k with respect to the left end portion 71aa of the horizontal long hole 71a in FIG. It is the same as the shift amount G1 (G11 = G1).

  However, the inclined long hole 138k in FIG. 19 is curved downward on the right end 138kb side. For this reason, the shift amount G12 of the right end portion 138kb of the inclined elongated hole 138k with respect to the right end portion 71ab of the horizontal elongated hole 71a in FIG. 19 is equal to the right end portion 38kb of the inclined elongated hole 38k with respect to the right end portion 71ab of the horizontal elongated hole 71a in FIG. The deviation amount G2 is increased (G12> G2).

  In the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 180 having such a configuration, the adjustment shaft 38e is moved from the position shown in FIG. 19B to the position shown in FIG. 19C. Then, the stopper 38s can be rotated in the direction of the arrow K more by (G12-G1) than when the inclined long hole 38k of FIG. 18 is formed. This means that the adjustment shaft 38e rotates the stopper 38s more than the case shown in FIG. 18 while the adjustment shaft 38e moves from the position shown in FIG. 19B to the position shown in FIG. 19C. Large amount. Moreover, as the adjustment shaft 38e approaches the right end 138kb of the inclined long hole 138k, the adjustment shaft 38e rotates more stopper 38s than in the case shown in FIG.

  In the above description, in FIG. 19, the inclined long hole 138K is inclined downwardly to the right, but may be inclined downwardly to the left. In this case, when the adjustment shaft 38e is moved to the left, the stopper 38s is tilted to the left and the right end 38sb is raised, and when it is moved to the right, the right end 38sb is lowered and tilted to the right. .

  Moreover, a horizontal long hole may be formed in a stopper and an inclined long hole may be formed in a support member. Or you may form the inclination long hole from which an inclination direction mutually differs in both a stopper and a support member. That is, the long hole 138k (71a) which is at least one guide part is separated from the long hole 71a (138k) which is the other guide part as it is away from the support shaft 81 which is the rotation center of the stopper. It only needs to be curved.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the adjustment shaft 38e is provided in the long hole formed in the support member, but may be provided in the long hole of the stopper.

  The sheet processing apparatus 101 provided with the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 180 described above has the same effect as that provided with the stopper inclination adjusting mechanism 80, and the movement amount of the adjustment shaft 38e and the rotation amount of the stopper 38s are directly proportional. Therefore, it is easy to adjust the inclination of the stopper.

  In addition, since the image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet processing apparatus that can accurately process a sheet, the number of sheets on which an image is formed again is small, and the operation efficiency of forming an image on the sheet can be improved.

  2: image forming unit, 38: sheet leading edge regulating unit, 38e: adjustment shaft (moving member), 38k, 138k: inclined long hole (guide unit), 38s: stopper, 40: saddle stitching stapler (processing means), 45: Folding roller pair, 46: folding blade, 70: sheet folding part, 71: support member, 71a: horizontal long hole (guide part), 71c: inclination angle display scale, 80, 180: stopper inclination adjusting mechanism, 100: image formation Apparatus, 100A: apparatus main body of image forming apparatus, 101: sheet processing apparatus, 101B: edge binding section, 101C: bookbinding processing section, 102: image reading apparatus, T: intersection, P: sheet.

Claims (5)

A stopper having a stopper surface for receiving the leading edge of the conveyed sheet;
A processing unit disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the stopper and processing a portion in the sheet width direction of the sheet received by the stopper;
A support member that rotatably supports the stopper in a direction approaching and separating from the processing means;
A pair of guide portions formed on the stopper and the support member in the sheet width direction and intersecting each other;
A moving member that is movably provided in one guide portion of the pair of guide portions and movably engaged with the other guide portion;
When the moving member is moved with the one guide portion as a guide and the crossing portion of the pair of guide portions is moved, the stopper rotates with respect to the support member, and the stopper of the stopper with respect to the processing means The tilt of the surface is adjustable,
A sheet processing apparatus. An inclination angle display scale formed on one of the stopper and the support member and indicating a relationship between a position of the moving member in the sheet width direction and an inclination angle of the stopper surface of the stopper with respect to the sheet width direction. The
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The pair of guide portions are formed in a straight line,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. The pair of guide portions are curved in a direction in which at least one guide portion is separated from the other guide portion as the distance from the rotation center of the stopper is increased.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet on which an image is formed,
The sheet processing apparatus is the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
An image forming apparatus.

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