JP2018034972A - Post-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve durability of a gate member as compared with a case where a Mylar film or the like is used as the gate member by suppressing an increase in weight of the gate member and an increase in travel resistance when passing a recording medium as much as possible.SOLUTION: A gate member 22 functions as a guide member which is provided on an upstream side of a conveyance section 21, guides printing paper conveyed from the upstream side to the conveyance section 21 and guides the printing paper reversely traveling on a conveyance path 30 to a standby section 31. The gate member 22 is composed of resin of a rib structure and is provided with a plane section which is pushed by the conveyed printing paper and is in contact with a conveyance path component member 33 at a tip. In the gate member 22, the plane section is pushed down to pass the printing paper because the plane section comes into contact with the printing paper conveyed from the upstream side. After the plane section is once pushed down, the printing paper is held in a passable state because a plurality of projection sections farther from a fulcrum than the plane section come into contact with the printing paper during passing of the printing paper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, a recording unit that is sequentially conveyed from the upstream side is conveyed back to a post-processing unit that performs post-processing, and a conveyance unit that is connected to the conveyance unit and can be reversed from the conveyance unit. Connected to the standby section of the transport section, the standby section that temporarily waits for the recording material, the recording material that is waiting in the standby section and the recording material that is transported through the transport section, and transports to the post-processing section A post-processing apparatus provided with an elastic member that is arranged on the upstream side of the connection position and guides the recording material sequentially conveyed from the upstream side to the post-processing unit and guides the recording material that is fed back to the standby unit. It is disclosed.

JP, 2015-182841, A

  When post-processing such as stapling is performed by the post-processing apparatus, if the post-processing processing speed is slower than the printing speed of the image forming processing, the image forming processing must be stopped halfway.

  In order to avoid such a situation, a function as a buffer between the image forming process and the post-process is realized by performing a process of superimposing a plurality of print sheets before the post-process is performed in the post-processing unit. There is a case in which such a mechanism is provided.

  In order to realize such a mechanism, a material such as Mylar film is used as a gate member, the transported printing paper is made to run backward and temporarily waited at a waiting place, and the subsequent printing paper is transported. A mechanism was used to overlap the printing paper that had been waiting when it came.

  However, when the gate member is made of a material such as Mylar film, there is a problem that damage such as wear or bending may occur.

  However, since the gate member is required to operate only with the conveyance force of the printing paper, if the gate member is simply made of a highly durable material, the operation force increases due to the increase in the weight of the gate member, or the printing paper passes through the printing paper. Another problem, such as not being able to operate only with the conveyance force of the printing paper, occurs due to an increase in running resistance, etc., which may cause paper jams.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress the increase in the weight of the gate member and the increase in running resistance when passing through the recording medium as much as possible, and to improve the durability of the gate member as compared with the case where a mylar film or the like is used as the gate member. It is to provide a possible post-processing device.

The present invention according to claim 1 is a conveyance path for conveying the recording medium sequentially conveyed from the upstream side toward a post-processing unit that performs post-processing;
A conveying means for conveying the recording medium on the conveying path and capable of reversing the conveying direction;
A standby unit for temporarily waiting the recording medium;
A guide member provided on the upstream side of the conveying means, for guiding the recording medium conveyed from the upstream side to the conveying means, and guiding the recording medium that has run backward on the conveying path to the standby unit; ,
The recording medium conveyed from the upstream side is caused to reversely run on the conveying path by reversing the conveying means to stand by in the standby unit, and the recording medium conveyed from the upstream side and the standby unit Control means for controlling the conveying means so as to overlap the waiting recording medium and convey it to the downstream post-processing section,
The guide member is formed of a rib-structured resin and is urged by an elastic member in a direction to block the conveyance path, and is pushed down by contacting the recording medium conveyed from the upstream and passes through the recording medium. A plurality of protrusions that are farther away from the fulcrum than the plane portion and are in contact with the recording medium so that the recording medium can pass through the recording medium. Is a post-processing apparatus characterized by the above.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the member that contacts when the guide member is urged by the elastic body is provided with holes corresponding to the plurality of protrusions, and the guide member blocks the conveyance path. 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions have a comb-tooth structure so that the plurality of protrusions are inserted into the corresponding holes.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the durability of the gate member is suppressed as compared with the case where a mylar film or the like is used as the gate member while suppressing an increase in the weight of the gate member and an increase in running resistance when passing through the recording medium. It is possible to provide a post-processing apparatus capable of improving the efficiency.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from inadvertently entering the upstream side of the conveyance path when the recording medium runs backward.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of the mechanism for performing the superimposition process of a printing paper in the post-processing apparatus 20 in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the superimposition process of a printing paper is performed in the superposition mechanism of the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the superimposition process of a printing paper is performed in the superposition mechanism of the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the superimposition process of a printing paper is performed in the superposition mechanism of the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the superimposition process of a printing paper is performed in the superposition mechanism of the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the superimposition process of a printing paper is performed in the superposition mechanism of the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the gate member 22 in the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing the gate member 22 in the aftertreatment device 20 of one embodiment of the present invention from the back side. It is a side view of the gate member 22 in the post-processing apparatus 20 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a mode that the gate member 22 is attached to the fixing member 32 so that rotation around the fulcrum 44 is possible. It is a figure which shows a mode that the state which the gate member 22 contacted the conveyance path structural member 33 was seen from the upper diagonal side. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a state where a protrusion 43 is inserted into a hole 34 of a conveyance path constituting member 33.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming system of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 10 and a post-processing apparatus 20 as shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is an electrophotographic printer, and prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing in accordance with an operation from an operator. Then, the recording medium on which the image is formed is sent to the post-processing device 20.

  The post-processing device 20 includes a plurality of post-processing units, and performs post-processing on a recording medium such as printing paper on which an image is formed by the image forming device 10.

  Here, the post-processing is processing performed on the printing paper or the like after image formation, and includes, for example, stapling processing, punching processing, bookbinding processing, and folding processing.

  As described above, when such post-processing is executed by the post-processing device 20, if the post-processing processing speed is slower than the printing speed of the image forming device 10, the image forming processing must be stopped halfway. I will have to. Therefore, in the post-processing device 20 of this embodiment, before the post-processing is performed in the post-processing unit, a process between the plurality of print sheets is performed to serve as a buffer between the image forming process and the post-processing. A mechanism for realizing the function is provided.

  Next, an outline of a mechanism for performing such printing paper superimposing processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mechanism for performing the superimposing process transports a recording medium such as printing paper that is sequentially transported from the upstream side toward a post-processing unit that performs post-processing. A path 30 and a standby unit 31 for temporarily waiting for a recording medium such as printing paper are formed.

  The mechanism includes a gate member (guide member) 22 held by the fixing member 32 and a transport unit 21.

  The transport unit 21 has a function of transporting the printing paper on the transport path 30 by rotating the transport roller, for example, and a function of reversing the transport direction of the printing paper by reversing the transport roller.

  The gate member 22 is provided on the upstream side of the transport unit 21, guides the print paper transported from the upstream side to the transport unit 21, and waits for the print paper that has run backward on the transport path 30. It functions as a guide member for guiding to the part 31.

  The gate member 22 is biased so as to be pressed against the conveyance path constituting member 33 side by a spring 23 which is an elastic member.

  In the post-processing apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the control unit 100 is provided. The control unit 100 controls the operation of the conveyance unit 21 and controls the conveyance of the printing paper on the conveyance path 30 by inputting a signal from a paper sensor (not shown) provided on the conveyance path 30. Is going.

  Specifically, when performing the stacking process of the printing paper, the control unit 100 reverses the printing paper conveyed from the upstream side of the conveyance path 30 on the conveyance path 30 by reversing the conveyance unit 21. Are reversely run to stand by in the standby unit 31, and the next printing sheet conveyed from the upstream side and the printing sheet waiting in the standby unit 31 are overlapped and conveyed toward the downstream post-processing unit. The transport unit 21 is controlled.

  Next, the manner in which the print paper overlay process is performed in the above-described overlay mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the first printing paper P1 has been transported on the transport path 30 from the upstream side. When the printing paper P1 is conveyed on the conveyance path 30 and reaches the gate member 22, the gate member 22 is pushed down by the conveyance force of the printing paper P1 as shown in FIG. 3, and the conveyance path constituting member 33 and the gate member 22 are pressed. A gap occurs between the two. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing paper P <b> 1 passes through this gap and reaches the transport unit 21.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the transport unit 21 reverses the transport direction of the printing paper P <b> 1 and runs backward on the transport path 30. However, since the printing paper P1 has already passed through the gate member 22 at this time, the gate member 22 is pressed against the conveyance path constituting member 33 by the spring 23, and the conveyance path 30 is in a blocking state.

  Therefore, the printing paper P1 that runs backward on the conveyance path 30 is guided to the standby unit 31 by the gate member 22 as shown in FIG.

  When the next printing paper P2 is transported from the upstream side of the transporting path 30, the printing paper P2 moves through the gate member 22 by the same operation as that of the first printing paper P1 described above. pass.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, at the timing when the leading end of the printing paper P <b> 2 that has passed through the gate member 22 reaches the transporting unit 21 and overlaps the leading end of the printing paper P <b> 1 that is waiting on the standby unit 31, 21 starts the conveying operation.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the first printing paper P <b> 1 waiting in the standby unit 31 and the second printing paper P <b> 2 conveyed from the upstream of the conveyance path 30 are overlapped. It is conveyed in the direction of the post-processing unit.

  Here, in order to simplify the description, the description has been made by using the process of superimposing two printing papers. However, the printing paper from the upstream after performing the control of waiting the printing paper in the standby unit 31 twice. It is also possible to superimpose three or more printing papers by superimposing and conveying them.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the gate member 22 described above will be described. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the gate member 22 in the post-processing apparatus 20 of the present embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the gate member 22 as viewed from the back side. A side view of the gate member 22 is shown in FIG.

  The gate member 22 is made of a resin having a rib structure reinforced by a plurality of ribs 41. A flat portion 42 is provided at the tip of the gate member 22 so as to be pressed by the conveyed printing paper and to contact the conveyance path constituting member 33. The gate member 22 is attached to the fixed member 32 so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum 44 as shown in FIG. The gate member 22 is further provided with a plurality of protrusions 43 that are farther from the fulcrum 44 than the flat surface 42.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the gate member 22 is attached to the fixed member 32 so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum 44, and is biased by a spring (elastic member) 23 in a direction to cut off the conveyance path 30. It is pressed against the conveyance path constituting member 33.

  The flat surface portion 42 of the gate member 22 is for being pushed down by passing through the printing paper conveyed from the upstream side and allowing the printing paper to pass through. Once the gate member 22 is pushed down to the printing paper, the printing paper passes through the gate member 22 while being in contact with the protrusion 43 of the gate member 22 as shown in FIG. That is, while the printing paper is passing, the gate member 22 is held in a state in which the printing paper can pass through the plurality of protrusions 43 that are farther from the fulcrum than the flat portion 42 and come into contact with the printing paper.

  FIG. 12 shows a state in which the gate member 22 is in contact with the conveyance path constituting member 33 as viewed from the upper oblique side. Further, FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the state in which the protrusion 43 is inserted into the hole 34 of the conveyance path constituting member 33.

  Referring to FIG. 12, it can be seen that holes 34 corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 43 are provided in the conveyance path constituting member 33 that contacts when the gate member 22 is biased by the spring 23. Referring to FIG. 13, in a state where the gate member 22 blocks the conveyance path 30, a plurality of protrusions 43 are comb-tooth structures that are respectively inserted into the corresponding holes 34 of the conveyance path constituting member 33. I understand.

  The gate member 22 in the present embodiment needs to have a structure that can be surely pushed down only by the conveyance force of a recording medium such as a printing paper, and thus needs to be reduced in weight. For this reason, the gate member 22 of the present embodiment is made of resin and is made hollow by adopting a rib structure in order to achieve both improvement in durability and weight reduction.

  Furthermore, if the place where the printing paper hits is a rib structure, scratches or rib marks may remain on the printing paper. Therefore, in the gate member 22 of the present embodiment, the flat surface portion 42 where the printing paper hits is a flat surface.

  In addition, a structure in which the protrusion 43, which is farther from the fulcrum than the flat surface portion 42, hits the printing paper during the passage of the printing paper after the gate member 22 is pushed down by the printing paper hitting the flat surface portion 42, is provided. Thus, since the distance from the fulcrum is long, it is possible to reduce the contact resistance when the printing paper passes.

  In addition, when the gate member 22 is pressed against the conveyance path constituting member 33 to block the conveyance path 30, the plurality of protrusions 43 are inserted into the plurality of holes 34 provided in the conveyance path constituting member 33, respectively. With such a comb-tooth structure, it is possible to prevent the printing paper from accidentally entering the upstream side of the conveyance path 30 when the printing paper runs backward.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Post-processing apparatus 21 Conveying part 22 Gate member (guide member)
23 Spring 30 Conveying path 31 Standby part 32 Fixing member 33 Member 34 Hole 41 Rib 42 Plane part 43 Projection part 44 Support point 100 Control part P1, P2 Printing paper

Claims (2)

A conveyance path for conveying the recording medium sequentially conveyed from the upstream side toward a post-processing unit that performs post-processing;
A conveying means for conveying the recording medium on the conveying path and capable of reversing the conveying direction;
A standby unit for temporarily waiting the recording medium;
A guide member provided on the upstream side of the conveying means, for guiding the recording medium conveyed from the upstream side to the conveying means, and guiding the recording medium that has run backward on the conveying path to the standby unit; ,
The recording medium conveyed from the upstream side is caused to reversely run on the conveying path by reversing the conveying means to stand by in the standby unit, and the recording medium conveyed from the upstream side and the standby unit Control means for controlling the conveying means so as to overlap the waiting recording medium and convey it to the downstream post-processing section,
The guide member is formed of a rib-structured resin and is urged by an elastic member in a direction to block the conveyance path, and is pushed down by contacting the recording medium conveyed from the upstream and passes through the recording medium. A plurality of protrusions that are farther away from the fulcrum than the plane portion and are in contact with the recording medium so that the recording medium can pass through the recording medium. A post-processing device characterized by.   The member that contacts when the guide member is urged by the elastic body is provided with holes corresponding to the plurality of protrusions, and the plurality of protrusions are in a state where the guide member blocks the conveyance path. 2. A post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the post-processing apparatuses has a comb-tooth structure that is inserted into a corresponding hole.

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