JP2018080000A - Recording material binding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To downsize a recording material binding device by which recording materials are sandwiched and deformed to be joined using two tooth dies each having a plurality of arranged teeth.SOLUTION: A binding operation part 100 comprises: an upper arm 26 to which an upper tooth die 22 is attached; a lower arm 28 to which a lower tooth die 24 is attached; a lever link 56; a support lever 72; and an arm pin 64, an articulation pin 58, a guide pin 70, a camshaft 50 and a support bar 74 to connect or support the upper arm, the lower arm, the lever link and the support lever 72. Left and right side frames including left and right guide plates 78L and 78R, respectively are arranged on left and right sides of the binding operation part 100. The arm pin 64, the articulation pin 58, the guide pin 70, the camshaft 50 and the support bar 74 are supported on both sides by the Left and right side frames.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material binding apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a recording material binding device in which a plurality of stacked recording materials are sandwiched between pairs of tooth molds each having a tooth row, pressure is applied, and the recording materials are deformed into a wave shape and coupled together. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 shows an end binding function unit (50) provided in a sheet post-processing apparatus (2) that processes an image after recording an image on a sheet as a recording material. The edge-binding function section (50) has pressing teeth (512, 522) provided at the ends of the two drive pieces (511, 521), and the drive piece (511, 521) is a pin (PN) as an axis. The paper (P) is pinched by the pressing teeth (512, 522) and coupled. In addition, the code | symbol in said () is a code | symbol used by the following patent document 1, and is not related with the code | symbol used in embodiment of this application.

JP 2011-201654 A

  In the recording material binding apparatus, a binding operation unit for performing a binding operation of two meshing teeth molds is necessary. A reaction force acts on the binding operation portion when the recording material is sandwiched and deformed by a tooth shape. If the binding operation part is to be supported only on one side surface, the structure for receiving the reaction force becomes large, and the apparatus becomes large.

  An object of this invention is to make an apparatus small compared with the case where a binding action | operation part is supported only by one side.

  The invention according to claim 1 has a first tooth mold having a plurality of arranged teeth, a plurality of arranged teeth, meshes with the first tooth mold, and cooperates with the first tooth mold to record the recording material. A second tooth mold that binds the recording material across the bundle, a binding operation section that includes a link structure that opens and closes so that the first tooth mold and the second tooth mold perform a binding operation, and a binding operation section that is disposed to sandwich the binding operation section. The recording material binding device includes two side frames that support the binding operation unit on both sides.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the recording material binding device according to claim 1, wherein the two side frames have guide elements for guiding the movement of the elements constituting the link structure of the binding operation portion.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a motor for driving the first tooth mold and the second tooth mold via the binding operation portion, and further includes a motor disposed between the two side frames. The recording material binding device according to claim 1.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the first tooth mold and the second tooth mold sandwich the recording material bundle in the front upper corner region in the vicinity of the corner where the front edge and the upper edge of the recording material binding apparatus intersect, The recording material binding device according to claim 3, wherein a motor is disposed in a rear lower corner region that is diagonal to the region.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the recording material binding apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a gear train that transmits the power of the motor to the binding operation unit, and is disposed outside one side frame. .

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, an apparatus becomes small compared with the case where a binding action | operation part is supported only by one side.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the case where the element which comprises the link structure of a binding action | operation part is guided only by one side, guidance of an element is stabilized.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, an apparatus becomes small compared with the case where a motor is arrange | positioned on the outer side of a side frame.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, compared with the case where it is not set as the arrangement | positioning of a diagonal position, an apparatus becomes small.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the case where a gear train is arrange | positioned inside a side frame, the support structure of a binding action | operation part becomes simple.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming system. It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a recording material binding device. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a recording material binding apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a recording material binding apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view of a recording material binding apparatus. It is a perspective view shown in the state which separated the binding operation | movement part and right and left side frame of the recording material binding apparatus. It is a perspective view when the binding operation | movement part of a recording material binding apparatus is seen from another direction. It is a perspective view which shows a delivery spring. It is a perspective view which shows a support spring. It is explanatory drawing of binding operation | movement and is a figure which shows the home position of a binding action | operation part. It is explanatory drawing of binding operation | movement, and is a figure which shows the state which the upper and lower tooth type closed a little. It is explanatory drawing of binding operation | movement, and is a figure which shows the state just before an upper and lower tooth type meshes | engages. It is explanatory drawing of binding operation | movement, and is a figure which shows the state which meshing | engagement of the upper and lower tooth type was completed. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a stacking tray and a recording material binding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional shape of the front end wall of a stacking tray. It is a figure which shows the comparative example of the positional relationship of a stacking tray and a recording material binding apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming system 11 including a recording material binding device 10 according to the present embodiment. The image forming system 11 includes, for example, an image forming apparatus 12 having an electrophotographic printing function, a copying function, and the like, and a recording material after an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 12, for example, after punching or binding. A recording material post-processing device 13 that performs processing is provided. The recording material binding device 10 of this embodiment can be mounted on the recording material post-processing device 13.

  The image forming apparatus 12 includes an image forming unit 14 that forms a toner image based on the acquired document information. The document information may be acquired by reading a document by the document reading unit 15 provided in the image forming apparatus 12 or may be acquired from an external device. The image forming apparatus 12 further includes a recording material feeding mechanism 16. The recording material to be fed is a sheet-shaped recording material cut into a predetermined shape, for example, a rectangle, and the material is, for example, paper. The recording material feeding mechanism 16 includes a supply tray 17 that holds the stacked recording materials, and a conveyance path 19 that sends the recording material from the supply tray 17 to the discharge port 18. The recording material receives the toner image formed by the image forming unit 14 in the process of being conveyed through the conveyance path 19 and the toner image is fixed. The recording material sent out from the discharge port 18 is received by the recording material post-processing device 13.

  In the recording material post-processing device 13, the received recording materials are stacked on the stacking tray 20 as necessary to form a recording material bundle. When the accumulation is not necessary, the recording material is sent to the discharge tray 21. When a predetermined number of recording materials are stacked on the stacking tray 20, post-processing such as punching and binding is performed on the bundle of recording materials. The recording material binding device 10 performs post-processing for binding the recording material bundle. The recording material binding apparatus 10 includes two tooth molds 22 and 24 that form a pair in which a plurality of teeth are arranged. In order to distinguish the two tooth molds, for convenience, the upper tooth mold 22 is referred to as the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 is referred to as the lower tooth mold 24 in FIG. The two tooth molds 22 and 24 may be disposed so as to face each other with the recording material to be bound therebetween, and may be disposed on the left and right, for example.

  One or both of the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are advanced and retracted toward the mating tooth mold by the drive mechanism, and the tooth molds mesh with each other when advanced. When the tooth molds are engaged with each other, the sandwiched recording material is deformed into a waveform, and the recording materials are joined and bound. After being bound, the recording material bundle is sent out to the discharge tray 21.

  Further, the image forming system 11 includes a control unit 25 that controls operations of each unit and each mechanism of the image forming apparatus 12 and the recording material post-processing apparatus 13. The control unit 25 acquires a request from the user and controls the operation of each unit of the image forming system 11 according to the request.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the recording material binding apparatus 10. The outer shape of the recording material binding apparatus 10 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. In order to simplify the description, the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions are defined according to the direction in which the sides of the rectangular parallelepiped extend. The vertical direction generally coincides with the direction in which the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are opposed to each other, and the front and rear direction is an upper arm 26 and a lower arm 28 (see FIG. 3) substantially coincides with the extending direction. The front upper corner of the rectangular parallelepiped that is the outer shape of the recording material binding apparatus 10 is near the corner where the apparatus upper surface 32 defined by the upper surface plate 30a of the upper frame 30 and the apparatus front surface 36 defined by the front plate 34a of the front frame 34 The upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are arranged in the region 38. In the front upper corner area 38, the recording material is sandwiched and bound by the upper and lower tooth molds 22 and 24. The left and right sides of the recording material binding apparatus 10 are generally covered by two side frames, that is, a left side frame 40L and a right side frame 40R.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording material binding apparatus 10 in which the right side frame 40R is removed so that the inside can be seen. The upper frame 30 includes a back plate 30c provided with an opening 30b and a support plate 30d extending forward from the lower edge of the back plate 30c. The back plate 30c is curved at the portion where the opening 30b is provided, whereby the outer shape of the recording material binding apparatus 10 is rounded in the rear upper corner region. A home position sensor 42 is disposed on the support plate 30d. The home position sensor 42 is a sensor that detects a home position of a binding operation unit 100 (see FIG. 6) described later. The detection of the home position will be described together with the operation of the binding operation unit 100.

  The motor 46 is disposed at a diagonal position of the front upper corner area 38, that is, at the rear lower corner area 44. The motor 46 includes a motor pinion 46a (see FIG. 5) on the output shaft, and the motor pinion 46a meshes with one gear 48a (see FIG. 5) of the gear train 48 disposed outside the left side frame 40L. The gear train 48 constitutes a reduction gear train, and the motor 46 rotationally drives the cam shaft 50 via the gear train 48.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the recording material binding apparatus 10 in which the motor 46 is further removed from the state of FIG. An encoder bracket 52 is fixed to the left side frame 40L, and an encoder 54 that detects the rotation angle of the motor 46 is disposed on the encoder bracket 52. The encoder 54 includes a rotor 54 a that is rotatably supported by the encoder bracket 52, and a photo sensor 54 b that is fixed to the encoder bracket 52. The rotor 54a has an impeller shape having a rotation shaft, and an encoder pinion 54c is provided at the end of the rotation shaft. The encoder pinion 54c meshes with one gear 48a (see FIG. 5) of the gear train 48, and when the motor 46 rotates, the rotor 54a rotates. The gear 48 a with which the encoder pinion 54 c meshes may be the first gear of the gear train 48. The photosensor 54b has two portions facing each other, and detects that the blades of the rotor 54a pass between them. The rotation angle of the output shaft of the motor 46 is detected by counting the number of times the blades have passed. The photo sensor 54b may be replaced with another type of sensor that can detect passage of the blades of the rotor 54a.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the recording material binding apparatus 10, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing a main part of the binding operation unit 100. The binding operation unit 100 includes the upper arm 26, the lower arm 28, a lever link 56, a support lever 72, and a connecting pin 58, an arm pin 64, a guide pin 70, and the like.

  The upper arm 26 has an arm portion 26 a that extends substantially forward and has an upper tooth mold 22 attached to the tip portion, and a connecting portion 26 b that branches from the arm portion 26 a and extends downward and is connected to the lever link 56. The arm portion 26 a has a portion that curves so as to exceed the upper portion of the cam shaft 50. The connecting portion 26b and the lever link 56 are connected by a connecting pin 58 so as to be rotatable around the pin. An upper guide plate 60 is attached to the tip of the upper arm 26 so as to be positioned in the vicinity of the upper tooth mold 22. The portions located on the left and right of the upper tooth die 22 of the upper guide plate 60 have a V-shaped portion 60a that is opened forward and formed by bending a steel plate such as a spring steel plate. The V-shaped portion 60a is closed when the recording material is bound, and the recording material after binding is pulled away from the upper tooth mold 22 by the force of opening the V-shape by elasticity. The connecting pin 58 has a cylindrical shaft portion 58a and guide protrusions 58b protruding from both ends of the shaft portion 58a.

  The lower arm 28 is provided with two arm plates 28a and 28b that are disposed on the left and right sides with a space therebetween, and a front end base 28c that is disposed so as to be coupled to the distal ends of the arm plates 28a and 28b. Have. The lower arm 28 may be integrally formed, or may be configured by assembling two arm plates 28a and 28b and a tip base 28c as separate parts. The lower tooth mold 24 is mounted on the tip table 28c. A lower guide plate 62 is disposed so as to surround the lower tooth mold 24. The lower guide plate 62 is formed in a V shape in which a steel plate such as a spring steel plate is bent to open the front. When the recording material is closed, the V-shape of the lower guide plate 62 is closed, and the recording material after being closed is pulled away from the lower tooth mold 24 by the force of opening the V-shape by elasticity.

  The upper arm 26 and the lower arm 28 are connected to each other by an arm pin 64 at their rear ends so that they can be rotated independently of each other. When connected, the upper arm 26 is located between the two arm plates 28a, 28b of the lower arm 28. Further, the connecting portion 26b of the upper arm passes between the arm plates 28a and 28b of the lower arm and extends to the side opposite to the arm portion 26a of the upper arm. Due to the rotation of the upper arm 26 and the lower arm 28 around the arm pin 64, the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 approach and move away from each other. The arm pin 64 includes a cylindrical shaft portion 64a and guide protrusions 64b protruding from both ends of the shaft portion 64a.

  An opening 28d through which the cam shaft 50 passes is formed in the two arm plates 28a and 28b of the lower arm 28. Fixed to the camshaft 50 are two drive cams, that is, a left drive cam 66L and a right drive cam 66R, which are positioned on the left and right sides of the upper arm 26 and the lower arm 28 when assembled. In addition to the circular cross section, the cam shaft 50 is provided with two deformed cross section shaft portions 50a having fan-shaped cross sections, for example, with the central portion removed. , 66R. A fixed pin 68 is erected or penetrated in a direction intersecting the axis line in the deformed cross-section shaft portion 50a of the cam shaft, and a pin receiving groove 66b for receiving the fixed pin 68 is formed in the left and right drive cams 66L and 66R. Provided (see FIG. 7). The left and right drive cams 66 </ b> L and 66 </ b> R are fixed with respect to the cam shaft 50 in the rotational direction by engaging the deformed cross section shaft portion 50 a of the cam shaft and the fixing pin 68. The left and right drive cams 66L, 66R are more firmly fixed in the rotational direction by engaging with the fixing pin 68 in addition to the engagement with the deformed cross-section shaft portion 50a.

  A fitting portion 50b having two parallel planes is provided at the left end of the cam shaft 50. The fitting portion 50 b is fitted into a fitting hole 48 c provided in one gear of the gear train 48, for example, the last gear 48 b of the gear train 48. By this connection, the cam shaft 50 is rotationally driven by the motor 46 via the gear train 48.

  The lever link 56 is further connected to a support lever 72 by a guide pin 70. The guide pin 70 includes a shaft portion 70a and guide protrusions 70b extending from both ends of the shaft portion. The cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 70a is non-circular. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a non-circular cross-sectional shape composed of one chord of a circle and a larger arc of arcs divided by the chord is formed. Have. The hole for receiving the guide pin 70 of the lever link 56 has a shape that fits the shaft portion 70a of the lever link. Thereby, the guide pin 70 is fixed to the lever link 56 in the rotation direction.

  When the recording material is bound, the support lever 72 supports the lower arm tip base 28c from below and receives a reaction force due to the binding operation. The support lever 72 includes a support base 72a positioned below the lower arm tip base 28c when binding the recording material, and two lever portions 72b extending rearward from the support base 72a to the outside of the lower arm 28. The support lever 72 may be configured integrally, or may be configured by combining the support base 72a and the two lever portions 72b as separate parts. A support bar 74 is fixed on the support base 72a. The support bar 74 includes a cylindrical shaft portion 74a and guide protrusions 74b protruding from both ends of the shaft portion 74a. Cam followers 72c that can contact the left and right drive cams 66L and 66R are provided at the rear ends of the two lever portions 72b.

  The left side frame 40L includes a left side panel 76L and a left guide plate 78L. When assembled, the left side panel 76L and the left guide plate 78L are overlapped and integrated. The right side frame 40R includes a right side panel 76R and a right guide plate 78R. When assembled, the right side panel 76R and the right guide plate 78R are overlapped and integrated.

  The cam shaft 50 is rotatably supported by the left and right side frames 40L and 40R by passing through a bearing bush 80 mounted on the left side frame 40L and a bearing hole 78Ra provided in the right guide plate 78R.

  Each of the left and right guide plates 78L, 78R is provided with guide grooves 82, 84, 88 and guide holes 86 for guiding the movement of the connecting pin 58, the arm pin 64, the guide pin 70 and the support bar 74.

  Guide protrusions 58b provided at both ends of the connecting pin 58 are fitted in the left and right connecting pin guide grooves 82, respectively. The guide protrusion 58b has a stepped cylindrical shape, and the connecting pin guide groove 82 has a stepped groove shape that is deep at the center of the groove and shallow near the edge of the groove. The connecting pin guide groove 82 has a bottom and does not open on the outer surfaces of the left and right guide plates 78L and 78R. The connecting pin guide groove 82 is bent, but extends substantially in the vertical direction.

  Guide protrusions 64b provided at both ends of the arm pin 64 are fitted in the arm pin guide grooves 84, respectively. The arm pin guide groove 84 extends substantially in the front-rear direction, and guides the movement of the upper arm 26 and the lower arm 28 in the front-rear direction. The arm pin guide groove 84 is provided through the thickness of the left and right guide plates 78L, 78R.

  Guide protrusions 70 b provided at both ends of the guide pin 70 respectively enter the guide holes 86. The guide protrusion 70b has an approximately elliptical irregular cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of the guide hole 86 is generally trapezoidal and larger than the guide protrusion 70b as a whole. Therefore, the guide protrusion 70b is allowed to move up and down and back and forth within the range of the guide hole 86. The guide hole 86 is extended in the left-right direction by an extension wall 86a erected on the outer surfaces of the left and right guide plates 78L, 78R.

  Cylindrical guide protrusions 74 b are provided at both ends of the support bar 74 integral with the support lever 72, and are fitted in the support lever guide groove 88. The support lever guide groove 88 extends substantially in the vertical direction, and guides the vertical movement of the support lever 72, particularly the support base 72a. The support lever guide groove 88 is provided through the thickness of the left and right guide plates 78L and 78R.

  The left and right drive cams 66L, 66R have a first cam surface 66c that contacts the arm pin 64 and a second cam surface 66d that contacts a cam follower 72c provided on the support lever 72 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The first cam surface 66c and the second cam surface 66d protrude from a cam base bottom surface 66e which is a part of a cylindrical surface having an axis common to the axis of the cam shaft 50. Further, the first cam surface 66c protrudes from the second cam surface 66d.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a home position detector 90 is attached to the left end portion of the arm pin 64 so as to be rotatable around the arm pin 64. The home position detector 90 includes a detection piece 90a that is a detection target portion of the home position sensor 42, and a cam follower 90b that comes into contact with the second cam surface 66d of the left drive cam 66L. As the left drive cam 66L rotates, the home position detector 90 swings, and the detection piece 90a moves forward and backward with respect to the home position sensor 42. A photo sensor can be used as the home position sensor 42, and the home position of the binding operation unit 100 is detected when the detection piece 90a enters between the two portions.

  In FIG. 8, a delivery spring 92 is shown. The delivery spring 92 abuts on the upper arm 26 and urges the entire binding operation unit 100 forward and downward. The delivery spring 92 has an operating portion 92a that abuts against a spring receiving surface 26c (see FIG. 5) provided slightly above the upper arm 26. The operation part 92a has a substantially U-shape, and the fixed part 92c is connected via the coil parts 92b at both ends. The fixed portion 92c is fixed to the inner surface of the upper surface plate 30a of the upper frame, and the operating portion 92a is rotatable about the coil portion 92b. The delivery spring 92 urges the binding operation unit 100 so as to send the entire binding operation unit 100 forward and downward.

  FIG. 9 shows a support spring 94. The support spring 94 supports the support lever 72 so that the position of the cam follower 72c of the support lever does not fall too low when the support lever 72 is separated from the drive cams 66L and 66R. By supporting the support lever 72, the second cam surface 66d comes into contact with the cam follower 72c when the drive cams 66L and 66R rotate. The support spring 94 has a cylindrical coil portion 94a attached to a boss 78Rb (see FIG. 6) of the right guide plate 78R. The bent tip of the fixed arm 94b extending from the coil portion 94a engages with an engagement hole 78Rc provided on the outer surface of the right guide plate 78R, and the support spring 94 is fixed in the rotational direction. The support arm 94c of the support spring 94 extends along the inner surface of the right guide plate 78R from the coil portion 94a. The tip of the support arm 94c supports the lower surface of one lever portion 72b of the support lever. The support arm 94 c may be separated from the support lever 72 when the drive cams 66 </ b> L and 66 </ b> R are in contact with the support lever 72.

  10 to 13 are operation explanatory views of the binding operation unit 100 of the recording material binding apparatus 10. The binding operation unit operates to bind the recording paper by the drive cam 66. In the description of the operation, when there is no need to distinguish between the left and right drive cams 66L and 66R, the drive cam 66 is simply referred to for simplicity. For the connecting pin guide groove 82, only the deep part of the stepped groove is shown for simplification.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state where the binding operation unit 100 is in the home position. At the home position, the first cam surface 66c of the drive cam is in contact with the shaft portion 64a of the arm pin. As a result, the first cam surface 66c most retracts the arm pin 64, and the entire binding operation portion is in the retracted position. The upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are also in a retracted position and are located farthest from each other. The connecting portion 26 b of the upper arm is pulled up until the guide projection 58 b of the connecting pin is positioned near the upper end of the connecting pin guide groove 82. Corresponding to the position of the connecting pin 58, the guide projection 70b of the guide pin is positioned at the center of the upper side of the guide hole 86, and the guide projection 74b of the support bar is positioned near the upper end of the support lever guide groove 88. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, in the home position detector 90, the cam follower 90 b comes into contact with the second cam surface 66 d and the detection piece 90 a is positioned at the detection target position by the home position sensor 42. Based on the detection of the detection piece 90a of the home position sensor 42, the control unit 25 recognizes that the binding operation unit is at the home position.

  When the drive cam 66 rotates counterclockwise F in the drawing from the home position, the shaft portion 64a of the arm pin comes off from the first cam surface 66c and shifts to the contact state of the cam base surface 66e at a certain position.

  FIG. 11 is a view showing a state immediately after the shaft portion 64a of the arm pin is detached from the first cam surface 66c. Since the engagement between the shaft portion 64a and the first cam surface 66c is released, the binding operation portion is entirely fed forward and downward (lower right in the drawing) by the urging force U of the delivery spring 92. The arm pin 64 moves forward along the arm pin guide groove 84, and accordingly, the upper arm 26 also moves forward. At the same time, the upper arm 26 moves downward as the guide projection 58 b of the connecting pin at the lower end of the connecting portion 26 b is guided downward along the connecting pin guide groove 82. For this reason, the upper tooth type | mold 22 goes to the downward direction, advancing ahead. The lower arm 28 moves forward as the arm pin 64 moves forward. The lower arm 28 is guided by the cam shaft 50 that passes through the opening 28d, and moves substantially forward without rotation. For this reason, the lower tooth mold 24 also advances forward. As the upper tooth mold 22 advances forward and downward and the lower tooth mold 24 advances forward, the upper and lower tooth molds 22 and 24 approach each other while moving forward.

  Since the upper portion of the connecting pin guide groove 82 extends obliquely downward and forward, the lever link 56 also moves forward and downward as the connecting pin 58 moves along the connecting pin guide groove 82. However, when the guide projection 70b of the guide pin hits the front edge of the guide hole 86, the lever link 56 cannot move further forward, and thereafter, the guide pin 70 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft. As the guide pin 70 moves forward and downward, the support lever 72 also moves. Since the support bar 74 integral with the support lever 72 moves along the support lever guide groove 88 extending substantially vertically, even if the guide pin 70 moves forward, it does not move forward. As shown in the drawing, the support lever guide groove 88 extends rearward as it goes downward, so that the support lever 72 is rotated counterclockwise. As a result, the cam follower 72c at the rear end of the support lever 72 moves downward. At this time, the support spring 94 supports the rear portion of the support lever 72 from below so that the cam follower 72c does not move too much.

  The home position detector 90 moves forward together with the arm pin 64, and the detection piece 90 a deviates from the detection target position of the home position sensor 42.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state where the drive cam 66 further rotates counterclockwise F and the second cam surface 66d is in contact with the cam follower 72c of the support lever. The arm pin 64 abuts on the cam base 66e of the drive cam and is positioned further forward than the position shown in FIG. Accordingly, the upper arm 26 also moves further forward and downward from the state of FIG. 11, and the lower arm 28 also moves further forward. As the upper arm connecting portion 26 b moves downward, the connecting pin guide protrusion 58 b is guided along the connecting pin guide groove 82. The connecting pin guide groove 82 is bent, and the lower part extends backward from the bending point as it goes downward. Since the lower part of the connecting pin guide groove 82 extends rearward, the upper arm 26 rotates clockwise. Further, the lever link 56 is pulled downward by the connecting pin 58, while the downward movement of the guide projection 70b of the guide pin is restricted by the guide hole 86, and thus rotates counterclockwise. The guide projection 70 b of the guide pin moves to the center portion of the guide hole 86 by the downward movement of the connecting pin 58 and the counterclockwise rotation of the lever link 56. At the same time, the guide protrusion 74b of the support bar moves upward along the support lever guide groove 88, and the support lever 72 moves upward. Further, since the guide protrusion 74b of the support bar is restricted from moving backward by the support lever guide groove 88, the guide pin 70 is rotated clockwise around the support bar 74 by moving backward. As the support lever 72 rotates clockwise, the cam follower 72c rises to a position where the second cam surface 66d of the drive cam can abut. A support spring 94 assists the raising of the cam follower 72c. When the second cam surface 66d of the drive cam comes into contact with the cam follower 72c of the support lever, the support lever 72 rotates clockwise by the further rotation of the drive cam 66. Further, the support bar 74 contacts the lower surface of the lower arm 28.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state where the drive cam 66 further rotates counterclockwise and the recording material is sandwiched between the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24. The cam follower 72c of the support lever is pushed upward further by the second cam surface 66d from the state of FIG. On the other hand, the guide protrusion 74b of the support bar reaches the upper end of the support lever guide groove 88, and the support lever 72 rotates clockwise around the support bar 74. As the support lever 72 rotates, the guide projection 70b of the guide pin moves to the rear end of the guide hole 86, and the lever link 56 further rotates counterclockwise. By these operations, the connecting pin 58, the guide pin 70, and the support bar 74 are substantially aligned. Further, the support bar 74 pushes up the lower arm 28 so that the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are engaged with each other.

  When the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are engaged with each other, a bundle of recording materials sandwiched between them is deformed into a waveform, and the recording materials are joined and bound together. The second cam surface 66d of the drive cam has a shape that gradually pushes up the cam follower 72c as it rotates. When the bundle of recording materials is thin, it is necessary to engage the upper and lower tooth molds 22 and 24 more deeply than when the recording material is thick, so the drive cam 66 is rotated more greatly. Information relating to the thickness of the bundle of recording materials is input to the control unit 25 by the input of the user of the image forming system 11 and the rotation angle of the drive cam 66, that is, the rotation angle of the motor 46 is determined based on this information. . The rotation angle of the motor 46 from the home position is detected by the encoder 54. When the rotation angle corresponding to the thickness of the recording material bundle at that time is reached, the rotation of the motor 46 is stopped.

  Thereafter, the motor 46 rotates reversely, and the drive cam 66 rotates counterclockwise R. When the drive cam 66 rotates in the reverse direction and reaches the position of FIG. 12, for example, the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 are separated. Due to the action of the upper guide plate 60 and the lower guide plate 62 arranged around the upper and lower tooth molds 22, 24, the recording material bundle is pulled away from the upper tooth mold 22 or the lower tooth mold 24. When the drive cam 66 further reverses and the first cam surface 66c comes into contact with the shaft portion 64a of the arm pin, the arm pin 64 is moved rearward along the arm pin guide groove 84. Accordingly, the entire binding operation unit is moved upward and rearward. When the home position is detected by the home position sensor 42 after returning to the position of FIG. 10, the rotation of the motor 46 is stopped.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the stacking tray 20 and the recording material closing device 10. FIG. 15 is an end view taken along line AA in FIG. The stacking tray 20 includes a bottom plate 20a on which the recording material P is placed, and side walls 20b that are provided on the bottom plate 20a and restrict the positions of the side edges on both sides of the recording material P. Further, a leading end wall 20c with which the leading end of the recording material P fed comes into contact is erected on the bottom plate 20a. As shown in FIG. 15, the tip wall 20c has an inverted L-shape with its upper end bent, and the tip of the recording material P is positioned within this L-shaped inner portion.

  On the side of the bottom plate 20a where the tip wall 20c is provided (hereinafter referred to as the tip side), two notches 20d are provided. The notch 20d extends from the tip side in a direction perpendicular to the tip side. Further, a notch 20e is provided at one corner of the tip side of the bottom plate 20a. The notch 20e extends in an oblique direction with respect to the tip side. This direction is, for example, 45 ° with respect to the tip side. Further, the tip wall 20c is provided at a position where it does not interfere with the notches 20d and 20e.

  The recording material binding device 10 moves along the rail 96 by a drive mechanism (not shown). The rail 96 has a side portion 96a along the tip side of the bottom plate 20a, and a corner portion 96b bent from one end of the side portion 96a and corresponding to a corner portion of the bottom plate 20a. When the recording material P is bound at the corner portion, the recording material binding device 10 is moved to a position indicated by reference numeral 10-1 in FIG. 14, that is, a position corresponding to the notch 20e. By binding the recording material P at the position of the notch 20e, the bottom plate 20a does not hinder the binding operation of the recording material binding device 10. When the recording material P is bound at two locations along the side of the recording material P, the recording material binding device 10 is moved to the position indicated by reference numeral 10-2 in FIG. 14 corresponding to one of the notches 20d, Here, the recording material P is bound. Next, the recording material binding device 10 is moved to a position indicated by reference numeral 10-3 corresponding to the other notch 20d, and the recording material P is bound here.

  A notch may be provided at a corner opposite to the corner where the notch 20e is provided, and the rail 96 may be extended so that the recording material P can be bound at this corner. Further, the notches may be arranged at three or more locations along the side so that the recording material can be bound at these three or more locations.

  The binding operation unit 100 described above has a link structure. The binding operation unit 100 includes the upper arm 26, the lower arm 28, the lever link 56, and the support lever 72 as link elements of a link structure, and includes an arm pin 64, a connecting pin 58, and a guide pin 70 as connecting elements that connect them. . The arm pin 64, the connecting pin 58, and the guide pin 70 also function as support elements that support the binding operation unit 100 with respect to the left and right side frames 40L and 40R. The cam shaft 50 and the support bar 74 also function as support elements that support the binding operation unit 100 with respect to the left and right side frames 40L and 40R. The arm pin 64, the connecting pin 58, the guide pin 70, and the support bar 74 are guided by guide elements provided on the left and right side frames 40L and 40R, thereby guiding the movement of each link element. Specifically, the guide elements are a connecting pin guide groove 82, an arm pin guide groove 84, a guide hole 86, and a support lever guide groove 84. The lower arm 28 is guided together with the arm pin guide groove 84 by an opening 28d provided in the lower arm 28 through which the cam shaft 50 passes.

  In the state where the binding operation unit 100 sandwiches the recording material as shown in FIG. 13, the reaction force of the force sandwiching the recording material is mainly the guide hole 86 that supports the guide pin 70 and the arm pin that supports the arm pin 64. The guide groove 84 is received by the bearing hole 78Ra and the bearing bush 80 of the right guide plate that supports the camshaft 50. The force received by the lower arm 28 is transmitted to the drive cam 66 and the lever link 56 via the support lever 72. Part of the force received by the lower arm 28 is transmitted to the left and right guide plates 78L and 78R having the support lever guide groove 88 via the support bar 74. The force transmitted to the drive cam 66 is transmitted to the cam shaft 50. On the other hand, the force transmitted to the lever link 56 is transmitted to the left and right guide plates 78L and 78R having the connecting pin guide groove 82 and the guide hole 86 via the connecting pin 58 and the guide pin 70. Further, the force transmitted to the lever link 56 is transmitted to the connecting portion 26 b of the upper arm via the connecting pin 58. This force opposes the reaction force received when the arm portion 26 a of the upper arm sandwiches the recording material, and the resultant force is transmitted to the arm pin guide groove 84 and the cam shaft 50 via the arm pin 64. Many portions of the reaction force of the force sandwiching the recording material act on the cam shaft 50. The force acting on the camshaft 50 is transmitted to the right guide plate 78R having the bearing hole 78Ra and the left guide plate 78L having the bearing bush 80.

  As described above, the binding operation unit 100 is supported by the left and right guide plates 78L and 78R, that is, the left and right side frames 40L and 40R via the cam shaft 50, the connecting pin 58, the arm pin 64, the guide pin 70, and the support bar 74. The The cam shaft 50, the connecting pin 58, the arm pin 64, the guide pin 70, and the support bar 74 are all supported at both ends. For this reason, a moment does not act on the left and right side frames 40L and 40R as compared with the case of cantilever support, and the left and right side frames 40L and 40R can be made simple and small.

  The connecting pin 58, the arm pin 64, the guide pin 70, and the support bar 74 are supported on both sides by corresponding guide grooves or guide holes, respectively. For this reason, each pin and bar are not inclined with respect to the guide groove and the guide hole, and stable movement is realized.

  In the recording material binding apparatus 10, a motor 46 is also disposed between the left and right side frames 40 </ b> L and 40 </ b> R in addition to the binding operation unit 100. Thereby, the external shape of the apparatus with less overhanging on the surface can be obtained. Further, a region where the recording material bundle is sandwiched between the upper and lower tooth molds 22 and 24 and a region where the motor 46 is disposed are diagonally positioned. By disposing the motor 46 at a position away from the area where the recording material bundle where the number of parts to be arranged is large is disposed, the arrangement density of the parts is increased and the outer shape of the apparatus is reduced. Furthermore, since the gear train 48 is disposed outside the left side frame 40L, the gear train 48 and the binding operation unit 100 do not interfere with each other.

  Each of the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 has a dentition in which a plurality of teeth are arranged. The direction in which the teeth are arranged is the left-right direction, and is parallel to the direction in which the connecting element of the binding operation unit 100 such as the arm pin 64 extends. Or it is a direction orthogonal to the direction where the upper arm 26 and the lower arm 28 with which the upper tooth type | mold 22 and the lower tooth type | mold 24 are mounted | worn extend. A recording material binding apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 16 is a comparative example in which an upper tooth mold 122 and a lower tooth mold 124 are arranged obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction of the apparatus. Even if the recording material binding device 110 is arranged so that the front-rear direction of the device is perpendicular to the side of the recording material P as in the position 110-1, the recording material binding device 110 is obliquely formed in the corner region of the recording material P. A coupling region can be formed. On the other hand, by arranging the upper and lower tooth molds 122 and 124 obliquely, the dimension in the front-rear direction of the recording material binding device 110 becomes longer. Further, when binding is performed at two locations along the side of the recording material P, the recording material binding device 110 must be inclined with respect to the side of the recording material P in order to set the coupling region of the tooth shape along the side. Therefore, when the rail 196 is moved from the position 110-1 corresponding to the corner of the recording material P to the positions 110-2 and 110-3 corresponding to the central portion of the side, the apparatus itself is rotated as indicated by the arrow Q. It is necessary to let That is, a mechanism for rotating the recording material binding device 110 is required. On the other hand, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the direction of the recording material binding device 10 can be changed by bending the rail 96 at a position corresponding to the corner of the recording material P. There is no need to provide it.

  Therefore, the arrangement direction of the teeth of the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 is parallel to the axial direction of the pins connecting the link elements of the binding operation unit 100, so that the apparatus becomes smaller.

  Further, the recording material post-processing device 13 includes a stacking tray 20 on which a recording material bundle in which a plurality of rectangular recording materials P are stacked, and a recording material that extends and bends along one side of the recording material P. A rail 96 further extending to a position corresponding to the corner of P is provided, and the arrangement direction of the teeth of the upper tooth mold 22 and the lower tooth mold 24 is parallel to the axial direction of the pins connecting the link elements of the binding operation unit 100. The recording material binding device 10 may be provided. Accordingly, the configuration around the stacking tray 20 can be simplified as compared with the case where a mechanism for rotating the recording material binding device 10 is provided separately from the rail 96.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording material binding apparatus, 11 Image forming system, 12 Image forming apparatus, 13 Recording material post-processing apparatus, 14 Image forming part, 15 Original reading part, 16 Recording material feed mechanism, 17 Supply tray, 18 Ejection port, 19 Conveyance path , 20 Stacking tray, 20a Bottom plate, 20b Side wall, 20c Tip wall, 20d Notch, 20e Notch, 21 Discharge tray, 22 Upper tooth type, 22a Bottom surface, 24 Lower tooth type, 24a Bottom surface, 25 Control unit, 26 Upper arm 26a Arm part, 26b Connecting part, 26c Spring receiving surface, 26d base, 28 Lower arm, 28a Arm plate, 28b Arm plate, 28c Tip base, 28d Opening, 28e base, 30 Upper frame, 30a Top plate, 30b Opening, 30c Back plate, 30d Support plate, 32 Upper surface of device, 34 Front frame, 34a Front plate, 3 6 Front of device, 38 Front upper corner area, 40L Left side frame, 40R Right side frame, 42 Home position sensor, 44 Rear lower corner area, 46 Motor, 46a Pinion, 48 Gear train, 48a Gear, 48b Gear, 48c Fitting hole , 50 Cam shaft, 50a Modified cross section shaft portion, 50b Fitting portion, 52 Encoder bracket, 54 Encoder, 54a Rotor, 54b Photo sensor, 54c Encoder pinion, 56 Lever link, 58 Connecting pin, 58a Shaft portion, 58b Guide protrusion , 60 Upper guide plate, 60a V-shaped portion, 62 Lower guide plate, 64 Arm pin, 64a Shaft portion, 64b Guide protrusion, 66L Left drive cam, 66R Right drive cam, 66a Deformed cross-section hole, 66b Pin receiving groove, 66c 1 cam surface, 66d 2nd cam surface, 66e Cam base, 68 Fixed pin, 70 Guide pin, 70a Shaft part, 70b Guide protrusion, 72 Support lever, 72a Support base, 72b Lever part, 72c Cam follower, 74 Support bar, 74a Shaft part, 74b Guide protrusion, 76L Left side Panel, 76R right side panel, 78L left guide plate, 78R right guide plate, 78Ra bearing hole, 78Rb boss, 78Rc engagement hole, 80 bearing bush, 82 articulated pin guide groove, 84 arm pin guide groove, 86 guide hole, 86a Extension wall, 88 support lever guide groove, 90 home position detector, 90a detection piece, 90b cam follower, 92 delivery spring, 92a operation part, 92b coil part, 92c fixing part, 94 support spring, 94a coil part, 94b fixing arm, 94c Support arm 96 rail, 96a side portions, 96b angle portion, 100 binding operation unit.

Claims (5)

A first tooth mold having a plurality of teeth arranged;
A second tooth mold that has a plurality of teeth arranged, meshes with the first tooth mold, and binds the recording material with the recording material bundle in cooperation with the first tooth mold;
A binding operation unit including a link structure that opens and closes so that the first tooth mold and the second tooth mold perform the binding operation;
Two side frames arranged so as to sandwich the binding operation part and supporting the binding operation part on both sides;
A recording material binding apparatus.   The recording material binding device according to claim 1, wherein the two side frames have guide elements for guiding movement of elements constituting the link structure of the binding operation unit.   The recording material binding device according to claim 1, further comprising a motor that drives the first tooth mold and the second tooth mold via the binding operation unit and is disposed between the two side frames. The first tooth mold and the second tooth mold sandwich the recording material bundle in the front upper corner region in the vicinity of the corner where the front edge and the upper edge of the recording material binding device intersect,
The motor is placed in the rear lower corner region that is diagonally opposite the front upper corner region,
The recording material binding device according to claim 3.   The recording material binding apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a gear train that transmits the power of the motor to the binding operation unit, and is disposed outside one side frame.