JP2018184301A - Sheet stacking apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately press curling of a plurality of sheets placed on a sheet stacking apparatus in accordance with a mounting height or the number of sheets to be mounted, and improve alignment of the sheets.SOLUTION: A sheet stacking apparatus 37 includes: regulating means 76 for contacting a sheet conveyed by a loading mechanism 52 to regulate a position of the sheet; pressing means 101 for pressing the sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means 76; and a support member that supports the pressing means 101 movably in a thickness direction of the placed sheet and in a conveying direction of the sheet by the loading mechanism 76. The pressing means is configured so that it can press the sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means 76, at a first pressing position and at a second pressing position where a distance from the placement portion is greater than a distance between the placement portion and the first pressing position in the thickness direction, and the loading mechanism is configured so that it can press the sheet being conveyed and not regulated by the regulating means 76.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of sheets, a sheet processing apparatus including the sheet stacking apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, when a plurality of sheets are placed, at least one edge of the sheet to be placed is placed in contact with a position regulating surface provided on the placement portion. At that time, the sheet curls (warps) due to the impact of the collision between the sheet to be placed and the position regulating surface in the vicinity of the position regulating surface where the sheet abuts, and the conveyance amount is deviated between the plurality of sheets. However, the alignment may be deteriorated. Therefore, the elastic film which inclines with respect to the position control surface in the vicinity of the position control surface is provided, and the curl which generate | occur | produces in the sheet | seat to mount is pressed and eliminated (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2007-76920 A

  The conventionally known pressing method is a configuration in which an elastic film is inclined and a pressing surface that presses the sheet is formed by deforming the elastic film in a range where it interferes with the sheet to be placed.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet stacking apparatus that appropriately presses sheets.

  The sheet stacking apparatus according to the present invention includes a placement unit that places a sheet, a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet placed on the placement unit, and a sheet that is conveyed by the conveyance unit so as to contact the sheet. A restricting means for restricting the position; a pressing means for pressing the sheet whose position is restricted by the restricting means; and the pressing means according to the thickness direction of the sheet placed on the placing portion, and the conveying means. And a supporting member that is movably supported in the sheet conveyance direction, and the pressing means includes a first pressing position, and the placement portion and the first pressing position with respect to the thickness direction. The sheet whose position is restricted by the restricting means can be pressed at the second pressing position that is farther away from the placement unit than the distance, and the conveying means is a sheet that is being conveyed and the restriction Uncontrolled by the means A can press the door, the support member is constituted by a connecting member 4 Section constituting a parallel link mechanism, characterized in that.

  The sheet stacking apparatus of the present invention can press the sheets appropriately.

1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a post-processing apparatus in the image forming system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the binding processing unit of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2. 1 is an overall perspective view of a sheet stacking apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the processing tray of FIG. 4 as viewed from vertically above the sheet placement surface. The fragmentary sectional side view of the moving mechanism of a binding processing unit. The top view of the moving mechanism of FIG. The expansion perspective view of the sheet | seat press unit of FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the sheet | seat press unit of FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the sheet pressing unit in which the pressing members in FIG. 8 are in the lowest position and the highest position, respectively. FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of a sheet pressing unit respectively showing a case where a small number of sheets and a large number of sheets are carried into a processing tray. The expansion perspective view of the sheet press unit of a 2nd embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the sheet | seat press unit of FIG. FIGS. 12A and 12B are side views of the sheet pressing unit in which the pressing members of FIG. 12 are in the lowest position and the highest position, respectively. The expansion perspective view of the sheet press unit of a 3rd embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the sheet | seat press unit of FIG. FIGS. 15A and 15B are side views of the sheet pressing unit in which the pressing members of FIG. 15 are in the lowest position and the highest position, respectively.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the present specification.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of an image forming system provided with a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes an image forming apparatus A and a sheet post-processing apparatus B provided therewith. The image forming apparatus A includes an image forming unit A1, a scanner unit A2, and a feeder unit A3. The image forming unit A 1 includes a paper feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper discharging unit 4, and a data processing unit 5 inside the apparatus housing 1.

  The sheet feeding unit 2 includes a plurality of cassette mechanisms 2a, 2b, and 2c that store image forming sheets of different sizes, and feeds a sheet having a size designated by a main body control unit (not shown) to the sheet feeding path 6. Each cassette mechanism 2a, 2b, 2c is detachably installed from the paper feed unit 2, and has a built-in separation mechanism for separating the internal sheets one by one and a paper feed mechanism for feeding out the sheets. The paper feed path 6 is provided with a transport roller that feeds the sheets supplied from the cassette mechanisms 2a, 2b, and 2c to the downstream side, and a registration roller pair that aligns the leading edges of the sheets at the end of the path. Yes.

  A large capacity cassette 2d and a manual feed tray 2e are connected to the paper feed path 6. The large-capacity cassette 2d is configured by an optional unit that stores sheets of a size that is consumed in large quantities. The manual feed tray 2e is configured to be able to supply special sheets such as cardboard sheets, coating sheets, and film sheets that are difficult to separate and feed.

  The image forming unit 3 includes, for example, an electrostatic printing mechanism, and includes a rotating photosensitive drum 9, a light emitting device 10 that emits an optical beam, a developing device 11, and a cleaner (not shown) disposed around the photosensitive drum 9. And. The illustrated one is a monochrome printing mechanism, in which a latent image is optically formed on the photosensitive drum 9 by a light emitter 10, and toner ink is attached to the latent image by a developing device 11.

  In accordance with the timing of image formation on the photosensitive drum 9, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding path 6 to the image forming unit 3, the image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 12, and the fixing disposed in the sheet discharge path 14. Fixing is performed by the roller 13. A paper discharge roller 15 and a paper discharge port 16 are disposed in the paper discharge path 14 and conveys the sheet on which an image is formed to a sheet post-processing apparatus B described later.

  The scanner unit A 2 includes a platen 17 on which an image original is placed, a carriage 18 that reciprocates along the platen 17, a photoelectric conversion unit 19, and photoelectric conversion unit 19 that reflects light reflected from the original on the platen 17 by the carriage 18. And a reduction optical system 20 for guiding the above. The photoelectric conversion means 19 photoelectrically converts the optical output from the reduction optical system 20 into image data, and outputs it to the image forming unit 3 as an electrical signal.

  Further, the scanner unit A2 includes a traveling platen 21 for reading a sheet sent from the feeder unit A3. The feeder unit A <b> 3 includes a paper feed tray 22, a paper feed path 23 that guides a sheet fed from the paper feed tray 22 to the travel platen 21, and a paper discharge tray 24 that stores a document that has passed through the travel platen 21. . The original from the paper feed tray 22 is read by the carriage 18 and the reduction optical system 20 when passing through the travel platen 21.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus B that post-processes a sheet on which an image sent from the image forming apparatus A is formed. The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes an apparatus housing 27 provided with a carry-in port 26 for introducing a sheet from the image forming apparatus A. The apparatus housing 27 is disposed in alignment with the housing 1 of the image forming apparatus A so that the carry-in port 26 communicates with the paper discharge port 16 of the image forming apparatus A.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes a sheet carry-in path 28 that conveys a sheet introduced from the carry-in entrance 26, and a first paper discharge path 30, a second paper discharge path 31, and a third paper discharge path branched from the sheet carry-in path 28. A path 32, a first path switching means 33, and a second path switching means 34 are provided. Each of the first and second path switching means 33 and 34 includes a flapper guide that changes the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed along the sheet carry-in path 28.

  The first path switching means 33 guides the sheet from the carry-in entrance 26 to the third paper discharge path 32 and the direction of the first paper discharge path 30 and the second paper discharge path 31 by driving means (not shown). The mode can be switched to The first paper discharge path 30 and the second paper discharge path 31 can switch-back transport the sheet once introduced into the first paper discharge path 30 to the second paper discharge path 31 by reversing the transport direction. It is arranged so as to communicate.

  The second path switching unit 34 is disposed on the downstream side of the first path switching unit 33. Similarly, the second path switching unit 34 includes a mode in which a sheet that has passed through the first path switching unit 33 is introduced into the first paper discharge path 30 by a driving unit (not shown), and a sheet that has been once introduced into the first paper discharge path 30. Is switched to the mode for switching back to the second paper discharge path 32.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes first to third processing units B1 to B3 that perform different post-processing. Further, a punch unit 50 for punching punch holes in the loaded sheet is disposed in the sheet loading path 28.

  The first processing unit B1 stacks a plurality of sheets carried out from the paper discharge port 35 at the downstream end of the first paper discharge path 30, aligns the sheets, performs binding processing, and stacks trays provided outside the apparatus housing 27. A binding processing unit to be discharged to 36. As will be described later, the first processing unit B1 includes a sheet stacking device 37 according to the present invention for stacking a plurality of sheets to be carried in, and a binding processing unit 38 for binding the stacked sheet bundle. A discharge roller pair 39 for discharging the sheet from the discharge port 35 is provided at the downstream end of the first discharge path 30.

  The second processing unit B2 performs a folding process after making a plurality of sheets switch-back conveyed from the second paper discharge path 31 into a sheet bundle, binding the sheet bundle at the center of the sheet bundle. In the folding process, the sheet bundle is arranged by aligning the folding position with the nip portion of the pair of folding rolls 41 that are in pressure contact with each other, the folding blade 42 is inserted from the opposite side, the pair of folding rolls 41 is rotated, and the sheet bundle is folded. The folded sheet bundle is discharged by a discharge roller 43 to a stacking tray 44 provided outside the apparatus housing 27.

  The third processing unit B3 includes a group in which the sheets sent from the third paper discharge path 32 are stacked with a predetermined amount offset in a direction intersecting the transport direction (in the present embodiment, a direction orthogonal), and an offset. Jog sorting is performed to divide into groups that accumulate without being grouped. The jog sorted sheets are discharged to a stacking tray 46 provided outside the apparatus housing 27, and an offset sheet bundle and a non-offset sheet bundle are stacked.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the overall configuration of the first processing unit B1. As described above, the first processing unit B1 stacks sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 35, aligns the sheets, and discharges them to the stacking tray 36 after the binding process, and the sheet stacking apparatus stacks the sheets. And a binding processing unit 38 that performs binding processing on the aligned sheet bundle. The illustrated binding processing unit 38 is a stapler device that drives a staple needle to bind a sheet bundle. The binding processing unit 38 may be a stapleless binding device that binds a sheet bundle without a staple instead of a stapler device.

  The sheet stacking device 37 includes a processing tray 51 disposed at a predetermined distance on the downstream side of the paper discharge port 35 and below the paper discharge port. The sheet stacking device 37 transports the unprocessed sheets discharged from the sheet discharge outlet 35 to the processing tray 51 to the back side of the processing tray, that is, to the side opposite to the unloading direction to the stacking tray 36. A sheet carry-in mechanism 52, a sheet alignment mechanism 53 for stacking and aligning a plurality of sheets on the processing tray 51, and a sheet carry-out for carrying out the bound sheets to the stacking tray 36. And a mechanism 54.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the processing tray 51 has a generally flat sheet placement surface 55 as a placement portion on which a sheet is placed, which supports the sheet at least partially along the carry-out direction. The sheet placement surface 55 is inclined downward at a relatively steep angle of approximately 40 ° from the downstream side in the carry-out direction to the upstream side.

  The processing tray 51 has a pair of left and right auxiliary support members 56 capable of moving forward and backward from the downstream end 55a of the sheet placement surface 55 toward the upper side of the stacking tray 36. The auxiliary support member 56 is an elongated flat plate-like member, and has an upper surface that is gently curved upward and convex along the carry-out direction. Each auxiliary support member 56 is mounted so as to be movable in a carry-out direction and a direction opposite to the carry-out direction by a guide fixed immediately below the processing tray 51.

  When the auxiliary support member 56 extends from the processing tray 51 in the carry-out direction, the upper surface of the auxiliary support member 56 is substantially continuous from the sheet placement surface 55 and extends upward from the stacking tray 36. Form. The sheet discharged from the discharge port 35 to the processing tray 51 is supported on the upstream side portion by the sheet placement surface 55 along the carry-out direction, and the downstream side portion is supported by the auxiliary sheet placement surface of the auxiliary support member 56. Is done.

  The sheet can be prevented from slipping down to the upstream side of the processing tray 51 having the sheet placing surface 55 having a relatively steep inclination by supporting the downstream side portion on the auxiliary sheet placing surface. By securing a sufficient length in the carry-out direction for supporting the sheet by the auxiliary support member 56, the size in the carry-out direction of the processing tray 51 can be reduced. Accordingly, the sheet conveying device 37 and the sheet post-processing device B are downsized in the carry-out direction.

  The sheet carry-in mechanism 52 includes a conveyance roller device 71 that also functions as a sheet bundle carry-out mechanism 54 and a scraping rotator 72. The conveyance roller device 71 moves the roller pair composed of the upper conveyance roller 73 and the lower conveyance roller 74 across the processing tray 51 in the width direction (direction intersecting the direction in which the conveyance roller device 71 conveys the sheet). One pair each. The upper transport roller 73 is rotatably supported at the tip of an elevating bracket 75 that is swingably supported above the processing tray 51, and the lower transport roller 74 is rotated around the support rod 61 on the lower side of the processing tray. It is provided freely.

  When the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 35 to the processing tray 51, the lifting bracket 75 rotates downward to bring the upper transport roller 73 into contact with the upper surface of the sheet on the processing tray. Next, the upper conveyance roller 73 is driven to rotate the lower conveyance roller 74 clockwise in the figure. As a result, the sheet is conveyed on the processing tray 51 in the direction opposite to the carry-in direction, that is, the carry-out direction.

  The scraping rotator 72 is configured by a ring-shaped or short cylindrical belt member that is rotatably disposed above the processing tray 51 and upstream in the carry-out direction. The belt member contacts the upper surface of the sheet conveyed on the processing tray 51 and rotates counterclockwise in the drawing while being pressed. As a result, the sheet is fed until the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the sheet end regulating surface of the sheet end regulating member 76 provided at the upstream end in the unloading direction of the processing tray 51 while dealing with curling and skew that may occur in the sheet being conveyed. be able to.

  The sheet alignment mechanism 53 includes a sheet end regulating portion and a side alignment mechanism. The sheet end regulating portion has a pair of left and right sheet rear end regulating members 76 described above. The sheet end regulating member 76 restricts the position of the sheet carried in from the paper discharge outlet 35 onto the processing tray 51 in the carry-in (or carry-out) direction at the leading end (or the trailing end in the carry-out direction) of the sheet.

  The side alignment mechanism moves the sheet and the sheet bundle on the processing tray 51 in the width direction, and regulates and / or aligns the position in the width direction at the side edge. As shown in FIG. 4, the side alignment mechanism includes a pair of side alignment members 77 arranged on the left and right sides of the center of the processing tray 51 in the width direction. The side alignment member 77 is a flat member that extends vertically upward from the sheet placement surface 55 of the processing tray 51 with the inner surfaces facing each other. The inner surfaces of the side alignment members 77 are respectively engaged with adjacent side edges in the width direction of the sheet on the processing tray 51 to regulate the position in the width direction of the sheet.

  Each of the side alignment members 77 is integrally coupled via a movable support portion (not shown) provided on the back side of the processing tray 51 and a linear slit 78 in the width direction extending through the processing tray. Yes. Each of the movable support portions is driven by an individual drive motor, for example, via a rack and pinion mechanism, and reciprocates in the width direction, so that the side alignment members 77 independently approach or separate from each other. It can be moved and stopped at a desired position in the width direction.

  In addition to the conveyance roller device 71 described above, the sheet carry-out mechanism 54 includes a sheet push-out member 79 that moves along the sheet placement surface 55 of the processing tray 51. The sheet extruding member 79 is connected to a conveyor belt of a conveyor device 81 provided on the lower side of the processing tray 51. The conveyor belt moves in both directions along the sheet unloading direction by driving the conveyor device with a drive motor.

  As a result, the sheet extruding member 79 moves in both directions between the initial position near the upstream end in the unloading direction of the processing tray 51 shown in FIG. 4 and the maximum extruding position set upstream from the lower conveying roller 74. Is possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet push-out member 79 is configured by a channel-shaped member having a U-shaped cross section, and pushes out the rear end of the sheet on the sheet placement surface 55, that is, the upstream end in the unloading direction. Send in the unloading direction. Further, the sheet push-out member 79 regulates the rear end position of the sheet at the initial position and / or at the position moved from the initial position in the carry-out direction as a part of the sheet end regulating portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the binding processing unit 38 is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction along the upstream end of the processing tray 51 in the carry-out direction, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the carry-out direction. A bottom plate frame 80 extending along the left-right direction of the processing tray is fixed to the apparatus housing 27 of the sheet post-processing apparatus B below the vicinity of the upstream end of the processing tray 51, as shown in FIG. Yes. The binding processing unit 38 is integrally fixed on a movable support base 81 that can move on the upper surface of the bottom plate frame 80.

  The bottom plate frame 80 is provided with a cam groove 82 extending linearly along the left-right direction of the processing tray. Further, a guide rail groove 83 that extends in a substantially linear shape while being partially bent along the cam groove is provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate frame 90 along the cam groove in the carry-out direction side of the cam groove 82.

  On the lower surface of the movable support base 81, a first rolling roller 84 as a cam follower member that fits into the cam groove 82 and engages with the cam surface, and a guide rail groove 83 that fits into the inner rail surface. The second rolling roller 85 is provided so as to be rotatable. Furthermore, two left and right spherical rollers 86 that can roll on the upper surface of the bottom plate frame 80 are attached to the lower surface of the movable support base 81. An auxiliary support member 87 is integrally coupled to the tip end of the support shaft 84 a of the first rolling roller 84 from the lower surface side of the bottom plate frame 80. The auxiliary support member 87 is provided with a guide roller 88 that abuts on the bottom surface of the bottom plate frame 80 so as to be able to roll, and prevents the movable support base 81, that is, the binding processing unit 38 from being detached from the top surface of the bottom plate frame 80.

  The movable support base 81 is fixed to a traveling belt 89 connected to a drive motor M11 disposed below the bottom plate frame 80. The traveling belt 89 is wound around a pair of pulleys that are pivotally supported at both the left and right ends of the bottom surface of the bottom plate frame 80, and is connected to one of the pulleys so as to transmit a driving force to the rotating shaft of the driving motor M11. Therefore, by rotating the drive motor M11 forward and backward, the binding processing unit 38 is guided by the first rolling roller 84 and the second rolling roller 85 in the cam groove 82 and the guide rail groove 83, respectively, and the processing tray 51. Can be reciprocated with a predetermined stroke in the left-right direction along the upstream end in the unloading direction.

  The cam groove 82 and the guide rail groove 83 may employ various known shape structures in addition to the shape structure described above as long as it can guide the binding unit 38 so that it can run. For example, instead of the guide rail groove 83, a guide rail having a protruding rib structure can be adopted, and the cam groove 82 only needs to have a cam surface that can guide the binding processing unit 38.

  Also in the prior art described in Patent Document 1 described above, in order to align a plurality of sheets placed on the placement unit, at least one edge of the sheet is brought into contact with the position regulating surface of the placement unit. ing. A sheet conveying force applied to the next sheet to be loaded is transmitted to the placed sheet previously placed on the placement unit by a frictional force generated on a surface in contact with the next sheet. By transmitting the sheet conveying force, pressure acts near the contact portion between the placed sheet and the position regulating surface. When the mounted sheet that has been subjected to pressure has insufficient rigidity, curling or warping occurs.

  It is known that the frequency of occurrence of this curl varies depending on the number and quality of loaded sheets and the environment. For example, when the distance between the uppermost surface of the next sheet to be placed and the placement unit is long in the thickness (height) direction of the placed sheet, the sheet conveying force applied to the next sheet is large. Accordingly, the pressure applied to one placed sheet is reduced. Therefore, the frequency of curling of the placed sheet is reduced. Conversely, when the distance between the top surface of the next sheet to be placed and the placement unit is short, the sheet conveying force transmitted from the next sheet is distributed to a small number of placed sheets. The pressure applied to the loaded sheets increases. Accordingly, the frequency of occurrence of curling of the placed sheet is increased.

  In the conventionally known pressing method described in Patent Document 1, the elastic film is provided with an inclination, and the elastic film is deformed within a range where it interferes with the sheet to be placed, thereby forming a pressing surface for pressing the sheet. It is configured. Therefore, the pressing surface of the elastic film is narrow when a small number of sheets with high curl occurrence frequency are placed, so that the portion that interferes with the sheet is small and interferes when many sheets with low curl occurrence frequency are placed. Since there were many parts, it became wide and was in an incongruent state. For this reason, the curl generated when a small number of sheets are placed cannot be fully pressed, and alignment failure may occur in the placed sheets. The sheet stacking apparatus of the present invention has a configuration described below in order to solve the problems of the prior art.

  As shown in FIG. 4, two sheet rear end regulating members 76 are disposed in the sheet stacking device 37 symmetrically along the upstream end of the processing tray 51 in the carry-out direction. A sheet pressing unit 101 shown in FIG. 8 is integrally attached to the leading end of each sheet trailing edge regulating member 76 on the carry-out direction side.

  The sheet rear end regulating member 76 is formed, for example, by punching and bending a relatively thin steel plate into a predetermined shape, and as shown in FIG. 9, a generally rectangular sheet end regulating plate 91 located on the most upstream side in the carry-out direction. Have The upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 extend in parallel with each other at right angles to the carry-out direction from the upper and lower ends of the sheet end regulating plate so as to form the above-described U-shaped cross section together with the sheet end regulating plate 91. . The left and right side portions of the sheet end regulating plate 91 are bent at a predetermined width substantially perpendicularly to the upstream side in the carry-out direction over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction, thereby forming a guide portion 94 of a sheet pressing unit 101 described later. .

  The distance between the upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 is set so as not to fall below at least the sheet placement height that can be stacked on the processing tray 51. The upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93 is disposed at the same height as the sheet placement surface so as to be substantially continuous from the sheet placement surface 55 of the processing tray 51 to the upstream side in the carry-out direction.

  A leading end portion 95 in the carry-out direction of the upper flat plate portion 92 is bent obliquely upward toward the carry-out direction, and constitutes an attachment portion for the sheet pressing unit 101. The front end portion 95 is provided with a through hole 96 through which a fixing tool such as an integrally formed fixing claw and bolt for fixing the sheet pressing unit 101 is inserted. A mounting plate 97 is formed at the distal end of the lower flat plate portion 93 in the carry-out direction by bending downward from the lower flat plate portion 93 substantially at a right angle. The attachment plate 97 has a plurality of through-holes 98a for inserting a fixing tool such as a bolt for fixing the sheet rear end regulating member 76 to the frame portion of the sheet stacking device 37 and a position regulating portion for regulating the attachment position. 98b is penetrated.

  Since the two sheet pressing units 101 shown in FIG. 4 have substantially the same configuration and symmetrical shapes, one of them will be described below. FIG. 8 partially shows the sheet pressing unit 101 of the first embodiment arranged on the right side in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the sheet pressing unit 101 includes a pair of left and right sheets as a sheet pressing member 102, a fixing member 103, and a supporting member that supports the sheet pressing member 102 by connecting to the fixing member 103. First and second link arms 104 and 105 are provided. Through holes 104a, 104b, 105a, 105b are formed at the respective ends of the first and second link arms.

  The sheet pressing member 102 has a substantially rectangular pressing plate portion 106, and the lower surface thereof defines a pressing surface 106 a that presses the upper surface of the sheet carried on the processing tray 51 in the thickness direction of the sheet. . A guide plate portion 107 that extends obliquely upward toward the unloading direction is integrally formed at the downstream end of the pressing plate portion 106 in the unloading direction, and a downwardly inclined surface facing the unloading direction is loaded onto the processing tray 51. A guide surface 107a for guiding the leading end of the sheet to be directed toward the sheet end regulating plate 91 is defined.

  The sheet pressing member 102 is further integrally formed with left and right symmetrical mounting side plates 108 and 109 extending vertically from the left and right side portions of a part of the guide plate portion 107 and the pressing plate portion 106 continuous thereto. Yes. In addition, a guide bar 110 protrudes from the pressing plate portion 106 on one side (on the right side in FIGS. 8 and 9) on the upstream side in the carry-out direction from the mounting plate portion. The guide bar 110 extends linearly from the extending portion of the pressing plate portion 106 that protrudes laterally from the one side portion beyond the rear end of the pressing plate portion to the upstream side in the carrying direction. doing. On the other hand, in the other sheet pressing member 102 (arranged on the left side in FIG. 4), a guide bar 110 projects from the side portion on the left side in FIGS.

  The fixing member 103 has an attachment portion 111 arranged on the upstream side in the carry-out direction, and narrow slits 112 are opened on the lower end and the left and right side surfaces of the attachment portion. The front end portion 95 of the sheet trailing end regulating member 76 is fitted into the slit 112, and a fixing tool such as an integrally formed fixing claw or bolt is inserted into the through-hole 96 from the upstream side in the carry-out direction to fix the attachment portion 111. Thus, the sheet pressing unit 101 can be integrally attached to the sheet trailing edge regulating member 76.

  Further, the fixing member 103 has a pair of left and right support arms 113 and 114 that extend in parallel with the carry-out direction from the attachment portion 111. On the outer surfaces of the support arms 113 and 114, first and second support shafts 115 and 116 project from the outer surfaces of the support arms 113 and 114, respectively, at a predetermined symmetrical position and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. On the other hand, first and second support shafts 117 and 118 are provided on the outer side surfaces of the attachment-side plate portions 108 and 109 of the sheet pressing member 102 so as to project symmetrically at predetermined positions and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Yes.

  The first and second link arms 104 and 105 are rotatably fitted to the first support shaft 115 and the second support shaft 116 of the fixing member 103 so that the first and second link arms 104 and 105 are parallel to each other. The other through-holes 104b and 105b are fitted to the first support shaft 117 and the second support shaft 118 of the sheet pressing member 102 so as to be rotatable. The sheet pressing member 102 is mounted and supported by the fixed member 103 so as to be swingable about the first support shaft 115 by a closed loop four-joint link mechanism including the first and second link arms 104 and 105.

  Here, the distance between the first and second support shafts 115 and 116 of the fixing member 103 and the distance between the first and second support shafts 117 and 118 of the sheet pressing member 102 are made equal, and the first and second links. By setting the distance between the through holes 104a, 105a and 104b, 105b at both ends of the arms 104, 105 equal, the first and second link arms 104, 105 form a parallel link mechanism. Thereby, the sheet pressing member 102 can be swung with respect to the fixing member 103 while the pressing surface 106 a is translated.

  In the present embodiment, one through hole 104a, 105a of each of the first and second link arms 104, 105 is an elongated hole extending a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction of the other through hole 104b, 105b. Is formed. Thereby, for example, when the force that the sheet pressing member 102 receives from the sheet greatly fluctuates or other large external force is applied, the first and / or second link arms 104 and 105 are elongated in the range of the elongated hole. It can be adjusted to move in the direction and absorb those forces.

  Further, the sheet pressing unit 101 includes a spring member 120 shown in FIG. In the spring member 120, for example, a pair of left and right torsion springs 121a and 121b made of a spring steel wire material having a high elastic modulus and high strength are coupled to be symmetrically and integrally separated by a central connecting portion 128.

  Each of the torsion springs 121a and 121b includes coil portions 122a and 122b wound with the wire, and first straight portions 123a and 123b and second straight portions 124a and 124b extending from both ends thereof in a different direction with a certain acute angle. And have. The tips of the first straight portions 123a and 123b are connected to both ends of the connecting portion 128 at a right angle. In the present embodiment, the coil portions 122a and 122b are wound counterclockwise in the figure from the first straight portion, and thereby the first straight portion and the second straight portion are urged away from each other. Has been. Hooks 125a and 125b are formed at the tips of the second straight portions 124a and 124b, respectively.

  On the attachment portion 111 of the fixing member 103, hook pieces 126a and 126b project from the vicinity of the upper ends of the left and right side surfaces, respectively. The first link arm 104 closer to the attachment portion 111 attached to each first support shaft 115 has a notch 127a at a position near the end portion on the sheet pressing member 102 side on the side on the attachment portion 111 side. 127b is formed.

  In the spring member 120, the coil portions 122a and 122b are fitted on the first support shaft 115 of the fixing member 103 somewhat gently from the left and right outer sides, and the connecting portion 128 is extended so as to straddle the attachment portion 111 from the upstream side in the carry-out direction. The first straight portions 123a and 123b are arranged so that the vicinity of the connecting portion 128 is engaged with the lower sides of the hook pieces 126a and 126b on the left and right side surfaces of the mounting portion 111, respectively. The hooks 125a and 125b at the tips of the second linear portions 124a and 124b are respectively attached to the notches 127a and 127b of the first link arms 104 fitted from the outside of the portions 122a and 122b. As a result, the first link arm 104 is constantly urged clockwise around the first support shaft 115 in the drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the sheet pressing unit 101 is attached to the front end portion 95 by disposing the sheet pressing member 102 between the upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76. The sheet pressing member 102 includes a lowermost position in FIG. 10A where the pressing surface 106 a is in contact with the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93, and an uppermost position in FIG. 10B where the sheet pressing member is in contact with the lower surface of the upper flat plate portion 92. Between the positions, the first link arm 104 is supported so as to be rotatable in both directions around the first support shaft 115. At this time, as described above, the first and second link arms 104 and 105 constitute a parallel ring mechanism, so that the pressing surface 106a of the sheet pressing member 102 is placed on the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93 (and a sheet mounted continuously thereto). It is always maintained in parallel with respect to at least the upstream portion of the placement surface 55 in the carry-out direction.

  Further, the sheet pressing member 102 appropriately sets the positions of the first and second support shafts 117 and 118 of the sheet pressing member and the first and second support shafts 115 and 116 of the fixing member 103, so that FIG. As it rises from the lowermost position in a) to the uppermost position in FIG. 10B, it can also be moved upstream in the carry-out direction. Accordingly, as the number of sheets placed on the processing tray 51 increases and the placement height increases, the area of the sheet pressed by the pressing surface 106a decreases. On the other hand, the pressing force applied from the pressing surface 106a to the upper surface of the sheet is the smallest at the lowest position in FIG. 10A and increases as it rises to the uppermost position in FIG.

  FIG. 11A shows a case where the next sheet is carried in a state in which the number of sheets already placed on the processing tray 51 is small and the placement height is low. In this case, the sheet pressing member 102 presses the upper surface of the loaded sheet S from the near side, that is, the position in the unloading direction side with respect to the sheet end regulating plate 91 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76. Although the area of the sheet S pressed against the pressing surface 106a is large, the pressing force per unit area applied to the upper surface of the sheet S is small. Accordingly, the sheet S is guided by the guide surface 107a of the sheet pressing member 102 and smoothly fed to a position where the leading end (rear end in the carrying-out direction) contacts the sheet end regulating plate 91 while being in contact with the pressing surface 106a.

  FIG. 11B shows a case where the number of sheets already placed on the processing tray 51 is large and the next sheet is carried in a state where the placement height is high. In this case, the sheet pressing member 102 presses the upper surface of the loaded sheet S from a position closer to the sheet end regulating plate 91 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76, that is, an upstream side in the carry-out direction. Although the pressing force per unit area applied to the upper surface of the sheet S increases, the pressing area of the sheet S decreases. Accordingly, as in the case of FIG. 11A, the sheet S is guided to the guide surface 107a, and is smoothly fed to a position where the leading end abuts against the sheet end regulating plate 91 while contacting the pressing surface 106a.

  Since the guide plate portion 107 of the sheet pressing member 102 moves integrally with the pressing plate portion 106, the height from the uppermost surface of the sheet on the processing tray 51 is clear from FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). The distance is always substantially constant regardless of the placement height. Therefore, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 11A, even if the end portions of the sheets S1 and S2 are warped upward or downward, the warp is flattened by the guide surface 107a and the pressing surface 106a, and the sheet S1 and S2 can be sent to a position where they abut against the sheet end regulating plate 91. As a result, the alignment and consistency of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 51 can be improved.

  Further, while the sheet pressing member 102 moves from the lowermost position in FIG. 10A toward the uppermost position in FIG. 10B, the guide bar 110 always follows the guide portion 94 of the sheet end regulating plate 91. Arranged to move. Accordingly, the sheet pressing member 102 is restricted from moving to the other sheet pressing unit 101 and prevents the sheet from entering between the sheet end regulating plate 91 and the sheet pressing member 102.

  When the sheet pressing member 102 is displaced toward the other sheet pressing unit 101 due to friction between the pressing surface 106a and the upper surface of the sheet to be carried in, the sheet is moved inwardly between the left and right sheet pressing units 101 to generate swells and wrinkles. There is a possibility that the alignment and alignment of the sheet are deteriorated, and that the next sheet cannot be properly stacked. In the present embodiment, the sheet pressing members 102 of the left and right sheet pressing units 101 are restricted by the guide bar 110 so as not to move toward the other sheet pressing unit 101, so that a plurality of sheets are always continuously favorably continuous. Thus, it can be integrated with high alignment and consistency.

  The sheet pressing unit 101 is configured not to prevent the binding processing unit 38 from moving along the rear end in the carry-out direction in order to bind the sheet bundle contacting the sheet end regulating plate 91 as described above. Have been placed. The binding processing unit 38 is a known stapler unit having a staple head for inserting the staple needle into the sheet bundle and an anvil member for bending the needle tip of the staple needle. As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet trailing edge regulating member 76 is positioned in a binding space 38 a defined by the staple head and the anvil member having a U-shaped cross section in the carrying-out direction and opposed to the binding position. Are arranged to be.

  The sheet pressing unit 101 is provided at the front end portion of the sheet rear end regulating member 76 that is located outside the binding space 38a and closer to the carry-out direction. The sheet pressing member 102 is disposed so as to be always located in a U-shaped space defined by the sheet end regulating plate 91 and the upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76. Further, the guide bar 110 is formed in such a dimension that the tip end portion extending upstream in the carry-out direction is always positioned in the binding space 38a of the binding processing unit 38, and is arranged in such a manner. Therefore, the binding processing unit 38 can move without interfering with the sheet trailing edge regulating member 76 and the sheet pressing unit 101 along the trailing end of the sheet bundle contacting the sheet edge regulating plate 91 in the carrying-out direction.

  12 and 13 show a sheet pressing unit 131 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The sheet pressing unit 131 is also integrally and symmetrically attached to the leading end of the two sheet rear end regulating members 76 arranged symmetrically along the upstream end of the processing tray 51 in the unloading direction.

  The sheet pressing unit 131 includes a sheet pressing member 132 and a fixing member 133 corresponding to the sheet pressing member 102 and the fixing member 103 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the sheet pressing unit 131 includes link arms 134 and 135 and a gear mechanism 136 that replace the first and second link arms 104 and 105 of the first embodiment. Through holes 134a, 134b, 135a, 135b are formed at the end portions of the link arms 134, 135, respectively.

  As with the sheet pressing member 102 of the first embodiment, the sheet pressing member 132 includes a substantially rectangular pressing plate portion 137, a guide plate portion 138 extending obliquely upward in the unloading direction from the downstream end in the unloading direction, Symmetrical attachment side plate portions 139 and 140 are integrally formed. The lower surface of the pressing plate portion 137 defines a pressing surface 137 a that presses the upper surface of the sheet on the processing tray 51, and the downward inclined surface of the guide plate portion 138 guides the leading end of the sheet on the processing tray 51 to the sheet end regulating plate 91. A guide surface 138a that guides toward is defined. A guide bar 141 is provided on one side (on the right side in FIGS. 12 and 13) on the upstream side of the mounting plate portion of the pressing plate portion 137 from the extending portion protruding sideways. It extends in a straight line with a predetermined length to the upstream side in the carry-out direction beyond the rear end of the part.

  As in the first embodiment, the attachment side plate portions 139 and 140 extend at right angles upward from the left and right side portions of the guide plate portion 138 and the portion of the pressing plate portion 137 continuous thereto, Each of the support shafts 142a and 142b corresponding to the first support shaft 117 of the first embodiment protrudes at a predetermined left-right symmetrical position. Further, a first sector gear 143 constituting a part of the gear mechanism 135 is integrally formed or fixed to one of the attachment side plate portions 139 (right side in the drawing) at the base end of the support shaft 142a and coaxially therewith. Yes.

  The fixing member 133 includes a mounting portion 144 corresponding to the mounting portion 111 and the support arms 113 and 114 of the first embodiment, and a pair of left and right support arms 145 and 146. A narrow slit 147 that opens to the lower end and both the left and right side surfaces of the attachment portion 144 fits the front end portion 95 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76 so that the sheet pressing unit 131 is attached to the sheet rear end regulating member 76. It is provided for mounting together.

  The support arms 145 and 146 extending in parallel with the carrying-out direction from the mounting portion 144 are formed shorter than the support arms 113 and 114 of the first embodiment, and the first support shaft of the first embodiment is formed on the outer surface thereof. Each of the support shafts 148a and 148b corresponding to 115 protrudes at predetermined left and right symmetrical positions. Further, a second sector gear 149 constituting a part of the gear mechanism 135 is integrally formed on the support arm 145 on the same side (right side in the drawing) as the mounting side plate portion 139 at the base end of the support shaft 148a and coaxially therewith. Formed or fixed.

  On the link arm 134 on the same side as the attachment side plate portion 139 (right side in the drawing), a support shaft 150 is projected from the inner side surface, that is, the side surface on the attachment side plate portion 139 side, at an intermediate position between the through holes 134a and 134b. . An intermediate gear 151 that constitutes a part of the gear mechanism 135 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 150. In the link arm 135 on the opposite side, a notch 152 is formed on the side of the mounting portion 144 side. Further, hooking pieces 153a and 153b are projected from the mounting portion 144 of the fixing member 133 in the vicinity of the upper ends of the left and right side surfaces, respectively.

  Further, the sheet pressing unit 131 includes a spring member 155 shown in FIG. The spring member 155 has one torsion spring 156 made of a spring steel wire having a high elastic modulus and high strength, as in the first embodiment. The torsion spring 156 includes a coil portion 157 around which the wire is wound, and a first straight portion 158 and a second straight portion 159 that extend from both ends thereof in a different direction with a certain acute angle. An intermediate portion 160 is connected to the tip of the first straight portion 158 at a right angle so as to form a U-shape, and an extension 161 is connected to the tip at a right angle. A hook 162 is formed at the tip of the second straight portion 159.

  In the state where the intermediate gear 151 is engaged with the first sector gear 143 and the second sector gear 149, the link arm 134 is rotatably fitted with the one through hole 134a on the support shaft 148 of the fixing member 133, The other through hole 134b is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 142a of the sheet pressing member 132. Similarly, in the link arm 135 on the opposite side, one through hole 135a is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 148 of the fixing member 133, and the other through hole 135b is turnable to the support shaft 142b of the sheet pressing member 132. To fit. As a result, the sheet pressing member 132 is swingably attached to and supported by the fixed member 133.

  In the spring member 155, the coil portion 157 is fitted on the support shaft 148b of the fixing member 133 somewhat gently from the outside, and the intermediate portion 160 is disposed so as to straddle the attachment portion 144 from the upstream side in the carry-out direction. The vicinity of the intermediate portion 160 of the portion 158 and the extension portion 161 is engaged with the lower side of the hook pieces 153a and 153b on the left and right side surfaces of the attachment portion 144, respectively, and is further fitted on the support shaft 148b from the outside of the coil portion 157. The hook 162 at the tip of the second linear portion 159 is attached to the notch 152 of the link arm 135 while being engaged. As a result, the link arm 135 is constantly urged clockwise in the drawing around the support shaft 148b.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet pressing unit 131 is attached to the front end portion 95 with the sheet pressing member 132 disposed between the upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76. The sheet pressing member 132 includes a lowermost position in FIG. 14A where the pressing surface 137 a contacts the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93, and an uppermost position in FIG. 14B where the sheet pressing member contacts the lower surface of the upper flat plate portion 92. Between the positions, the link arms 134 and 135 are supported so as to be rotatable in both directions around the support shaft 148.

  When the sheet pressing member 132 swings, the first sector gear 143 rotates with respect to the second sector gear 149 via the intermediate gear 151. At this time, by appropriately setting the dimensions, the number of teeth, and the meshing position of the intermediate gear 151 and the first and second sector gears 143 and 149 of the gear mechanism 135, the sheet pressing member 132 is in any swing position. In addition, the pressing surface 137a can always be translated. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the positions of the support shafts 142a and 142b and the support shaft 148, the pressing surface 137a is always kept parallel to the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93 regardless of the swinging position of the sheet pressing member 132. And it can be set to move to the upstream side in the carry-out direction as it rises from the lowest position in FIG. 14 (a) to the highest position in FIG. 14 (b).

  The other features of the sheet pressing unit 131 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the sheet pressing unit 101 of the first embodiment. Therefore, further detailed description of the sheet pressing unit 131 is omitted because it overlaps with the first embodiment.

  15 and 16 show a sheet pressing unit 171 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The sheet pressing unit 171 is also attached to each of the two sheet rear end regulating members 76 disposed symmetrically along the upstream end of the processing tray 51 in the unloading direction, and is integrally attached to each of the sheet pressing units 171.

  The sheet pressing unit 171 is a modification of the second embodiment, and the sheet pressing member 172 and the fixing member 173 corresponding to the sheet pressing member 132 and the fixing member 133, and the same link arms 134 and 135 as in the second embodiment, and And a spring member 155. The link arm 134 of the present embodiment is omitted from the support shaft 150 of the second embodiment. Further, the sheet pressing unit 171 has a transmission belt mechanism 174 instead of the gear mechanism 136 of the second embodiment.

  The sheet pressing member 172 is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the first pulley 175 that constitutes a part of the transmission belt mechanism 174 is fixed to the base end of the support shaft 142a so as not to rotate. 132. The fixing member 173 is the same as the fixing member 133 of the second embodiment, except that the second pulley 176 constituting a part of the transmission belt mechanism 174 is fixed to the base end of the support shaft 148a so as not to rotate. Are the same. The transmission belt mechanism 174 further includes a transmission belt 177 wound around the first pulley 175 and the second pulley 176.

  The link arm 134 is fitted in such a manner that one of the through holes 134a is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 148 of the fixing member 133 in a state where the transmission belt 177 is wound around the first pulley 175 and the second pulley 176 so as to be able to move in both directions. Then, the other through hole 134b is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 142a of the sheet pressing member 132. Similarly, in the link arm 135 on the opposite side, one through hole 135a is rotatably fitted to the support shaft 148 of the fixing member 133, and the other through hole 135b is turnable to the support shaft 142b of the sheet pressing member 132. To fit. As a result, the sheet pressing member 172 is attached to and supported by the fixing member 173 so as to be swingable. As in the second embodiment, the spring member 155 is mounted so as to constantly urge the link arm 135 in the clockwise direction in the drawing around the support shaft 148b.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the sheet pressing unit 171 is attached to the front end portion 95 with the sheet pressing member 172 disposed between the upper and lower flat plate portions 92 and 93 of the sheet rear end regulating member 76. The sheet pressing member 172 includes a lowermost position in FIG. 17A where the pressing surface 137 a contacts the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93 and an uppermost position in FIG. 17B where the sheet pressing member contacts the lower surface of the upper flat plate portion 92. Between the positions, the link arms 134 and 135 are supported so as to be rotatable in both directions around the support shaft 148.

  When the sheet pressing member 172 swings, the transmission belt 177 moves around between the first pulley 175 and the second pulley 176. At this time, by appropriately setting the length of the transmission belt 177 and the winding positions of the first pulley 175 and the second pulley 176, the pressing surface 137a can be set regardless of the swinging position of the sheet pressing member 132. Can always be translated. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the positions of the support shafts 142a and 142b and the support shaft 148, the pressing surface 137a is always kept parallel to the upper surface of the lower flat plate portion 93 regardless of the swinging position of the sheet pressing member 132. And it can be set to move to the upstream side in the carry-out direction as it rises from the lowest position in FIG. 17 (a) to the highest position in FIG. 17 (b).

  The other features of the sheet pressing unit 171 of the third embodiment are the same as those of the sheet pressing unit 131 of the second embodiment. Therefore, further detailed description of the sheet pressing unit 171 is omitted because it overlaps with the second embodiment.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in relation to preferred embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the technical scope, it can implement by adding various change or deformation | transformation. Needless to say.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,27 Device housing 2 Paper feed unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Paper discharge unit 5 Data processing unit 28 Sheet carry-in path 36 Stack tray 37 Sheet stacker 38 Binding processing unit 51 Processing tray 52 Sheet carry-in mechanism 53 Sheet alignment mechanism 54 Sheet carry-out Mechanism 55 Sheet placement surface 76 Sheet rear end regulating member 91 Sheet end regulating plates 101, 131, 171 Sheet pressing units 102, 132, 172 Sheet pressing members 103, 133, 173 Fixing members 104, 105, 134, 135 Link arm 106 Press plate 107 Guide plate 110 Guide bar 120, 155 Spring member 136 Gear mechanism 174 Transmission belt mechanism

Claims (14)

A placement section for placing the sheet;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet placed on the placing section;
Regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet in contact with the sheet conveyed by the conveying means;
Pressing means for pressing the sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means;
A support member that movably supports the pressing means in the thickness direction of the sheet placed on the placement section and the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means;
Have
The pressing means includes a first pressing position and a second pressing position where a distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position is greater than a distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position with respect to the thickness direction. The sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means can be pressed and the conveying means is a sheet that is being conveyed and can be pressed not regulated by the regulating means,
The support member is constituted by a four-joint connecting member constituting a parallel link mechanism.
A sheet stacking apparatus characterized by the above.   The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is configured to keep the placement surface of the placement unit and the pressing unit substantially parallel to each other.   The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit is moved by the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit in the thickness direction and the conveying direction.   4. The elastic member according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member that increases a pressing force applied to the sheet placed on the placement unit by the pressing unit as the height in the thickness direction increases. The sheet stacking device according to item.   The sheet accumulating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member biases at least one of the connecting members. In the conveying direction, the guide unit is located opposite to the regulating unit across the pressing unit, and guides a sheet to be conveyed to the regulating unit,
The position of the guide part moves according to the height in the thickness direction of the sheet placed on the placement part,
The distance in the conveyance direction between the guide unit and the regulating unit is shorter as the height of the sheet placed on the placement unit is higher in the thickness direction,
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus is a sheet stacking apparatus.   The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pressing unit is configured to be movable integrally with the guide unit.   The pressing force of the pressing unit is set to a pressing force capable of receiving a sheet conveyed by the conveying unit after the sheet between the sheet placed on the mounting unit and the pressing unit. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus is a sheet stacking apparatus.   The sheet accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pressing units are arranged.   The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a binding unit that binds the sheet regulated by the regulating unit. The binding means is configured to be movable,
The movement area in which the pressing means moves is set to an area that does not hinder the movement of the binding means.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 10. A placement section for placing the sheet;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet placed on the placing section;
A regulating portion that abuts on the sheet conveyed by the conveying means and regulates the position of the sheet;
A pressing unit that presses a sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating unit, and a sheet that is conveyed by the conveying unit are disposed on the opposite side of the regulating unit with respect to the conveyance direction of the sheet, and conveyed by the conveying unit. And a guide member that guides the sheet to the restricting part, and the pressing member and the guide part are movable together,
A support member that supports the pressing member so that the entire pressing member moves in the thickness direction of the sheet placed on the placement unit and the transport direction;
Have
The pressing portion includes a first pressing position and a second pressing position in which the distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position is greater than the distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position with respect to the thickness direction. The sheet whose position is restricted by the restriction part can be pressed and the conveying means is a sheet that is being conveyed and can be pressed not restricted by the restriction part,
The distance in the conveyance direction between the position of the guide portion and the restricting portion when the pressing portion is pressing the sheet at the first pressing position is the distance at which the pressing portion presses the sheet at the second pressing position. Longer than the distance in the conveyance direction between the position of the guide portion and the restricting portion when pressed,
A sheet stacking apparatus characterized by the above. A placement section for placing the sheet;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet placed on the placing section;
Regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet in contact with the sheet conveyed by the conveying means;
Pressing means for pressing the sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means;
A support member that movably supports the pressing means in the thickness direction of the sheet placed on the placement section and the conveyance direction of the sheet by the conveyance means;
Have
The pressing means includes a first pressing position and a second pressing position where a distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position is greater than a distance between the mounting portion and the first pressing position with respect to the thickness direction. The sheet whose position is regulated by the regulating means can be pressed and the conveying means is a sheet that is being conveyed and can be pressed not regulated by the regulating means,
The support member is configured to be rotatable about a first axis, and supports the pressing means so that the pressing means rotates about a second axis different from the first axis.
A sheet stacking apparatus characterized by the above. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet stacking apparatus for stacking sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit;
Have
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus is a sheet stacking apparatus.
An image forming apparatus.

Images