JP2020100464A - Binding processing device, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve problems of: significant deterioration in quality of a sheet bundle during a binding processing due to a curled sheet which is stacked on a processing tray, and which cannot be inserted into an opening of a binding device, causing interference in a corner binding mode; and a risk of causing pressing marks on the sheet due to a pressing member which needs to be additionally provided to straighten the curl.SOLUTION: A standby position of a first binding device 26 is arranged at a position retreated from a position where a curl of a sheet is assumed to be located so that the sheet with the curl is moved to a binding position while the curl is straightened during a binding processing. This prevents the sheet from interfering with a binding opening 26k of the first binding device 26 without newly adding a member for straightening the curl.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

The present invention relates to a binding processing apparatus that performs binding processing on a sheet bundle, and an image forming system including the binding processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine thereof. Is.

In Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the curled sheet from interfering with the opening of the binding unit and failing to perform the binding process, a pressing member is used to align and bind the curled portion of the sheet. A binding device capable of performing an operation is provided.

JP, 2013-86881, A

The above-mentioned conventional technique requires a pressing member and a drive source for controlling the pressing member in order to correct the curl. In addition, there is a problem that the quality of the product is affected, for example, a pressing mark is formed by the pressing member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration capable of suppressing the interference between the sheet and the opening of the binding means without adding a member for correcting the curl of the sheet.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction, a processing tray that accumulates the sheets conveyed by the conveying unit and forms a sheet bundle, and a processing tray on the processing tray. The binding means for performing the binding process at the binding position which is the end portion in the width direction of the first edge along the width direction orthogonal to the predetermined transport direction of the stacked sheet bundle, and the binding means A second end edge of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray along the predetermined transport direction and a third end edge facing the second end edge are defined as the first end edge. Before moving the moving means and the conveying means to stack the sheets on the processing tray, the binding means waits at a standby position inside the sheet bundle from the binding position, and the sheets are transferred to the processing tray. After a bundle is formed, the curl sheet is bound without using a pressing member by including a control unit that can execute a mode for controlling the moving unit to move the binding unit to the binding position. It is characterized by being able to improve quality.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the interference between the sheet and the opening of the binding unit without newly adding a curl correction member.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view showing the overall configuration of a post-processing device in the image forming system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 (device front side). 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a sheet carry-in mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. 3A shows a state in which a paddle rotating body is in a standby position, and FIG. 3B shows a state in an engaging position. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between each area and a matching position in the device of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a side matching unit in the device of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the moving mechanism of a binding device. Explanatory drawing which shows the binding position of a binding device. Explanatory drawing of multi-binding and left-corner binding of the binding device. The state in the binding position of a binding device is shown, (a) shows the state of a right corner binding position, (b) shows the state of a needle loading position, (c) shows the state of a manual binding position. 3A and 3B are explanatory views of a sheet bundle unloading mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which (a) shows a standby state, (b) shows a succeeding conveyance state, (c) shows a structure of a second conveyance member, and (d). Indicates the state of being discharged to the stack tray. It is explanatory drawing of the drive structure of a sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism, (a) shows the principal part enlarged view, (b) is a starting state of a motor, (c) is a state diagram after a predetermined angle rotation. (A) to (g) are binding processing methods for a sheet bundle. (A) is a structure explanatory view of a 1st binding device, (b) is a structure explanatory view of a 2nd binding device. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the control structure in the apparatus of FIG. The flowchart at the time of performing one-sided binding processing. FIG. 5 is a diagram of a positional relationship between the processing tray and the binding device as viewed from the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. It is the figure seen from the sheet conveyance direction downstream side, (a) is a state where a binding device moves from HP to a binding standby position, (b) is a state where a sheet is received at the binding standby position, (c) is a binding standby position The state in which the binding device moves from the binding position to the binding position. The table which showed the moving speed of the binding means by basis weight.

Embodiments will be described in detail below according to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a sheet bundle binding processing mechanism that performs binding processing on sheet bundles that have undergone image formation and are aligned and stacked in an image forming system or the like to be described later. The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming unit A, an image reading unit C, and a post-processing unit B. Then, the original image is read by the image reading unit C, and the image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit A based on the image data. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed is aligned and accumulated in the post-processing unit B (sheet bundle binding processing device; the same applies hereinafter) to perform binding processing, and is stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side.

A post-processing unit B, which will be described later, is incorporated as a unit in a paper discharge space (stack tray space) 15 formed in the housing of the image forming unit A, and the image forming sheet sent to the paper discharge port 16 is placed on the processing tray. It shows an inner finisher structure including a post-processing mechanism in which the sheets are aligned and accumulated, bound, and then stored in a stack tray 25 arranged on the downstream side. The image forming system of the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming unit A, the image reading unit C, and the post-processing unit B may be configured as independent stand-alone structures, and each device may be connected by a network cable for systemization. It is possible.

[Sheet bundle binding processing device (post-processing unit)]
The post-processing unit B as a binding processing device has a device housing 20, a sheet carry-in path 22 arranged in the housing, and a path discharge path thereof, as shown in the perspective structure in FIG. 2 and the sectional structure in FIG. The processing tray 24 is arranged on the downstream side of the paper mouth 23, and the stack tray 25 is arranged further on the downstream side.

The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet carry-in mechanism 35 for carrying in the sheets, a sheet regulation unit 40 for collecting the carried-in sheets in a bundle, and an alignment mechanism 45. At the same time, the processing tray 24 is provided with a first binding device 26 (binding device) for stapling the sheet bundle and a second binding device 27 (binding device) for stitching the sheet bundle without staples. The first binding device 26 includes a binding opening 26k that receives the rear end (first edge) of the sheet bundle (FIG. 18), and the sheet bundle is inserted into the binding opening 26k to perform stapling. .. Each configuration will be described in detail below.

[Device housing]
The device housing 20 is composed of a device frame 20a and an outer casing 20b, and the device frame is composed of a frame structure that supports each mechanism unit (path mechanism, tray mechanism, transport mechanism, etc.) described later. In the illustrated example, a binding mechanism, a transport mechanism, a tray mechanism and a drive mechanism are arranged on a pair of left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d (FIG. 5) facing each other, and the monocoque structure is integrated with the outer casing 20b. There is. That is, the outer casing 20b has a monocoque structure in which a pair of left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d and a stay frame (bottom frame frame 20e, which will be described later, FIG. 8) connecting the both side frame frames are integrated by molding using resin or the like. A part (on the front side of the device) is exposed so that it can be operated from the outside.

That is, the outer periphery of the frame framework is covered by the outer casing 20b, and the frame framework is built in the paper discharge space 15 of the image forming unit A described later. In this state, the outer case on the front side of the apparatus is exposed so that it can be operated from the outside. As shown in FIG. 2, on the front side of the outer casing 20b, a cartridge mounting opening 28 for a staple, which will be described later, a manual setting portion 29, and a manual operation button 30 (the operation shown has a built-in indicator lamp). Switch) is equipped. The outer casing 20b has a length dimension Lx in the sheet discharge direction and a length dimension Ly in the sheet discharge orthogonal direction set with reference to the maximum size sheet, and is smaller than the sheet discharge space 15 of the image forming unit A described later. Is set to.

[Sheet carry-in route (paper discharge route)]
As shown in FIG. 3, the above-described apparatus housing 20 is provided with a sheet carry-in path 22 (hereinafter referred to as a “paper discharge path”) having a carry-in port 21 and a paper discharge port 23. It is configured to receive, convey in a substantially horizontal direction, and carry out from the paper discharge port 23. The paper discharge path 22 is formed of an appropriate paper guide (plate) 22a, and has a built-in feeder mechanism that conveys a sheet. This feeder mechanism is composed of a pair of transport rollers arranged at a predetermined interval according to the path length. In the figure, a pair of carry-in rollers 31 is arranged near the carry-in port 21 and a pair of discharge rollers 32 is arranged near the discharge port 23. Has been done. Further, sheet sensors Se1 and Se2 that detect the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the sheet are arranged in the sheet discharge path 22.

The paper discharge path 22 is formed as a substantially horizontal linear path so as to cross the apparatus housing 20. This is to avoid stressing the sheet in a curved path, and the path is formed with the linearity that is allowed by the device layout. The pair of carry-in rollers 31 and the pair of discharge rollers 32 are connected to the same drive motor M1 (hereinafter, referred to as a carry motor), and carry the sheet at the same peripheral speed.

[Processing tray]
Explaining with reference to FIG. 3, a processing tray 24 is arranged at the discharge port 23 of the discharge path 22 with a step d formed downstream thereof. The processing tray 24 is provided with a paper placing surface 24a for supporting at least a part of the sheets in order to stack the sheets sent from the paper discharge port 23 upward and accumulate them in a bundle. The structure shown in the figure adopts a structure (bridge support structure) in which the sheet front end side is supported by a stack tray 25 described later and the sheet rear end side is supported by the processing tray 24. This reduces the tray size.

The processing tray 24 collects the sheets sent from the paper discharge port 23 in a bundle, performs a binding process after aligning them in a predetermined posture, and carries out the processed sheet bundle to a stack tray 25 on the downstream side. Is configured. Therefore, in the processing tray 24, the "sheet carry-in mechanism 35", the "sheet aligning mechanism 45", the "first and second binding devices 26 and 27", and the "sheet bundle carry-out mechanism 60" (FIG. 4). Is incorporated.

[Sheet loading mechanism (sheet loading means)]
A processing tray 24 is arranged with a step d formed in the above-mentioned paper discharge port 23. The sheet carry-in mechanism 35 that smoothly conveys the sheet on the processing tray in the correct posture is required. The illustrated sheet carrying-in mechanism 35 (friction rotator) is composed of a paddle rotator 36 that moves up and down, and when the sheet rear end is carried out from the paper exit 23 onto the tray, the paddle rotator 36 discharges the sheet in the opposite direction. The sheet is moved (rightward in FIG. 3) and abutted on (aligned with) a sheet regulating portion 40 described later.

For this reason, the paper output port 23 is provided with an elevating arm 37 that is pivotally supported on the apparatus frame 20a by a support shaft 37x, and the paddle rotating body 36 is rotatably axially supported by the tip end of the elevating arm. ing. The support shaft 37x is equipped with a pulley (not shown), and the above-mentioned transport motor M1 is connected to this pulley.

Along with this, an elevating motor M3 (hereinafter referred to as a paddle elevating motor) is connected to the elevating arm 37 via a spring clutch (torque limiter), and as shown in FIG. It is configured to move up and down between Wp and a lower operating position (sheet engaging position) Ap. That is, the spring clutch raises the elevating arm 37 from the operating position Ap to the standby position Wp by one-way rotation of the paddle elevating motor M3, and waits at the standby position after hitting a locking stopper (not shown). The spring clutch is relaxed by the opposite rotation of the paddle lifting motor M3, and the lifting arm 37 is lowered by its own weight from the standby position Wp to the lower operating position Ap and engages with the uppermost sheet on the processing tray.

In the illustrated apparatus, a pair of paddle rotating bodies 36 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the seat center (center reference Sx) with a predetermined distance therebetween as shown in FIG. In addition, a total of three paddle rotating bodies may be arranged at the seat center and both sides thereof, or one paddle rotating body may be arranged at the seat center.

The paddle rotating body 36 is composed of a flexible rotating body such as a rubber plate member and a plastic blade member. In addition to the paddle rotating body, the sheet carrying-in mechanism 35 can be constituted by a friction rotating member such as a roller body or a belt body. Further, the illustrated apparatus shows a mechanism for lowering the paddle rotating body 36 from the upper standby position Wp to the lower operating position Ap after the rear end of the sheet is carried out from the paper discharge port 23, but the following elevating mechanism is adopted. Is also possible.

An elevating mechanism different from that shown in the drawing is, for example, when the leading edge of the sheet is carried out from the sheet discharge port 23, the friction rotator is lowered from the standby position to the operating position, and at the same time rotated in the sheet discharge direction so that the sheet rear end is discharged from the sheet discharge port. At the timing of carrying out from 23, this rotating body is reversely rotated in the direction opposite to the paper discharge. This makes it possible to transfer the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 23 to the predetermined position of the processing tray 24 at high speed and without skewing.

[Scraping rotator (scraping conveying means)]
When the sheet is carried to a predetermined position of the processing tray 24 by the sheet carry-in mechanism 35 (paddle rotating body) arranged in the above-described sheet discharge port 23, the leading end of the sheet is moved downstream due to the influence of a curled sheet, a skewed sheet, or the like. It is necessary to provide a scraping and conveying means for guiding the regulating stopper 40.

The apparatus shown in the figure is a scraping rotary member (scraping conveyance) that applies a conveying force to the regulating member side of the uppermost sheet stacked on the upstream side of a sheet-end regulating stopper 40, which will be described later, below the discharge roller pair 32. Means) 33 are arranged. That is, the scraping rotator 33 corresponds to a conveying unit that conveys the sheet in a predetermined direction. In the illustrated example, a ring-shaped belt member 34 (FIG. 4, hereinafter referred to as “scraping belt”) is arranged above the front end of the processing tray 24, and the scraping belt 34 engages with the uppermost sheet on the paper mounting surface. At the same time, it rotates in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed to the regulating member side.

Therefore, the scraping belt 34 is made of a flexible material such as rubber and is made of a belt material having a high frictional force (a knurled belt or the like), and is connected to a drive motor (the one shown in the drawing is common to the transport motor M1). A nip is supported between 34x and the idle shaft 34y. The rotational force in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4 is applied from the rotary shaft 34x. At the same time, the scraping belt 34 presses the leading edge of the sheet conveyed along the uppermost sheet stacked on the processing tray and abuts against the downstream sheet regulation portion (regulation stopper) 40.

The scraping belt 34 is configured to vertically move above the uppermost sheet on the tray by a belt shift motor M5 (hereinafter referred to as a knurling motor) (the lifting mechanism is omitted). Then, at the timing when the leading edge of the sheet enters between the belt surface and the uppermost sheet, the scraping belt 34 descends and engages with the carried-in sheet. Further, the scraping belt 34 controls the knurling motor M5 so that the scraping belt 34 is separated from the uppermost sheet and waits upward when being transferred from the processing tray 24 to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side by the sheet bundle discharging means 60 described later.

[Sheet alignment mechanism]
The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet aligning mechanism 45 for positioning the carried-in sheet at a predetermined position (processing position). The sheet aligning mechanism 45 shown in the figure discharges the sheet fed from the sheet discharge port 23 with a "sheet regulating portion (sheet edge regulating means) 40" that regulates the position of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction (either the front end surface or the rear end surface). It is composed of a "sheet aligning mechanism (side aligning means) 45" for aligning the sheet in the paper orthogonal direction (sheet side direction). This will be described below in this order.

[Seat end regulation means]
As shown in FIG. 7, the illustrated sheet restricting portion 40 is configured by a rear end restricting member 41 that restricts the rear end edge in the paper discharge direction by abutting against it. The trailing edge regulating member 41 includes a regulating surface 41 a that regulates the trailing edge of the sheet carried in along the paper tray 24 a on the processing tray in the sheet ejection direction, and is fed by the scraping rotator 33. The trailing edge of the sheet to be abutted and stopped.

The trailing edge regulating member 41 moves along the trailing edge of the sheet (in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge) when performing multi-binding by the first binding apparatus 26 described later. In order not to hinder the movement of the unit, (1) adopt a mechanism for moving the trailing edge regulating member into and out of the movement path (movement locus) of the first binding device 26, or (2) first binding A mechanism for moving the position integrally with the device 26 is adopted, or (3) a rear end regulating member is provided inside the binding space formed by the head of the first binding device 26 and the anvil, for example, a channel-shaped bending piece. It consists of.

The illustrated one is configured by a plate-shaped bending member having a U-shaped section (channel shape) in which the rear end regulating member 41 is arranged in the binding space of the first binding device 26. Then, the first member 41A is arranged at the sheet center based on the smallest size sheet, and the second and third members 41B and 41C are arranged on the left and right with a distance from this (see FIG. 5). This makes it possible to move the first binding device 26 in the sheet width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a plurality of rear end regulating members 41 formed of channel-shaped bent pieces are fixed to the processing tray 24 (the tip ends of the members are fixed to the tray rear wall with screws). .. A regulating surface 41a is formed on each of the trailing edge regulating members 41, and an inclined surface 41b for guiding the sheet end to the regulating surface is continuously provided at the bent front end portion thereof.

[Side matching means]
The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet aligning mechanism 45 for positioning the sheet that has abutted against the trailing edge regulating member 41 in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge (sheet width direction).

The sheet aligning mechanism 45 has a different configuration depending on whether sheets of different sizes are aligned on the processing tray on a center basis or on one side. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, sheets of different sizes are discharged from the sheet discharge port 23 based on the center, and the sheets are aligned on the processing tray based on the center. Then, according to the binding process, the sheet bundles aligned in the form of a bundle with the center reference are bound to the binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 in the aligned posture in the case of multi-binding, and are offset by a predetermined amount in the left-right direction in the case of left-right corner binding. The first binding device 26 performs binding processing on the positions Cp1 and Cp2.

Therefore, the sheet aligning mechanism 45 faces the pair of left and right side aligning members 46 (46F, 46R) protruding upward from the paper placing surface 24a of the processing tray and having the restricting surface 46x engaging with the side edge of the sheet. To arrange. Then, the pair of left and right side aligning members 46 are arranged on the processing tray 24 so as to be capable of reciprocating with a predetermined stroke. This stroke is set by the size difference between the maximum size sheet and the minimum size sheet and the offset amount by which the aligned sheet bundle is moved to the left or right (offset conveyance). That is, the moving strokes of the left and right side aligning members 46F and 46R are set by the moving amount for aligning different size sheets and the offset amount of the aligned sheet bundle.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the side aligning member 46 is composed of a right side aligning member 46F (apparatus front side) and a left side aligning member 46R (apparatus rear side). The regulation surface 46x that engages with the end is supported by the tray member so as to move toward or away from each other. The processing tray 24 is provided with a slit groove 24x penetrating the front and back sides, and a side aligning member 46 having a restricting surface 46x engaging with the side edge of the sheet is slidably fitted to the upper surface of the tray from this slit.

The side aligning members 46F and 46R are slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 49 (may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and a rack 47 is integrally formed. Alignment motors M6 and M7 are connected to the left and right racks 47 via pinions 48. The left and right alignment motors M6, M7 are stepping motors, and position detection is performed on the left and right side alignment members 46F, 46R by a position sensor (not shown). It is configured so that the position can be moved by a designated movement amount.

Instead of using the illustrated rack-pinion mechanism, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the side aligning members 46F and 46R are fixed to the timing belt and the belt is connected to a motor for reciprocating the belt by a pulley.

With such a configuration, the control CPU 75 (FIG. 16) as a control unit described later controls the left and right side alignment members 46 to a predetermined standby position (sheet width size) based on the sheet size information provided from the image forming unit A or the like. Wait at +α position). In this state, the sheet is loaded onto the processing tray, and the aligning operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge hits the trailing edge regulating member 41. This alignment operation rotates the left and right alignment motors M6 and M7 by the same amount in opposite directions (approaching directions). Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 24 are positioned on the basis of the sheet center and stacked in a bundle. By repeating the loading operation and the aligning operation of the sheets, the sheets are collated and collected in a bundle on the processing tray. At this time, sheets of different sizes are positioned on the basis of the center.

In this way, the sheets stacked on the processing tray on the basis of the center can be subjected to binding processing of the sheet trailing edge (or leading edge) at a plurality of positions at predetermined intervals (multi-binding processing). When binding the sheet corners, one side of the left and right side aligning members 46F and 46R is moved to a position where the sheet side edge coincides with the designated binding position and is stopped. Then, the side aligning member on the opposite side is moved in the approaching direction. The amount of movement in the approach direction is calculated according to the sheet size. As a result, the sheets carried onto the processing tray 24 are aligned so that the right edge is aligned with the binding position when the right corner is bound, and the left edge is aligned with the binding position when the left corner is bound. ..

When the sheet bundle aligned at the predetermined position on the processing tray as described above is offset-moved for the “eco-binding processing” described later,
(1) The aligning member on the rear side in the moving direction is moved in a direction orthogonal to the preset amount while the aligning member on the front side in the moving direction is retracted to a position away from the expected offset position, or
(2) The left and right alignment members are moved by the same amount in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and either drive control is adopted.

Position sensors (not shown) such as position sensors and encode sensors are arranged on the left and right side aligning members 46F and 46R and the aligning motors M6 and M7 to detect the position of the side aligning member 46. There is. The alignment motors M6 and M7 are stepping motors, the home position of the side alignment member 46 is detected by a position sensor (not shown), and the motors are PWM-controlled to provide a left and right side alignment members with a relatively simple control configuration. 46F, 46R can be controlled.

[Sheet bundle unloading mechanism]
The sheet bundle unloading mechanism (sheet bundle unloading means) 60 shown in FIG. 11 will be described. A sheet bundle unloading mechanism 60 that unloads the sheet bundle bound by the first and second binding devices 26 and 27 to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side is arranged on the processing tray 24. In the processing tray 24 described with reference to FIG. 5, the sheet center Sx is provided with the first member 41A constituting the trailing edge regulating member 41, and the second and third members 41B and 41C are arranged at right and left sides thereof with a distance. ing. The sheet bundle locked by the trailing edge regulating member 41 is bound by the binding device 26 (27) and then carried out to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side.

Therefore, the processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet bundle unloading mechanism 60 along the paper placing surface 24a. The illustrated sheet bundle unloading mechanism 60 includes a first transport member 60A and a second transport member 60B. The first section L1 on the processing tray is the first transport member 60A and the second section L2 is the second transport member. It is relayed at 60B. In this way, by taking over and transporting the sheet by the first and second transport members 60A and 60B, the mechanism of each transport member can have a different structure. The member that conveys the sheet bundle from substantially the same starting point as the sheet regulating unit 40 is a member (long support member) with less shaking, and the member that drops the sheet bundle onto the stack tray 25 at the end of conveyance is small. It is necessary to be (for traveling on a loop locus).

The first carrying member 60A is composed of a first carry-out member 61 formed of a bent piece having a channel-shaped cross section, and has a locking surface 61a for locking the rear end surface of the sheet bundle and a locking surface 61a engaged with this surface. A paper surface pressing member 62 (elastic film member; Mylar piece) that presses the top surface of the stopped sheet is provided. Since the first transport member 60A is composed of a channel-shaped bent piece as shown in the figure, when it is fixed to a carrier member 65a (belt) described later, it does not rock easily and travels integrally with the belt. To move (feed out) the rear end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction. The first transport member 60A reciprocates along the stroke Str1 along a substantially linear locus without traveling on a curved loop locus as described later.

The second transport member 60B is configured by a claw-shaped second unloading member 63, and is provided with a locking surface 63a that locks the rear end surface of the sheet bundle and a paper surface pressing member 64 that presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle. .. The paper surface pressing member 64 is pivotally supported by the second carry-out member 63 so as to be swingable, and is provided with a paper surface pressing surface 64a. The paper surface pressing surface is a biasing spring 64b so as to press the upper surface of the sheet bundle. Being energized.

Further, the paper surface pressing surface 64a is composed of an inclined surface inclined in the traveling direction as shown in the figure, and when it moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11(b), it engages with the rear end of the sheet at the sandwiching angle γ. At this time, the paper surface pressing surface 64a is deformed upward (counterclockwise direction in the figure) in the arrow direction against the biasing spring 64b. Then, as shown in FIG. 11C, the paper surface pressing surface 64a presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle toward the paper mounting surface side by the action of the biasing spring 64b.

The first carry-out member 61 configured as described above is the first carrier member 65a, and the second carry-out member 63 is the second carrier member 65b that reciprocates from the base end of the paper placing surface 24a to the outlet end. To do. For this reason, the drive pulleys 66a and 66b and the driven pulley 66c are arranged on the paper placing surface 24a at positions separated by the conveying stroke. Reference numerals 66d and 66e are idle pulleys.

A first carrier member 65a (a toothed belt is shown) is provided between the drive pulley 66a and the driven pulley 66c, and a second carrier member 65b (toothed belt is provided between the drive pulley 66b and the driven pulley 66c). ) Is bridged via idle pulleys 66d and 66e. A drive motor M4 is coupled to the drive pulleys 66a and 66b, and the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the first carrier member 65a at a low speed and to the second carrier member 65b at a high speed, so that the drive pulley 66a is driven. Has a small diameter, and the drive pulley 66b has a large diameter.

In other words, the first drive member 60A is connected to the common drive motor M4 at a low speed, and the second transfer member 60B is connected at a high speed via a reduction mechanism (belt-pulley, gear connection, etc.). Along with this, the drive pulley 66b incorporates a cam mechanism having the following structure that delays drive transmission. This is because the moving stroke Str1 of the first carrying member 60A and the moving stroke Str2 of the second carrying member 60B are different and the standby position of each member is adjusted, as described later.

The cam mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the rotation of the rotary shaft 67x of the drive motor M4 is transmitted to the drive pulley 66a of the first carrier member (first belt) 65a via the transmission belt. Therefore, the forward/reverse rotation of the drive motor M4 is directly transmitted to the first belt 65a, and the forward rotation causes the first belt 65a to travel in the sheet bundle unloading direction, and the reverse rotation causes it to travel in the returning direction.

The rotation of the rotary shaft 67x of the drive motor M4 is coupled to the drive pulley 66b of the second carrier member (second belt) 65b via a transmission belt. The rotation of the rotary shaft 67x is connected to the drive pulley 66b via a transmission cam (projection cam 67a and concave cam 67b), and this connection delays the rotation of the drive motor rotation shaft 67x by a predetermined angle to rotate the drive pulley 66b. It is designed to communicate.

FIG. 12(b) shows the starting state of the motor rotation shaft 67x, and FIG. 12(c) shows the state after rotation by a predetermined angle. As shown in the figure, a protrusion cam 67a is integrally formed on the motor rotating shaft 67x, and a concave cam 67b that engages with the protrusion cam 67a is formed on the drive pulley 66b. A play angle (η) is formed so that the projection cam 67a and the recessed cam 67b do not engage within a predetermined angle range but engage after rotation by a predetermined angle.

That is, in FIG. 12(b) showing the start-up of the motor rotation shaft 67x, the projection cam 67a rotating counterclockwise has the play angle η formed with the recessed cam 67b, and therefore the rotation angle is the same after the rotation. The state shown in FIG. 7C is reached, the drive is transmitted to the concave cam 67b, and the drive pulley 66b starts rotating.

This also means that when the drive motor M4 is rotated in the reverse direction and the second belt 65b is returned, the second belt 65b starts running after a predetermined angle (distance) delay with respect to the first belt 65a, and the second belt 65b starts traveling. Return to the position delayed by the distance.

Therefore, the second conveying member 60B fixed to the second belt 65b starts driving after being delayed by a predetermined time with respect to the first conveying member 60A fixed to the first belt 65a, and is moved to a position delayed by the predetermined time. Will be back. Therefore, it is possible to change the standby position of the second transport member 60B with respect to the rotation timing of the drive motor M4. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the second transport member 60B when the second transport member 60B is on the back side (bottom portion) of the processing tray 24.

With the above-described configuration, the first transport member 60A reciprocates in a straight line trajectory from the rear end regulation position of the processing tray 24 in the first stroke Str1, and the first section Tr1 is set within this stroke, and The transport member 60B reciprocates from the first section Tr1 to the exit end of the processing tray 24 in a second stroke Str2 in a semi-looped trajectory, and the second section Tr2 is set within this stroke.

When the drive motor M4 rotates in one direction, the first conveying member 60A moves from the sheet trailing edge regulating position to the downstream side (FIG. 11(a) to (b)) at the speed V1 and the locking surface 61a of the sheet bundle Push the rear end to transfer. After a delay of a predetermined time from the first transport member 60A, the second transport member 60B projects from the standby position (FIG. 11A) on the back side of the processing tray onto the paper mounting surface and follows the first transport member 60A. The vehicle travels in the same direction at a speed V2. At this time, since the speed V1<V2 is set, the sheet bundle on the processing tray is taken over from the first transport member 60A to the second transport member 60B.

FIG. 11B shows the succeeding conveyance state, in which the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 is caught up by the second conveying member 60B traveling at the speed V2. That is, after passing the first section Tr1, the first conveying member 60A is caught up with the second conveying member 60B, the second conveying member 60B engages with the sheet rear end surface, and conveys the second section Tr2 to the downstream side.

Then, when the second conveying member 60B collides with the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 at a high speed at the takeover point, the paper surface pressing member 64 has the paper surface pressing surface 64a presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle and the carrier member (belt) 65a. The sheet bundle is carried out toward the stack tray 25 while holding the trailing end of the sheet bundle so as to nip it with (65b).

[Binding method (binding position)]
As described above, the sheets sent to the carry-in port 21 of the paper discharge path 22 are collated and accumulated on the processing tray, and are positioned (aligned) by the sheet regulating unit 40 and the side aligning member 46 in a preset position and posture. It Therefore, this sheet bundle is bound and carried out to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. The binding processing method in this case will be described.

The illustrated apparatus includes, as a binding processing method, a "first binding device 26 for stapling a sheet bundle" and a "second binding device 27 for binding a sheet bundle without staples" in the processing tray 24. Then, a control CPU (binding processing control unit) 75, which will be described later, controls each motor so that the first and second selected binding devices 26 (27) bind the sheet bundle and then carry the sheet bundle to the downstream side. There is. The reason why there are two binding devices is as follows. First, with the first binding device 26, bookbinding binding that does not easily come off is possible if the sheet bundle is bound with staples, while on the other hand, depending on the user's application, it is necessary to easily separate the bound sheet bundle. This is because, in this case, the second binding device 27 performs stapleless binding. In addition, when the used sheet bundle is cut with a shredder, recycled paper is used, etc., metal needles pose a problem. Therefore, select and use two binding devices, "with staples" and "without staples". This is so that it can be done.

In addition, the illustrated apparatus is configured to execute a sheet created outside the apparatus (outside the system) separately from a series of post-processing operations of carrying in a sheet from a sheet carry-in path (sheet discharge path) 22, aligning and stacking the sheets, and then binding the sheets. It has a function of binding processing (hereinafter referred to as "manual stapling processing").

Therefore, the manual insertion setting portion 29 for setting the sheet bundle from the outside is arranged in the exterior casing 20b, and the manual insertion setting surface 29a for setting the sheet bundle is formed in the casing (FIG. 2), and the first binding device described above is used. 26 is configured to move from the sheet carry-in area Ar of the processing tray 24 to the manual feed area Fr (FIGS. 5 and 6).

Each binding processing method will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. The apparatus shown in the drawing is a "multi-binding position Ma1, Ma2" for binding a plurality of sheets with staples, a "corner binding position Cp1, Cp2" for binding a sheet corner in a bundle, and a binding process for manually set sheets. The "manual binding position Mp" and the "needleless binding position Ep" for binding the sheet corners without staples are set. The positional relationship between the respective binding positions will be described.

The binding processing method will be described with reference to FIG. The illustrated apparatus performs binding processing on a manually set sheet, “multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2” that binds a plurality of sheets with staples, “corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2” that binds a sheet corner. The "manual binding position Mp" and the "needleless binding position Ep" (FIG. 6) for binding the sheet corners without staples are set. The positional relationship between the respective binding positions will be described.

[Multi-binding]
As shown in FIG. 5, in the multi-binding process, the sheet bundle positioned on the processing tray 24 by the trailing edge regulating member 41 (41A, 41B, 41C) and the side aligning member 46 (46F, 46R) (hereinafter referred to as “alignment sheet”). The binding process is performed on the edge (referred to as the trailing edge in the figure) of the "bundle". In FIG. 9, binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 that perform binding processing at two locations with a space therebetween are set. The first binding device 26, which will be described later, moves from the home position to the binding position Ma1 and then to the binding position Ma2 in this order to perform binding processing. The multi-binding position Ma is not limited to two locations, and may be bound at three locations or more. FIG. 13A shows a state of multi-binding.

[Corner binding]
The corner binding processing is performed at two positions on the left and right, a right corner binding position Cp1 for binding the right corner of the aligned sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 24 and a left corner binding position Cp2 for binding the left corner of the aligned sheet bundle. The spelling position is set. That is, the binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are the first ends along the width direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray (direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by the scraping rotator 33 (predetermined conveying direction)). It is a binding position that is an end portion in the width direction of the edge (the rear end of the sheet bundle in this embodiment). In this case, the staples are tilted at a predetermined angle (about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees) to perform the binding process. (The first binding device 26 is mounted on the device frame so that the entire unit is tilted at a predetermined angle at this position.) FIGS. 13B and 13C show the state of corner binding.

The illustrated device specifications show a case in which either the left or right side of the sheet bundle is selected for binding processing, and a case in which the staples are tilted at a predetermined angle to perform binding processing. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which only one of the right and left corners is bound, or a configuration in which the staples are bound in parallel with the sheet edge without being inclined.

[Manual binding]
The manual binding position Mp is arranged on a manual setting surface 29a formed on an external casing 20b (a part of the device housing) described later. This manual setting surface 29a is located at a height position where it is substantially flush with the paper mounting surface 24a of the processing tray, and is located adjacent to (parallel to) the paper mounting surface 24a via the side frame 20c. (Fig. 5). In the illustrated example, both the paper placing surface 24a and the manual setting surface 29a of the processing tray support the sheet in a substantially horizontal posture and are arranged at substantially the same height position. FIG. 13D shows the state of manual binding.

That is, in FIG. 5, the manual setting surface 29a is arranged on the right side and the paper placing surface 24a on the left side via the side frame 20c. The manual binding position Mp is arranged on the same straight line as the above-described multi-binding position Ma arranged on the paper surface. This is because both the binding positions are bound by the common first binding device 26. Therefore, the processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet carry-in area Ar, a manual feed area Fr on the front side of the apparatus, and an eco-binding area Rr described later on the rear side of the apparatus.

[Stitchless stitch position]
The stapleless binding position Ep (hereinafter referred to as “eco binding position”) is arranged so as to perform binding processing on the side edge portion (corner portion) of the sheet as illustrated in FIG. The illustrated eco-stapling position Ep is arranged at a position for binding one side edge portion in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet bundle, and binds at an angular position inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheets. The eco-stapling position Ep is located in the eco-stapling area Rr that is away from the sheet carry-in area Ar of the processing tray 24 toward the apparatus rear side. 13(e), (f), and (g) show the eco-stitched state.

[Relationship between each spelling position]
The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 are arranged inside (inside) the carry-in area Ar for the sheets carried into the processing tray 24 from the paper discharge port 23. Further, the corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are arranged outside the sheet carry-in area Ar at a reference position (side alignment reference) that is a predetermined distance away from the sheet discharge reference Sx (center reference) to the right or left. ing. As shown in FIG. 6, the right corner binding position Cp1 is outside the side edge of the maximum size sheet (to be bound), and the right corner binding position Cp1 is biased to the right by a predetermined amount (δ1) from the sheet side edge. The position Cp2 is arranged at a position deviated to the left by a predetermined amount (δ2) from the side edge of the sheet. Both deviation amounts are set to the same distance (δ1=δ2).

The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 and the manual binding position Mp are arranged on a substantially straight line. Further, the corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are set to have a left-right symmetrical inclination angle (for example, an angle position of 45 degrees) via the discharge reference Sx.

The manual binding position Mp is located outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and in the manual feed area Fr on the apparatus front side Fr. The eco-binding position Ep is outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and on the device rear side Re eco-binding area. It is located at Rr.

Further, the manual binding position Mp is arranged at a position offset by a predetermined amount (Of1) from the right corner binding position of the processing tray, and the eco binding position Ep is offset by a predetermined amount (Of2) from the left corner binding position of the processing tray 24. It is located in a position. As described above, the multi-binding position Mp is set based on the carry-out standard (center standard) of the processing tray for carrying in the sheets, the corner binding position Cp is set based on the maximum size sheet, and further, the apparatus is started from the left and right corner binding positions. By setting the manual binding position Mp at a position offset by a predetermined amount on the front side and similarly setting the eco-binding position Ep at a position offset by a predetermined amount Of2 on the device rear side, sheet movements do not interfere with each other, and the sheets are arranged in an orderly manner. Can be arranged.

The sheet movement in each binding process will be described. In the multi-binding process, the sheet is carried into the processing tray on the basis of the center reference (may be one side reference), and in that state, the sheets are aligned and bound. After the binding process, the posture is carried out to the downstream side. In the corner binding process, the sheets are aligned at the specified alignment position on the side and are bound. After the binding process, it is carried out to the downstream side in that posture. In the eco-binding process, the sheets carried on the processing tray are stacked in a bundle and then offset by a predetermined amount Of2 toward the rear side of the apparatus, and the binding process is performed after the offset movement. After the binding process, the sheet center is offset by a predetermined amount (for example, the same or a small shift amount as the offset Of2), and then the sheet is discharged to the downstream side.

In the manual binding, the operator sets the sheet on the manual-feed setting surface that is away from the processing tray 24 by the predetermined amount offset Of1 from the alignment reference located on the front side. As a result, a plurality of binding processes are distributed in the sheet set position in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and the binding process is executed, so that the processing speed is fast and the process with few sheet jams is possible.

In the eco-binding process, the control CPU 75, which will be described later, sets the binding position Ep by offsetting the sheet from the trailing edge reference position in the paper discharge direction by a predetermined amount Of3. This is to avoid interference between the first binding device 26 and the second stapleless binding device 27 for binding the left corner of the sheet. Therefore, when the second binding device 27 is mounted on the device frame 20a so as to be movable between the binding position and the retracted position retracted from the binding position similarly to the first binding device 26, it is not necessary to perform the offset Of3 in the paper discharge direction. Disappear.

Here, the apparatus front side Fr means the front side of the outer casing 20b which is set at the time of designing the apparatus and the operator performs various operations. Usually, a control panel, a seat cassette mounting cover (door), or an opening/closing cover for replenishing the staples of the binding means is arranged on the front side of the apparatus. Further, the device rear side Re refers to, for example, the side facing the wall surface of the building when the device is installed (installation condition with a wall on the back surface in design).

As described above, the illustrated apparatus has the manual binding position Mp on the apparatus front side Fr and the eco binding position Ep on the apparatus rear side Re outside the area with reference to the sheet carry-in area Ar. At this time, the distance Ofx between the reference of the sheet carry-in area Ar (sheet carry-in reference Sx) and the manual binding position Mp is longer than the distance Ofy between the carry-in reference Sx and the eco-binding position Ep (position away from Ofx>Ofy). Is set to.

In this way, the manual binding position Mp is set to a position far from the sheet loading reference (Sx) of the processing tray 24, and the eco binding position Ep is set to an approaching position near the loading reference from the outside to the manual binding position Mp. This is because, when the sheet bundle is set, the operation is easy because it is far from the processing tray 24. At the same time, the eco-stapling position Ep is set to a position closer (closer) than the carry-in reference Sx by reducing the movement amount when the sheets (aligned sheet bundle) carried on the processing tray are offset-moved to the binding position. This is for binding processing speedily (improvement of productivity).

[Moving mechanism of the first binding device]
As shown in FIG. 14A, the structure of the first binding device 26 will be described later, but a unit frame 26a (referred to as a first unit frame) includes a staple cartridge 39, a staple head 26b, and an anvil member 26c. doing. The first binding device 26 is supported by the device frame 20a so as to reciprocate with a predetermined stroke along the sheet end surface of the processing tray 24. The supporting structure will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows a front configuration in which the first binding device 26 is mounted on the device frame 20a, and FIG. 8 shows a plan configuration thereof. 9 and 10 are partial explanatory views of the guide rail mechanism that guides the binding means.

As shown in FIG. 7, a chassis frame 20e (hereinafter referred to as a "bottom frame") is arranged on the left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d that form the device frame 20a. The first binding device 26 is movably mounted on the bottom frame 20e with a predetermined stroke. A travel guide rail 42 (hereinafter simply referred to as “guide rail”) and a slide cam 43 are arranged on the bottom frame 20e. The guide rail is formed with a traveling rail surface 42x and the slide cam 43 is formed with a traveling cam surface 43x. The traveling rail surface 42x and the traveling cam surface 43x cooperate with each other to form the first binding device 26 (hereinafter referred to as " A moving unit) is supported so as to be capable of reciprocating with a predetermined stroke, and at the same time, its angular posture is controlled.

The traveling guide rail 42 and the slide cam 43 are formed with a rail surface 42x and a cam surface 43x so as to reciprocate in a moving range (sheet carrying-in area, manual feeding area and eco-binding area) SL of the moving unit (FIG. 8). reference). The traveling guide rail 42 is a rail member having a stroke SL along the rear end regulating member 41 of the processing tray 24, and the illustrated one is an opening groove formed in the bottom frame 20e. A traveling rail surface 42x is formed at the opening edge, and the traveling rail surface is arranged in the same straight line as the rear end regulating member 41 of the processing tray and parallel to each other. A slide cam 43 is arranged at a distance from the traveling rail surface, and the one shown in the figure is a groove cam formed on the bottom frame 20e. A traveling cam surface 43x is formed on this groove cam.

The moving unit 26 (first binding device) is fixed to a traveling belt 44 connected to a drive motor (traveling motor) M11 as a moving unit. The traveling belt 44 is wound around a pair of pulleys pivotally supported by the bottom frame 20e, and a drive motor is connected to one of the pulleys. Therefore, the first binding device 26 reciprocates with the stroke SL by the forward/reverse rotation of the traveling motor M11.

The traveling rail surface and the traveling cam surface are parallel spacing portions (span G1) 43a and 43b parallel to each other, narrow swing spacing portions (span G2) 43c and 43d, and swing spacing portions (span G3) having a narrower spacing. ) 43e, a space is formed. The relationship is span G1>span G2>span G3. In the span G1, the swing angle is changed so that the unit is in a posture parallel to the trailing edge of the seat, in the span G2, the unit is inclined to the left or right, and in the span G3, the unit is further inclined.

The traveling guide rail 42 is not limited to the open groove structure, and various structures such as a guide rod, a protruding rib, and the like can be adopted. Further, the slide cam 43 is not limited to the groove cam, and various shapes can be adopted as long as it has a cam surface for guiding the moving unit 26 in a predetermined stroke direction such as a protruding rib member.

The moving unit 26 engages with the traveling guide rail 42 and the slide cam 43 as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, the moving unit 26 includes a first rolling roller 50 (rail fitting member) which engages with the traveling rail surface 42x and a second rolling roller 51 (which engages with the traveling cam surface 43x). A cam follower member) is provided. Along with this, the moving unit 26 is provided with sliding rollers 52 that engage with the support (support) surface of the bottom frame 20e (in the figure, two ball-shaped sliding rollers 52a and 52b are formed). A guide roller 51a that engages with the bottom surface of the bottom frame portion frame is formed in the moving unit to prevent the moving unit 26 from floating above the bottom frame frame.

With the above configuration, the moving unit 26 is movably supported by the bottom frame 20e by the sliding rollers 52a and 52b and the guide roller 51a. At the same time, the first rolling roller 50 moves along the traveling rail surface 42x, and the second rolling roller 51 travels along the traveling cam surface 43x while following the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x. That is, the moving unit 26 causes the drive motor M11 to move the second edge of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray along the predetermined conveying direction and the third edge opposite to the second edge. The space is moved along the first edge (the rear end of the sheet bundle in this embodiment).

Therefore, the spacing between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at the illustrated position 43a where the parallel spacing portion (span G1) faces the above-described multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2, and the illustrated position 43b which faces the manual binding position Mp. ing. In this span G1, the moving unit 26 is held in a posture orthogonal to the sheet edge without swinging, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 10(c). Therefore, at the multi-binding position and the manual binding position, the sheet bundle is bound by the staples parallel to the sheet edges.

Further, the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x are formed such that a swinging interval (span G2) is located at an illustrated position 43e facing the right corner binding position and an illustrated position 43d facing the left corner binding position. .. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10A, the moving unit is held in a tilted right posture (for example, 45° right) and a left lean posture (for example, 45° left). Has been done.

Further, the interval between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is such that the swing interval (span G3) is formed at the illustrated position 43c facing the needle loading position. The span G3 is formed at a shorter interval than the span G2, and in this state, the moving unit 26 is held in the right tilt angle posture (for example, tilt of 60 degrees) as shown in FIG. 10B. The reason why the angle of the moving unit 26 is changed at the needle loading position is to match the unit posture in the angular direction in which the needle cartridge 39 is attached to the unit, and the angle is set in relation to the open/close cover arranged in the outer casing.

A second traveling cam surface is provided or a stopper cam surface is provided to shorten the moving length when the traveling rail surface 42x and the traveling cam surface 43x deflect the angular posture of the moving unit. It is preferable that the angle is deflected in cooperation with the above because of the compact layout.

The illustrated stopper cam surface will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom frame 20e includes a right corner binding position Cp1 on the front side of the apparatus, and a part of the moving unit (the sliding roller 52a shown in the figure) for changing the unit posture at the manual binding position Mp. The stopper surfaces 43y and 43z to be engaged are arranged at the positions shown in the figure. As a result, it is necessary to correct the inclination of the unit inclined at the needle loading position at the manual binding position Mp, but changing the angle only with the cam surface and the rail surface makes the movement stroke redundant.

Therefore, when the moving unit is stopped by the stopper surface 43y and is advanced to the manual binding side, the unit returns from the inclined state to the original state. When the unit is returned from the manual binding position in the opposite direction, the stopper surface 43z tilts the unit (forcibly) and directs it to the corner binding position.

[Binding means]
The first binding device 26 is already widely known as a device for binding with staples. An example thereof will be described with reference to FIG. The first binding device 26 is configured as a unit separately from the sheet bundle binding processing device B (post-processing device). A box-shaped unit frame 26a, a drive cam 26d pivotally supported by the frame, and a drive motor M8 for rotating the drive cam 26d are mounted on the frame.

A staple head 26b and an anvil member 26c are disposed on the drive cam 26d so as to face each other at the binding position. The staple head is biased by a drive cam (not shown) from an upper standby position to a lower staple position (anvil member). Move up and down. A needle cartridge 39 is detachably attached to the unit frame.

A linear blank needle is stored in the needle cartridge 39, and the needle is fed to the head 26b by a needle feeding mechanism. The head portion 26b internally includes a former member that bends a linear needle in a U shape and a driver that press-fits the bent needle into the sheet bundle. With such a configuration, the drive motor M8 rotates the drive cam 26d to store energy in the biasing spring. Then, when the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the head portion 26b vigorously descends toward the anvil member 26c. By this operation, the staple is bent into a U-shape and then inserted into the sheet bundle by a driver. Then, the tip thereof is bent by the anvil member 26c and stapled.

Further, a staple feeding mechanism is built in between the staple cartridge 39 and the staple head 26b, and a sensor (empty sensor) for detecting the absence of staples is arranged in the staple feeding portion. Alternatively, the unit frame 26a is provided with a cartridge sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not the needle cartridge 39 is inserted.

The illustrated needle cartridge 39 has a structure in which staples connected in a belt shape in a box-shaped cartridge are stacked and stored, and a structure in which they are stored in a roll shape.

Further, the unit frame 26a is provided with a circuit for controlling the above-mentioned sensors and a circuit board for controlling the drive motor M8 so that a warning signal is issued when the staple cartridge 39 is not housed and the staples are empty. It has become. Further, this staple control circuit controls the drive motor so as to execute the stapling operation by the staple needle signal, and when the staple head moves from the standby position to the anvil position and returns to the standby position again, the "operation end signal" Is configured to originate.

[Needleless binding means]
The configuration of the second binding device 27 as the stapleless binding means will be described with reference to FIG. As the press binder mechanism, a bending binding mechanism (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-256008) that binds several sheets by forming a cutout opening in the binding portion and folding one side of the cutout opening, and a press binding space that can be pressed and separated from each other. A press binding mechanism is known in which uneven surfaces are formed on the pressing surfaces 27b and 27c and the sheet bundle is pressed and deformed to bind the sheet bundle.

FIG. 14B shows a second binding device 27, in which a movable frame member 27d is swingably supported by a base frame member 27a, and a swing shaft 27x swings both frames so that they can be pressed and separated from each other. A follower roller 27f is arranged on the movable frame member 27d, and a drive cam 27e arranged on the base frame member 27a is engaged with this follower roller.

A drive motor M9 arranged on the base frame member 27a is connected to the drive cam 27e via a reduction mechanism, and the drive cam 27e rotates by the rotation of the motor, and the cam surface (the eccentric cam shown in the figure) moves the movable frame. It is configured to swing the member 27d.

The lower pressing surface 27c is arranged on the base frame member 27a, and the upper pressing surface 27b is arranged on the movable frame member 27d. An urging spring (not shown) is arranged between the base frame member 27a and the movable frame member 27d, and urges the pressing surfaces in a direction in which they are separated from each other.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 14(b), the upper pressing surface 27b and the lower pressing surface 27c are formed with a protrusion on one side and a concave groove on the other side, which is adapted to this. The ridge and the concave groove are formed in a ridge (rib) shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper pressing surface 27b and the lower pressing surface 27c is transformed into a corrugated plate shape and comes into close contact. A position sensor (not shown) is arranged on the base frame member 27a (unit frame), and is configured to detect whether the upper and lower pressing surfaces 27b and 27c are at the pressing position or the separating position.

[Stack tray]
The structure of the stack tray 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The stack tray 25 is arranged on the downstream side of the processing tray 24, and stacks and stores the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray. A tray elevating mechanism is provided so that the stack tray 25 can be sequentially lowered according to the stacking amount of the stack tray 25. The stacking surface (top sheet height) of this tray is controlled to a height position that is substantially flush with the paper mounting surface of the processing tray. Further, the stacked sheets are inclined at an angle at which the trailing edge of the stacked sheets hits the tray alignment surface (standing surface) due to its own weight.

Explaining the specific configuration thereof, an elevating rail 54 is fixed to the apparatus frame 20a in the stacking direction, and a tray base 25x is slidably fitted to the elevating rail by a slide roller 55 or the like so as to be able to ascend and descend. Along with this, a rack 25r is integrally formed on the tray base 25x in the vertical direction, and a drive pinion 56 axially supported by the apparatus frame is meshed with this rack. An elevating motor M10 is connected to the drive pinion 56 via a worm gear 57 and a worm wheel 58.

Therefore, when the elevating motor M10 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the rack 25r connected to the drive pinion 56 moves up and down above and below the apparatus frame. With this configuration, the tray base 25x is moved up and down in a cantilevered state. As the tray elevating mechanism, a pulley suspension belt mechanism or the like can be adopted in addition to the rack and pinion mechanism.

The stack tray 25 is integrally attached to the tray base 25x, and the stacking surface 25a is configured to stack and store sheets. Further, the apparatus frame is provided with a tray matching surface 20f for supporting the trailing edge of the sheets above and below in the stacking direction of the sheets, and the one shown in the figure forms the tray matching surface with an outer casing.

Further, the stack tray 25 integrally attached to the tray base 25x is formed so as to be inclined in the illustrated angle direction, and the angle is set so that the trailing end of the sheet hits the tray alignment surface 20f due to the weight of the sheet (for example, 20 degrees to 60 degrees). ) Has been.

[Sheet pressing mechanism]
The stack tray 25 is provided with a paper pressing mechanism 53 that presses the accumulated uppermost sheet. The illustrated paper pressing mechanism includes an elastic pressing member 53a for pressing the uppermost sheet, a shaft supporting member 53b for rotatably supporting the elastic pressing member on the apparatus frame 20a, and rotating the shaft supporting member in a predetermined angle direction. It is composed of a drive motor M4 for driving and a transmission mechanism thereof. The illustrated drive motor M4 is drivingly connected using the drive motor of the sheet bundle unloading mechanism as a drive source, and when the sheet bundle is carried in (carried out) to the stack tray 25, the elastic pressing member 53a retracts to the outside of the tray. After the rear end of the sheet bundle is stored on the uppermost sheet of the stack tray 25, the sheet bundle is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing from the standby position to engage and press the uppermost sheet.

The elastic pressing member 53a retracts from the top sheet on the stack tray 25 to the retracted position by the initial rotation operation of the drive motor M4 that carries out the sheet bundle on the processing tray toward the stack tray 25.

[Level sensor]
A level sensor for detecting the height of the uppermost sheet of paper is arranged on the stack tray 25, and the winding motor is rotated by the detection signal of the level sensor to raise the stacking surface 25a. Although various types of level sensor mechanisms are known, the one shown in the drawing irradiates detection light above the tray from the tray alignment surface 20f of the apparatus frame, detects the reflected light, and places the sheet at the height position. It employs a detection method that detects whether or not it exists.

[Loaded sheet amount sensor]
Like the level sensor, the stack tray 25 is provided with a sensor for detecting removal of a sheet from the tray. Although the structure is not described in detail, for example, a sensor lever that rotates integrally with the above-mentioned paper pressing elastic pressing member 53a is provided, and whether or not there is a sheet on the stacking surface by detecting this sensor lever with a sensor element. Can be detected. Then, when the height position of the sensor lever is different (changed) before and after carrying out the sheet bundle, the control CPU 75 described later stops, for example, the paper discharge operation or raises the tray to a predetermined position. Note that such an operation is an abnormal operation and occurs when the user carelessly takes out a sheet from the stack tray 25 while the apparatus is operating. Further, a lower limit position is set on the stack tray 25 so that the tray does not descend abnormally, and a limit sensor Se3 for detecting the tray is arranged at this lower limit position.

[Image forming system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit A includes a paper feeding unit 1, an image forming unit 2, a paper discharging unit 3, and a signal processing unit (not shown), and is incorporated in the device housing 4. The sheet feeding section 1 is composed of a cassette 5 for accommodating sheets, and the one shown in the figure is composed of a plurality of cassettes 5a, 5b, 5c, and is configured to be capable of accommodating sheets of different size sheets, plastic films and the like. Each of the cassettes 5a to 5c includes a sheet feeding roller 6 for feeding a sheet and a separating unit (separating claw, separating roller, etc.; not shown) for separating the sheets one by one.

Further, the sheet feeding unit 1 is provided with a sheet feeding path 7 and feeds a sheet from each cassette 5 to the image forming unit 2. A pair of registration rollers 8 is provided at the end of the sheet feeding path 7 to align the leading edges of the sheets sent from the cassettes 5 and to wait until the sheets are fed in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming section 2.

As described above, the sheet feeding unit 1 is configured by a plurality of cassettes according to the device specifications and is configured to feed the sheet of the size selected by the control unit to the image forming unit 2 on the downstream side. Each of the cassettes 5 is detachably attached to the apparatus housing 4 so that sheets can be replenished.

The image forming unit 2 can employ various image forming mechanisms for forming an image on a sheet. The one shown in the figure shows an electrostatic image forming mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of drums 9a to 9d composed of photoconductors (photoconductors) are arranged in the apparatus housing 4 in accordance with color components. A light emitting device (laser head or the like) 10 and a developing device 11 are arranged on each of the drums 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d. Then, a latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on each of the drums 9a to 9d by the light emitting device 10, and toner ink is attached by the developing device 11. The ink image adhered on each drum is transferred to the transfer belt 12 for each color component and image-composed.

The transfer image formed on the belt is transferred to the sheet sent from the paper feeding unit 1 by the charger 13 and fixed by the fixing device (heating roller) 14, and then sent to the paper discharging unit 3.

The paper discharge unit 3 is composed of a paper discharge port 16 that carries out a sheet into a paper discharge space 15 formed in the apparatus housing 4, and a paper discharge path 17 that guides the sheet from the image forming unit 2 to this paper discharge port. There is. A duplex path 18, which will be described later, is connected to the paper output unit 3 so that the sheet on which the image is formed is turned upside down and fed again to the image forming unit 2.

The duplex path 18 reverses the sheet on which the image is formed on the front side by the image forming unit 2 and retransmits it to the image forming unit 2. Then, after the image is formed on the back side by the image forming unit 2, the image is ejected from the paper exit 16. Therefore, the duplex path 18 is composed of a switchback path for reversing the conveying direction of the sheet sent from the image forming unit 2 and returning it to the apparatus, and a U turn path 18a for reversing the sheet returned to the apparatus. ing. In the illustrated apparatus, this switchback path is formed in the sheet discharge path 22 of the post-processing unit B which will be described later.

[Image reading unit]
The image reading unit C includes a platen 19a and a reading carriage 19b that reciprocates along the platen. The platen 19a is formed of transparent glass, and is composed of a still image reading surface for scanning a still image by the movement of the reading carriage 19b and a running image reading surface for reading a document image traveling at a predetermined speed.

The reading carriage 19b includes a light source lamp, a reflecting mirror that changes the reflected light from the original, and a photoelectric conversion element (not shown). The photoelectric conversion element is composed of line sensors arranged in the document width direction (main scanning direction) on the platen, and the reading carriage 19b reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the line sensor to read the document images in line order. It has become. Further, above the traveling image reading surface of the platen 19a, an automatic document feeding unit D for traveling the document at a predetermined speed is mounted. The automatic document feeding unit D is configured by a feeder mechanism that feeds document sheets set on a paper feed tray one by one to a platen 19a, reads an image, and then stores the image in a paper discharge tray.

[Description of control configuration]
The control configuration of the image forming system described above will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The image forming system shown in FIG. 16 includes a control unit 70 (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) of the image forming unit A and a control unit 75 (hereinafter referred to as “binding process”) of a post-processing unit B (sheet bundle binding processing device; Control unit). The main body control unit 70 includes a print control unit 71, a paper feed control unit 72, and an input unit 73 (control panel).

Then, the "image forming mode" and the "post-processing mode" are set from the input unit 73 (control panel). The image forming mode includes mode settings such as color/monochrome printing, double-sided/single-sided printing, and image forming conditions such as sheet size, sheet quality, number of printouts, and enlarged/reduced printing. The "post-processing mode" is set to, for example, "printout mode", "staple binding processing mode", "eco-binding processing mode", or "jog sorting mode". The apparatus shown in the figure is provided with a "manual binding mode", in which, apart from the main body control unit 70 of the image forming unit A, the binding processing operation of the sheet bundle is executed off-line.

Further, the main body control unit 70 transfers the post-processing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, the paper thickness information of the sheets to be image-formed, and the like to the binding processing control unit 75. At the same time, the main body control unit 70 transfers a job end signal to the binding processing control unit 75 each time image formation is completed.

Explaining the above-mentioned post-processing mode, in the above-mentioned “print-out mode”, the sheets from the paper discharge port 23 are accommodated in the stack tray 25 via the processing tray 24 without binding processing. In this case, the sheets are stacked on the processing tray 24 and stacked, and the stacked sheet bundle is carried out to the stack tray 25 by a jog end signal from the main body control unit 70.

In the "staple binding processing mode (second paper ejection mode)", the sheets from the paper ejection port 23 are stacked on the processing tray and aligned, and the bundle of sheets is bound and then stored in the stack tray 25. In this case, as a general rule, the sheet to be imaged is designated by the operator as a sheet having the same paper thickness and the same size. In this staple binding processing mode, any one of “multi-binding”, “right corner binding”, and “left corner binding” is selected and designated. The binding positions are as described above.

The "jog sorting mode" is divided into a group in which the sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit A are stacked on the processing tray by offsetting and a group in which the sheets are stacked without being offset, and the stacking tray 25 is alternately arranged. The offset sheet bundle and the non-offset sheet bundle are stacked. Particularly, in the illustrated apparatus, an offset area (see FIG. 5) is provided on the front side of the apparatus, and a group in which sheets conveyed by the center reference Sx from the sheet discharge port 23 are stacked on the processing tray in that posture, and similarly, the center reference is used. The sheets carried out by Sx are divided into groups in which the sheets are stacked by being offset by a predetermined amount on the front side Fr of the apparatus.

The reason why the offset area is arranged on the apparatus front side Fr in this way is to secure a work area for manual binding processing, needle cartridge replacement processing, etc. on the apparatus front side. The offset area is set to a size (about several centimeters) that divides the sheet bundle.

[Manual binding mode]
On the front side of the apparatus, the outer casing 20b is provided with a manual setting unit 29 for setting a sheet bundle to be bound by an operator. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is arranged on the setting surface 29a of the manual setting unit 29, and the binding processing control unit 75, which will be described later, uses the signal from the sensor to manually bind the first binding device 26. Move to position. When the operator depresses the operation switch 30, the binding process is executed.

Therefore, in this manual binding mode, the binding processing control unit 75 and the main body control unit 70 are controlled off-line. However, when the manual binding mode and the staple binding mode are executed at the same time, one of the modes is set to be prioritized.

[Binding processing control unit]
The binding processing control unit 75 operates the post-processing unit B according to the post-processing mode set by the main body control unit 70. A ROM 76 and a RAM 77 are connected to a binding processing control unit (control CPU) 75 shown in the figure, and a control program stored in the ROM 76 and control data stored in the RAM 77 execute a paper discharge operation described later. Therefore, the control CPU 75 is connected to the drive circuits of all the drive motors described above, and controls the start, stop, and forward/reverse rotation of each motor.

[Description of post-processing operation]
The operation state of the binding process will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the job is started, the image forming unit A is notified of the job information from the post-processing unit B. 18 and 19 are diagrams showing the positional relationship between the processing tray 24 and the first binding device 26 as viewed from the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. When the job information from the image forming unit A is corner binding, FIG. Determines whether there is a possibility of curling with respect to the sheet in order to prevent the sheet from interfering with the binding opening 26k of the first binding device 26 as shown in FIG. 18 (F1). Note that the curl information may be directly received from the image forming unit A, or the post-processing unit B may independently determine the curl based on the sheet information.

As a method for the post-processing unit B to independently determine, the sheet basis weight, the water content, and the image density information are received from the image forming unit A, and the sheet basis weight is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value (a predetermined value or more). , Or when the water content of the sheet is below a predetermined threshold value (below a predetermined amount), or when the image density of the sheet is below a predetermined threshold value (below a predetermined amount), and a double-sided printing mode in which printing is performed on both sides of the sheet In the case of, a method of determining that the sheet is not curled can be used. Each threshold value is set in advance based on data obtained by investigating the relationship between the sheet and each parameter.

That is, the control CPU 75 as the basis weight acquisition unit, the moisture content acquisition unit, the image density acquisition unit, and the image formation acquisition unit receives the sheet basis weight, the sheet moisture content, and the image formed on the sheet from the main body control unit 70. At least one of image density and whether an image is formed on one side of the sheet or both sides of the sheet are acquired. When the basis weight of the sheet is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the moisture content of the sheet is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount, the image density of the sheet is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount, or when images are formed on both sides of the sheet. In at least one of the cases, the binding device is moved to the binding position without being moved to the binding standby position described below before the scraping rotator 33 accumulates the sheets on the processing tray without executing the mode described below. That is, when the post-processing unit B recognizes that the curl does not occur from any of the above information, the binding device (first binding device 26) is moved to the binding position (F3).

When recognizing that the curl has occurred, the control CPU 75 can execute the following mode for preventing the interference with the curl. First, the binding means is moved to the binding standby position instead of the binding position (F2). As shown in FIG. 19, the binding device is moved from the HP to the binding standby position (Cp3) shown in FIG. The binding standby position is located inside the binding position, but the inner side here is a position where the center of the first binding device 26 does not exceed the center of the sheet. The first binding device 26 completes the movement to the binding position or the binding standby position before the sheet is conveyed to the processing tray 24. That is, the control CPU 75 causes the binding device to wait at the binding standby position inside the sheet bundle with respect to the binding position (Cp2 or Cp1) before stacking the sheets on the processing tray 24.

After the movement is completed, the sheets are accumulated on the processing tray (F4). The sheets are repeatedly accumulated until the number of sheets on the processing tray 24 reaches the number of bundles, and when the number of sheets reaches the number of bundles (F5), the current position of the first binding device 26 is confirmed (F6). If it is in the binding position, binding processing is performed (F11), and if it is in the binding standby position, the moving speed of the binding device is acquired (F7). The moving speeds are tabulated in advance for each basis weight as shown in FIG. That is, the control CPU 75 reduces the moving speed when moving the binding device from the binding standby position to the binding position when the basis weight of the sheet is less than the predetermined value than when the basis weight of the sheet is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. ing.

After that, the spacing between the binding openings 26k of the binding device is made narrower than the spacing at the binding standby position (F8). For example, the distance between the staple head 26b and the anvil member 26c is made narrower than when the binding device is at the binding standby position. Specifically, the staple head 26b is located between the standby position and the staple position. Then, in this state, as shown in FIGS. 19B to 19C, the first binding device 26 is moved from the binding standby position to the binding position (Cp2 or Cp1) (F9). That is, the control CPU 75 controls the drive motor M11 to move the binding device to the binding position (Cp2 or Cp1) after the sheet bundle is formed on the processing tray 24. In addition, you may move without changing the space|interval of the binding opening part 26k. After the movement is completed, the sheet bundle on the processing tray is aligned (F10) and bound (F11). After that, the bound sheet bundle is discharged to the stack tray 25 by the sheet bundle discharging means.

According to the present embodiment, the standby position of the binding device is set to the position retracted from the position where the curl is assumed (in the present embodiment, the binding standby position). Then, the curl is corrected during the binding process to move to the binding position. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that the interference between the sheet and the binding opening 26k of the binding device can be suppressed without adding a member for correcting the curl. Further, since the binding device is moved from the binding standby position to the standby position in a state where the gap between the binding openings 26k is narrowed, the curl is corrected when the binding device is moved.

In the above description, the first binding device 26 is moved, but when the second binding device 27 moves, the second binding device 27 may be similarly controlled.

Ma1 Multiple binding position Ma2 Multiple binding position Cp1 Right corner binding position Cp2 Left corner binding position Mp Manual binding position Ep Needleless binding position (Eco binding position)
Sx paper discharge standard (center standard)
20 device housing 20a device frame 20b exterior casing 20c right side frame 20d left side frame
20e Bottom frame 22 Sheet carry-in path (paper discharge path)
24 Processing tray
25 Stack Tray 26 First Binding Device (Binding Means)
26k Binding means opening 27 Second binding device (binding means)
35 sheet carry-in mechanism 36 paddle rotating body 40 sheet regulating section (regulating stopper)
41 Rear end regulating member 42 Travel guide rail 43 Slide cam 45 Alignment mechanism (side alignment member)
46 side alignment member 46F right side alignment member (device front side)
46R Left side alignment member (device rear side)
60 sheet bundle carrying-out means 60A first carrying member 60B second carrying member 61 first carrying-out member 63 second carrying-out member

Claims (8)

Conveying means for conveying the sheet in a predetermined conveying direction,
A processing tray for stacking the sheets conveyed by the conveying means to form a sheet bundle;
A binding unit that performs a binding process on a binding position that is an end portion in the width direction of a first edge along a width direction orthogonal to the predetermined transport direction of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray,
The binding means is provided between the second edge of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray along the predetermined transport direction and the third edge facing the second edge. Moving means for moving along one edge,
Before the conveying means accumulates the sheets on the processing tray, the binding means is put on standby at a standby position inside the sheet bundle with respect to the binding position, and after the sheet bundle is formed on the processing tray, Control means capable of executing a mode for controlling the moving means to move the binding means to the binding position;
A binding processing device including the. The binding means includes an opening that receives a first edge of the sheet bundle,
The binding processing device according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the openings when moving to the binding position is narrower than the spacing between the openings at the standby position. A grammage acquisition unit that acquires the grammage of the sheet,
When the basis weight of the sheet is less than a predetermined value, the control means slows the moving speed when moving the binding means from the standby position to the binding position when the basis weight of the sheet is less than the predetermined value. The binding processing device according to claim 1 or 2. When the basis weight of the sheet is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the control unit moves the binding unit to the binding position before executing the mode and before the conveying unit stacks the sheets on the processing tray. The binding processing device according to claim 3. Having a water content acquisition means for acquiring the water content of the sheet,
When the water content of the sheets is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the control means moves the binding means to the binding position before executing the mode and before the transport means accumulates the sheets on the processing tray. The binding processing device according to claim 1 or 2. An image density acquisition unit for acquiring the image density of the image formed on the sheet,
When the image density of the sheets is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the control unit moves the binding unit to the binding position before executing the mode and before the conveying unit stacks the sheets on the processing tray. The binding processing device according to claim 1 or 2. An image forming acquisition unit that acquires whether an image is formed on one surface of the sheet or an image is formed on both surfaces of the sheet,
When the images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the control unit moves the binding unit to the binding position before executing the mode and before the transport unit stacks the sheets on the processing tray. The binding processing device according to claim 1 or 2. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet,
An image forming system comprising the binding processing device according to claim 1.

Images