JP2020164312A - Alignment device, post-processing device and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an alignment device capable of easily aligning end parts of sheets with a simpler constitution.SOLUTION: An alignment device (210) comprises: stacking means (203) for stacking sheets carried-in from the outside; and sheet alignment means (211) for aligning the sheets stacked on the stacking means. The sheet alignment means has an end part receiving surface (2112) for receiving end parts of the sheets, and an angle (2113) made by a loading surface of the sheet contained in the stacking means and the end part receiving surface is not smaller than 80 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to an alignment device, a post-processing device and an image forming system.

In recent years, there is known a post-processing device that is connected to an image forming device as a part of an image forming system and performs post-processing on an image-formed sheet output from the image forming device. As a kind of post-processing device, a binding device for binding a plurality of sheets is known.

The binding device performs a binding process at a predetermined position at a predetermined position of a stacking means for accumulating sheets carried in from an image forming apparatus to form a sheet bundle, a matching means for aligning the ends of the sheet bundle, and an end portion of the sheet bundle. It is provided with a binding means. Therefore, the binding device includes an alignment device that aligns the ends of the sheet bundle.

The sheets transported to the collecting means are often in an upwardly curved state, and are loaded in the curved state. Then, while the edges of each sheet are curved upward, the edges cannot be sufficiently aligned and the binding process is performed.

A technology that abuts the edge of the sheet against the reference fence and presses the edge of the sheet that is curved upward by a regulating member that can move in the thickness direction when the sheet is loaded, and performs binding processing by binding means. It is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the configuration for aligning the seat edges becomes complicated by providing the regulating means.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alignment device capable of easily aligning the edges of sheets with a simpler configuration.

In order to solve the above technical problem, one aspect of the present invention relates to an aligning device, and is a sheet matching means for aligning a stacking means for accumulating carried-in sheets and the sheets accumulated in the accumulating means. The sheet matching means has an end receiving surface for receiving the end portion of the sheet, and the angle formed by the loading surface of the sheet and the end receiving surface of the accumulating means is 80 degrees or more. It is characterized by being less than 90 degrees.

According to the present invention, the edges of the sheet can be easily aligned.

The block diagram which shows the embodiment of the image formation system which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the embodiment of the aftertreatment apparatus which concerns on this invention. The perspective view which shows the state of operation of the binding apparatus which concerns on this invention. The front view which shows the comparative example of the alignment apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment. The front view which shows the example of the edge alignment form of the paper in the said comparative example. The front view which shows the example of the edge alignment form of the paper which concerns on the said embodiment. An enlarged front view of a reference fence provided in the alignment device according to the present embodiment. The enlarged front view explaining the effect of the reference fence provided in the alignment device which concerns on this embodiment. The front view which shows the example of the support structure of the said reference fence. The front view which shows the example of the effect of the support structure of the said reference fence. The front view which shows another example of the support structure of the said reference fence, and another example of an effect. The figure explaining the example of the binding process which concerns on the said embodiment. An enlarged front view of a staple tray provided in the aligning device according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the binding device, the post-processing device, and the image forming system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment of image formation system]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a printing system 1 which is an embodiment of an image forming system. The printing system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a printing device 10 which is an image forming device for printing an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium and a printing device 10, and executes a predetermined post-processing on the printed sheet. The post-processing device 20 is provided.

The post-processing device 20 includes each device that performs a hole-drilling process for punching a punched hole, an edge-binding process for bundling sheets and binding the ends, a saddle-stitching process for saddle stitching, and the like on the printed sheet. .. It is necessary to align the edges of the sheet in order to perform these post-treatments. Therefore, the post-processing device 20 includes an alignment device for aligning the rear end portions of the sheets.

[Overall configuration of post-processing device 20]
Next, a schematic configuration of the aftertreatment device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing device 20 includes a carry-in path 201 connected to the printing device 10, an internal discharge roller 202, a staple tray 203, a tip tapping member 204, an external discharge roller 205, and a discharge tray 206. , A reference fence 211 and an edge binding stapler 213 are provided.

In the carry-in route 201, the printed sheet 207 (hereinafter referred to as sheet 207) carried out from the printing device 10 which is the device in the previous stage is carried into the post-processing device 20 and the sheet as the binding device described later. A transport path for transporting to the edge binding device 200 is formed.

The internal discharge roller 202 is arranged at the end of the carry-in route 201, and discharges the sheet 207 to the staple tray 203.

The staple tray 203 is a primary loading tray in which sheets 207 are sequentially loaded to form a bundle of sheets 207 (hereinafter referred to as a sheet bundle), and corresponds to an accumulation means.

The tip tapping member 204 as the pressing member regulates the position of the front end portion of the sheet 207 discharged in the arrow A direction toward the staple tray 203 in the carry-out direction, and is the opposite end portion of the front end portion in the carry-out direction. It is an end regulation member that abuts the end against the reference fence 211. In other words, the tip tapping member 204 operates so as to tap the tip of the sheet integrated in the staple tray 203 in the arrow A direction in the arrow B direction, and abuts the tip of the sheet 207 in the arrow A direction to press the sheet 207. This aligns the sheet 207 with the reference fence 211.

The external discharge roller 205 is a roller that constitutes a discharge means that is integrated in the staple tray 203 and discharges the sheet bundle that has been stapled by the stapler 213, which will be described later, to the outside.

The discharge tray 206 is a tray for loading the discharged sheet bundle.

The reference fence 211 constitutes a sheet matching means for aligning the rear ends (rear ends in the carry-out direction) of the sheets 207 accumulated in the staple tray 203. That is, the reference fence 211 constitutes a part of the aligning device that aligns the rear end portions of the seat 207.

The stapler 213 is stapled in the staple tray 203, aligned with the reference fence 211, and the needle is driven into the rear end of the sheet bundle whose thickness direction is suppressed, and the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet bundle are held in the needle. Construct a binding means that is stapled and bound.

[Flow of alignment processing and binding processing]
Here, the flow of the alignment process and the binding process in the post-processing device 20 will be described again. The sheet 207 carried out from the printing apparatus 10 is carried into the carry-in route 201, carried in the carry-in route 201, and carried out internally. After that, the tip of the sheet 207 is hit by the tip tapping member 204, and the rear end of the sheet 207 comes into contact with the reference fence 211. As a result, the rear ends of the sheet 207 in the transport direction are aligned.

After the last sheet 207 to be accumulated is discharged to the staple tray 203 and loaded at the uppermost position of the sheet bundle, a needle is driven into the sheet bundle by the staple binding stapler 213 to perform the end binding process.

After that, the sheet bundle subjected to the end binding process is moved to the external discharge roller 205 side, and is discharged to the discharge tray 206 by the external discharge roller 205.

[Overview of aligning device]
Next, an embodiment of the aligning device according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the end alignment device 210 according to the present embodiment is composed of a reference fence 211 and an edge binding stapler 213. In FIG. 3, the staple tray 203 is omitted. Further, the end binding device 200 provided with the end alignment device 210 includes a jogger fence 212 for aligning the ends of the sheet 207 in the width direction.

Next, the operation of the end alignment device 210 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the edge binding stapler 213 is configured to move in the width direction of the sheet 207 to perform the binding process at a plurality of positions. The moving direction of the edge binding stapler 213 is the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 3, and the moving range is the entire length direction of the binding target end portion of the sheet 207. A reference fence 211 is arranged in the middle of the entire length direction. Further, the jogger fence 212 operates in the direction of the arrow D, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet 207, and aligns the sheet 207 in the width direction.

[Comparative example of edge aligning device 210]
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the conventional end alignment device 210a illustrated as a comparative example when viewed in the front direction. The matching means included in the end alignment device 210a includes a reference fence 211a and an alignment guide member 214a. The alignment guide member 214a is provided to guide the rear end portion of the sheet 207 that has been conveyed and placed on the staple tray 203 to the reference fence 211a. The alignment guide member 214a is an elastic member and is formed of a flexible resin, mylar, or the like.

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a state in which the rear ends of the sheet 207 are aligned in the end alignment device 210a. One end of the alignment guide member 214a is attached to the opening of the reference fence 211a, and the other end hangs down to the space side where the reference fence 211a receives the sheet 207. The sheet 207 transported to the staple tray 203 is hit at the front end in the transport direction by the tip tapping member 204 and moves to the reference fence 211a side. At this time, since the rear end portion of the sheet 207 is curved upward, the alignment guide member 214a acts to reduce the curvature.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the end alignment device 210a, the elasticity of the alignment guide member 214a only applies a force in a direction in which the curvature of the rear end portion of the seat is reduced.

[Embodiment of Edge Alignment Device 210]
Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a front view of the end alignment device 210 according to the present embodiment. The surface of the reference fence 211 to which the rear end of the seat 207 abuts is configured to be slightly inclined inward. As a result, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line circle F in FIG. 6, the upward curvature of the rear end portion of the seat 207 is corrected by the surface of the reference fence 211, and the correction of the curvature due to the elasticity of the alignment guide member 214 is more effective. It will work.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the reference fence 211 included in the end alignment device 210 according to the present embodiment. The reference fence 211 has a seat loading surface 2111 and an end reference surface 2112.

The sheet loading surface 2111 is a surface on which the sheet 207 is loaded and is parallel to the stacking surface on which the staple tray 203 accumulates the sheets 207. The sheet 207 accumulated in the staple tray 203 is struck by the tip tapping member 204, and the rear end of the sheet 207 abuts on the end reference surface 2112 so as to slide on the sheet loading surface 2111.

The end reference surface 2112 is a surface to which the rear end of the seat 207 abuts, and corresponds to an end receiving surface that forms a predetermined angle with the end of the seat loading surface 2111.

Further, for the sake of explanation, the angle formed by the seat loading surface 2111 and the end reference surface 2112 is defined as the fence internal angle 2113. In the present embodiment, the fence internal angle 2113 is an angle smaller than a right angle.

The effect of the end alignment device 210 provided with the reference fence 211 will be described with reference to FIG. The end reference surface 2112 is a surface that "falls inward" with respect to the space in which the reference fence 211 receives the seat 207. As a result, even if the rear end of the sheet 207, which is curved upward and hits the end reference surface 2112, tries to rise in the bending direction, the lift is suppressed by friction with the end reference surface 2112. For example, as shown by the dotted arrow G in FIG. 8, the force at which the rear end of the sheet 207 tends to rise is reduced by the end reference surface 2112 that is tilted inward. That is, the end alignment device 210 can improve the alignment accuracy of the rear end of the seat 207 by the angle between the seat loading surface 2111 and the end reference surface 2112.

The fence internal angle 2113 is 80 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees. A preferred example of the fence internal angle 2113 is 87 degrees or more and 89.5 degrees or less.

Next, the tip tapping member 204, which is a pressing member included in the end alignment device 210, will be described with reference to FIG. The tip tapping member 204 is configured such that the surface on which the front end of the sheet 207 (the tip of the sheet 207 conveyed in the direction of arrow A illustrated in FIG. 2) abuts is slightly inclined inward. As a result, the upward curvature of the tip of the sheet 207 conveyed to the staple tray 203 is corrected by the surface of the tip tapping member 204.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view of the tip tapping member 204 included in the end alignment device 210 according to the present embodiment. The tip tapping member 204 has a seat loading surface 2041 and a front end pressing surface 2042.

The sheet loading surface 2111 is a surface on which the sheet 207 is loaded and is parallel to the stacking surface on which the staple tray 203 accumulates the sheets 207. The front end of the sheet 207 integrated in the staple tray 203 is hit by the front end pressing surface 2042 of the tip hitting member 204. As a result, the rear end of the seat 207 is abutted against the reference fence 211. That is, the front end, which is the opposite end of the rear end of the sheet 207, is aligned by the front end pressing surface 2042, which is the end contact surface.

The front end pressing surface 2042 is a surface on which the front end of the seat 207 abuts and corresponds to an end receiving surface that forms a predetermined angle with the end of the seat loading surface 2041.

Further, for the sake of explanation, the angle formed by the seat loading surface 2041 and the front end pressing surface 2042 is set as the internal angle 2043. In the present embodiment, the tapping internal angle 2043 is an angle smaller than a right angle.

The effect of the end alignment device 210 including the tip tapping member 204 will be described. The front end pressing surface 2042 is a surface on which the tip tapping member 204 "falls inward" with respect to the space receiving the sheet 207. As a result, the front end of the sheet 207, which is curved upward and hits the front end pressing surface 2042, is suppressed from rising due to friction with the front end pressing surface 2042. That is, the end alignment device 210 can improve the alignment accuracy of the front end of the seat 207 by the angle between the seat loading surface 2111 and the front end pressing surface 2042.

[First example of support structure of reference fence 211]
The reference fence 211 is fixed in place by the fence stay 221, for example, as illustrated in FIG. The fence stay 221 is an L-shaped member, and one surface thereof is fixed to the back surface side of the staple tray 203, and the other surface stands up from the back surface side of the staple tray 203. The fixed end of the reference fence 211 is fixed to the upright surface of the fence stay 221 by the fastening member 222.

The reference fence 211 is cantilevered by a fence stay 221 and a fastening member 222. When the sheet 207 is loaded and the load applied to the end reference surface 2112 becomes large, the entire reference fence 211 becomes slightly in the direction of the arc arrow H, as illustrated in FIG. FIG. 10 exaggerates the degree of bending. The material and flexibility of the reference fence 211 are set so that the fence internal angle 2113 stays at less than 90 degrees even if the seat 207 is accepted up to the loading limit (for example, 100 sheets).

[Second example of support structure of reference fence 211]
Next, another support structure of the reference fence 211 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is an example of supporting the reference fence 211 in the first avoidance structure 220 in which the reference fence 211 is retracted from interference with the end binding stapler 213. As shown in FIG. 11, the first avoidance structure 220 also serves as a holding structure for holding the reference fence 211 at a predetermined position, and is fixed to the back surface of the staple tray 203 (the surface opposite to the accumulation surface of the sheet 207). There is.

Therefore, even in the structural example of FIG. 11, the reference fence 211 is cantilevered. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 11, when the sheet 207 is loaded and the load applied to the end reference surface 2112 becomes large, the entire reference fence 211 becomes slightly in the direction of the arc arrow H.

In FIG. 11, the degree of bending is exaggerated. The material and flexibility of the reference fence 211 are set so that the fence internal angle 2113 stays at less than 90 degrees even if the seat 207 is accepted up to the loading limit (for example, 100 sheets).

[Example of binding process of sheet 207]
As described above, when the rear ends of the seat 207 are aligned by the reference fence 211 having the inward tilt structure, the rear end of the seat 207 is also inclined along the inward tilt concrete of the end reference surface 2112. This example is illustrated in FIG. 12 (a). Then, when the end binding stapler 213 drives the binding needle 2131a according to the degree of inclination of the sheet 207, the driving direction of the binding needle 2131a also becomes slanted as shown in FIG. 12A.

Therefore, in the end alignment device 210 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12B, the edge binding stapler 2131 is parallel to the loading direction of the sheet 207 by the binding process of the edge binding stapler 213. The 213 is tilted to match the end reference plane 2112. As a result, the sheet 207 can be bound without tilting the driving direction of the binding needle 2131.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical gist thereof, and the technical concept included in the claims is included in the technical concept. All of the matters are the subject of the present invention. Although the above embodiment shows a suitable example, those skilled in the art can realize various modified examples from the disclosed contents. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims.

1: Printing system 10: Printing device 20: Post-processing device 200: End binding device 201: Carry-in route 202: Internal discharge roller 203: Staple tray 204: Tip tapping member 205: External discharge roller 206: Discharge tray 207: Paper 210 : End Alignment Device 210a: End Alignment Device 211: Reference Fence 211a: Reference Fence 212: Jogger Fence 213: End Binding Stapler 214: Alignment Guide Member 214a: Alignment Guide Member 220: First Avoidance Structure 221: Fence Stay 222: Fastening member 2041: Seat loading surface 2042: Front end pressing surface 2043: Striking inner angle 2111: Seat loading surface 2112: End reference surface 2113: Fence inner angle 2131: Needle

JP-A-11-130338

Claims (6)

An accumulation means for accumulating the carried-in sheets and
A sheet matching means for aligning the sheets accumulated in the collecting means,
With
The sheet matching means has an end receiving surface that receives the end of the sheet.
The angle formed by the loading surface of the sheet and the end receiving surface of the accumulating means is 80 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.
An alignment device characterized by that. The sheet matching means has a cantilever support structure in which one end is supported by the stacking means and the end receiving surface is provided at the other end.
The aligning device according to claim 1. A pressing member that aligns the sheet by pressing the facing end portion of the sheet that receives the end receiving surface against the sheet accumulated in the accumulating means toward the end receiving surface side. Prepare
The pressing member is
It has an end contact surface that comes into contact with the facing end, and has an end contact surface.
The angle formed by the stacking surface of the sheet and the end contact surface of the stacking means is 80 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees.
The aligning device according to claim 1 or 2. A binding means for binding the sheets accumulated in the collecting means and
The aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A post-processing device comprising. The binding means drives a binding needle into the rear end of the sheet bundle aligned by the sheet matching means in a direction parallel to the end receiving surface.
The alignment device according to claim 4, wherein the alignment device is characterized by the above. An image forming device that forms an image on a sheet and carries it out,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the sheet carried out from the image forming apparatus is carried in.
An image forming system characterized by comprising.