JP2021008365A - Sheet processing device and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet processing device capable of binding a bundle of sheets inserted into a manual set part by binding means, binding a bundle of sheets loaded by loading means and replenishing staples.SOLUTION: Binding means can bind a corner part of a bundle of sheets at a first position, bind a bundle of sheets set at a manual set part at a second position and situate at a third position in which staples are replenished in the binding means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet binding processing apparatus and an image forming system for binding an image-formed sheet.

In general, a post-processing apparatus (finisher) for aligning and accumulating sheets image-formed by an image forming apparatus on a processing tray and binding them is widely known. As a binding processing method, a stapler device for binding with a staple, a press binder device for press-deforming and binding the laminated sheets, or a device for forming a folded side in a sheet bundle and binding the sheets are known.

A device that binds a relatively thick sheet bundle with a staple needle is known as a device that securely binds a relatively thick sheet bundle without easily separating it, and a binding device using a press binder uses a binding tool such as a wire, although it has a drawback that it is easy to come off. Therefore, it is used as a binding device suitable for the environment such as recycling of paper leaves. Further, it is also known that this bundling device can be configured to be compact, compact and quiet, and to save power consumption.

In Patent Document 1, the sheets are connected to the paper ejection port of the image forming apparatus, and the image-formed sheets are carried into the processing tray from the carry-in route and accumulated, and after binding processing with this processing tray, they are stored in the stack tray on the downstream side. The device to be used is disclosed. Then, in the same document, a bundle of sheets sent to the processing tray from the paper ejection path and accumulated is positioned by abutting the rear end portion in the paper ejection direction, and in this state, a plurality of locations at the rear end portion of the sheet are stapled. You can select either the method of binding with (multi-binding), the method of binding one corner of the sheet bundle (corner binding), or the method of binding without using staples. It is placed in the processing tray so that it can be done.

Staple binding method A stapler device is disclosed as a stapler device, and a press binder device is disclosed as a needleless binding device. In the same document, the stapler device is configured so that the sheet positioned on the processing tray is supported by a guide rail so that the sheet can be moved along the end face of the bundle and is multi-stitched at predetermined intervals or one corner is bound. There is. Further, the needle-free binding device is configured to bind the sheets by pressurizing and deforming each other by a binder mechanism having a pair of upper and lower pressure surfaces having a convex groove and a concave groove.

Further, Patent Document 2 also discloses a device similar to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. After accumulating the sheets sent from the image forming apparatus on the processing tray and then binding them with staples or using a needleless binding apparatus, the sheets are post-processed and then placed on the stack tray on the downstream side. The device to be carried out is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 3, after the sheets sent from the image forming apparatus are partially aligned and accumulated on the stack tray, a stage having a slit-shaped groove for inserting the sheet bundle into the housing casing is provided, and the operator inserts and sets the sheets in this stage. A device for binding a bundle of sheets with a stapler device inside a casing is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-190021 (FIGS. 1 and 3) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-0254999 (Fig. 2) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-096392 (Fig. 3)

The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus capable of binding a bundle of sheets inserted into a manual setting portion by a binding means and binding a bundle of sheets loaded on a loading means, and capable of replenishing needles. That is the issue.

In the specification, "offset transfer of sheet bundle" means moving the sheet bundle carried in from the paper ejection port in a direction orthogonal to (or intersecting with) the sheet transfer direction (width-alignment movement). That is, the "offset amount" is the amount of movement. Further, "alignment of sheet bundles" means aligning sheets of different sizes according to a reference (center reference or one-side reference) for the sheets carried in from the paper ejection port. Therefore, "offset after aligning the sheets" means that after aligning the sheets with different sizes as a reference, the position of the entire sheet is moved in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheets.

The present invention is a sheet processing device for processing a sheet, which comprises a transport path for transporting the sheet, a transport means for discharging the sheet from a discharge port of the transport path by transporting the sheet in the transport direction, and a transport means for discharging the sheet from the discharge port of the transport path. The loading means on which the sheets transported in the transport direction by the transporting means and discharged from the discharge port are loaded, the manual setting portion in which the sheet bundle is set from the outside of the sheet processing device, and the loading means are loaded. The sheet bundle is loaded onto the first regulating means and the first loading means that regulate the position of the sheet bundle in the intersecting direction by contacting the end portion in the direction intersecting the transport direction. A second regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet bundle in the transport direction by contacting the end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, a binding means for binding the sheet bundle with a staple needle, and the loading means. The binding means has a discharge means for discharging the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet from the loading means, and the binding means moves from one side to the other side of the sheet processing device by moving in the intersecting direction. The end of the sheet bundle on the one side, which is configured to move from the other side to the one side, is movable between the first position and the second position, and is in contact with the first regulating means. In addition, the corner portion of the sheet bundle including the end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction to which the second regulating means is in contact can be bound at the first position, and the manual feed set can be bound. It is possible to bind the sheet bundle set in the portion at the second position, and further, it is possible to position the staple needle at the third position where the staple needle is replenished by the binding means. The third position is different from the first position, and the angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the third position is such that the binding means is at the first position. Unlike the angular posture of the binding means when it is positioned, the angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the third position is such that the binding means is at the second position. It is characterized in that it is different from the angular posture of the binding means when it is positioned.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to bind a bundle of sheets inserted into a manual setting portion by a binding means and to bind a bundle of sheets loaded on a loading means, and it is possible to replenish needles.

Explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the image formation system which concerns on this invention. The perspective explanatory view which shows the whole structure of the post-processing apparatus in the image formation system of FIG. A side sectional view of the device of FIG. 2 (device front side). It is explanatory drawing of the sheet loading mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) shows the state which a paddle rotating body is in a standby position, and (b) shows the state which is in an engaging position. Explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement relation between each area and matching position in the apparatus of FIG. The configuration explanatory view of the side matching means in the apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the moving mechanism of a stapler unit. Explanatory drawing which shows the binding position of a stapler unit. Explanatory drawing of multi-binding and left corner binding of the stapler unit. The state of the stapler at the binding position is shown, (a) shows the state of the right corner binding position, (b) shows the state of the needle loading position, and (c) shows the state of the manual binding position. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet bundle unloading mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) shows the standby state, (b) shows the takeover transfer state, (c) shows the structure of the 2nd transfer member, (d) Indicates the state of being discharged to the stack tray. (A) to (d) are sheet bundle binding processing methods. (A) is a configuration explanatory view of the stapler unit, and (b) is a configuration explanatory view of the press bind unit. The configuration explanatory view of the stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. The explanatory view of the kicker means in the apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the paper guide mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) shows the state which the guide retracted, and (b) shows the state which the guide was engaged. The explanatory view of the control configuration in the apparatus of FIG. Matching operation flow of sheet bundle in eco-binding mode according to the present invention. Operation flow of staple binding processing mode. Operation flow of eco-binding mode. Printout mode operation flow. Sort mode operation flow. A common operation flow for loading sheets onto the processing tray. Operation flow of manual staple binding process.

The present invention will be described in detail below according to the preferred embodiments shown below. The present invention relates to a sheet bundle binding processing mechanism that binds a sheet bundle that has been image-formed and is aligned and accumulated in an image forming system or the like described later. The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 is composed of 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 forming unit A forms an image on the sheet based on the image data. Then, the image-formed sheets are aligned and accumulated in the post-processing unit B (sheet bundling processing device; the same applies hereinafter), subjected to the binding processing, and stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side.

The post-processing unit B, which will be described later, is built as a unit in the paper ejection space (stack tray space) 15 formed in the housing of the image forming unit A, and the image forming sheet sent to the paper ejection port 16 is placed on the processing tray. It shows an inner finisher structure equipped with a post-processing mechanism that aligns and accumulates, binds, and then stores in a stack tray arranged on the downstream side. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to configure the image forming unit A, the image reading unit C, and the post-processing unit B in an independent stand-alone structure, and to systematize the devices by connecting them with a network cable.

[Sheet binding processing device (post-processing unit)]
As shown in the perspective configuration of the post-processing unit B in FIG. 2 and its cross-sectional configuration in FIG. 3, the device housing 20, the sheet carry-in path 22 arranged in the housing, and the downstream side of the path output port 23 are shown. It is composed of a processing tray 24 arranged in the housing and a stack tray 25 arranged further downstream thereof.

The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet loading means 35 for loading sheets, a sheet regulating means 40 for accumulating the loading sheets in a bundle, and a matching means 45. Along with this, the processing tray 24 is provided with a staple binding means 26 (first binding means) for staple binding the sheet bundle and a needleless binding means 27 (second binding means) for binding the sheet bundle without a needle. .. Each configuration will be described in detail below.

[Device housing]
The device housing 20 is composed of a device frame 20a and an exterior casing 20b, and the device frame is composed of a frame structure that supports each mechanical unit (path mechanism, tray mechanism, transport mechanism, etc.) described later. In the figure shown, 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 (not shown) facing each other, and the outer casing 20b is integrated with a monocoque structure. The outer casing 20b is composed of a monocoque structure in which the left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d and a stay frame (bottom frame frame 20e described later) connecting both side frame frames are integrated by molding with resin or the like, and a part thereof (device). The front side) is exposed so that it can be operated from the outside.

That is, the outer periphery of the frame frame is covered with the outer casing 20b, and is incorporated in the paper ejection space 15 of the image forming unit A, which will be described later. In that state, the outer case on the front side of the device is exposed so that it can be operated from the outside. The front side of the exterior casing 20b is equipped with a staple needle cartridge mounting opening 28, a manual feed set portion 29, and a manual operation button 30 (the one shown is a switch with a built-in indicator lamp), which will be described later.

In the exterior casing 20b, the length dimension Lx in the paper ejection direction and the length dimension Ly in the paper ejection orthogonal direction are set based on the maximum size sheet, and are smaller than the paper ejection 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, a sheet carry-in route 22 (hereinafter referred to as “paper discharge route”) having a carry-in inlet 21 and a paper discharge port 23 is arranged in the above-mentioned device housing 20, and the illustrated one has a sheet from the horizontal direction. It is configured to be received, transported in a substantially horizontal direction, and carried out from the paper ejection port 23. The paper ejection path 22 is formed of an appropriate paper guide (plate) 22a, and has a built-in feeder mechanism for conveying the sheet. This feeder mechanism is composed of a pair of transport rollers at predetermined intervals according to the path length. In the figure, the carry-in roller pair 31 is arranged near the carry-in inlet 21, and the paper discharge roller pair 32 is arranged near the paper discharge port 23. Has been done. Further, a sheet sensor Se1 for detecting the front end and / or the rear end of the sheet is arranged in the paper ejection path 22.

The paper ejection path 22 is formed in a substantially horizontal straight path so as to cross the device housing 20. This is to avoid stressing the seat on the curved path and to form the path with the linearity allowed by the equipment layout. The above-mentioned carry-in roller pair 31 and paper discharge roller pair 32 are connected to the same drive motor M1 (hereinafter referred to as a transfer motor), and transfer sheets at the same peripheral speed.

[Processing tray]
Explaining according to FIG. 3, a processing tray 24 is arranged on the paper ejection port 23 of the paper ejection path 22 so as to form a step d on the downstream side thereof. Since the processing tray 24 stacks the sheets sent from the paper ejection port 23 upward and accumulates them in a bundle, the processing tray 24 includes a paper mounting surface 24a that supports at least a part of the sheets. In the figure, a structure (bridge support structure) is adopted in which the front end side of the sheet is supported by the stack tray 25 described later and the rear end side of the sheet is supported by the processing tray 24. This reduces the tray size.

The processing tray 24 collects the sheets sent from the paper ejection port 23 in a bundle shape, aligns the sheets with a predetermined posture, performs a binding process, and carries out the processed sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. It is configured in. Therefore, the processing tray 24 incorporates a "sheet loading mechanism 35", a "sheet matching mechanism 45", a "binding processing mechanism 26, 27", and a "sheet bundle unloading mechanism 60".

"Sheet loading mechanism (sheet loading means)"
A processing tray 24 is arranged in the above-mentioned paper ejection port 23 so as to form a step d. A sheet carrying means 35 that smoothly conveys the sheet in the correct posture on the processing tray is required. The illustrated sheet loading means 35 (friction rotating body) is composed of a paddle rotating body 36 that moves up and down, and when the rear end of the sheet is carried out onto the tray from the paper ejection port 23, the paddle rotating body 36 ejects the sheet in the opposite direction of paper ejection. It is transferred to the right direction in FIG. 3 and abutted against the sheet edge regulating means 40 described later for alignment (positioning).

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

At the same time, 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 the elevating arm 37 is moved to the upper standby position Wp and the lower operating position (seat) by the rotation of the motor. Engagement position) It is configured to move up and down with 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 after hitting a locking stopper (not shown), stands by at that standby position. Further, the spring clutch is relaxed by the rotation of the paddle elevating motor M3 in the opposite direction, and the elevating arm 37 descends from the standby position Wp to the lower operating position Ap by its own weight and engages with the uppermost sheet on the processing tray.

As shown in FIG. 5, the illustrated devices are arranged in pairs symmetrically with respect to the seat center (center reference Sx) at a predetermined distance. In addition, a total of three paddle rotating bodies may be arranged on the seat center and both sides thereof, or one paddle rotating body may be arranged on the seat center.

Further, the paddle rotating body 36 is composed of a flexible rotating body such as a rubber plate-shaped member and a plastic blade member. In addition to the paddle rotating body, the sheet carrying means 35 can be composed of a friction rotating member such as a roller body or a belt body. Further, the illustrated device 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 ejection port 23, but the following elevating mechanism shall be adopted. Is also possible.

In the elevating mechanism different from the drawing, for example, when the tip of the sheet is carried out from the paper ejection port 23, the friction rotating body is lowered from the standby position to the operating position and at the same time rotated in the paper ejection direction, and the rear end of the sheet is the paper ejection port. At the timing of carrying out from 23, this rotating body rotates in the reverse direction in the direction opposite to the paper ejection. As a result, the sheet carried out from the paper ejection port 23 can be transferred to a predetermined position on the processing tray 24 at high speed and without skewing.

"Scraping rotating body (scraping transport means)"
When the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined position on the processing tray 24 by the sheet loading mechanism 35 (paddle rotating body) arranged in the paper ejection port 23, the sheet tip is moved to the downstream side due to the influence of a curled sheet, a skewed sheet, or the like. A scraping transport means 33 for guiding to the regulation stopper 40 of the above is required.

The device shown is a scraping rotating body (scraping transporting means) that applies a feeding force to the regulating member side of the top sheet of the sheet loaded on the upstream side of the sheet edge regulating stopper 40 described later below the paper ejection roller pair 32. ) 33 is arranged. In the figure shown, a ring-shaped belt member 34 (hereinafter referred to as "scraping belt") is arranged above the tip of the processing tray 24, and the scraping belt 34 engages with the top sheet on the paper mounting surface and is regulated. It rotates in the direction of transporting the sheet to the member side.

For this reason, the scraping belt 34 is made of a flexible material such as rubber, is made of a belt material having a high frictional force (such as a knurled belt), and is connected to a drive motor (the one shown in the figure is the same as the transport motor M1). A nip is supported between the 34x and the idle shaft 34y. Then, the rotational force in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3 is applied from the rotation shaft 34x. At the same time, the scraping belt 34 abuts against the regulation stopper 40 on the downstream side while pressing the tip of the sheet carried in along the uppermost sheet loaded on the processing tray.

The scraping belt 34 is configured to move up and down above the top sheet on the tray by a belt shift motor M5 (hereinafter referred to as a knurled elevating motor) (the elevating mechanism thereof is omitted). Then, at the timing when the tip of the seat enters between the surface of the belt and the top seat, the scraping belt 34 descends and engages with the carry-in seat. Further, the scraping belt 34 controls the knurled elevating motor M5 so as to be separated from the uppermost sheet and stand by upward when being transferred from the processing tray 24 to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side by the sheet bundle unloading means 60 described later.

"Sheet alignment mechanism"
A sheet matching mechanism 45 for positioning the carried-in sheet at a predetermined position (processing position) is arranged on the processing tray 24. The illustrated sheet matching mechanism 45 has a "sheet edge regulating means 40" that regulates the position of the paper ejection direction end surface (either the front end surface or the rear end surface) of the sheet sent from the paper ejection port 23 and the paper ejection orthogonal direction (sheet). It is composed of "side alignment means 45" for aligning the widths (in the side direction). Hereinafter, they will be described in this order.

"Sheet edge regulation means"
The illustrated sheet edge regulating means 40 is composed of a rear edge regulating member 41 that abuts and regulates the trailing edge in the paper ejection direction. The rear end regulating member 41 includes a regulating surface 41a that abuts and regulates the rear end edge of the sheet carried in along the paper loading surface 24a on the processing tray in the paper ejection direction, and is fed by the above-mentioned scraping transport means 33. The trailing edge of the sheet to be used is abutted and stopped.

The stapler unit of the rear end regulating member 41 moves along the rear end of the sheet (in the direction orthogonal to the paper ejection) when the stapler means 26 described later is used for multi-binding. Either (1) adopt a mechanism to enter and retract the rear end regulating member with respect to the movement path (movement trajectory) of the binding unit so as not to interfere with the movement of the unit, or (2) move the position integrally with the binding unit. (3) The rear end regulating member is composed of, for example, a channel-shaped bent piece inside the binding space composed of the head of the binding unit and the anvil.

The one shown in the figure is composed of a plate-shaped bending member having a U-shaped cross section (channel shape) in which the rear end regulating member 41 is arranged in the binding space of the staple binding means 26. Then, the first member 41A is arranged in the seat center with the minimum size sheet as a reference, and the second and third members 41B and 41C are arranged on the left and right at a distance from the first member 41A (see FIG. 5). This makes it possible to move the staple binding unit 26 in the sheet width direction.

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

"Side alignment means"
The processing tray 24 is provided with a matching means 45 (hereinafter referred to as a “side matching member”) for positioning the sheet abutting the rear end regulating member 41 in the paper ejection orthogonal direction (sheet width direction).

The structure of the side matching member 45 differs depending on whether sheets of different sizes are aligned on the processing tray based on the center reference or one side reference. In the device shown in FIG. 5, sheets of different sizes are ejected from the paper ejection port 23 based on the center reference, and the sheets are aligned on the processing tray based on the center reference. Then, according to the binding process, the sheet bundles aligned in a bundle shape based on the center reference are bound by offsetting a predetermined amount of sheet bundles to the binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 in the matching posture when multi-binding, and in the left-right direction when binding left and right corners. The stapler unit 26 binds the positions Cp1 and Cp2.

Therefore, the matching means 45 projects side matching members 46 (46F, 46R) having a regulation surface 46x that protrudes upward from the paper mounting surface 24a of the processing tray and engages with the side edge of the sheet so as to face each other in pairs on the left and right sides. Place in. Then, the pair of left and right side matching members 46 are arranged on the processing tray 24 so as to be 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 for moving the position (offset transfer) of the sheet bundle after matching in either the left or right direction. That is, the moving strokes of the left and right side matching members 46F and 46R are set by the moving amount for matching different size sheets and the offset amount of the sheet bundle after matching.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the side matching member 46 is composed of a right side matching member 46F (device front side) and a left side matching member 46R (device rear side), and both side matching members 46 have a seat side. The control surface 46x that engages with the end is supported by the tray member so as to move in the approaching direction or the separating direction from each other. The processing tray 24 is provided with a slit groove 24x penetrating the front and back surfaces, and a side matching member 46 having a regulation surface 46x that engages with the seat side edge is slidably fitted to the upper surface of the tray from the slit.

The side matching members 46F and 46R are slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 49 (which may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and the rack 47 is integrally formed. Matching motors M6 and M7 are connected to the left and right racks 47 via pinions 48. The left and right matching motors M6 and M7 are composed of stepping motors, and position detection of the left and right side matching members 46F and 46R is performed by a position sensor (not shown), and each regulating member can be placed in either the left or right direction based on the detected value. It is configured so that the position can be moved by the specified movement amount.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each side matching member 46F, 46R is fixed to a timing belt and the belt is connected to a motor that reciprocates left and right by a pulley without using the rack-pinion mechanism shown in the figure.

With such a configuration, the control means 75, which will be described later, causes the left and right side matching members 46 to stand by at a predetermined standby position (sheet width size + α position) based on the sheet size information provided by the image forming unit A or the like. In this state, the sheet is carried onto the processing tray, and the matching operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge abuts on the sheet edge regulating member 41. In this matching operation, the left and right matching motors M6 and M7 are rotated by the same amount in opposite directions (approaching directions). Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 24 are positioned with reference to the sheet center and stacked in a bundle. By repeating the loading operation and the matching operation of the sheets, the sheets are aligned and accumulated in a bundle on the processing tray. At this time, sheets of different sizes are positioned with reference to the center.

The sheets stacked on the processing tray based on the center in this way can be bound at a plurality of places at predetermined intervals (multi-binding processing) at the trailing edge (or tip edge) of the sheet in that posture. Further, when the sheet corner is bound, one side of the left and right side matching 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 matching member on the opposite side is moved in the approaching direction. The amount of movement in this approaching 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 matches the binding position when the right corner is bound, and the left edge matches the binding position when the left corner is bound. ..

When the sheet bundle aligned at a predetermined position on the processing tray as described above is offset and moved for the "eco-binding process" described later,
(1) In a state where the matching member on the front side in the moving direction is retracted to a position away from the planned offset position, the matching member on the rear side in the moving direction is moved in a preset amount transfer orthogonal direction.
(2) The drive control of either moving the left and right matching members by the same amount in the transport orthogonal direction is adopted.

Position sensors (not shown) such as a position sensor and an encode sensor are arranged on the left and right side matching members 46F and 46R and their matching motors M6 and M7 to detect the position of the side matching members 46. There is. Further, the matching motors M6 and M7 are composed of stepping motors, the home position of the side matching member 46 is detected by a position sensor (not shown), and the motor is PWM controlled to control the left and right side matching members with a relatively simple control configuration. 46F and 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. The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet bundle unloading mechanism for carrying out the sheet bundles bound by the first and second binding means 26 and 27 to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. In the processing tray 24 described with reference to FIG. 5, the first seat rear end regulating members 41A are arranged in the seat center Sx, and the second and third seat rear end regulating members 41B and 41C are arranged on the left and right sides of the processing tray 24. ing. Then, the sheet bundle locked to the regulating member 41 is bound by the binding means 26 (27) and then carried out to the stack tray 26 on the downstream side.

Therefore, the sheet bundle unloading means 60 is arranged on the processing tray 24 along the paper loading surface 24a. The illustrated sheet bundle unloading means 60 is composed of 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. Relay transport at 60B. By taking over and transporting the sheets with the first and second transport members 60A and 60B in this way, the mechanism of each transport member can be made to have a different structure. The member that conveys the sheet bundle from substantially the same start point as the sheet rear end regulating means 40 is composed of a member with less fluctuation (long support member), and the member that drops the sheet bundle onto the stack tray 25 at the end of the transfer is a member. , Must be small (to run on a loop trail).

The first transport member 60A is composed of a first carry-out member 61 formed of a bent piece having a cross-sectional channel shape, and the member is engaged with a locking surface 61a for locking the rear end surface of the sheet bundle and the surface. A paper surface pressing member 62 (elastic film member; mylar piece) for pressing the upper 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 the carrier member 65a (belt) described later, it hardly shakes and runs integrally with the belt. The rear end of the sheet bundle is moved (delivered) in the transport direction. Then, the first transport member 60A reciprocates the stroke Str1 on a substantially linear locus without traveling on a curved loop locus as described later.

The second transport member 60B is composed of a claw-shaped second carry-out member 63, and is provided with a locking surface 63a for locking the rear end surface of the sheet bundle and a paper surface pressing member 64 for pressing the upper surface of the sheet bundle. .. The paper surface pressing member 64 is pivotally supported by the second carry-out member 63 and is provided with a paper surface pressing surface 64a, and the paper surface pressing surface is provided with an urging spring 64b so as to press the upper surface of the sheet bundle. Being urged.

Further, the paper surface pressing surface 64a is composed of an inclined surface inclined in the traveling direction as shown in the drawing, and when it moves in the direction of arrow in FIG. 10B, it engages with the rear end of the sheet at a sandwiching angle γ. At this time, the paper surface pressing surface 64a is deformed upward (counterclockwise in the same figure) in the direction of the arrow against the urging spring 64b. Then, as shown in FIG. 10C, 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 urging 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, which reciprocates from the base end portion of the paper mounting surface 24a to the outlet end portion. To do. Therefore, the drive pulleys 66a and 66b and the driven pulleys 66c are arranged on the paper mounting surface 24a at positions separated by the transport stroke. Figures 66d and 66e are idle pulleys.

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

That is, the first transport member 60A is connected to the common drive motor M4 via a reduction mechanism (belt-pulley, gear connection, etc.) so that the first transport member 60A travels at a low speed and the second transport member 60B travels at a high speed. At the same time, the second drive pulley 66b has a built-in cam mechanism for delaying drive transmission. This is because the moving stroke Str1 of the first transport member 60A and the moving stroke Str2 of the second transport member 60B are different as described later, and the standby position of each member is adjusted.

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

Then, the first transport member 60A moves from the seat rear end regulation position to the downstream side (from FIGS. 11A to 11B) at a speed V1 by one-way rotation of the drive motor M4, and the seat bundle is moved by the locking surface 61a. Push the rear end to transfer. A predetermined time delay from the first transport member 60A, the second transport member 60B protrudes 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. It travels in the same direction at a speed of 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 a takeover transfer state, and the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 is overtaken by the second transfer member 60B traveling at the speed V2. That is, after passing the first section Tr1, the first transport member 60A is overtaken by the second transport member 60B, and the second transport member 60B engages with the rear end surface of the sheet to transport the second section Tr2 to the downstream side.

Then, when the second transport member 60B hits the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 at a high speed at the takeover point, the paper surface pressing member 64 presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle with the paper surface pressing surface 64a to press the carrier member (belt) 65a. While holding the rear end of the sheet bundle so as to nip with (65b), the sheet is carried out toward the stack tray 25.

"Binding processing method (binding position)"
As described above, the sheets sent to the carry-in port 21 of the paper ejection path 22 are aligned and accumulated on the processing tray, and are positioned (aligned) at the positions and postures preset by the sheet edge regulating member 40 and the side matching member 46. Will be done. 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 device includes, as a binding processing method, a "first binding means 26 for staple binding the sheet bundle" and a "second binding means 27 for staple-binding the sheet bundle" in the processing tray 24. The control means 75, which will be described later, has a first feature that the sheet bundle is bound to the downstream side after being bound by the first and second selected binding means 26 (27). This is because bookbinding that does not easily come off when the sheet bundle is bound with a staple is possible, but depending on the application of the user, the convenience of easily separating the bound sheet bundle may be required. In addition, since metal needles are a problem when cutting used sheet bundles with a shredder or when reusing used paper, it is possible to select and use "with needles" or "without needles" binding means. Because.

In addition, the device shown in the figure is a sheet created outside the device (outside the system), in addition to a series of post-processing operations in which the sheets are carried in from the sheet carry-in route (paper discharge route) 22 and then the sheets are aligned and accumulated and then bound. The second feature is that the binding process (hereinafter referred to as "manual staple process") is performed.

Therefore, a manual setting portion 29 for setting the sheet bundle from the outside is arranged on the outer casing 20b, the manual setting surface 29a for setting the sheet bundle is formed on the casing, and the staple binding means (staple unit 26) described above is used. The processing tray 24 is configured to move from the sheet loading area Ar to the manual feed area Fr.

Each binding processing method will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. The devices shown in the figure include "multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2" for binding multiple locations of a sheet with staples, "corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2" for binding sheet corners, and manually set sheets for binding. The "manual binding position Mp" and the "needleless binding position Ep" for binding the sheet corner without a needle are set. The positional relationship of each binding position will be described.

The binding processing method will be described with reference to FIG. The devices shown in the figure include "multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2" for binding a plurality of sheets with staples, "corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2" for binding sheet corners, and manually set sheets. "Manual binding position Mp" and "needleless binding position Ep" for binding the sheet corner without needles are set. The positional relationship of each binding position will be described.

"Multi-binding"
As shown in FIG. 5, in the multi-binding process, the edge of the sheet bundle (hereinafter referred to as “matching sheet bundle”) positioned on the processing tray 24 by the sheet edge regulating member 41 and the side matching member 46 (the one shown in the drawing is The trailing edge) is bound. In FIG. 9, the binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 for binding the two locations at intervals are set. The stapler unit 26, which will be described later, moves from the home position to the binding position Ma1 and then to the binding position Ma2, and performs binding processing. The multi-binding position Ma is not limited to two locations, and may be bound to three or more locations. FIG. 12A shows a multi-bound state.

"Corner binding"
The corner binding process is performed at two locations on the left and right, the right corner binding position Cp1 for binding the right corner of the matching sheet bundle accumulated in the processing tray 24 and the left corner binding position Cp2 for binding the left corner of the matching sheet bundle. The binding position is set. In this case, the staple needle is tilted by a predetermined angle (about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees) for binding. (The stapler unit 26, which will be described later, is mounted on the device frame so that the entire unit is tilted by a predetermined angle at this position.) FIGS. 12 (b) and 12 (c) show corner-bound states.

The illustrated device specifications show a case where either the left or right side of the sheet bundle is selected for binding processing, and a case where the staple needle is tilted by a predetermined angle for binding processing. Not limited to this, a configuration in which corner binding is performed on either the left or right side, or a configuration in which the staple needle is bound parallel to the edge of the sheet without tilting can be adopted.

"Manual binding"
The manual binding position Mp is arranged on the manual setting surface 29a formed on the exterior casing 20b (a part of the device housing) described later. The manual setting surface 29a is arranged (parallel arrangement) at a height position that forms substantially the same plane as the paper mounting surface 24a of the processing tray, and is adjacent to the paper mounting surface 24a via the side frame frame 20c. .. In the figure shown, the paper mounting surface 24a and the manual setting surface 29a of the processing tray both support the sheet in a substantially horizontal posture and are arranged at substantially the same height position. FIG. 12D shows a manually bound state.

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

"Needleless binding position"
The needleless 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 shown in FIG. The illustrated eco-binding position Ep is arranged at a position where one edge portion of the sheet bundle in the paper ejection direction is bound, and an angle position inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet is bound. The eco-binding position Ep is arranged in the eco-binding area Rr away from the sheet carry-in area Ar of the processing tray 24 on the rear side of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the needleless binding position Ep is the same as the standby position when binding the sheet and the binding position when binding the sheet, but the eco-binding unit 27 when binding the sheet. May be moved to the mounting side of the sheet bundle, and in short, if the eco-binding position Ep is located outside the sheet loading area, it is also possible to bind the sheet bundle that moves as a bundle.

"Relationship between each binding position"
The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 are arranged in (inside) the carry-out area Ar of the sheets carried into the processing tray 24 from the paper ejection 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) separated by a predetermined distance from the sheet ejection reference Sx (center reference) to either the right or the left. ing. As shown in FIG. 6, the right corner binding position Cp1 is located outside the side edge of the maximum size sheet (to be bound) and is biased to the right by a predetermined amount (δ1) from the sheet side edge, and is bound to the left corner. The position Cp2 is arranged at a position deviated to the left by a predetermined amount (δ2) from the side edge of the seat. The amount of both biases is set to the same distance (δ1 = δ2).

The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 and the manual binding position Mp are arranged on substantially straight lines. Further, the corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are set to tilt angles (for example, 45 degree angle positions) that are symmetrical with respect to the paper ejection reference Sx.

The manual binding position Mp is located outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and is located in the manual feed area Fr of the device front side Fr, and the eco-binding position Ep is outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and is located outside the device rear side Re eco-binding area. It is located in 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 placed in position. In this way, the multi-binding position Mp is set based on the carry-out standard (center reference) of the processing tray for loading the sheet, the corner binding position Cp is set based on the maximum size sheet, and the device is further set from the left and right corner binding positions. By setting the manual binding position Mp at the position where the predetermined amount offset Of1 is set on the front side and setting the eco-binding position Ep at the position where the predetermined amount offset Off2 is set on the rear side of the device, the seat movements do not interfere with each other and are orderly. Can be arranged.

Explaining the sheet movement in each binding process, in the case of the multi-binding process, the sheet is carried into the processing tray based on the center reference (which may be one-sided reference), and is aligned and bound in that state. After the binding process, it is carried out to the downstream side in that position. At the time of corner binding, the sheet is aligned with the specified side alignment position and bound. After the binding process, it is carried out to the downstream side in that position. Further, in the eco-binding process, the sheets carried on the processing tray are accumulated in a bundle and then offset Off2 by a predetermined amount on the rear side of the apparatus, and the sheets are bound after the offset is moved. After the binding process, a predetermined amount (for example, a shift amount equal to or smaller than the offset Of2) is offset to the seat center side, and then the material is carried out to the downstream side.

Further, in manual binding, the operator sets the sheet on the manual feed setting surface separated from the processing tray 24 by a 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 direction orthogonal to the transfer of the sheet setting position, and the binding process is executed, so that the processing speed is fast and the processing with less sheet jam is possible.

In the eco-binding process, the control means 75, which will be described later, sets the binding position Ep by offsetting the sheet from the rear end reference position by a predetermined amount in the paper ejection direction. This is to avoid interference between the stapler unit 26 and the eco-binding unit (press bind unit 27 described later) for binding the left corner of the sheet. Therefore, if the eco-binding unit 27 is mounted on the device frame 20 so as to be movable between the binding position and the retracted position retracted from the staple binding unit 26 as in the staple binding unit 26, it is not necessary to offset Of3 in the paper ejection direction.

Here, the device front side Fr refers to the front side of the exterior casing 20b that is set at the time of device design and the operator executes various operations. Normally, a control panel, a seat cassette mounting cover (door), or an opening / closing cover for replenishing the staples of the stapler unit is arranged on the front side of this device. Further, the device rear side Re means, for example, the side facing the wall surface of the building when the device is installed (installation condition in which there is a wall on the back surface in the design).

As described above, in the illustrated device, the manual binding position Mp is arranged on the front side Fr of the device and the eco binding position Ep is arranged on the rear side Re of the device outside the area based on the sheet loading 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 (remote position; Ofx> Ofy). It is set to.

In this way, the manual binding position Mp is set at a position far away from the sheet carry-in standard (Sx) of the processing tray 24, and the eco-binding position Ep is set at a close position near the carry-in standard because the manual binding position Mp is set from the outside. This is for the convenience that when the sheet bundle is set, the operation is easy because it is separated from the processing tray 24. At the same time, the eco-binding position Ep was set to a position closer (closer) to the carry-in reference Sx by reducing the amount of movement when the sheets (matching sheet bundle) carried on the processing tray were offset to the binding position. This is for speedy (improvement of productability) binding processing.

"Stapler unit movement mechanism"
The stapler unit 26 (first binding processing means) is provided with a needle cartridge 39, a staple head 26b, and an anvil member 26c on a unit frame 26a (referred to as a first unit frame), although the structure thereof will be described later. The unit 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 support structure will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows a front configuration in which the stapler unit 26 is mounted on the device frame 20, and FIG. 8 shows a planar configuration thereof. 9 and 10 show partial explanatory views of the guide rail mechanism for guiding the stapler unit.

As shown in FIG. 7, chassis frames 20e (hereinafter referred to as “bottom frame frames”) are arranged on the left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d constituting the device frame 20a. The stapler unit 26 is movably mounted on the bottom frame frame 20e with a predetermined stroke. A traveling guide rail 42 (hereinafter simply referred to as a “guide rail”) and a slide cam 43 are arranged on the bottom frame frame 20e. A traveling rail surface 42x is formed on the guide rail, and a traveling cam surface 43x is formed on the slide cam 43. The traveling rail surface 42x and the traveling cam surface 43x cooperate with each other to form a stapler unit 26 (hereinafter, “moving unit” in this section). ) Is supported so that it can reciprocate 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 the moving range (seat loading area, manual feeding area, and eco-binding area) SL of the moving unit (FIG. 8). reference). The traveling guide rail 42 is composed of a rail member having a stroke SL along the rear end regulating member 41 of the processing tray 24, and the one shown in the drawing is composed of an opening groove formed in the bottom frame frame 20e. A traveling rail surface 42x is formed on 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 in a parallel relationship with each other. Further, the slide cam 43 is arranged at a distance from the traveling rail surface, and the one shown in the figure is composed of a groove cam formed on the bottom frame frame 20e. A traveling cam surface 43x is formed on this groove cam.

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

The traveling rail surface and the traveling cam surface are parallel to each other with parallel spacing portions (span G1) 43a and 43b, narrow swing spacing portions (span G2) 43c and 43d, and even narrower spacing swing spacing portions (span G3). ) An interval is formed at 43e. Then, the relationship is such that span G1> span G2> span G3. In the span G1, the unit swings in a posture parallel to the rear edge of the seat, in the span G2, the unit tilts to the left or right, and in the span G3, the unit swings at a further tilted angle.

The traveling guide rail 42 is not limited to the opening groove structure, and a guide rod, a protruding rib, and various other structures can be adopted. Further, the slide cam 43 is not limited to the groove cam, and any shape can be adopted as long as it is provided with a cam surface that guides the moving unit 26 in a predetermined stroke direction, such as a protrusion rib member.

The moving unit 26 is engaged 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) that engages with the traveling rail surface 42x and a second rolling roller 51 (a second rolling roller 51 (rail fitting member) that engages with the traveling cam surface 43x. A cam follower member) is provided. At the same time, the moving unit 26 has a sliding roller 52 that engages with the support surface of the bottom frame frame 20e (in the figure, ball-shaped sliding rollers 52a and 52b are formed at two positions). Further, the moving unit is formed with a guide roller 53 that engages with the bottom surface of the bottom frame portion frame to prevent the moving unit 26 from floating from the bottom frame.

From the above configuration, the moving unit 26 is movably supported by the bottom frame frame 20e by the sliding rollers 52a and 52b and the guide rollers 53. At the same time, the first rolling roller 50 travels on the traveling rail surface 42x, and the second rolling roller 52 travels along the traveling cam surface 43x while traveling along the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x.

Therefore, the distance between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at the illustrated position 43a in which the parallel spacing portion (span G1) faces the above-mentioned multi-binding position Ma1Ma2 and the illustrated position 43b facing the manual binding position Mp. .. In this span G1, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10C, the moving unit 26 is held in a posture orthogonal to the seat edge without swinging. Therefore, at the multi-binding position and the manual binding position, the sheet bundle is bound with a staple needle parallel to the edge of the sheet.

The distance between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed so that the swing interval (span G2) is the illustrated position 43e facing the right corner binding position and the illustrated position 43d facing the left corner binding position. .. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10A, the moving unit is held in a right tilt angle posture (for example, right 45 degree tilt) and a left tilt angle posture (for example, left 45 degree tilt). Has been done.

Further, the distance between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at the illustrated position 43c in which the swing interval (span G3) faces the position for loading the needle. The spans G3 are formed at intervals shorter than the spans G2, and in this state, the moving unit 26 is held in a right tilt angle posture (for example, 60 degree tilt) as shown in FIG. 10 (b). The angle of the moving unit 26 is changed at the needle loading position in order to match the unit posture in the angle direction in which the needle cartridge 39 is mounted on the unit, and the angle is set in relation to the opening / closing cover arranged in the outer casing.

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

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

Therefore, when the moving unit is locked by the stopper surface 43y and advanced to the manual binding side, the unit returns from the tilted state to the original state. Further, when the unit is returned from the manual binding position in the opposite direction, the stopper surface 43z (forcibly) tilts the unit toward the corner binding position.

[Stapler unit]
The stapler unit 26 is already widely known as a device for binding with staples. An example thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 13 (a). The stapler unit 26 is configured separately from the sheet binding processing device B (post-processing device). A box-shaped unit frame 26a, a drive cam 26d oscillatingly supported by the frame, and a drive motor M8 that rotates the drive cam 26d are mounted on the frame.

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

A straight blank needle is housed in the needle cartridge 39, and the needle is supplied to the head 26b by a needle feed mechanism. The head portion 26b contains a former member that bends a straight needle in a U shape and a screwdriver that press-fits the bent needle into a sheet bundle. With such a configuration, the drive motor M8 rotates the drive cam 26d and stores it in the urging spring. Then, when the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the head portion 26b vigorously descends toward the anvil member 26c. In this operation, the staple needle is bent into a U shape and then inserted into the sheet bundle with a screwdriver. The tip is bent by the anvil member 26c and stapled.

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

The illustrated needle cartridge 39 employs a structure in which staple needles connected in a band shape to a box-shaped cartridge are stacked and stored in a stacked manner, and a structure in which the staple needles are stored in a roll shape.

Further, the unit frame 26a is provided with a circuit for controlling each of the above-mentioned sensors and a circuit board for controlling the drive motor M8, and emits a warning signal when the needle cartridge 39 is not housed or when the staple needle is empty. It has become. In addition, this staple control circuit controls the drive motor to execute the staple operation with 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 send.

[Press binder unit]
The configuration of the press binder unit 27 will be described with reference to FIG. 13 (b). The press binder mechanism includes a folding binding mechanism (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256008) in which several sheets are bound by forming a notch opening in the binding portion and folding one side thereof, and the press binder mechanism is free to press and separate from each other. A press binding mechanism is known in which uneven surfaces are formed on the pressure surfaces 27b and 27c to crimp and deform the sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundles.

FIG. 13B shows a press binder unit, in which a movable frame member 27d is swingably supported on a base frame member 27a, and both frames swing so as to be pressure-welded and separated by a support shaft 27x. A follower roller 27f is arranged on the movable frame member 27b, and a drive cam 27e arranged on the base frame 27a is engaged with the follower roller.

A drive motor M9 arranged on the base frame member 27a is connected to the drive cam 27e via a reduction mechanism, the drive cam 27e rotates with the rotation of the motor, and the movable frame is on the cam surface (the one shown is an eccentric cam). The member 27d is configured to swing.

The lower pressurizing surface 27c is arranged on the base frame member 27a, and the upper pressurizing 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 the pressing surfaces are urged in a direction in which they are separated from each other.

As shown in the enlarged view in FIG. 13B, the upper pressurizing surface 27b and the lower pressurizing surface 27c are formed with protrusions on one side and recessed grooves compatible with the protrusions on the other side. The protrusions and recessed grooves are formed in a ridge (rib) shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper pressure surface 27b and the lower pressure surface 27c is deformed into a corrugated sheet shape and comes into close contact with each other. 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 pressurizing surfaces 27b and 27c are in the pressurizing position or the separated position.

[Stack tray]
The configuration of the stack tray will be described with reference to FIG. The stack tray 25 is arranged on the downstream side of the processing tray 24, and loads and stores a bundle of sheets accumulated in the processing tray. A tray elevating mechanism is provided so as to sequentially lower the stack tray 25 according to the load capacity of the stack tray 25. The loading surface (top sheet height) of this tray is controlled to a height position that is substantially flush with the paper loading surface of the processing tray. Further, the loaded sheet is inclined at an angle at which the rear end edge in the paper ejection direction abuts on the tray matching surface 53 (standing surface) due to its own weight.

When the specific configuration is moved, the elevating rail 54 is fixed to the device frame 20a up and down in the loading direction, and the tray base 25x is slidably fitted to the elevating rail by a slide roller 55 or the like. At the same time, a rack 25r is integrally formed on the tray base 25x in the elevating direction, and a drive pinion 56 axially supported by the apparatus frame is meshed with the rack. A lift 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 forward-reversed, the rack 25r connected to the drive pinion 56 moves up and down above and below the device frame. With this configuration, the tray substrate 25x moves up and down in a cantilevered state. As the tray elevating mechanism, a rack and pinion mechanism, a pulley suspension belt mechanism, or the like can be adopted.

A loading tray 25 is integrally attached to the tray base 25x, and the sheet is loaded and stored on the loading surface 25a. Further, the device frame is formed with tray matching surfaces 20f that support the trailing edge of the sheet in the vertical direction in the loading direction of the sheet, and the illustrated one forms the tray matching surface with an exterior casing.

Further, the loading 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 (for example, 20 to 60 degrees) so that the rear end abuts on the tray matching surface 20f due to the weight of the sheet. ) Has been done.

[Sheet holding mechanism]
The loading tray 25 is provided with a paper pressing mechanism 53 that presses the stacked top sheets. The illustrated paper pressing mechanism includes an elastic pressing member 53a that presses the uppermost sheet, a shaft support member 53b that rotatably supports the elastic pressing member on the device frame 20a, and the shaft support member that rotates in a predetermined angle direction. It is composed of a drive motor M2 and a transmission mechanism thereof. The illustrated drive motor M2 is driven and connected by using the drive motor of the sheet bundle unloading mechanism as a drive source, and when the sheet bundle is loaded (loaded) into 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 top sheet of the loading tray, it rotates counterclockwise as shown from the standby position and engages with the top sheet to press it.

Further, the elastic pressing member 53a is retracted from the paper surface of the uppermost sheet on the loading tray to a retracted position by the initial rotation operation of the drive motor M2 that carries out the sheet bundle on the processing tray toward the stack tray.

[Level sensor]
A level sensor for detecting the paper surface height of the top sheet is arranged on the loading tray 25, and the winding motor described above is rotated by the detection signal of the level sensor to raise and raise the tray paper mounting surface 25a. Various types of this level sensor mechanism are known, but the one shown in the figure irradiates the detection light above the tray from the tray matching surface 20f of the device frame, detects the reflected light, and places the sheet at the height position. A detection method that detects whether or not it exists is adopted.

[Loaded sheet amount sensor]
Similar to the level sensor, the loading tray 25 is provided with a sensor that detects that the sheet has been removed from the tray. Although the structure is not described in detail, for example, whether or not a sheet exists on the loading surface by providing a sensor lever that rotates integrally with the above-mentioned paper holding elastic pressing member 53 and submitting this sensor lever by a sensor element. Can be detected. When the height position of the sensor lever is different (changed) before and after the sheet bundle is carried out, the control means 75, which will be described later, for example stops the paper ejection operation or raises the tray to a predetermined position. It should be noted that such an operation is an abnormal operation and is a problem that occurs when the user carelessly removes the sheet from the loading tray while the device is in operation. Further, a lower limit position is arranged 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 formation system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit A is composed of a paper feeding unit 1, an image forming unit 2, a paper ejection unit 3, and a signal processing unit (not shown), and is built in the device housing 4. The paper feed unit 1 is composed of a cassette 5 for storing 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 storing sheets of different sizes. Each of the cassettes 5a to 5c has a built-in paper feed roller 6 for feeding out sheets and a separation means (separation claw, separation roller, etc .; not shown) for separating the sheets one by one.

Further, the paper feeding unit 1 is provided with a paper feeding path 7, and the sheets are fed from each cassette 5 to the image forming unit 2. A resist roller pair 8 is provided at the path end of the paper feed path 7, and the sheets sent from each cassette 5 are aligned at the tip and wait until the sheet is fed according to the image formation timing of the image forming unit 2.

As described above, the paper feed unit 1 is composed of 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 device housing 4 so that the seat can be replenished.

As the image forming unit 2, various image forming mechanisms for forming an image on the sheet can be adopted. 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 device housing 4 according to the color components. A light emitter (laser head or the like) 10 and a developer 11 are arranged on the drums 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d. Then, a latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on each of the drums 9a to 9d by the light emitter 10, and the toner ink is adhered by the developer 11. The ink image adhering to each drum is transferred to the transfer belt 12 for each color component and image-synthesized.

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

The paper ejection unit 3 is composed of a paper ejection port 16 for carrying out the sheet to the paper ejection space 15 formed in the device housing 4, and a paper ejection path 17 for guiding the sheet from the image forming unit 2 to the paper ejection port. There is. A duplex path 18 to be described later is continuously provided in the paper ejection unit 3, and the sheet on which the image is formed on the surface is inverted and fed to the image forming unit 2 again.

The duplex path 18 flips the sheet image formed on the front surface side of the image forming unit 2 and retransmits it to the image forming unit 2. Then, after the image forming unit 2 forms an image on the back surface side, the image is carried out from the paper ejection port 16. Therefore, the duplex path 18 is composed of a switchback pass that reverses the transport direction and returns the sheet sent from the image forming unit 2 to the apparatus, and a U-turn pass 18a that reverses the sheet returned to the apparatus. ing. In the illustrated device, this switchback path is formed in the paper ejection path 22 of the post-processing unit C, which will be described later.

[Image reading unit]
The image reading unit C is composed of a platen 19a and a reading carriage 19b that reciprocates along the platen. The platen 19a is made of transparent glass and is composed of a still image reading surface for scanning a still image by moving the reading carriage 19b and a traveling 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 document, 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 scanning carriage 19b reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the line sensor to read the document image in line order. It has become. Further, an automatic document feeding unit D for traveling the document at a predetermined speed is mounted above the traveling image reading surface of the platen 19a. The document automatic feeding unit D is composed of a feeder mechanism that feeds the document sheets set on the paper feed tray one by one to the platen 19a, reads the image, and then stores the document sheet in the paper output tray.

[Paper guide mechanism]
The sheet bundle is guided to the processing tray 24 between the pressure surfaces 27b and 27c of the press binder means 27 when the sheet bundle is moved from the alignment position to the binding position Ep by the sheet bundle offset means (side matching members 46F and 46R). A paper guide mechanism 80 is provided for this purpose.

FIG. 16 shows a paper guide mechanism. In the apparatus frame 20, a paper guide member 81 that guides the sheet bundle from the alignment position Ap3 to the binding position Ep is arranged above the processing tray 24. The paper guide member 81 includes a guide surface 81a that guides the sheet bundle between the pair of pressure-pressing surfaces 27b and 27c that face each other in the vertical direction of the press binder unit 27.

The paper guide member 81 retracts above the tray so as not to interfere with the loading of the sheet onto the processing tray, and guides the upper surface of the sheet when the sheets are offset and moved toward the binding position after being stacked. As described above, the guide surface 81a is arranged so that the height position is different.

Therefore, the paper guide member 81 is swingably supported by the device frame 20 by the support shaft 81x, and an urging spring 84 that urges the guide surface 81a to either high or low is arranged on the shaft support portion. Further, the transmission lever 82 is connected to the paper guide member 81 by the transmission pin 82p, and the guide surface 81a is lowered from the height position shown in FIG. 16 (a) of the height position retracted above the tray due to the swinging motion of the transmission lever. The position is shifted to the same figure (b). The tip end portion 82a of the transmission lever 82 is arranged at a position where it engages with the unit frame 26a of the stapler unit 26.

That is, a transmission lever 82 is arranged on the device frame 20 so as to be swingable by a support shaft 82x, and the lever tip 82 is connected to the paper guide member 81 by a transmission pin 82p. The other end 82b of the transmission lever 82 is arranged in the movement locus of the stapler unit 26. Therefore, the control means 75, which will be described later, moves the stapler unit 26 between the preset guide position Gp and the retracted position Np. At the Gp position, the paper guide member 81 is in a guide posture (state in FIG. 16B) that engages with the upper surface of the sheet bundle on the processing tray, and at the Np position, the paper guide member 81 is retracted above the processing tray. It becomes the position (state of FIG. 16A).

Therefore, the relationship between the moving position of the stapler unit 26 and the retracting position and the guide position of the paper guide member 81 is set. In this embodiment, the alignment position for the eco-binding process is set to the seat center Sx to be carried in. At the time of sheet loading, the stapler unit 26 moves to the vicinity of the front side where it engages with the paper guide member 81, and stands by at that position until the loading and alignment of the loaded sheet is completed. When the delivery of the specified number of sheets is completed and the first alignment is completed (St26), the stapler unit 26 moves from the position immediately after the multi-binding position (Ma2) to the position immediately before the rear corner binding position Cp2. Then, the other end 82b of the transmission lever 82 moves from the retracted position to the guide position on the stapler unit 26, and the guide member 81 prepares for the second alignment (St29) and the shift of the seat bundle by the side alignment member 46.

By setting in this way, when the sheet bundles are accumulated on the processing tray, the stapler unit 26 is made to stand by at the position immediately after the multi-binding position so that the sheets can be quickly carried in and aligned. In addition, when the seats are carried in and aligned, they can be moved to a position in front of the rear corner to prepare for the movement of the seat bundle. It is possible to lower the paper guide member 81 at the rear side corner position (Cp2) to set it as the guide position, but this is carried out because it moves to the guide position even during normal rear side corner binding that does not employ eco-binding. As in the example, it is desirable to operate the paper guide member 81 so as to lower it at a position that does not affect other operations, that is, at a position Gp immediately after the multi-binding position (Ma2) and immediately before the rear corner binding position (Cp2).

Then, the sheet bundle offset means (side matching member 46 in the illustrated embodiment) is operated to move the sheet bundle toward the eco-binding position Ep. At this time, the paper guide member 81 guides the upper surface of the sheet between the pressure surfaces 27b and 27c of the press binder unit 27 in the state shown in FIG. 16B.

Although the configuration in which the paper guide member 81 moves up and down between the retracted position Np and the guide position Gp in conjunction with the position movement of the stapler unit 26 has been described, for example, a paper guide member is separately used by a solenoid or the like in addition to the stapler unit 26. It is also possible to interlock the 81 so as to move up and down between the retracted position and the guide position.

[Explanation 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 binding processing device; the same applies hereinafter). It is equipped with a 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 formation mode" and the "post-processing mode" are set from the input unit 73 (control panel). The image formation mode sets mode settings such as color / monochrome printing and double-sided / single-sided printing, and image formation conditions such as sheet size, sheet quality, number of printouts, and enlarged / reduced printing. Further, the "post-processing mode" is set to, for example, "printout mode", "staple binding processing mode", "eco-binding processing mode", "jog sorting mode" and the like. The device shown in the figure is provided with a "manual binding mode", in which the sheet bundle binding processing operation is executed offline separately from the main body control unit 70 of the image forming unit A.

Further, the main body control unit 70 transfers data such as a post-processing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, and the paper thickness information of the sheet for forming an image to the binding processing control unit 75. At the same time, the main body control unit 70 transfers the job end signal to the binding processing control unit 75 each time the image formation is completed.

Explaining the post-processing mode described above, in the “printout mode”, the sheets from the paper ejection 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 the jog end signal from the main body control unit 70.

In the above-mentioned "staple binding processing mode (second paper ejection mode)", the sheets from the paper ejection port 23 are collected on the processing tray to be aligned, and the sheet bundle is bound and then stored in the stack tray 25. In this case, the sheet to be image-formed is, in principle, designated by the operator as a sheet having the same paper thickness and the same size. This staple binding processing mode is specified by selecting one of "multi-binding", "right corner binding", and "left corner binding". Each binding position is as described above.

The above-mentioned "jog sorting mode" is divided into a group in which the sheets image-formed by the image forming unit A are offset and accumulated on the processing tray and a group in which the sheets are accumulated without offset, and the stack tray 25 is alternately arranged. Offset sheet bundles and non-offset sheet bundles are stacked. In particular, the illustrated device has an offset area (see FIG. 5) on the front side of the device, and is center-referenced in the same manner as the group in which sheets carried out from the paper ejection port 23 at the center reference Sx are collected in that posture on the processing tray. The sheets carried out by Sx are divided into groups that are offset by a predetermined amount on the front side Fr of the device and accumulated.

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

"Manual binding mode"
The outer casing 20b is provided on the front side of the device with a manual feed set portion 29 for setting a bundle of sheets to be bound by the operator. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is arranged on the set surface 29a of the manual feed setting unit 29, and the binding processing control unit 75, which will be described later, moves the stapler unit 26 to the manual binding position by a signal from this sensor. To do. Then, when the operator presses 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 offline. However, when the manual binding mode and the staple binding mode are executed at the same time, the mode is set so that one of them has priority.

[Binding processing control unit]
The binding processing control unit 75 operates the post-processing unit C according to the post-processing mode set by the image formation control unit 70. The illustrated binding processing control unit 75 is composed of a control CPU (hereinafter, simply referred to as a control means). The ROM 76 and the RAM 77 are connected to the control CPU 75, and the paper ejection operation described later is executed by the control program stored in the ROM 76 and the control data stored in the RAM 77. Therefore, the control CPU 75 is connected to the drive circuits of all the drive motors described above, and each motor is controlled to start, stop, and forward / reverse.

[Post-processing operation explanation]
The operating state of each binding process will be described below with reference to FIGS. 18 to 22. For convenience of explanation, the "paddle" is a sheet carrying means (paddle rotating body 36, etc.), the "knurling" is a scraping rotating body 33, and the "matching plate" is a side matching member 45. "" Means the first and second transport members 60A and 60B, "button" means an operation switch of the staple device, and "LED" means an indicator lamp in which the staple operation is being executed.

[Matching operation]
The matching operation of the sheet bundle in the above-mentioned eco-binding mode will be described. Explaining according to FIG. 18, when the mode is set (Ep01) in the image forming unit A and the eco-binding processing mode is set, the control means 75 moves the first binding means (stapler unit) 26 to the standby position (Np position). (Ep02). This standby position Np is set to a position where the paper guide mechanism 80 is placed in the retracted posture (above the tray).

Next, the control means 75 carries the sheet into the processing tray 24 from the paper ejection path 22 (Ep03). Then, the side matching member 46 is made to execute the matching operation (Ep04). By repeating this operation, sheets are stacked in a bundle on the processing tray. Then, when the control means 75 receives the job end signal (Ep05), it determines whether or not the number of sheets is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (Ep06).

When the number of sheets is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the control means 75 moves the first binding means 26 from the preset standby position Np to the guide position Gp (Ep07). Then, the paper guide member 81 is displaced from the retracted position above the tray to the guide posture that engages with the upper surface of the sheet on the tray.

Therefore, the control means 75 moves the sheet bundle from the alignment position Ap3 to the eco-binding position Ep by the sheet bundle offset means (side matching member 46) (Ep08). This movement amount is set in advance as "Of2", but is set outside (outside the carry-in area) of the maximum size sheet (maximum of the sheet to be eco-bound) carried on the processing tray.

Next, the control means 75 operates the press binder unit 27 to execute the eco-binding process (Ep09). In this operation, the drive motor M9 (drive motor) arranged in the press binder unit 27 is activated as described above, and the upper and lower pressure surfaces 27b and 27c are pressed against each other by the drive cam.

Then, when the control means 75 receives the operation end signal from the press binder unit 27, the sheet bundle offset means (the one shown in the figure is the side matching member 46) is operated again to place the sheet bundle from the eco-binding position Ep to the seat center side. Quantitative offset (Ep10). This offset position is set in advance and is set to a suitable position for carrying out the sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. Therefore, the control means 75 operates the sheet bundle unloading means 60 to unload the sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (Ep11).

Further, the operation when the number of sheet bundles on the processing tray is equal to or more than a predetermined number in step Ep06 described above will be described. The control means 75 displays, for example, on the control panel whether or not to staple, and waits for the operator's selection signal (Ep12).

At the time of the instruction to perform the staple binding process, the control means 75 moves the stapler unit 26 to the corner binding position and executes the staple operation (Ep13) (Ep14). After that, the sheet bundle is carried out toward the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (Ep15).

Further, when instructed not to staple in step Ep12, the sheet bundle on the processing tray is carried out toward the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (Ep15).

"Staple mode"
In FIG. 19, the final paper for image formation is image-formed and carried out from the upper image-forming unit main body (St01). At this time, a job end signal is emitted from the image forming unit, and the binding operation control unit 75 causes the paddle 36 to stand by for positioning at a predetermined position (standby for paddle blades) (St02). At the same time, the left and right matching plates 46R and 46F are moved to the standby position (St03). Then, the sheet fed out from the paper ejection port 16 of the image forming unit A is carried in from the carry-in inlet 21 of the sheet carry-in route (paper discharge path) 22, and the rear end of the sheet is carried out from the paper ejection roller 32 by the sheet sensor Se1. Detect (St04).

The control means 75 lowers the paddle 36 waiting on the processing tray when the rear end of the sheet leaves the paper ejection roller 32 (St05). This operation is executed by starting the paddle elevating motor M ○. At the same time as the paddle lowering operation, the control means 75 raises the knurl 33 and retracts it upward from the top paper on the processing tray (St08).

The sheet sent from the image forming unit A by the above operation is sent to the sheet carry-in path 22, the rear end of the sheet passes through the paper ejection roller 32, and then the paddle 36 is ejected with the knurl 33 retracted above the tray. The sheet is transported back by rotating it in the opposite direction of the paper. As a result, the sheets sent to the sheet carry-in route 22 are stored in the processing tray 24 at the lower stage of the paper ejection port by reversing the transport direction at the paper ejection port 23.

Next, the control means 75 back-transports the sheet from the paper ejection port 23 in the direction opposite to the paper ejection, and then raises the paddle after a predetermined time to retract the sheet from the sheet (St06). At the same time, the knurl 33 rotating in the direction opposite to the paper ejection is lowered from the standby position and engaged with the sheet carried on the processing tray (St09).

In the above operation, the sheet is fed out from the paper ejection port 23 by the paper ejection roller 32, reversely conveyed from the paper ejection port 23 in the opposite direction to the paper ejection by the paddle 36, and carried onto the processing tray. Then, the knurl 33 feeds the processing tray toward a predetermined position (rear end regulating member 41).

In the above paper ejection operation, sheets of different sizes are carried out from the paper ejection port 23 according to the center reference Sx. Although it is possible to carry out from the paper ejection port 23 on a one-sided basis, for convenience of explanation, a case where the paper is carried out according to the center reference Sx will be described.

Next, in the control means 75, the paddle 36 has an estimated time at which the rear end of the sheet carried onto the processing tray based on the detection signal of the paper ejection sensor Se2 hits the predetermined rear end regulation stopper (rear end regulation member) 41. To the home position (HP) (St07). The knurl 33 also moves to the home position HP in the same manner (St10).

Next, the control means 75 is the matching means 45, and aligns the sheets with the rear end abutting against the rear end regulating member 41 by width alignment. This alignment operation makes the alignment position of the sheet different when the "multi-binding mode" is specified and when the "corner binding mode" is specified. When the "multi-binding mode" is specified, the control means 75 separates the sheet carried on the processing tray from the alignment position that matches the size width based on the paper ejection standard (center reference Sx in the figure) and the outside. The left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R reciprocate between the standby position and the left side alignment member (center alignment). That is, the control means 75 aligns the sheets by moving the side matching members 46F and 46R from a standby position wider than the size width to a matching position suitable for the size width based on the size information sent from the image forming unit A. (St11 to 13).

Further, when the "corner binding mode" is specified, the control means 75 moves the side matching member on the binding position side among the left and right side matching members 46F and 46R from the size information to the binding position and makes them stand still. Based on the size width of the sheet in which the side alignment member on the side is carried into the processing tray 24, the position is moved from the standby position retracted from now on to the alignment position. This alignment position (of the movable side alignment member) is set to a distance relationship that matches the size width with the stationary (binding position side alignment member) alignment position (corner binding position alignment). Therefore, during the corner binding process, one side matching member is moved to the designated binding position on either the left or right side to stand still, and after the sheet enters the processing tray 24, the opposite side matching member is adjusted to fit the size width. , The position is moved and aligned (one-sided reference). (St14 to St16)

Next, the control means 75 executes the binding operation (St17). In the case of multi-binding, the stapler unit 26 that is stationary at the binding position is operated in advance to perform binding processing at that position, and then the unit is moved by a predetermined distance along the rear edge of the sheet to perform binding processing at the second binding position ( St18 to St20). At the time of corner binding, the stapler unit 26 that is stationary at the binding position is operated in advance to perform the binding process.

Next, when the control means 75 receives the operation end signal from the stapler unit 26, the sheet bundle unloading means 60 is operated to unload the sheet bundle from the processing tray 24 toward the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (St21). When the sheet bundle unloading operation is completed, the control means 75 returns the sheet bundle unloading means 60 to the initial position and moves (St22). At the same time, the matching means 46 is returned to the initial position (waiting position for loading the sheet into the processing tray 24) and moved (St23).

Further, the control means 75 rotates the bundle holding means (elastic pressing member) 53 arranged on the stack tray by a drive motor (the one shown in the figure is the same drive motor M2 as the paddle rotating body 36) (St24). , The top paper of the sheet bundle carried into the stack tray 25 is pressed and held (St25).

"Eco binding mode"
In the eco-binding operation, the control means 75 abuts the sheet carried on the processing tray against the rear end regulating member 41 and positions the sheet in the same manner as described above. The operations from step St01 to step St10 are the same as those described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the needleless binding process is specified, the control means 75 places the left side alignment member 46R located on the binding unit side in the alignment position (eco) close to the eco-binding position Ep before loading the sheet onto the processing tray. The position is moved to the matching position Ap2) and the device is made to stand by in a stationary state (St26). At the same time as this operation, the control means 75 moves the sheet bundle guide guide from the retracted position above the tray to the operating position on the tray (St27). This shift in guide height is configured so that the height position of the guide surface moves from a high retracted position to a low operating position in conjunction with the position movement of the stapler unit 26 in the figure. Therefore, the control means 75 moves the stapler unit 26 from a predetermined position (home position) to a position where it engages with the seat bundle guide guide. The one of the present application is set to engage with the paper guide member 81 when it is at the position Gp between Ma2 (multi-binding position on the left in the drawing) and CP2 (corner binding position on the left in the drawing) in FIG.

After that, the control means 75 moves the opposite right side matching member 46F to a standby position away from the seat side edge carried onto the tray (St28). Then, the matching motor is driven to move the right side matching member 46F to the matching position (St29). This alignment position is set at a position where the distance from the left side alignment member 46R resting at the eco-alignment position matches the width size of the seat.

As described above, the present invention is characterized in that, at the time of eco-binding, the carry-in sheet is not aligned with the binding position on the processing tray, but is aligned with the eco-alignment position Ap2 away from the binding position. When the eco-alignment position Ap2 is set to the carry-out reference (for example, center reference) for the sheet from the paper ejection port 23, it becomes the same as the alignment position of the multi-binding process. When this is set to a position close to the eco-binding position Ep, the sheet does not interfere with the eco-binding unit 27 and cause sheet jam when aligning, and the distance to move the sheet bundle to the eco-binding position after alignment. Can be shortened. Therefore, it is preferable to set the eco-alignment position Ap2 as close as possible within the range where the sheet does not interfere with the binding unit.

Next, the control means 75 offsets the sheet bundle aligned with the eco-matching position Ap2 to the eco-binding position Ep with the side matching member 46 (St30). Then, the side matching member 46F located on the front side of the device is retracted to a state separated from the predetermined amount sheet (St31). Therefore, the matching means 45 drives the sheet bundle conveying means 60 to move the sheet bundle to the downstream side in the paper ejection direction by a predetermined amount (St32). At the same time, the stapler 26 is moved to the initial position and the seat bundle guide guide is made to stand by at the retracted position above the tray (St33). Next, the control means 75 moves the right side matching member 46F to the home position (St34).

Therefore, the control means 75 transmits a command signal to the needleless binding means (press binder unit) 27 to execute the binding processing operation (St35). Then, the control means 75 operates a kicker means composed of a side matching member 46R (device rear side) located on the eco-binding position side. In the operation of the kicker means, first, the side matching member 46R is backswinged (FIG. 15; overrun amount) to a position away from the position where it engages with the seat side edge. This backswing amount is set in consideration of the rising time (self-excited time) of the matching motor M6. That is, the matching member 46R (kicker means) is provided with a run-up time, and the overrun amount is set at the rise time when the motor reaches a predetermined output torque.

Therefore, when the control means 75 receives the processing end signal from the binder unit 27, the control means 75 drives the matching motor M6 of the left side matching member 46R to move the matching member to the seat center side by a predetermined amount. By this operation, the sheet bundle held by the press binder unit 27 is peeled off by being kicked toward the seat center side from a state of being in close contact with the concave-convex shape pressure surface and offset to the seat center side (St37).

To explain this kicker mechanism,
(1) The kick direction of the left side matching member 46R (kicker means) shown in the figure (direction in which the conveying force is applied to the seat; the same applies hereinafter) is the same as the linear direction (rib direction) of the pressurized surface, or is based on this. An angular direction slightly inclined in the ± direction (for example, about 0 to 30 degrees) is preferable. As shown in FIG. 15, when the conveying force is applied in the z direction of the arrow (direction orthogonal to the rib), the binding of the sheet bundle is loosened and easily separated, and when the conveying force is applied in the direction of the arrow w in the drawing, the sheet bundle is bound. It becomes easy to peel off from the pressurized surface in this state. This angular direction is set by an experiment, but in the experiment of the present inventor, 0 ± 30 degrees is preferable based on the rib direction (0 degrees).

(2) The kicker means employs a mechanism for pressing (feeding out) the edge of the bound sheet bundle toward the seat center. For example, as shown in the drawing, the sheet on the processing tray is composed of a left side alignment member 46R (right side alignment member 46F in the case of right corner binding) for width alignment alignment (in the direction orthogonal to the paper discharge). As described above, it is preferable to adopt a transport mechanism that applies a force in the pulling direction to the entire bundle when the bound sheet bundle is pulled away from the pressure surface. For example, when the sheet is carried out from the top of the sheet bundle in the kick direction by the nip-sul roller, only the sheet in contact with the roller is peeled off, causing a problem that the bond is loosened.
(3) As a kicker means, a floating mechanism is adopted in which a kick force is applied in the direction in which the bound sheet bundle is pulled apart (the direction intersecting the paper ejection direction), and at the same time, the lower surface of the sheet bundle is lifted from the pressure surface of the binder mechanism. It is also possible to do. Although the structure is not shown, for example, a bent bottom piece that engages with the lower surface of the sheet bundle is provided, and an inclined cam surface that projects the bent bottom piece above the paper mounting surface at the binding position is provided (on the back surface of the processing tray, etc.). ) Provide. At the same time, the side matching member is provided with a regulation surface that engages with the sheet bundle end surface on the paper mounting surface.

When the side matching member 46R (kicker means) is positioned outside the paper mounting surface (backswing area), the bent bottom piece supports the sheet in the same plane as the paper mounting surface without being affected by the inclined cam surface. .. After that, when the side matching member is kicked to the binding position side, the bent bottom piece pushes up the sheet bundle upward, and at the same time, the regulating surface acts to push the end face of the sheet bundle toward the sheet tip side. That is, when the side matching member 46R is kicked toward the binding position, an action member (bottom support member) that pushes the bound sheet bundle upward from the pressure surface and an action member that pushes the edge of the sheet bundle toward the center side. By providing the (side surface regulating member), the sheet bundle can be more reliably peeled off from the pressurized surface.

"Printout output"
This will be described with reference to FIG. When the sheet is carried out from the image forming unit A (St40), the tip of the sheet sensor is detected and the paddle rotating body 36 is moved to the standby position (St41). At the same time, the side matching member 46 is moved to the standby position (St42). Next, when the rear end of the sheet passes through the paper ejection roller 32 (St43), the control means 75 lowers the paddle rotating body 36 to the operating position (St44). At the same time, the knurled rotating body 33 is raised and retracted (St45).

The control means 75 raises the paddle rotating body 36 and moves to the retracted position when a predetermined time elapses after the rear end of the sheet passes through the paper ejection roller 32 (St46). At the same time, the knurled rotating body 33 is lowered to the operating position and the seat is transferred toward the rear end regulating member 41 (St47). The control means 75 moves the paddle rotating body 36 to the home position at the estimated time when the rear end of the seat reaches the regulating member 41 (St48). Alternatively, the knurled rotating body 33 is moved to the home position (St49).

Therefore, the control means 75 moves the side matching member 45 to the matching position and executes the matching operation. In this matching operation, sheets of different sizes are accumulated with reference to the seat center and sent to the stack tray 25 in the subsequent unloading operation. In this printout paper ejection operation, when a large size sheet is carried onto the tray, the non-specification size paper ejection operation described later is executed.

The control means 75 aligns and accumulates the sheets on the processing tray, and discharges the sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. The operation moves the first transport member 60A of the sheet bundle unloading mechanism 60 in the paper ejection direction (St50). Next, the tray sheet pressing member 53 is moved to the standby position (St51). Then, at the timing when the sheet bundle is carried onto the stack tray, the tray sheet pressing member 53 is rotated by a predetermined angle to press the top sheet (St52). After that, the control means 75 returns the side matching member 45 to the seat loading position (St53).
"Sort (jog) mode"

Since the jog mode is executed in substantially the same steps as the printout mode described above, the same steps are numbered the same and the description is omitted, and different steps will be described. When the sheet is carried onto the processing tray, the control means 75 is accumulated at different positions in the group that aligns the sheets according to the center reference Sx and the group that aligns the sheets based on the right side reference (St54), and the downstream side in that posture. Move to the stack tray 25 of. The reason why the sheets are aligned based on the right side is that the processing tray 24 is placed at a position biased toward the front side of the device, and the center-based sheet and the sheet based on the right side closer to the operator are stacked on the paper mounting surface. The sheet bundle can be easily taken out from the stack tray 25.

"Common operation for each mode"
A common operation of loading a sheet onto the processing tray when executing each of the above-mentioned post-processing modes will be described with reference to FIG. 23. When the sheet is ejected (St60) from the image forming unit A, the control means 75 positions the paddle rotating body 36 at the standby position (St61) by the tip detection signal from the sheet sensor Se1 and waits for the predetermined matching member 45. Move to position (St62). This operation positions the matching member 45 in a standby position where the width size is slightly wider by the sheet size signal sent from the image forming unit A.

Next, the control means 75 lowers the paddle rotating body 36 from the upper standby position to the lower operating position at the timing when the rear end of the sheet passes through the paper ejection roller 32 (St63) (St64). At the same time, the knurled rotating body 34 is lowered from the standby position above the paper mounting surface to the operating position on the paper mounting surface (St65). At this time, both the paddle rotating body 36 and the knurling rotating body 34 are rotating in the opposite directions of paper ejection.

Therefore, the control means 75 raises the paddle rotating body 36 from the operating position to the standby position when a predetermined time (estimated time when the rear end of the seat reaches the knurled rotating body position) elapses (St65). The control means 75 raises the knurled rotating body 36 by a small amount after a predetermined time (estimated time when the seat tip reaches the rear end regulating member) has elapsed (St69). The amount of rise of the paddle rotating body is set in advance, and is set from an experimental value in which the pressing force on the seat is reduced.

Next, the control means 75 moves the side matching member 45 to the matching position (St70). This alignment position is set to a different position in the binding processing mode, and the sheets are accumulated at the reference position described above for each mode.
That is, (1) at the time of multi-binding in the staple binding processing mode, the sheets carried on the processing tray are aligned based on the center reference. Further, in the case of right corner binding, the sheets carried on the processing tray are aligned with the right side reference Ap1, and in the case of left corner binding, the sheets carried on the processing tray are aligned with the left side reference Ap2. In any of these cases, the stapler unit 26 stands by at the binding position to prepare for the subsequent binding processing operation.
(2) In the needleless binding processing mode, the control means 75 aligns with either the needleless alignment position Ap3 defined from the seat center from the needleless binding position or the center reference.
(3) In the printout processing mode, the control means 75 matches with the center reference.
(4) In the jog processing mode, the control means 75 alternately repeats and aligns the group matched by the center reference and the group matched by the right side reference, and carries them out to the stack tray 25 in that posture.

Next, after completing the above-mentioned matching operation, the control means 75 moves the side matching member 45 to the initial position (St71), and then lowers the knurled rotating body 34 in the direction of pressing the seat (St72). At the same time, the control means 75 raises the paddle rotating body 36 to the standby position of the home position and holds it at that position (St73).

"Manual staple operation"
The manual binding operation will be described with reference to FIG. 24. A sheet presence / absence sensor is provided in the manual difference setting unit, and when the sheet presence / absence sensor Sm (hereinafter referred to as a sensor “Sm”) detects a sheet, the control means 75 executes a staple binding operation.

The control means 75 determines whether or not the taper unit is executing the binding processing operation by the ON signal (St80) of the sensor Sm. When it is determined that the binding processing operation can be interrupted, the stapler 26 is moved to the manual binding position Mp (rested when the stapler is located at this binding position) (St81). Then, the LED lamp indicating that the manual operation is being executed is turned on (St82).

Next, the control means 75 determines whether or not the operation button 30 has been operated after confirming that the sensor Sm is ON (St83) (St84). When the sensor is ON, and when the LED lamp is turned on for a predetermined time (the one shown is set to 2 seconds) (St85) even when the sensor is OFF, the LED lamp is turned on again (St86) and the sensor Sm is ON. After confirming that there is (St87), it is further determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the LED lamp is turned on. Then, the staple operation is executed (St88).

Next, the control means 75 returns to a predetermined step and executes the staple operation again to the acquaintance in the ON state of the sensor Sm after the staple operation is executed. This is to execute the binding process at a plurality of places in the sheet bundle. Further, when the sensor Sm detects the paperless state and the paperless state continues even after a lapse of a predetermined time, the stapler unit 26 is returned to the home position assuming that the sheet has been removed from the set surface. Further, when the manual binding position is set to the home position, the stapler unit 26 maintains the manual binding position at that position (St93).

In the present invention, the manual staple operation is executed by the ON / OFF signal of the sensor Sm described above during the execution of the printout process, the jog sorting process, and the needleless binding process on the processing tray or during the preparation thereof. Execute the processing operation. Further, during the execution of the multi-binding operation and the corner binding operation on the processing tray, the manual operation is executed when the jog end signal is not transmitted from the image forming unit A during the execution of the sheet stacking operation. It is possible. Even if the jog end signal is transmitted, the manual staple operation is executed when the interrupt process is instructed.

As described above, it is preferable to adopt either means of prioritizing the manual stapling operation and the stapling operation of the processing tray at the time of device design, or arranging a priority execution key and letting the operator select it.

Ma1 Multi-binding position Ma2 Multi-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 ejection standard (center standard)
20 Equipment housing 20a Equipment frame 20b Exterior casing 20c Right frame frame 20d Left frame frame 20e Bottom frame frame 22 Sheet carry-in route (paper discharge route)
24 Processing tray 25 Stack tray 26 Staple binding means (first binding means)
27 Needle-free binding means (second binding means) (press bind unit)
29a Manual difference set surface 30 Manual operation button 33 Scraping transport means 36 Paddle rotating body 39 Needle cartridge 40 Seat edge regulating means (regulating stopper)
41 Rear end regulation member 42 Travel guide rail 42 x Travel rail surface 43 Slide cam 43 x Travel cam surface 45 Matching means (side matching member)
46 Side matching member 46F Right side matching member (device front side)
46R Left side matching member (rear side of device)
60 Sheet bundle unloading means 80 Paper guide mechanism 81 Paper guide member

Claims (5)

A sheet processing device that processes sheets
The transport route to which the sheet is transported and
A transport means for discharging the sheet from the discharge port of the transport path by transporting the sheet in the transport direction, and a transport means.
A loading means on which a sheet transported in the transport direction by the transport means and discharged from the discharge port is loaded.
A manual setting unit in which a bundle of sheets is set from the outside of the sheet processing device,
A first regulating means that regulates the position of the sheet bundle in the intersecting direction by contacting an end portion of the sheet bundle loaded on the loading means in a direction intersecting the transport direction.
A second regulating means that regulates the position of the sheet bundle in the transport direction by contacting an end portion of the sheet bundle loaded on the first loading means in the transport direction.
A binding means for binding a bundle of sheets with staples,
It has a discharge means for discharging a bundle of sheets loaded on the loading means from the loading means.
The binding means is configured to move from one side to the other side of the sheet processing apparatus and from the other side to the one side by moving in the intersecting direction, and is configured to move from the other side to the one side. The end of the sheet bundle on one side, which is movable to the position of, and is in contact with the first regulating means, and the end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, which is in contact with the second regulating means. The corner portion of the sheet bundle including, can be bound at the first position, and the sheet bundle set in the manual feed set portion can be bound at the second position. Further, the staple needle can be located at a third position, which is the position where the staple is replenished by the binding means.
The third position is different from the first position
The angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the third position is different from the angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the first position.
The angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the third position is different from the angular posture of the binding means when the binding means is located at the second position.
A sheet processing device characterized by this. It has a guide means for guiding the movement of the binding means.
The guide means is configured to be able to change the angular posture of the binding means.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The seat mounting surface of the loading means and the seat mounting surface of the manual setting portion are arranged at substantially the same height position.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized in that. A detection means for detecting a bundle of sheets set in the manual feed set portion, and
Based on the detection result of the detection means, it has a control means for binding the sheet bundle set in the manual difference setting portion by the binding means.
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized in that. An image forming device that forms an image on a sheet,
It has a sheet processing device for accumulating and binding sheets sent from the image forming device.
The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is the sheet processing apparatus.

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