JP2021059420A - Staple processing device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To execute staple processing on a stacked sheet with a thickness in excess of an upper limit thickness and to avoid prohibition of the staple processing under a state in which the thickness of the stacked sheet is not in excess of the upper limit thickness.SOLUTION: An alignment member 341 energizes a sheet on a processing tray 31 toward a rear end support part 32 by rotating the sheet in contact with a top face of the sheet. A thickness detection section 30 detects an excessive thickness state in which a thickness of a portion between the alignment member 341 and the rear end support part 32 in a stacked sheet 9A on the processing tray 31 is in excess of an upper limit thickness. A controller 8, when the thickness detection section 30 detects the excessive thickness state before the number of the stacked sheets 9A reaches a designated number of sheets, prohibits staple processing by a stapler 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a staple processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the staple processing apparatus.

The image forming apparatus may include a main body having a printing apparatus and a post-processing apparatus having a staple processing apparatus. The staple processing device performs staple processing on a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed by the printing device.

The staple processing device includes a processing tray for loading a plurality of sheets and a stapler for stapling the loading sheets on the processing tray. The stapler operates when the number of the loading sheets reaches a preset designated number of sheets.

The stapler causes a staple failure when the thickness of the loading sheet exceeds a predetermined upper limit thickness. The staple defect causes damage to the sheet.

For example, it is known that the staple processing apparatus prohibits the staple processing when the number of the loading sheets on the processing tray exceeds a predetermined upper limit number (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-189365

By the way, the maximum number of loaded sheets that can be processed by the stapler differs depending on the weight of the sheets, the amount of ink of the image formed on the sheets by the inkjet method, and the like.

Therefore, when the staple processing apparatus prohibits the staple processing when the number of the loading sheets on the processing tray exceeds a predetermined number, the following inconveniences may occur.

The first inconvenient situation is that the staple treatment is executed on the loading sheet having a thickness exceeding the upper limit thickness. The second inconvenience is that the staple treatment is prohibited even though the thickness of the loading sheet does not exceed the upper limit thickness.

An object of the present invention is an apparatus for stapling a loading sheet having a thickness exceeding the upper limit, and a staple processing device capable of avoiding prohibition of the stapling in a situation where the thickness of the loading sheet does not exceed the upper limit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including the same.

The staple processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a processing tray, a rear end support portion, a matching member, a stapler, a sheet ejection mechanism, a staple control unit, and a thickness detecting unit. The processing tray is arranged in an inclined manner and loads a plurality of sheets sent out one by one from above. The rear end support portion is provided upright on the processing tray to support the rear end of the sheet on the processing tray. The matching member rotates while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet on the processing tray to urge the sheet toward the rear end support portion. The stapler is arranged at a position near the rear end of the processing tray, and staples are applied to the lower edges of the loading sheets, which are a plurality of the sheets loaded on the processing tray. The sheet discharge mechanism executes a sheet discharge process for discharging the loaded sheet onto the discharge tray. When the number of the loaded sheets reaches a preset designated number, the staple control unit causes the stapler to execute the staple process and further causes the sheet discharge mechanism to execute the sheet discharge process. The thickness detection unit detects a thickness over state in which the thickness of the portion of the loading sheet between the matching member and the rear end support portion exceeds the upper limit thickness that can be stapled by the stapler. The staple control unit prohibits the staple processing by the stapler when the thickness detecting unit detects the over-thickness state before the number of loaded sheets reaches the designated number.

The image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a printing apparatus that executes a printing process for forming an image on a sheet, the staple processing apparatus that staples the sheet after image formation, and a print control unit. And. The print control unit causes the printing device to interrupt the printing process when the thickness detecting unit detects the thickness over state before the number of loaded sheets reaches the designated number of sheets.

According to the present invention, a staple processing apparatus capable of avoiding execution of stapling treatment on a loading sheet having a thickness exceeding the upper limit thickness and prohibition of the stapling treatment in a situation where the thickness of the loading sheet does not exceed the upper limit thickness. It becomes possible to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with the same.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including the staple processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device in the image forming device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the staple processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a swing member in the staple processing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a thickness sensor that is detecting a state exceeding the upper limit in the staple processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a thickness sensor that is detecting a specific thickness state in the staple processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Structure of image forming apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the staple processing device 3 according to the embodiment constitutes a part of the image forming device 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a main body unit 1 and a post-processing unit 2. The post-processing unit 2 is connected to the main body unit 1.

The main body unit 1 includes a sheet supply unit 11, a primary sheet transfer device 12, a primary transfer path 13, and a printing device 14 provided in the main body housing 10. Further, the main body unit 1 also includes a control device 8, an operation device 801 and a display device 802.

The operation device 801 is a device that accepts a user's operation. For example, the operating device 801 includes one or both of a touch panel and operating buttons.

The display device 802 displays a menu screen or other information related to the operation on the operation device 801.

The primary sheet transport device 12 transports the sheets 9 housed in the sheet supply unit 11 one by one along the primary transport path 13. The printing device 14 executes a printing process on the sheet 9 transported along the primary transport path 13.

The printing process is a process of forming an image on the sheet 9. For example, the printing device 14 executes the inkjet printing process. The printing device 14 may be a device that executes the printing process of an electrophotographic method or another method.

The primary sheet transport device 12 transports the sheet 9 on which the image is formed from the outlet of the primary transport path 13 toward the post-processing unit 2.

The control device 8 controls the equipment included in the main body unit 1 and the post-processing unit 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81 and peripheral devices such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) 82, a secondary storage device 83, and a signal interface 84.

The CPU 81 is a processor that executes various data processing and control by executing a computer program. The RAM 82 is a computer-readable volatile storage device. The RAM 82 primarily stores the computer program executed by the CPU 81 and data to be output and referenced in the process of executing various processes by the CPU 81.

The secondary storage device 83 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 83 can store and update the computer program and various data. For example, one or both of the flash memory and the hard disk drive are adopted as the secondary storage device 83.

The signal interface 84 converts signals output by various sensors included in the image forming apparatus 100 into digital data, and transmits the converted digital data to the CPU 81. Further, the signal interface 84 converts the control command output by the CPU 81 into a control signal, and transmits the control signal to the device to be controlled.

The CPU 81 of the control device 8 includes a plurality of processing modules realized by executing the computer program. The plurality of processing modules include a main control unit 8a, a print control unit 8b, a staple control unit 8c, and the like.

The main control unit 8a executes start control for starting various processes in response to an operation on the operation device 801 and control for the display device 802.

The print control unit 8b controls the printing device 14. For example, the print control unit 8b causes the printing device 14 to execute a plurality of copies printing process.

The plurality of copies print process is a process of repeating the print process of a plurality of page images in the print target data a number of times equal to a preset number of copies.

The print control unit 8b sets the number of the plurality of page images in the print target data as a designated number to be described later.

The staple control unit 8c controls the equipment included in the staple processing device 3. The staple control unit 8c is an example of a staple control device that constitutes a part of the staple processing device 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing unit 2 includes a secondary transfer path 21, a secondary sheet transfer device 22, a staple processing device 3, and the like provided in the post-processing housing 20. Further, the post-processing unit 2 also includes a discharge tray 23 provided on the outside of the post-processing housing 20.

The sheet 9 sent from the main body unit 1 to the post-processing unit 2 is carried into the secondary transport path 21. The secondary sheet transport device 22 includes a plurality of sets of transport roller pairs 221 that transport the sheet 9 on which the image is formed along the secondary transport path 21.

Further, the secondary sheet transfer device 22 also includes a delivery roller pair 222 that sends the sheet 9 on which the image is formed to the staple processing device 3 one by one.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing unit 2 also includes a sheet folding device 4 provided in the post-processing housing 20. The sheet folding device 4 folds the sheet 9 transported from the main body unit 1 via the secondary transport path 21.

The staple processing device 3 staples a plurality of sheets 9 on which an image is formed by the printing device 14.

The staple processing device 3 includes a processing tray 31 and a stapler 33. The processing tray 31 is arranged so as to be inclined, and loads a plurality of sheets 9 that are fed one by one from above by the delivery roller pair 222.

The stapler 33 performs the staple treatment on a plurality of sheets 9 loaded on the processing tray 31. In the following description, the plurality of sheets 9 loaded on the processing tray 31 are referred to as loading sheets 9A (see FIGS. 3, 5 and 6).

The stapler control unit 8c causes the stapler 33 to execute the staple process when the number of the loading sheets 9A reaches the preset number of sheets. Further, the staple control unit 8c causes the sheet discharge mechanism 35, which will be described later, to execute a process of discharging the loading sheet 9A onto the discharge tray 23.

Usually, the designated number of sheets is the number of the page images in the print target data. For example, the designated number of sheets is set by the print control unit 8b of the control device 8.

The stapler 33 causes a staple failure when the thickness of the loading sheet 9A exceeds a predetermined upper limit thickness. The staple defect causes damage to the sheet 9.

By the way, the maximum number of loaded sheets 9A that can be processed by the stapler 33 varies depending on the weight of the sheet 9, the amount of ink of the image formed on the sheet 9 by the inkjet method, and the like.

Therefore, when the staple processing device 3 prohibits the staple processing when the number of the loading sheets 9A on the processing tray 31 exceeds the predetermined number, the following inconvenient situation may occur.

The first inconvenient situation is that the stapling process is executed on the loading sheet 9A having a thickness exceeding the upper limit thickness. The second inconvenience is that the staple treatment is prohibited even though the thickness of the loading sheet 9A does not exceed the upper limit thickness.

The staple processing device 3 includes a thickness sensor 30 described later, and further executes control based on the detection result of the thickness sensor 30. As a result, the staple processing device 3 prohibits the execution of the staple processing on the loading sheet 9A having a thickness exceeding the upper limit thickness and the prohibition of the staple processing in a situation where the thickness of the loading sheet 9A does not exceed the upper limit thickness. It can be avoided.

[Structure of staple processing device 3]
As shown in FIG. 3, the staple processing device 3 includes a processing tray 31, a rear end support portion 32, a stapler 33, a matching rotation mechanism 34, a sheet ejection mechanism 35, and a thickness sensor 30.

The rear end support portion 32 is provided upright at a portion of the processing tray 31 near one end. The rear end support portion 32 supports the rear end of the sheet 9 on the processing tray 31.

The matching rotation mechanism 34 includes a matching member 341 and a movable support mechanism 342. The movable support mechanism 342 supports the matching member 341 in a displaceable manner between a contact position on the processing tray 31 in contact with the upper surface of the sheet 9 and a retreat position away from the sheet 9.

The matching rotation mechanism 34 displaces the matching member 341 from the retreat position to the contact position and further displaces the matching member 341 from the contact position to the retreat position each time one sheet 9 is sent out from above onto the processing tray 31. ..

The matching member 341 rotates while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet 9 on the processing tray 31 at the contact position, thereby urging the sheet 9 toward the rear end support portion 32. For example, the matching member 341 is a roller in which an elastic layer such as a rubber layer having a large coefficient of friction with respect to the sheet 9 is formed on the surface layer.

By urging the sheet 9 on the processing tray 31 toward the rear end support portion 32, the matching member 341 aligns the rear end of each sheet 9 in the loading sheet 9A with the position of the rear end support portion 32.

It is also conceivable that the matching member 341 is a plate-shaped elastic member protruding from a rotating shaft that is driven to rotate. In this case, the matching member 341 comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet 9 so as to pay diagonally downward for each rotation. As a result, the matching member 341 urges the sheet 9 toward the rear end support portion 32 for each rotation.

The stapler 33 is arranged at a position near the end of the processing tray 31 on the rear end support portion 32 side. The stapler 33 applies the stapling treatment to the lower edge portion of the loading sheet 9A.

The sheet discharge mechanism 35 executes a sheet discharge process for discharging the loaded sheet 9A onto the discharge tray 23. Normally, the sheet discharge mechanism 35 discharges the stapled loading sheet 9A onto the discharge tray 23. The sheet discharge mechanism 35 can also discharge the loading sheet 9A that has not been stapled onto the discharge tray 23.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the sheet discharge mechanism 35 includes an upper discharge roller 351 and a lower discharge roller 352 and a movable support mechanism 353. The lower discharge roller 352 is arranged on an extension line diagonally upward with respect to the processing tray 31.

The movable support mechanism 353 supports the upper discharge roller 351 so as to be detachable from the lower discharge roller 352. The movable support mechanism 353 holds the upper discharge roller 351 at a remote position away from the loading sheet 9A in the initial state. Further, the movable support mechanism 353 displaces the upper discharge roller 351 from the separated position to the discharge position when the load sheet 9A is discharged onto the discharge tray 23. The discharge position is the position of the upper discharge roller 351 that sandwiches the loading sheet 9A with the lower discharge roller 352.

When the upper discharge roller 351 rotates at the discharge position, the upper discharge roller 351 and the lower discharge roller 352 discharge the loading sheet 9A from the processing tray 31 to the discharge tray 23.

When the number of loaded sheets 9A reaches the designated number, the staple control unit 8c causes the stapler 33 to execute the staple process, and further causes the sheet discharge mechanism 35 to execute the sheet discharge process.

The thickness sensor 30 detects a thickness over state in which the thickness of the portion of the loading sheet 9A between the matching member 341 and the rear end support portion 32 exceeds the upper limit thickness. The upper limit thickness is the maximum thickness of the loading sheet 9A that can be stapled by the stapler 33. The thickness sensor 30 is an example of a thickness detection unit.

The thickness sensor 30 includes a swing member 36 and an object sensor 37. The swing member 36 is swingably supported above the processing tray 31.

As shown in FIG. 4, the swing member 36 has a shaft portion 361, an arm portion 362, a first detected portion 363, a second detected portion 364, and a balancer 365.

The shaft portion 361 is rotatably supported by the frame of the post-processing unit 2. As a result, the swing member 36 can swing around the shaft portion 361.

The arm portion 362 is formed so as to extend downward from the shaft portion 361. The arm portion 362 swings up and down according to the thickness of the loading sheet 9A by contacting the tip portion thereof with the portion between the matching member 341 and the rear end support portion 32 on the upper surface of the loading sheet 9A.

The first detected portion 363 and the second detected portion 364 are formed so as to extend from the shaft portion 361 in different directions. The first detected portion 363 and the second detected portion 364 are displaced in conjunction with the swing of the arm portion 362.

The first detected portion 363 and the second detected portion 364 are formed along a plane orthogonal to the shaft portion 361. Therefore, the displacement range of the first detected portion 363 when the arm portion 362 swings overlaps with a part of the displacement range of the second detected portion 364.

The object sensor 37 detects the first detected unit 363 or the second detected unit 364 in a part of the displacement range of the first detected unit 363 and the second detected unit 364. In the present embodiment, the object sensor 37 is a transmissive photo sensor.

The object sensor 37 may be a reflective photo sensor, a contact-type micro switch, or the like.

The object sensor 37 detects the first detected portion 363 in a part of the displacement range of the first detected portion 363, so that the tip portion of the arm portion 362 exceeds the upper limit height corresponding to the upper limit thickness. Detects displacement. The state in which the object sensor 37 detects the first detected portion 363 is the thickness over state. FIG. 5 shows the thickness sensor 30 when the over-thickness state is detected.

Further, in the present embodiment, the object sensor 37 can further detect a specific thickness state in which the thickness of the loading sheet 9A reaches a specific thickness smaller than the upper limit thickness by detecting the second detected portion 364. .. FIG. 6 shows a thickness sensor 30 when the specific thickness state is detected.

That is, the object sensor 37 detects the second detected portion 364 in a part of the displacement range of the second detected portion 364, so that the tip portion of the arm portion 362 is located at a specific height corresponding to the specific thickness. Detects displacement to.

Specifically, the staple control unit 8c determines that the thickness sensor 30 has detected the reference state when the post-processing unit 2 is activated. The reference state is a state in which the tip end portion of the arm portion 362 exists at a position lower than the upper limit height and the specific height.

Further, in the staple control unit 8c, when the number of loading sheets 9A is increasing beyond a predetermined reference number, the thickness sensor 30 identifies the object when the object sensor 37 first detects an object. It is determined that the thickness state has been detected.

Further, in the staple control unit 8c, after the specific thickness state is detected, the object sensor 37 temporarily stops detecting the object under the condition that the number of the loading sheets 9A is further increased, and then the object sensor 37 stops. When the object is detected for the second time, it is determined that the thickness sensor 30 has detected the over-thickness state.

On the other hand, in the staple control unit 8c, when the object sensor 37 is in a state of not detecting an object due to the execution of the sheet discharge process by the sheet discharge mechanism 35, the thickness sensor 30 detects the reference state. Is determined.

Further, the staple control unit 8c determines that the thickness sensor 30 is in an error state when the detection result of the object sensor 37 shows a change other than the above.

In general, the edge portion of the sheet 9 to which the staple treatment is applied is often a margin portion or a portion where an image is formed with a relatively small amount of ink. Therefore, when the state of the thickness of the portion of the loading sheet 9A away from the edge portion is detected, the over-thickness state may be erroneously detected for the loading sheet 9A that can be stapled.

On the other hand, in the thickness sensor 30, the tip end portion of the arm portion 362 comes into contact with the vicinity of the edge portion of the loading sheet 9A to which the staple treatment is performed. Therefore, it is unlikely that the over-thickness state is erroneously detected for the loading sheet 9A that can be stapled.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tip portion of the arm portion 362 is viewed from the side of the stapler 33 along the receiving opening 330 that receives the seat 9 in the stapler 33 when the position of the upper limit height is displaced. Displace. As a result, the thickness sensor 30 can detect the over-thickness state in the portion of the loading sheet 9A that is particularly close to the edge portion to which the staple treatment is applied.

Then, the staple control unit 8c prohibits the staple processing by the stapler 33 when the thickness sensor 30 detects the thickness over state before the number of the loading sheets 9A reaches the designated number (see FIG. 5).

Further, when the staple control unit 8c prohibits the staple processing, the print control unit 8b interrupts the printing process in the printing device 14 and causes the primary sheet transporting device 12 to continue transporting the sheet 9 in the middle of transporting. , The transportation of the new sheet 9 is stopped.

That is, the print control unit 8b causes the printing device 14 to interrupt the printing process when the thickness sensor 30 detects the thickness over state before the number of loading sheets 9A reaches the designated number. This avoids wasteful consumption of the sheet 9 and the developer.

Further, the staple control unit 8c causes the sheet discharge mechanism 35 to execute the sheet discharge process when the staple process is prohibited.

Specifically, when the staple processing is prohibited, the staple control unit 8c causes the secondary sheet transfer device 22 to continue the transfer of the sheet 9 in the middle of transfer. Further, the staple control unit 8c waits for all of the sheets 9 being conveyed to be sent out onto the processing tray 31 before causing the sheet discharge mechanism 35 to execute the sheet discharge process. As a result, the loading sheet 9A is discharged to the discharge tray 23 without being subjected to the staple treatment.

By adopting the staple processing device 3, the staple processing is executed on the loading sheet 9A having a thickness exceeding the upper limit thickness, and the staple processing is performed in a situation where the thickness of the loading sheet 9A does not exceed the upper limit thickness. The ban can be circumvented.

Further, when the staple control unit 8c prohibits the staple processing, the main control unit 8a outputs a predetermined error notification through the display device 802. As a result, the staple process is prohibited, and the user is notified of the reason why the print process is interrupted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU 81 of the control device 8 further includes a thickness estimation unit 8d as one of the plurality of processing modules. The thickness estimation unit 8d executes the thickness estimation process shown below when the thickness estimation mode is set in advance as the control mode of the staple control unit 8c.

The main control unit 8a executes a process of setting the thickness estimation mode or a process of canceling the thickness estimation mode according to the operation of the operation device 801 by the user.

The thickness estimation unit 8d executes the thickness estimation process when the thickness sensor 30 detects the specific thickness state before the number of the loading sheets 9A reaches the designated number (see FIG. 6).

In the thickness estimation process, whether or not the over-thickness state is detected when the number of loaded sheets 9A reaches the specified number of sheets from the number of loaded sheets 9A when the specific thickness state is detected and the designated number of sheets. It is a process of estimating.

For example, the thickness estimation process calculates the estimated thickness when the number of loaded sheets 9A reaches the designated number by proportional calculation based on the number ratio and the thickness ratio shown below. The number-of-sheet ratio is the ratio of the designated number of sheets to the number of sheets of the loading sheet 9A when the specific thickness state is detected. The thickness ratio is the ratio of the upper limit thickness to the specific thickness.

Further, the thickness estimation unit 8d estimates that when the estimated thickness is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the over-thickness state is detected when the number of loading sheets 9A reaches the specified number, and the thickness estimation unit 8d does not. In this case, it is estimated that the over-thickness state is not detected. The threshold value is a value larger than the upper limit thickness.

The print control unit 8b causes the printing device 14 to interrupt the printing process when the estimation result that the thickness over state is detected by the thickness estimation unit 8d is obtained.

Further, when the print process is interrupted due to the estimation result, the print control unit 8b causes the primary sheet transfer device 12 to continue the transfer of the sheet 9 in the middle of transfer and to stop the transfer of the new sheet 9. This avoids wasteful consumption of the sheet 9 and the developer.

Further, the staple control unit 8c causes the secondary sheet transfer device 22 to continue the transfer of the sheet 9 in the middle of transfer when the print process is interrupted. Further, the staple control unit 8c waits for all of the sheets 9 being conveyed to be sent out onto the processing tray 31 before causing the sheet discharge mechanism 35 to execute the sheet discharge process.

[First application example]
In the thickness sensor 30, it is conceivable that the second detected portion 364 of the rocking member 36 is omitted. In this case, the thickness estimation unit 8d of the CPU 81 is also omitted.

[Second application example]
It is also conceivable that the thickness sensor 30 includes two object sensors corresponding to the first detected unit 363 and the second detected unit 364. In this case, the displacement ranges of the first detected portion 363 and the second detected portion 364 of the rocking member 36 do not overlap.

[Third application example]
The thickness sensor 30 may be a transmissive photo sensor including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that oppose each other along the width direction of the processing tray 31. In this case, the swing member 36 is omitted.

In this application example, for example, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the first photosensor detect a sheet 9 at a position separated from the upper surface of the processing tray 31 by a distance corresponding to the upper limit thickness.

Further, in the present application example, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion of the second photosensor detect the sheet 9 at a position separated from the upper surface of the processing tray 31 by a distance corresponding to the specific thickness.

1: Main unit 2: Post-processing unit 3: Staple processing device 4: Sheet folding device 8: Control device 8a: Main control unit 8b: Print control unit 8c: Staple control unit 8d: Thickness estimation unit 9: Sheet 9A: Loading sheet 10: Main body housing 11: Sheet supply unit 12: Primary sheet transfer device 13: Primary transfer path 14: Printing device 20: Post-processing housing 21: Secondary transfer path 22: Secondary sheet transfer device 23: Discharge tray 30: Thickness sensor 31: Processing tray 32: Rear end support 33: Stapler 34: Matching rotation mechanism 35: Sheet ejection mechanism 36: Swing member 37: Object sensor 81: CPU
82: RAM
83: Secondary storage device 84: Signal interface 100: Image forming device 221: Conveying roller pair 222: Sending roller pair 330: Receiving opening 341: Matching member 342: Movable support mechanism 351: Upper discharge roller 352: Lower discharge roller 353: Movable support mechanism 361: Shaft part 362: Arm part 363: First detected part 364: Second detected part 365: Balancer 801: Operating device 802: Display device

Claims (5)

A processing tray that is arranged at an angle and loads multiple sheets that are sent out one by one from above.
A rear end support portion that is provided upright on the processing tray and supports the rear end of the sheet on the processing tray.
A matching member that urges the sheet toward the rear end support portion by rotating while being in contact with the upper surface of the sheet on the processing tray.
A stapler that is arranged near the rear end of the processing tray and staples the lower edges of the plurality of loading sheets loaded on the processing tray.
A sheet discharge mechanism that executes a sheet discharge process for discharging the loaded sheet onto the discharge tray,
A thickness detection unit that detects a thickness over state in which the thickness of the portion of the loading sheet between the matching member and the rear end support portion exceeds the upper limit thickness that can be stapled by the stapler.
The stapler is provided with a staple control unit that causes the stapler to execute the staple process and the sheet discharge mechanism to execute the sheet discharge process when the number of loaded sheets reaches a preset designated number.
The staple control unit is a staple processing device that prohibits the staple processing by the stapler when the thickness detecting unit detects the over-thickness state before the number of loaded sheets reaches the designated number. The thickness detection unit
It is swingably supported above the processing tray, and the tip portion comes into contact with the portion of the upper surface of the loading sheet between the matching member and the rear end supporting portion, so that the tip portion moves up and down according to the thickness of the loading sheet. A swinging member having a swinging arm portion and a detected portion that is displaced in conjunction with the swinging of the arm portion, and
An object sensor that detects that the tip of the arm has been displaced to a position exceeding the upper limit height corresponding to the upper limit thickness by detecting the detected portion in a part of the displacement range of the detected portion. The staple processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising. The second aspect of the present invention, wherein the tip portion of the arm portion is displaced along a receiving opening for receiving the seat in the stapler when viewed from the side of the stapler when the position of the upper limit height is displaced. Staple processing device. A printing device that executes a printing process that forms an image on a sheet,
The staple processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet after image formation is stapled.
An image forming apparatus including a print control unit that causes the printing device to interrupt the printing process when the thickness detecting unit detects the thickness over state before the number of loaded sheets reaches the designated number. The thickness detecting unit can further detect a specific thickness state in which the thickness of the loading sheet reaches a specific thickness smaller than the upper limit thickness.
When the thickness detecting unit detects the specific thickness state before the number of the loaded sheets reaches the designated number, the print control unit determines the number of the loaded sheets and the number of the loaded sheets when the specific thickness state is detected. When the number of sheets to be loaded reaches the designated number of sheets, it is estimated whether or not the over-thickness state is detected, and when the estimation result that the over-thickness state is detected is obtained, the said. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing apparatus interrupts the printing process.

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