JP2568216B2 - Sheet material output device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a recording sheet (reception sheet) as a sheet material, a print-out sheet, etc. as a sheet material such as a facsimile machine or a printer as a computer terminal device. The present invention relates to an image recording device that sequentially outputs sheets, and other output devices that sequentially output sheet materials.

[Conventional technology and problems]

 For convenience, a facsimile machine will be described as an example.

A facsimile machine generally uses a long roll of paper set as recording paper in the machine, and while rewinding the roll paper, it executes image recording of the received image information, and one page of the original sent from the other party is recorded. Each time the recording of the corresponding image information is completed, the cutter unit is operated to cut the image-recorded sheet portion and the succeeding sheet portion, and the recording sheet as the cut sheet material is sequentially output.

The recording paper output by reception may be completed by only one communication-one sheet, or one communication-one set of plural sheets (several pages 1
Group).

If such output recording papers are not removed each time reception of one communication is completed, recording papers for a plurality of communication with different senders and different page numbers will be sequentially piled up. In the case of automatic reception such as at night / holiday, such a state often occurs.

When a large number of output recording sheets for a plurality of communications with different senders and different numbers of pages are piled up and piled up together, it is not uncommon for the user to be confused by the sorting (sorting) and to sort by mistake.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention relates to at least one of sheet materials that are sequentially output.
For a sheet material stop member that regulates the movement of the sides to align the output sheet materials, and for a plurality of output sheet materials that are paired with each other and are aligned by sequentially overlapping with each other by being regulated by the stop member And a sheet material binding unit that operates to output the plurality of output sheet materials as a booklet in a bound state,
The sheet material stapling means in the operation standby state has a means for detecting whether or not the sheet material stapling means operates in response to an operation instruction and returns to the standby state again, and the detecting means within a predetermined time after the operation instruction to the sheet material stapling means. When the return of the standby state of the sheet material binding means is not detected, it is determined that the sheet material binding means has a return failure, and the output of the sheet material is not output even if the return failure determination of the sheet material binding means is made during the operation of the apparatus. The sheet material output device is characterized in that the means for continuing the operation and displaying the fact during or after the output of the sheet material is operated.

[Work]

That is, if the sheet material output device is, for example, a facsimile machine as in the above-described example, recording sheets, which are sheet materials that are sequentially output by reception, are aligned by restricting the movement of at least one side of the recording sheet. When the output recording paper is one communication-a set of plural sheets, the recording paper of the final page or a predetermined number of recording papers of the last page of the recording sheets are output and the plural sheets are output. The sheet material binding means is controlled so that one set of output recording papers is operated as a booklet to form a booklet and the output recording papers that are completed by one communication-1 sheet are not operated. By doing so, even if the output recording sheets for a plurality of communications with different senders and different page numbers are sequentially overlapped, one communication that exists in them is
Since a plurality of output recording sheets or one set of a predetermined number of output recording sheets are automatically bound as a booklet for each set, there is no confusion or mistake in sorting after that. .

In addition, during the operation of the device, the sheet material stapling means has a return failure (hereinafter,
Since the output of the sheet material is continued even if the stapling means jam is generated), for example, in the case of a facsimile machine, even if the sheet material stapling means such as a stapler jams, the subsequent reception and the output of the recording paper are Although a plurality of output recording sheets forming a set are not spelled, they are executed and do not hinder communication.

〔Example〕

The figure shows a concrete example apparatus (facsimile apparatus). FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the apparatus, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the apparatus in which a recording paper holder plate provided on the front side of the apparatus is tilted and opened, and FIG. 3 is a recording / ejecting mechanism portion of the apparatus. FIG.

A, Transmission In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an outer casing of the apparatus, 2 is an upper lid that also serves as an original table on which an original (sheet original) O to be image-transmitted is placed and set, and 3.3 are both sides of an original provided on the upper lid. It is a guide plate, and is a movable plate (slider) whose mutual spacing can be freely adjusted according to the width of the document O. 4 is an operation panel (console panel), 5 is a tray for discharging the transmitted originals, 6
Is a handset.

The original O to be image-transmitted is placed on the upper lid 2, the image surface to be transmitted is facing downward in the case of the apparatus of this example, and the leading end of the original is used for inserting the original between the back side of the upper lid 2 and the operation panel 4. Gap opening 7
It is fully inserted into the inside and one or more sheets are stacked and placed and set. When the transmission start button is pressed, the above-mentioned placed set original O is passed through the lower side of the operation panel 4 by the not-shown pull-in roller means arranged below the operation panel 4 to a predetermined speed. Then, it is pulled in and conveyed (central reference conveyance). When a plurality of originals are stacked and set, one of the lowest originals is separated and the original is conveyed. With respect to the document that has been pulled in and conveyed, its document image is photoelectrically read as a time-series electric pixel signal by a photoelectric reading unit (not shown) sequentially from the leading end side to the trailing end side of the document and is transmitted to a destination device. The document whose image has been read is discharged and conveyed to the tray 5.

B, Receiving In FIG. 3, reference numeral 8 is a roll-length long thermosensitive recording paper as a recording paper contained in a receiving member 9 in the apparatus. The roll-wound recording paper 8 is raised by opening the upper lid 2 of the apparatus by unlocking the locking means (not shown) and opening and raising the hinge portion (not shown) provided on the inner side of the upper lid as shown by the two-dot chain line. It is accommodated by opening the inside of the device and dropping it into the receiving member 9 and placing it on the receiving member 9. The front end side of the roll-wound recording paper is slightly unwound to be positioned on the upper surface of the platen roller 10 and the upper lid 2 is tilted and closed. When the upper lid 2 is fully closed, the locking means is engaged and the closed state shown by the solid line is held. As a result, the element array surface of the heating element array assembly (recording head) 11 serving as recording means arranged on the inner surface side of the upper lid 2 is brought into a predetermined pressure contact state with the recording paper 8 on the upper surface of the platen roller 10. Reference numeral 12 is an urging spring that presses the recording head 11 against the upper surface of the platen roller 10.

13 and 14 are paper cutters composed of a fixed blade and a movable blade arranged next to the platen roller 10, and 15 and 16 are paper feed roller pairs arranged next to the cutters 13 and 14, which are lower rollers.
Reference numeral 15 is a drive roller which is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow, upper roller 16 is a driven roller, and the driven roller 16 is arranged on the side of the upper lid 2, and when the upper lid 2 is tilted and closed, the driving roller 15 It will be in pressure contact with.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a front side wall plate of the apparatus chassis, and 18 and 18 denote, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the outer surface on the left and right sides of the side wall plate.
A friction roller made of rubber or the like provided so as to project to the outside of the roller 17.The rollers 18 and 18 are respectively supported by the support shaft 19 via the one-way clutch 20, and the outer ring of the one-way clutch 20 and A belt 21 communicates with the shaft 15A of the drive roller 15 of the paper feed roller pair. When the shaft 15A of the drive roller 15 is rotationally driven, the friction rollers 18 and 18 are rotated in the same direction as the drive roller 15 in conjunction with this.
On the other hand, the one-way clutch 20 prevents the friction rollers 18 from rotating even when an external force is applied to rotate them in the opposite direction.

22 is a recording paper (reception paper) holder plate disposed outside the front side wall plate 17 of the apparatus chassis, and the holder plate is centered around hinge portions 23, 23 provided on both left and right ends of its lower side.
・ As shown in Fig. 3, the tilting operation can be freely performed in a state in which it is raised substantially parallel to the chaser front side wall plate 17 and closed, and in a state in which it is tilted forward and opened as shown by the chain line in Figs. 2 and 3. is there. It is normally raised and closed, and this state serves as a locking means, as shown in the second illustration, by an elastic member provided relatively to the left and right end portions of the holder plate 22 and the corresponding surface portion of the front side wall plate 17 of the apparatus chassis. The claw members 24, 24 and the engaging holes 25, 25 are stably held, and an upward pocket space 26 as a recording paper stacker portion having a gap width d is formed between the two plates 17, 22. Further, the upper side 22A of the holder plate 22 in the above-mentioned raised closed state
And a recording paper outlet 27 which is horizontally long is formed between the lower side 2A of the downwardly bent edge provided on the front side of the closed upper lid 2.
Reference numeral 28 indicates the base of the device (chassis bottom plate), and 29 indicates the pedestal surface on which the device is placed.

The platen roller 10 is driven to rotate intermittently for each one line recording based on the recording start signal of the received image information. Further, the pair of paper feed rollers 15 and 16 are rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow at a predetermined peripheral speed. The friction rollers 18, 18 are also rotated in the direction of the arrow in conjunction with the rotational driving of the rollers 15.

The heat-sensitive recording paper 8 wound in a roll has its front end side sandwiched between the upper surface of the platen roller 10 and the recording head 11,
The platen roller 10 is driven to rotate intermittently for one line recording, so that a pulling force acts, and the force causes the receiving member 9 to move.
The recording paper roll is wound in the feeding direction and is fed in sequence. The feeding paper part is the platen roller
Corresponding to the time series electric pixel signal of the image information received from the source by each heating element of the recording head 11 in the course of passing between the recording head 11 and the recording head 11, that is, the recording portion is intermittently conveyed for each one line. By controlling the heat generation, the image information corresponding to the received image information is sequentially recorded on the upper surface of the feeding sheet for each line.

The recorded paper part is the fixed blade 13 and movable blade 14 of the cutter.
Between the pair of rollers 15 and 16 and is sent out in a diagonally downward direction by the pair of rollers 15 and 16, and the chassis front side wall plate 17 and the recording paper holder plate 22 in the upright closed state. The upper side of the pocket space 26 as a stacker portion formed between the upper side and the lower side of the recorded paper enters the inside of the pocket space 26 from top to bottom as shown by the dashed line 8a in FIG. I will do it.

The leading edge 8b of the recorded paper portion that has entered the pocket space 26 due to the subsequent feeding of the paper is the recording paper holder plate 22.
As shown in FIG. 4 (A), it is received by the receiving bottom surface 22B serving as a stop member provided inwardly on the lower side of the sheet and is restricted from further entering into the pocket space 26 on the side of the leading edge of the sheet. (Blocked).

After that, the recorded paper portion that is further sent out from the roller pair 15 and 16 is bent outward in a loop shape between the upper side 22A of the holder plate 22 and the upper roller 16 of the roller pair 15 and 16 and is shown in FIG. A) As shown by the chain double-dashed line 8c, it emerges in a loop from the recording paper outlet 27 to the outside of the apparatus. The loop becomes a large loop 8d as the recorded paper portion is continuously fed out.

When the trailing edge of the image on the image-recorded sheet has reached between the cutter blades 13 and 14 after recording one page, the movable blade 14 of the cutter is centered on the shaft 14A as shown in FIG. 4 (B). Is rotated in a clockwise direction to engage with the fixed blade 13, and is returned and rotated again. As a result, the sheet portion 8 ₁ (received sheet) on which one page of image has been recorded and the succeeding sheet portion 8 on the roll winding side are cut 8e.

Rear edge 8e side of the image recorded sheet 8 ₁ which is cut gradually fed by the continued feed roller pair 15, 16. Further, the platen roller 10 is driven in reverse after the paper is cut, whereby the paper portion separated from the image recording side is conveyed in reverse, and the leading edge of the paper moves backward to the contact position between the platen roller 10 and the heating element array 11. Then, the reverse rotation drive of the platen roller 10 is stopped at that time.

Recording paper as receiving paper that has passed through the roller pairs 15 and 16 8 ₁
The rear end side of the recording paper naturally exits from the recording paper outlet 27 to the outside of the apparatus by the weight of the paper portion protruding in a loop shape from the recording paper outlet 27 and the elastic return reaction force of the loop (FIG. 4B). It escapes like the chain double-dashed line 8f.

As a result, the portion of the paper that has exited from the recording paper outlet 27 to the outside of the apparatus is bent by its own weight into a U-shape at the portion corresponding to the upper side 22A of the holder plate 22, and outside the holder plate 22 as shown in FIG. It hangs down.

In this way, the cut recording paper 8 ₁ as the receiving paper in which the rear end side 8e side is hung down from the recording paper outlet 27 to the outside of the holder plate 22 is the stacker portion inside the holder plate with the paper portion on the front end side 8b side. In the pocket space 26, the leading edge 8b is sufficiently in the state of coming into contact with the receiving bottom surface 22B as a stop member in the pocket space 26, and the paper portion of the recording paper outlet 27 is curved to the upper side 22A of the holder plate 22. Is bent into a small U-shape and is hooked on the upper side 22A of the holder plate, and the surface of the paper portion entering the pocket space 26 is the friction roller 18
Since the retaining frictional force acts by coming into contact with the outer surface of 18, it does not naturally fall out and is stably held in the hanging state of FIG. 4 (C).

The received records of the second and third pages ...
The cut recording paper as the receiving paper for the second and third pages ... is sequentially overlapped with the recording paper already output from the recording paper outlet 27 to the outside of the holder plate 22. It becomes the drooping holding state. Figure 4 (D) shows 3
Cut recording paper as receiving paper for pages 8 ₁ 8 ₂ 8 ₃
Are sequentially overlapped, and the leading edge side is held in a pocket space 26 as a stacker section, and the recording paper outlet 27 to the holder plate.
It is in the state of hanging outside the 22 and the recording paper for the 4th page 8 ₄
Indicates that the output is in the process of being output. Each chart paper 8 ₁・ 8 ₂・
The tip side 8b of 8 ₃ ... Abuts on the receiving bottom surface 22B as a stop member and is received and aligned.

C, the sheet (output sheet) spelling means recording paper 8 ₁ - as a receiving paper will be held by the holder unit as in the fourth view in sequentially outputted one after another overlap from the apparatus as described above (D) For 8 ₂ 8 ₃ ..., two or more pages forming one set, that is, two or more recording sheets forming one set, are automatically spelled as one set of booklet, and It is a mechanism for distinguishing from other output recording papers that are not included in the set.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a sheet binding means mechanism arranged on the apparatus substrate 28, which is an electric stapler unit in this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged plan view of a part of which is cut away. 31 is a mechanism substrate, 32 is a forward / reverse motor (stapler motor) mounted and supported on the substrate 31 with the rotating shaft 33 facing upward, and 34 is a rotatable unit around a support shaft 36 planted upward on the substrate 31. A pulley, 35 is a cam plate provided integrally with the pulley under the pulley, 35A is a cam claw portion thereof, and 37 is a motor 3
2, a rotational force transmission belt suspended between the rotary shaft 33 and the pulley 34, 34A is an outwardly projecting crank arm integrally provided on the pulley 34, 34B is a crank pin implanted in the arm, and 38 is the crank. An elongated advancing / retreating plate as a sheet retracting means rotatably supported by a pin, 38A is a slit hole provided longitudinally on the surface of the elongated advancing / retreating plate, 39 is a pin shaft planted upward at a predetermined position of the substrate 31. The slit shaft 38A of the elongated advancing / retreating plate is fitted and engaged with this pin shaft. A stapler sensor 40 is, for example, a microswitch, a photoelectric sensor, or the like. This sensor defines the reference rotation angle position of the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35, detects a staple jam described later, and is fixedly arranged at a predetermined position on the substrate 31.

31A is a front-rear side wall formed by bending the right side of the substrate 31 upward, 41 is a slider guided in the front-rear direction with the inner side of the side wall as a guide surface, and 42 is projected forward from the tip of the slider. Staple striking plate provided, 43
Is a tension spring that constantly biases the slider 41 in the backward direction, 31
B is an anvil mounting plate part formed by extending the front end side of the front-rear direction side wall 31A forward and bending the extension part at a right angle to the left, and 44 is firmly mounted and supported by a screw 45 on the inner surface of the mounting plate part 31B. An anvil (staple both-leg bent plate), 46 is a working arm for the cam plate 35, the base of which is rotatably attached to the slider 41 by a pin shaft 47, and 48 is a working arm which is always rotated in the cam plate direction. A pushing spring for urging 49 is a stopper pin for interfering with the working arm 46.
It has been planted in a predetermined position.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a staple magazine fitting member that is fixed to the front side of the substrate 31 in parallel with the front side. The member is a channel member (see FIG. 9) having a U-shaped cross section, and the opening side is the front side. It is attached to 31. Reference numeral 51 denotes a staple magazine which is long in the left-right direction and which is fitted and held in the fitting member 50 on the rear half side. 52 is a large number of staple parallel bodies loaded in the magazine 51, 53 is free to slide along the guide rod 53A, and the staple parallel plate 52 is constantly biased by a coil spring 53B fitted on the guide rod 53A. A staple pusher that pushes and urges the inside of the magazine 51 toward the front end.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the staple magazine fitting member 50 and the staple magazine 51 removed from the staple magazine fitting member 50. 50A and 50A are small inward projections formed by press-pressing the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate of the fitting member 50 at the surface positions near the left end, and 51A (51A) is the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate of the staple magazine 51. Is a notch hole into which the inward small convex portion provided at the surface position near the left end is fitted and engaged, and mounting of the staple magazine 51 to the fitting member 50 is performed by the small convex portion 50A on the fitting member 50 side. Notch hole 51A (5A
1A) is fitted and engaged, and the magazine 51 is pushed into the fitting member 50. The mounted magazine 51 is a small convex part
It is freely rotatable around 50A and 50A.

54 is a substrate corresponding to the leading end side of the staple magazine 51
31 is a reflective photoelectric staple remaining amount detection sensor fixedly arranged at a predetermined surface position of 31. FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of this sensor portion. When the staples in the staple magazine 51 are consumed and the remaining amount becomes smaller or smaller than a predetermined amount, the reflecting surface provided on the surface of the staple pusher 53.
53C moves to the front of sensor 54
Light emitted from the sensor is reflected and enters the light receiving element of the sensor. As a result, it can be detected that the staple remaining amount has become small or has disappeared.

Additional stapler unit 30, the aforementioned output recording paper 8 ₁ -
In the pocket space 26 as a stacker portion that receives and holds the leading edge side of 8 ₂ 8 ₃ ..., the paper recording paper 8 ₁ that enters the pocket space 26 and abuts against the bottom surface 22B as a stop member 8 ₁ The inner surface of the anvil 44 is located at the outer position corresponding to the right corner of the tip end of 8 ₂ 8 ₃ ..., and the staple magazine 51 mounted on the fitting member 50 is positioned substantially parallel to the inside of the apparatus chassis front side wall plate 17. As described above, the substrate 31 of the stapler unit 30 is firmly fixed and arranged on the upper surface of the apparatus substrate 28.

The stapler 30 causes a considerably large impact force on the anvil 44, the staple striking mechanism, and the like by the staple driving operation. Therefore, the stapler unit 30, or at least the anvil 44, is disposed firmly attached to the frame body such as the base 28 of the main body device (facsimile device) as a strong support.

The surface portion of the apparatus chassis front side wall plate 17 corresponding to the staple magazine 51 is a cutout window portion 17A. Also, with respect to the recording paper holder plate 22, a surface portion corresponding to substantially the front half of the anvil 44 and the staple magazine 51 is a notched window portion 22C. As for the staple magazine 51, the recording paper holder plate 22 is tilted down and opened as shown in FIG.
Is attached to and detached from the fitting member 50 through the cutout window portion 17A.

D, Staple Driving Operation FIG. 5 shows the mechanism in a standby state. Motor 32
Is off, and the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 are stopped at the reference rotation angle position shown in the figure. In this state, the slender advancing / retreating plate 38 as the sheet retracting means is in the most retracted position because the crank arm 34A is at the turning angle position facing rearward, and the rear end portion 38B of the advancing / retreating plate 38 corresponds to the sensor 40. are doing. Further, the slider 41 provided with the anvil striking plate 42 has its working arm 46 abutted on the lower surface of the cam plate 35 and pulled to the retracted position by the spring 43.

The motor 32 is driven in the normal direction based on the staple driving signal. As a result, the motor rotation shaft 33 rotates in the clockwise direction a, and the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 also rotate in the clockwise direction about the support shaft 36. The forward rotation of the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 causes the tip of the working arm 46 of the slider 41 to move to the cam plate 35.
It is pushed by the cam claw portion 35A of. The pressing force causes the slider 41, that is, the staple striking plate 42, to move forward against the spring 43 toward the tip of the staple magazine 51.

In the forward process, the leading edge of the striking plate 42 hits the upper edge of the leading staple 52A of the staple parallel body 52 loaded in the staple magazine 51, and the staple magazine 51 causes the small convex portions 50A and 50A on the trailing end side to be formed. The staple outlet on the leading end side pivots in the clockwise direction around the center (Fig. 6), enters the pocket space 26 of the recording paper holder portion, and the leading end sides 8b abut on the bottom surface 22B as a stop member. A plurality of output recording papers 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ... Which should be received and are aligned in the leading end are hit against the anvil 44 with the right corner of the leading end side sandwiched inside. When the staple striking plate 42 is further advanced as the slider 41 is further advanced, only one leading staple 52A in the staple magazine is pushed out from the exit portion, and both legs are fed with paper 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 _{3 ,} . Pierce, anvil
Folded inward at 44. That is, staples are driven in. FIG. 6 shows a state in which staples have been driven in. As a result, a plurality of output recording papers 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 _3, ... Which should form one set are processed as a booklet.

The staple driving based on the forward movement of the slider 41 is completed when the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 are rotated by about 45 °. The action arm 46 of the slider 41 comes into contact with the stopper pin 49 while the cam plate 35 is rotated by about 45 °, and gradually retracts toward the slider 41 against the spring 48, and the cam plate 35 is rotated by about 45 °. At the end of rotation, the tip of the action arm 46 is the cam claw 35A.
Of the cam claw portion 35A is disengaged and the pressing force of the cam claw portion 35A on the acting arm 46 is released. Therefore, the slider 41, that is, the staple striking plate 42
Is pulled back to the retracted position by the spring 43. Further, as the staple striking plate 42 moves back and forth, the staple magazine 51 is also pulled back and rotated around the rear end side small convex portions 50A, 50A.

The normal rotation of the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 continues, and in the process of continuing the normal rotation, a slender advancing / retreating plate as a sheet retracting means.
38 moves forward in accordance with the rotation of the crank arm 34A and the crank pin 34B, and the tip of the 38 moves from the cutout window portion 17A of the side wall plate 17 of the apparatus chassis and the cutout window portion 22C of the recording paper holder plate 22 to the front side of the apparatus. It projects outward as shown in FIG.
This protrusion amount becomes maximum when the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 are rotated about 200 ° from the reference rotation angle position in FIG.

Due to the protruding operation of the elongated advancing / retreating plate 38, the staples have already been stapled.
The right corner side of the leading edge of the paper 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ... on which the 52A has been driven is projected outward from the cutout window 22C of the recording paper holder plate 22 and the staple 52A is driven. Paper 8 ₁
・ The right corner of the tip of 8 ₂ 8 ₃ … is removed from the inner surface of the anvil 44 to the outside.

The normal rotation of the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 continues, and the elongated advancing / retreating plate 38 moves backward until one rotation (360 °) is completed. When the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 have completed one rotation, the rear end portion 38B of the elongated advancing / retreating plate 38 corresponds to the sensor 40,
The corresponding signal is fed back to the control circuit and the motor
The driving of 32 is stopped, and the state returns to the same standby state as in FIG.

The right corner of the leading edge of the paper 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ... in which the staples 52A have been ejected outward from the inner surface side of the anvil 44 by the forward movement of the slender advancing / retreating plate 38 is the slender advancing / retreating plate 38. The backward movement is returned by the stiffness of the paper and is positioned on the outer surface side of the anvil mounting plate 31B as shown in FIG. That is, the sheets that have been stapled as a booklet by driving the staples are retracted from the operating position of the stapling means (staple driving position).

Therefore, since the corners of the sheet on which the staple driving has already been performed do not exist on the inner surface side of the anvil 44, the staple driving processing can be performed on the next output recording sheets of a set of plural sheets.

When the recording paper output from the apparatus is a single paper which is completed by 1 communication-1 page, the staple driving operation is not required. In this case, the motor 32 is energized in the reverse direction, and the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 are rotated once in the reverse direction. As a result, the forward movement of the slider 41 is not performed, that is, the staple driving operation is not performed, and only the slender advancing / retreating plate 38 is moved forward / backward once to project the right corner of the leading edge of the one sheet out of the anvil. That is, the stapling means is retracted from the operating position.

E, Control of Stapler FIG. 11 is a control block diagram of the facsimile apparatus including the control unit of the electric stapler unit 30.

The control unit of this example includes a main CPU 100 for controlling the entire apparatus (facsimile apparatus), an NCU (network control apparatus) 101, and a modem.
102, a data control unit 103, a modem control unit 104, a ROM 105 storing a program shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B described in (4) and (5) below, and work It has a RAM 106 used for the purpose, an operation control unit 4, an I / O 107, a drive control unit 111, a driver 112, a recording control unit 115, and a control unit 116 of the stapler unit 30.

The operation control unit 4 is the operation panel (control panel) 4 shown in FIG. 1, controls the display of the display unit, and receives a reception instruction from the reception button.

The I / O 107 receives signals from the recording sheet presence sensor 108 and the recording sheet width detection sensor 109.

The driver 112 of the drive control unit 111 drives the recording motor 113 and the cutter motor 114.

The driver 117 of the stapler controller 116 drives the stapler motor 32, and the I / O 118 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the stapler sensor 40 and the staple 52 in the staple magazine 51.
Receive the signal from 54.

The stapler operation (staple driving operation) at the time of reception will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Here, N in step is the maximum number of sheets that can be stapled by the stapler 30, and may be a preset fixed number or a variable number freely set by the user. Further, in an apparatus that can use recording sheets of different thickness and paper quality, N may be set by detecting the type of sheet. That is, a plurality of N may be set such that N is small for thick paper and N is large for thin paper.

Next, L of the step is the number of recording lines corresponding to the length of the recording paper passing path from the recording position of the recording head 11 to the stop member 22B plus a slight margin. It is possible to confirm that the leading edge side 8b of the output recording paper being recorded has reached the stop member 22B by detecting that is the L-th line (YES in step).

(1) When the output recording paper is only one page (1 communication-1
First, the image information received from the transmission side is demodulated by the modem 102 via the NCU 101 (FIG. 11) to be a digital signal and sent to the data control unit 103. The data control unit 103 sends data to the RAM 106 via the data bus and sends the data in the RAM 106 to the CPU 1
00 decrypts and stores the decrypted data in the RAM 106 again. When one line of data is stored in the RAM 106 in this way, the data is sent to the recording head 11 via the recording control unit 115 to record one line on the paper 8 (step). When the recording for one line is completed, the CPU 100 drives the recording motor 113 to drive the platen roller 10
Rotates, and the recording paper 8 is conveyed by one line (step).

When the above-mentioned operation is repeated and the recording line becomes the L line (YES in step), the page to be recorded is checked (step). In the case of this item (1), only one page is displayed. The above operation is repeated until one page is completed (step YES). After that, the recording paper 8 is slightly continuously conveyed by the platen roller 10 (step), and when the trailing edge position of the image reaches the cutters 13 and 14, the cutter motor 114 is driven to cut the recording paper 8 by the cutters 13 and 14. (Step, FIG. 4 (B)). The trailing edge side of the cut recording paper 8 _{1 is} a pair of feed rollers.
It is completely sent out of the apparatus from the recording paper outlet 27 by 15 and 16 (two-dot chain line 8f in FIG. 4 (B)). On the other hand, the platen roller 10 is driven reversely rotated slightly after paper cutting, leading edge portion of the sheet 8 has been made of disconnection is pulled back to the recording position of the recording head 11 from the position of the cutter 13, 14 and the recording sheet ₈₁ by this (Step).

After that, since the number of received sheets is 1, (step N
O), the main CPU 100 retracts to the stapler controller 116,
That is, the reverse rotation one rotation drive of the stapler motor 32 of the item D- is instructed (step), and the reception is ended (step).

(2) When the output recording paper is 2 pages or more to (N-1) pages or less (1 communication-in the case of one set of a plurality of sheets) When the 1st page is received, the output recording paper of the above (1) is 1
After finishing as in the case of only the page, there is the next page (YES in step), so the process returns to the step again and recording of the next page is started. Following steps ~, ~
Is repeated until the next page is exhausted (NO in step). After that, since the output recording paper is 2 pages or more (NO in step), the main CPU 100 is the stapler control unit.
The stapling operation is instructed to 116 (step), and the reception is ended (step). Staple operation, that is, D
- output by stapling operation of ... section a plurality of recording sheets _{P 1 · P 2 · P 3} ... staple implantation, from retracting operation of the staple driving sheet portion (operating position of the stapling means (stapling position) Evacuation is done.

(3) When the output recording paper is N pages or more When the recording is executed up to the (N-1) th page as in (2) above, the number of recording lines becomes L at the Nth page (YES in step). , The recording of the Nth page is detected (YES in step), the main CPU 100 instructs the stapler control unit 116 to perform a stapling operation (step), and resets the received number counter (step). Return to recording operation. At this time, the recording operation and the stapling operation are simultaneously performed.

In this way, the main CPU 100 instructs the stapler controller 116 to perform the stapling operation every Nth page (step).

When the next page is exhausted (NO in step), the number counter is checked and if the number is 0 (YE in step)
S), the reception is ended as it is (step), and otherwise the processing is performed in the same manner as the case of the above item (1) or (2) and the reception is ended.

That is, when n is a natural number (0, 1, 2, ...) And x is the total number of received images, when x = n × N + a, when a = 0, the reception is terminated as it is, and when a = 1, the above (1)
As in the case of item, only the saving operation is performed, and a = 2 to (N-
In the case of 1), the staple operation is performed as in the case of the above item (2), and then the reception is ended.

In this way, when the leading edge of the Nth output recording sheet reaches the stop member 22B and is received, the stapling operation is performed at the same time as the recording operation, so that the reception between one sheet and the next reception is performed. Compared to performing the stapling operation, the communication time can be shortened, and the possibility of an error due to an overtime can be reduced.

(4) Staple Operation FIG. 13 (A) is a flowchart of the stapler controller showing the "stapling operation" in steps and in the flow of FIG.

When receiving the stapling operation instruction, the stapler control unit first resets a step counter T ₁ for detecting a stapler jam to 0 (step). Next, if the stapler sensor 40 is not turned on (step N
O), it is determined that the previous stapling operation caused a stapler jam (a state in which the stapler mechanism has not returned to the standby state of FIG. 5 for some reason), and the stapler does not operate. If the stapler sensor 40 is on (YES in step), the step counter T ₁ is started and the stapler motor 32 is driven to rotate normally (step).

In the step, Tmax is the number of motor steps in which the pulley 34 and the cam plate 35 make exactly one rotation plus a slight margin. Whether the stapler sensor 40 is turned on (step) or the step counter T ₁ is Tm
The stapler motor 31 is driven in the normal direction until it becomes ax (step), and then stopped (step) to complete the stapling operation.

In the above, if the stapler sensor 40 is turned on first, the stapling operation is normally completed, and conversely, if the step counter T ₁ has reached Tmax, the stapling operation can be regarded as causing a jam. . Since this result is held by the stapler sensor 40, the quality of the stapler operation is judged by checking the output of the stapler sensor 40 after the main CPU 100 finishes all the receiving operations.

(5) Retraction Operation FIG. 13 (B) is a flowchart of the stapler control section showing the "retraction operation" in the step in the flow of FIG.

When the stapler control unit receives an instruction for a retract operation from the main CPU 100, it first resets a step counter T ₁ for detecting a stapler jam to 0 (step).
Next, the step counter T ₁ is started and the stapler motor 31 is driven in reverse. Then stapler sensor 40 is turned on (step) or step counter T ₁
Is reached to Tmax (step), the stapler motor 31 is reversely driven, and then stopped (step)
The evacuation operation ends.

In the above, if the stapler sensor 40 is turned on first, the retreating operation has been completed normally, and if the step counter T ₁ has reached Tmax _first, it can be considered that the retreating operation has caused a jam. Since this result is held by the stapler sensor 40, after the completion of all the receiving operations, the main CPU 100 observes the output of the stapler sensor 40 to judge whether the evacuation operation is good or bad.

(6) Processing of stapler jam If the stapler sensor 40 is not turned on after the reception operation is completed, the main CPU 100 determines that it is a stapler jam (NO in step of the flow in FIG. 12) and displays “Stapler inspection” on the display of the operation panel 4. Is displayed (step).

Based on this display, the operator removes the staple magazine 51 from the fitting member 50, removes the jammed staples, sets the staple magazine 51 on the fitting member 51 again, and presses the reset button (not shown) on the operation panel 4. . This flowchart is shown in FIG. That is, when the reset button is pressed (step), the main CPU 100 instructs the stapler control unit 116 to perform a retracting operation (step),
If the stapler sensor 40 is turned on after the evacuation operation is completed, it is determined that the stapler sensor 40 has returned to normal, and if it is not turned on, a message such as "stapler check" is displayed again (step = step in Fig. 12). Prompt.

(7) Replenishment of staples When the staple 52 in the staple magazine 51 becomes less than a predetermined amount due to consumption or disappears, the above-mentioned (10th)
As shown in the figure), it is detected by the sensor 54 (step of FIG. 12 flow), and the fact is displayed / warned by the main CPU 100 on the display of the operation panel 4 (step).

Even when it is detected that the staples are exhausted during reception, the reception and the output of the recording paper are continued, and the display / warning is performed during or after the reception.

When the display / warning is displayed, the operator removes the staple magazine 51 from the fitting member 50, refills and inserts the staple 52 in the magazine, and again inserts the magazine 51 into the fitting member 50.
Set to.

F, etc. (1) As the sheet (sheet material) stapling means, in addition to the staple driving means, a glue-stitching stapling means, a rivet-stitching stapling means, a means for making a stapling state by making a cut with a press blade shape You can

(2) Sheets that are spelled as a booklet by the stapling means or sheets that do not need to be spelled (for example, a sheet for one communication minus one sheet, etc.) are used for spelling processing of the sheet to be output next. For this purpose, the means for retracting from the operating position of the stapling means is not limited to the push-out method of pushing out and moving out from the operating position of the stapling means by the advancing / retreating member 38 as in the above-described embodiment. A conveying means is provided, and the operation thereof discharges and conveys the above-mentioned paper that has undergone the binding processing or the paper that does not need to be subjected to the binding processing from the inside of the pocket space 26 as the recording paper stacker to a receiving box or the like outside the apparatus.

b. The recording paper holder plate 22 is provided with an automatic opening / closing means, and the holder plate is tilted and opened as shown in FIG. Remove the paper that does not need to be processed by sliding it into an external receiving box.

c, a means for pushing the sheets held in the pocket space 26 as the stacker portion in the direction opposite to the operating position side of the stapling means in the width direction is provided, and the sheet is moved from the operating position of the stapling means by its operation. Move out of position.

And the like can be adopted.

(3) When the number of output recording sheets is N pages or more, an operation control mode may be adopted in which the operation of the sheet binding unit is prohibited. When the leading edge of the last recording paper of the N or more output recording papers reaches the stop member 22B, the retracting means is operated to be retracted from the operating position of the binding means.

(4) In the case of an apparatus capable of using at least two kinds of papers having different width dimensions as output papers, it is equipped with a means for detecting the width of the papers used, and according to the detected paper widths. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a means for changing the position of the spelling means to an appropriate position is provided.

(5) Similarly, in the case of an apparatus capable of using at least two kinds of papers having different widths as output papers, those papers are output by one-sided reference conveyance, and are bound on the one-sided reference conveyance line side. The means may be fixedly arranged.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, among the sheet materials that are sequentially output by the sheet material output device, a plurality of output sheet materials forming one set are the last page of the set or a predetermined number of sheet materials. When output, it is processed as a booklet for each set in a stapling state, so there is no confusion or mistake in sorting after that. For example, by applying it to a facsimile machine as in the embodiment,
In the automatic reception state such as on a holiday, when output recording sheets for a plurality of communications with different senders and different numbers of pages are piled up and piled up in a large amount, it becomes extremely easy to sort and organize them.

Further, even if the sheet material stapling means has a return failure (stapling means jam) during the operation of the apparatus, the output of the sheet material is continued. For example, in the case of a facsimile machine, the sheet material stapling means such as a stapler is jammed. Also, the subsequent reception and output of the recording paper are executed without splicing the plural output recording papers forming a set, but communication is not hindered.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an example of a facsimile machine as one embodiment of the apparatus. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the machine, and FIG. 2 is the same as the above-mentioned figure with the recording paper holder plate on the front side of the machine folded down.
The figure shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the recording / sheet discharging mechanism of the apparatus. Figs. 4 (A), (B), (C), and (D) show the process of feeding the recording sheet on which an image has been recorded, and Fig. 5 FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged plan views showing the operation process of the stapler unit, and FIG. 8 shows the staple driving portion of the recording paper on which the staple driving process is performed, from the inner surface side of the anvil to the outer surface side of the anvil mounting member. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the retracted state, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stapler magazine and the fitting member of the magazine.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the staple remaining amount detection sensor portion, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the stapler control unit, FIG. 12 is a control flowchart, and FIGS. 13 (A) and (B) are program diagrams stored in ROM. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for releasing the stapler jam. 8 is the recording paper, 8 ₁ 8 ₂ 8 ₃ ... is the output recording paper, 10
11 is a platen roller and recording head, 13 and 14 are paper cutters, 22 is a recording paper holder plate, 22B is a recording paper holder plate bottom surface as a stop member that receives and regulates the leading edge of the output recording paper, 30 is a stapler unit, 42 is a staple striking plate, 44 is an anvil, and 51 is a staple magazine.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. At least one of sheet materials that are sequentially output.
For a sheet material stop member that regulates the movement of the sides to align the output sheet materials, and for a plurality of output sheet materials that are paired with each other and are aligned by sequentially overlapping with each other by being regulated by the stop member And a sheet material binding unit that operates to output the plurality of output sheet materials as a booklet in a bound state,
The sheet material stapling means in the operation standby state has a means for detecting whether or not the sheet material stapling means operates in response to an operation instruction and returns to the standby state again, and the detecting means within a predetermined time after the operation instruction to the sheet material stapling means. If the return of the standby state of the sheet material binding means is not detected, it is determined that the sheet material binding means has a return failure, and the output of the sheet material is not output even if the return failure determination of the sheet material binding means is made during the operation of the apparatus. A sheet material output device, characterized in that the sheet material output device is operated while continuing and after the sheet material is being output or after the output is finished.