JP2702985B2 - Sheet processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus having a stapling apparatus for binding a copy sheet stored in a unit for storing an image-formed copy sheet.

(Prior art)

Recently, a copying machine has been proposed in which a stapling device is attached to a copying machine so that a copy sheet after a copying process can be bound. In the conventional copy paper processing apparatus, the relative direction of the stapler to the copy paper is set in advance, and, for example, the staple is bound in the upper corner of the copy paper in a state where the staple extends horizontally, and the stapler is in a vertical or oblique state. Cannot be stapled in the direction desired by the operator.

It has been already practiced to provide an automatic document feeder and a sorter, ie, a collating device, to automatically collate a plurality of sets of copying papers in order to increase the efficiency of copying machine operations. However, stapling a plurality of collated copy sheets has not been known yet. However, there is a problem that the conventional collating apparatus cannot bind the copy paper in a desired direction.

In addition, when binding a bundle of sheets to each bin of a collating device having a plurality of bins in the double-punching mode, it takes considerable time to perform the binding operation for each bundle of sheets on each bin. It has been known.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for binding a sheet bundle collated to each bin of a collating apparatus in a double-punching mode.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of reducing a processing time as much as possible.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention solves the above-described problems by assembling a device having a plurality of bins, a stapling device that binds a sheet bundle that has been assembled to each of the bins, and relatively moving the plurality of bins and the stapling device in the bin arrangement direction. , A second moving means for moving the stapling apparatus in a direction parallel to one side edge of the sheet, and two different positions along a direction parallel to one side edge of the sheet. Mode setting means for setting a double-stroke mode for binding, and control means for operating the first and second moving means when double-stroke is set by the double-stroke mode setting means. A sheet processing apparatus that performs binding at two different positions along a direction parallel to one side edge of a sheet bundle that has been gathered into the plurality of bins by the stapling apparatus; Combination After sequentially binding one of the two positions in one direction along the direction in which the bins are arranged, the second of the two positions is sequentially bound in the direction opposite to the one direction. The problem was solved by configuring the first and second moving means to operate.

〔Example〕

 The details of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

The apparatus to which the present invention is applied has, for example, a sorter 3 attached to a copying machine main body 1 equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF) as shown in FIG.

In the automatic document feeder (ADF), set the originals arranged in the page order downward on the set table 4, set the required number of copies, and press the print button. The image is sent to a predetermined position on the glass 5, an image is formed on the photoreceptor 7 by reading the optical system 6, the image is transferred to a copy sheet fed from a sheet feeding device 8, and the image is inverted in the transport path 9 to change the image surface. It is discharged downward from the top into each bin 10 of the sorter 3 in a downward direction. Then 2
The same is repeated for the first document and subsequent documents. When the copying of all the originals is completed, the copied paper sheets are stored in the bins of the number of copies set at the beginning in the state where the bins are arranged in the page order. That is, the collation ends. In the stack mode, a plurality of copies of the first page are stored in the first bin, and a plurality of copies of the second page are stored in the second bin. Is done.

The sorter 3 is provided with a stapling device 11, for example, as shown in FIG. The stapling device 11 has a stapler 13 set on a table 12 that moves up and down so as to be able to stop at the position of each bin 10. The table 12 is moved up and down by a drive screw shaft 14, for example.

Each bin 10 can be formed as a tray on which copy paper 16 fed by feed rollers 15 is placed. The tray 10 has a stopper 17 provided on the end face on the side of the stapler 13 and a pressing plate 18 which presses the copy paper 16 on the stopper 17 to perform a paper aligning operation.

Tray 10 holds stapler with copy paper 16
It is formed so as to be movable so as to feed the copy paper to the thirteen receiving stands 19 (FIG. 3), and is normally held at a standby position by a spring 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stapling apparatus 11 has a stapler 13 and a pulling device 21 for pulling the tray 10 to set the copy paper 16 at a predetermined position on a receiving table 19 of the stapler 13. . The tensioning device 21 is installed on the table 12 and moves up and down together with the stapler 13. The tensioning device 21 has a solenoid 22 and a hook 24 fixed to a plunger 23 of the solenoid 22. The hook 24 is formed so as to engage with a shift pin 25 fixed to the tray 10.

When the solenoid 22 is energized, the hook 24 is retracted,
The pull pin 25 is pulled, and the tray 10 is pulled in the direction of the stapler 13 against the force of the spring 50. At this time, the corner portion of the copy paper 16 is placed on the receiving table 19 of the stapler 13.

The pedestal 19 is provided with a stapler paper detection sensor (S13) 20, and detects the presence or absence of paper on the pedestal 19.

When the solenoid 22 is deenergized, the force of the spring 50 causes the tray
The copy paper 16 is separated from the stapler 13 by retreating the copy paper 16.

The stapler 13 is formed so that a needle cartridge 27 accommodating a large number of needles 26 can be attached and detached. The needles in the needle cartridge 27 are fed by a feed belt 29 driven by a drive motor 28. The arm 30 is swung up and down by the drive motor 28, whereby the head 31 moves up and down and strikes the needle 26 against the cradle 19. The staples bind the copy paper 16 like stitches.

A needle end sensor (S12) 32 is provided at a position of a predetermined number of needles from the driving position of the head 31, and detects the presence or absence of a needle. The predetermined number is a bin coefficient, for example, 20 and 1
In consideration of the number of binding positions of one document, for example, a maximum of two positions, in this case, the number is set to a number larger than 40, for example, some of 70 to 100 stitches.

The stapler 13 first binds the copy paper in the top bin,
The table 12 is lowered by one bin, the tray 10 is pulled by the operation of the solenoid 22, the binding is performed by the stapler 13, the solenoid is deenergized, the tray 10 is returned, and the operation of lowering to the next bin is repeated. A sensor necessary for stopping the table 12 at a predetermined position for each bin, a drive control device for a drive screw shaft, and the like are provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the stapler 13 is arranged so as to be bound by the staple 26 at a predetermined position on one corner of the copy paper on the bin 10. Further, when the binding is performed with the staples 26 for binding in a state of extending laterally with respect to the vertically long copy paper 16 as shown in FIG. 4, the first binding position (the horizontal binding position) as shown in FIG. ) A second binding position (slant position) B where the staple is inclined at about 45 ° with respect to A, and a third binding position (vertical position) where the staple is inclined 90 ° with respect to the first binding position and extends vertically. And C.
In this case, the stapler 13 is pivoted about the central axis 33, and the angular position at 45 ° can be switched. The switching position is not limited to these three positions, and can be switched to an arbitrary angle position.

For adjusting the direction of the stapler 13, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the center supported rotatably via the bearing 35 with respect to the base 12 which can move up and down by the drive screw shaft 14 and the guide shaft 34. An auxiliary table 36 is fixed to the shaft 33, and the stapler 13 is fixed to the auxiliary table 36.

A gear 37 is fixed to the central shaft 33. The gear 37 is engaged with a drive gear 40 mounted on a motor (M3) 39 supported by a bracket 38 on the base 12 and rotated. The table 12 has a sensor at a predetermined switching position, for example, a horizontal position sensor (S4) 41 for a first binding position (horizontal), a slug position sensor (S6) 42 for a second binding position (oblique), A vertical position sensor (S5) 43 for the third binding position (vertical) is provided to detect that the stapler 13 has reached a predetermined position, stop the motor (M3) 39, and control the direction of the stapler 13.

The direction control of the stapler 13 may be configured to manually control the direction as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in contrast to the automatic control of FIGS. 6 and 7. In this case, the seventh
In the illustrated example, the gear 37, the motor 39, and the drive gear 40 are removed, and instead, a thumb screw 44 is rotatably or screwably mounted on the auxiliary base 36, and the thumb screw 44 is screwed into a predetermined position on the base 12. The position is fixed by screwing it into the hole 45 or pressing it against the table 12, and when switching the direction, the thumb screw 44 is loosened and the auxiliary table 36 is moved, and the thumb screw 44 is tightened and fixed at the desired position. In this example, the user can easily change the direction of the stapler 13. Thumbscrew
A lever can be used instead of 44. The number of switching positions can be selected as desired.

The stapler 13 can not only adjust the direction with respect to the copy paper as described above, but also adjust the position as shown in FIG.
That is, when the feeding direction of the copy paper by the feed roller 15, for example, the horizontal direction of the copy paper is set as the X direction, the position can be adjusted in the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to the X direction. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 11, an auxiliary base 36 or an auxiliary bracket for enabling the auxiliary base to be rotated is formed on the base 12 so as to be fixed by screws 46, and the elongated hole 47 in the X direction of the auxiliary base 36 or the auxiliary bracket is formed. Insert the screw 46 into. This allows the stapler 13
Can be easily adjusted by hand. Further auxiliary table 36
The stapler 13 is formed so as to be fixed with a screw 48, and the screw 48 is inserted into a long hole in the Y direction formed in the stapler 13. The stapler 13 becomes Y by loosening and tightening the screw 48.
Easy manual position adjustment in any direction. The screws 46 and 48 can be changed to thumb screws or levers for easy operation.

If you want to adjust automatically, as shown in Figure 12,
The bracket 49 to which the stapler 13 is fixed is the guide bar 52
Guide bar 52 slides in the X direction.
The auxiliary table 36 'is screw-engaged with a feed screw 54 which is instructed to be fixed to the support 51 fixed to 36' and is rotatably supported by the support 51 and rotationally driven by a motor (M3) 53 as a first drive member. This allows the stapler 13 to automatically adjust its position in the X direction.

Similarly, an auxiliary table is provided by a guide rod 55 fixed to the table 12.
36 'is slidably guided in the Y direction, and the auxiliary screw 36' is screw-engaged with a feed screw 56 rotatably supported on the base 12, whereby the feed screw 56 is connected to the motor (M5) as a second drive member. 57
, The auxiliary table 36 'is moved in the Y direction, and the stapler 13 is also moved in the Y direction.

By controlling the rotation of the motor (M3) 53 and the motor (M5) 57, the position of the stapler 13 in the X and Y directions can be adjusted.

Position home sensors (S7, S8) are provided to automatically control the positions of the stapler 13 in the X and Y directions.
As the position home sensors (S7, S8), for example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a combination of a transmission type photointerrupter 58 and a shielding plate 59 is used. Position home sensor (S7,
S8) is arranged, for example, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. That is, as the position home sensor (S8) for Y-direction control, the transmissive photointerrupter 58a is fixed to the base 12,
The shielding plate 59a is fixed to the auxiliary table 36 '. As a position home sensor (S7) for X-direction control, the transmission type photointerrupter 58b is fixed to the auxiliary base 36 ', and the shielding plate 59b is fixed to the bracket 49. Shielding plate 59 is a transmission type photo interrupter
It moves relative to 58 and turns off when the shield plate 59 blocks the light of the transmissive photointerrupter 58, and turns on when the shield plate 59 is separated from the transmissive photointerrupter 58.
This position home sensor (S7, S8) uses the stapler 13
Are detected in the X direction and the Y direction.

Motor (M3) so that the stapler 13 is at the reference position when the copier is in the standard state, for example, when the main switch is ON.
53 and the motor (M5) 57 are controlled.

By pressing the position adjustment switch placed on the operation unit, the motor (M3) 53 and the motor (M5) 57 are driven, and the stapler 13 is moved in the designated direction by the designated distance. In this case, the moving distance is controlled by the rotation time or the number of rotations of the motor (M3) 53 and the motor (M5) 57.

As described above, the stapler 13 can perform the position adjustment and the direction adjustment in the X direction and the Y direction.

An operation unit, for example, an operation panel provided in the copying machine main body 2 can be configured as shown in FIG. 17, for example, and corresponds to a key switch group and the key switches.
It is composed of a group of LEDs so that the mode can be confirmed according to the operation of the operator.

A ten key (numeric keypad) 101 is a key for setting the number of copies, and the set value is displayed on the set number display section 102. The actual number of copies is displayed on the number-of-copies display section 113. The C / S key 103 is a key for returning the set number to 1, and has a function of a copy interrupt key. Print key 104
Is a copy start key, which is valid when the print permission display is lit, and invalid when the print disable display is lit.

The bin paper presence display 105 is lit when a staple mode (described later) is selected (automatically) and there is paper in the bin of the sorter. The reason is that the number of sheets to be stapled is limited (for example, it is set to 30 in this embodiment). When it is not clear how many sheets are in the bin, stapling is prohibited.

Well-known sort mode selection key for when selecting sorter
106 and LED display are provided.

For stapling by the stapling device, a stapling mode selection key 107 is provided, and according to each stapling condition on the right side of the operation panel, after the copy is completed, the copied paper in each bin of the sorter is automatically turned on by the stapler 13. Bind.

The manual staple key 108 is used to enable stapling offline when the staple is turned on with the staple selected.

The double-strike key 109 is for performing binding close to bookbinding. In this case, it is possible only when the horizontal instruction is given by the staple direction key 110. The staple direction key 110 allows the user to select the binding direction, and allows the user to select the vertical, horizontal, or sloping direction with respect to the corner of the sheet. The normal position is horizontal.

The staple position X key 111 and the Y key 112 are used to adjust the binding position. The binding position from the sheet end surface can be adjusted in each of the X and Y directions, and the two-strike key and the staple direction key are pressed. It is possible to respond to each case.

The control block diagram of the copying machine is as shown in FIG. 18A.

CPU 115 is a well-known microcomputer, and ROM 11
6. Connected to the RAM 117 and several I / O elements 118 to 122, and communicates with other control units 123 such as an automatic document feeder (ADF) to perform sequence control and arithmetic processing related to copying. Run.

One I / O element 120 includes a key switch on the operation panel, a well-known key matrix 124 shown in FIG. 18B, and an LED matrix 12 shown in FIG.
5 signal lines are connected to perform input / output processing.

In the present embodiment, the signal group A126 and the load group A127
Figure, connected as shown in Figure 20, I / O121,
Input / output processing is performed through 122.

The signal group B128 and the load group B129 are of the copying machine main body,
Description is omitted.

The ADF control unit 123 is a control unit of a well-known automatic document feeder (ADF), and only those parts of the control signals that need to be described in this embodiment are illustrated. In the present embodiment, the CPU 115 and the ADF control unit 123 communicate with each other by a serial communication method.

Each unit shown in FIG. 19 is connected as the signal group A126, for example.

S1 to S14 are all photosensors (LED and phototransistor), and perform various detections inside the sorter.

S15 is a switch that can be set according to a user's request.

As the load group A127, for example, each unit shown in FIG. 20 is connected.

M1 to M5 are DC motors, M1 controls rotation only in a certain direction, and M2 to M5 controls forward / reverse rotation.

 SOL1 is a solenoid.

The control of the copy sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart.

In FIG. 21, when the copier is turned on,
The subroutine "input read" for reading data of various signal groups is executed. Based on the data, the load group B129 of the copying machine main body is operated and initialized. The display and the like are also initialized.

Next, the subroutine "SUB10" is executed to initialize the sorter and the stapling apparatus. In the subroutine "SUB10", as shown in FIG.
01 ”to“ SUB04 ”, and initializes each position of the stapler. In the subroutine "SUB01", as shown in FIG. 26, the motor (M3) 39 is turned on until the direction home sensor (which is also a horizontal position sensor in the example of FIG. 26) (S4) 41 is turned on for the basic staple direction setting. Is driven in reverse. The direction home sensor is not limited to the horizontal position in the figure, and may be appropriately selected such as a vertical position, a slug position, and the like. In the subroutine "SUB02", as shown in FIG. 27, a process of returning the stapling position in the Y direction to the home position is performed, and the position home sensor (S8), that is, the shielding plate 59a fixed to the auxiliary table 36 ', and the table 12 This is a control for determining the home position with the configuration of the transmission type photointerrupter 58a fixed to.
If the position home sensor (S8) is ON, the motor (M
5) 57 rotates forward and temporarily turns off the position home sensor (S8)
Then, the motor (M5) 57 is again rotated in the reverse direction, and when the position home sensor (S8) is turned on, the motor (M5) 57 is turned off to determine the home position.

In the subroutine "SUB03", a process of returning the staple position in the X direction to the home position is performed.
2]. In this case, the motor (M4) 53
The transmission type photo interrupter 58b and the shielding plate 59b forming the position home sensor (S7) are used. In the subroutine "SUB04", control is performed to determine the home position of the stapler 13 in the vertical direction. Until the sensor (S2) is turned on, the motor (M2) is reversed and the table 12 is raised to position. After the subroutine "SUB04", the counter [CNTM] and the flag [FBPE] are reset and the processing ends.

Next, "input reading" is executed again, and the key input of each staple mode on the operation panel is checked to set the mode and the LED display.

When the staple key 107 is turned on, the staple mode is selected, and the staple LED is turned on. At this time, the sort mode is automatically selected and the sort LED is turned on. Also stack LED
Turns off. Next, when the double hit mode is selected by the double hit key 109, the double hit LED is turned on, and at the same time, the horizontal stapling direction is automatically selected.

In the case of the double-strike mode, the vertical and the slug striking are automatically made horizontal because they cannot be stapled structurally.

If it is not a double stroke, check whether the stapling direction is vertical or sloping, turn on the vertical LED if it is vertical, and turn on the horizontal LED if it is vertical. If neither is selected, turn on the horizontal LED and set to horizontal mode. That is, the staple direction when the staple mode is selected is preferentially selected as the horizontal direction.

Next, the staple position, the X key 111, and the Y key 112 will be described. In this embodiment, the position of the reference point of the staple (one end of the staple) is as shown in FIG. 10, the normal position of both X and Y is 6 mm from the paper end, and both X and Y are 2 mm steps away from this. Can be adjusted in two steps in both the + direction and the-direction, and these can be set by the X key 111 and the Y key 112. When the X key 111 is not turned on, the normal LED of the normal position display is turned on. When the X key 111 is turned on once, first, +2 m
Turn on the LED of m and turn off the normal LED. When turned on twice,
Turn off the + 2mm LED and turn on the + 4mm LED.
In the following, the LED of -2 mm is switched at the third time, and the LED of -4 mm is switched at the fourth time. When the LED is turned on five times, the normal LED is turned on and returns to the original state.

Next, similarly to the X key 111, the Y key 112 performs mode setting and selective lighting of the LED.

Next, a stapler-less check is performed by the needle end sensor (S12) 32. If there is a stapler, proceed to the next step. If there is no stapler, the staplerless display is turned on and the copy disabled flag is turned on.
I do.

Next, a saw turbine paper presence check is performed. If there is no paper, turn off the bin paper display LED and turn off the copy disabled flag.
F. If there is paper, the copy impossible flag is turned ON.

If the manual staple key 108 is not turned on, the bin paper present LED is turned on.

If there is paper and the manual staple key 108 is ON, the copy enable flag is turned ON and the staple operation subroutine "STPL2" is executed.

Here, if there is no paper in the sorter bin, the manual staple key 108 cannot be turned on, so that the staple operation when there is no paper can be prohibited, and staple mistakes can be prevented with the staple without paper.

Also, since auto staple copying when paper is present is prohibited, mistakes in binding the preceding copy paper together and stapling errors due to excessive paper are prevented.

Further, by enabling the manual stapling key in the state of paper, stapling can be performed off-line (for example, stapling can be performed by setting paper other than copy paper in the sorter bin).

In the subroutine "STPL2", as shown in FIG. 31,
First, the manual staple counter [CNTM] is checked. If the data is 0, the subroutine "PST1" of the positioning operation 1 is executed. If not, the positioning operation is not performed. This counter [CNTM] is usually 0, but as will be described in detail later, manual staple can be either one staple or continuous staple, and if interrupted at one staple, the positioning operation is performed when the next operation is performed. I try not to do 1.

Subroutine "PST1" of positioning operation 1 is 32nd
As shown in the figure, first, a subroutine "SUB10" is executed. In "SUB10", the stapler unit is returned to the home position as described above.

Next, the subroutine "SUB100" is executed. In the subroutine "SUB100", as shown in FIG. 34, the vertical, horizontal, and horizontal position control selected in the above-described staple direction mode setting is performed. If the staple direction is vertical, check the vertical position sensor (S5) 43. If not, turn on the motor (M3) 39 in the forward direction.
When turned on, the motor (M5) 39 is turned off.

If it is horizontal, the motor (M3) 39 is reversely rotated until the horizontal position sensor (S4) 41 is turned on. If the horizontal position sensor (S6) 42 is not ON when the horizontal position sensor (S4) 41 is ON, the motor (M3) 39 is rotated forward, and then the horizontal position sensor (S6) 42 is ON. When the horizontal position sensor (S4) 41 is OFF, the motor (M3) 39 is rotated in the reverse direction to control the position so that the slant position sensor (S6) 42 is turned ON.

 Next, the subroutine "SUB200" is executed.

In the subroutine "SUB200", position adjustment control in the Y direction is performed as shown in FIG.

First, check whether the set value is 2 mm, and if yes, set the timer T1 to T1 = 100 ms. Alternatively, if the set value is 4 mm, the timer T1 is set to T1 = 200 ms. Setting value is 2
If neither mm nor 4 mm, this routine ends. After setting the timer, start the timer and then check the direction or direction.
The motor (M5) 57 is turned off after waiting for the timer time to elapse. Similarly, if the direction is motor (M
5) Turn the motor (M5) 57 OFF after waiting for the timer to time out in the same way as the 57. Motor (M5) 5 as an example
By the drive of 7, the position control in the Y direction can be performed at a speed of 20 mm / S.

When the subroutine "SUB200" is completed, it is checked whether or not the mode is the double hit mode. If not in the double hit mode, the subroutine "SUB300" is executed.

The subroutine "SUB300" is almost the same as the subroutine "SUB200", is a position adjustment control in the X direction, and performs positioning by controlling the motor (M4) 53. In the case of the double-strike mode, the motor (M4) 53 is turned on in the forward direction until the staple unit is turned on by the sensor (S9), and then the subroutine "SUB300" is executed and the subroutine "PST" is executed.
End 1).

Subroutine "PST" in subroutine "STPL2"
After executing "1", the subroutine "SUB400" is executed next. This subroutine is a routine for moving the bin to the staple position, executing the stapling operation, and returning the bin. In FIG. 37, SOL1 is turned ON first. solenoid
By driving SOL1, the bin moves to the staple position. After the ON of SOL1, the timer T1 is set and started to T1 = 200ms, and when the timer T1 times out, the stapler paper detection sensor (S13) is checked. This stapler paper detection sensor is a paper presence / absence check sensor on the bin. When the bin is moved, if there is no paper, this subroutine ends without performing the next stapling operation. This is to ensure that the stapling operation can be completed after confirming that there is no more paper on the bin during manual stapling without knowing how many papers are present. Further, even when auto-stapling, if a sheet in a bin in the middle is taken out for some reason, the job can be transferred to the next bin without the stapling operation.

In FIG. 3, the stapler paper detection sensor (S13) 2
When 0 is OFF, set the bin paper no flag (FBPE) and set SO
Turn off L1. Stapler paper detection sensor (S13) 20 is ON
If so, the staple motor (M1) 28 is turned on next. When this motor is turned on, the staple driving unit operates to execute an operation of driving a staple into a sheet. After turning on the motor (M1) 28, the stapler drive home sensor (S1
1) is turned off and the stapler drive home sensor (S1
Drive (M1) 28 to turn off until 1) turns on.
Next, SOL1 is turned off, the timer T1 is operated until the bin returns to the predetermined position, and this subroutine "SUB400" is ended.

When the subroutine "SUB400" is completed, the content of the manual staple counter [CNTM] is incremented by 1 and the process proceeds.

Next, check whether the manual staple key is ON or not.

If left ON, the bin paper pear flag (FBPE)
And if it is not "1", the subroutine "SUB500" is executed.

This content allows the manual stapling operation to be performed continuously if the manual stapling key is kept ON after one stapling operation is completed. In other words, if the manual stapling key is turned on until the stapling operation of an arbitrary bin is performed, an arbitrary number of copies of the copied paper can be stapled, and the rest can be stapled. Subroutine "SUB500" is the 38th
As shown in the figure, this is a subroutine for rotating the motor M2 forward for 700 ms and moving to the next bin position. As an example, when the distance between the bins is 35 mm, the moving speed of the stapler unit by the motor M2 is 50 mm / S. After moving the stapler unit to the next bin position (downward) by the subroutine "SUB500" as described above,
00 ", the staple operation and the movement of the staple unit are repeated. Then counter (CN
TM] continues to count up, and moves to the next step if the manual staple key is OFF. If the flag [FBPE] = 1 while the manual staple key is kept ON, there is no paper on the bin, so the process proceeds to the next step.

Next, the double strike mode is checked. If not, the subroutine "STPL2" ends. At the time of double hit, the flag [FBPE] is checked next. (FBPE)
If = 1, it is necessary to return the staple unit to the position of the previous bin (upward) since the last bin in the two-sided one-side mode was a paper pear.
B510]. The subroutine "SUB510" is a subroutine that moves the stapler unit upward by one bin, except that the rotation direction of the motor is different from that of the subroutine "SUB500" as shown in FIG.

After the execution of the subroutine "SUB510", the flag [FBPE] is reset and the process proceeds to the next step. Also before that [FBPE]
Even if [FBPE] = 0 in the check, move to the next step.

 Next, the subroutine "PST2" is executed.

The subroutine "PST2" is for moving the stapler unit in the X direction as shown in FIG.
4) Drive 53 to the position where the sensor (S10) turns ON. The sensor (S10) is the other position reference for double hitting. After turning on the sensor (S10), the subroutine "SUB300"
The position in the direction is finely adjusted, and the subroutine "PST2" ends.

Next, a subroutine "SUB400" is executed to perform a stapling operation. After stapling, the counter [CNTM] is decremented by 1 to check whether [CNTM] is 0 or not. If it is not 0, the remaining sheets are present, so the subroutine "SUB510" is executed to move the stapler unit upward by one bin.
Thereafter, the subroutine "SUB400" is repeated, and when the counter [CNTM] becomes 0, all the double hits have been completed, and the subroutine "STPL2" is completed.

In the case of double stapling when the manual staple key 108 is not left on, the staple unit is moved in the X direction from the middle of the bin as described above, and the other two staples are similarly stapled. By continuing, double hitting of an arbitrary number of copies is possible.

If the manual staple key 108 is not left on and not double-stroke, the subroutine "ST
After finishing PL2, the next bin can be stapled. This is because the stapler is not initialized, that is, the subroutine "PST1" is not performed because the counter [CNTM] at the head of the subroutine "STPL2" is not 0.

Upon completion of the subroutine "STPL2", the process returns to the main routine. In FIG. 22, "input reading" is executed again, and another copy mode is set and processed. This is, for example, a variable power mode or a density adjustment, but is omitted in the present embodiment since there is no need for explanation.

The case where the staple is selected by the staple selection check has been described with reference to FIG. 21, but if the staple has not been selected, the process jumps to A, and the staple mode is canceled because the staple is not the staple as shown in FIG.
That is, first, the subroutine "SUB10" is executed to initialize each position of the stapler unit, and then all the stapler-related LEDs are turned off.

After that, check the sorter key, turn on the sort mode LED for sort, and turn on the stack LED for stack.
If it is not selected, leave it as it is and turn off the display with bin paper.
Then, the copy impossible flag is turned off, the input reading of the above-described steps is performed, and the process proceeds to another copy mode setting process.

As described above, it is determined how to process the copied paper, and the process is performed. Thereafter, the copy routine is started as shown in FIG.

 First, the copy impossible flag is checked.

If there is paper in the saw turbine in the staple mode, the copy-impossible flag is set, so a check is made here, the print-impossible display is turned on, and the process returns to B. B is shown in FIG. 21, and the input reading is started again. If there is paper in the saw turbine in the staple mode, the display is continued, and copying is not enabled unless the paper is removed or the staple mode is canceled. Also, other conditions in the above-mentioned input reading, for example, when the temperature of the heat fixing device is not at a predetermined temperature, etc., the copy impossible flag is turned on, but will not be described in detail.

When the copy prohibition flag is cleared, the display shows
Turn ON and check the print key ON. If the print key is not turned on, the process returns to B.

When the print key 104 is turned on, the print permission display is turned off and the copy routine is started.

First, an ON check of the document set sensor (S20) is performed to determine whether a document is set on the ADF. If OFF, AD
Normal platen mode copy is performed because it has nothing to do with F.

Document feed ON if the document set sensor (S20) is ON
Is sent to the ADF, and waits for a document feed end signal from the ADF. When the signal is finished, the document feed signal is turned off.

Next, the ON check of the ADF original set sensor (S20) is performed again. If the original set sensor (S20) is OFF, it is known that the number of originals set on the ADF is one. Therefore, if the staple mode is set in the next check, the staple mode is set. If the sort mode has been set, the sort mode is canceled. This means that stapling and sorting on a single document is not very meaningful, but rather closes to a mode mistake such as copying in the mode set by the previous operator.

When the original set sensor (S20) is ON, the original is 2
Since it is known that the number of sheets is equal to or more than the number of sheets, the above-described check of staple selection and sort mode selection is not performed.

 Next, the sort mode selection is checked again.

If the sort mode is selected, check if the staple automatic selection switch (S15) is ON, and if it is ON and the number of copy sets [CNTST] is "2" or more, cancel the sort mode and staple LED. Is turned on, the staple width direction LED is turned on, and the normal position LEDs of the staple positions X and Y are turned on.

That is, the mode is switched from the sort mode to the standard state of the staple mode. In the sort mode, when the number of copies is two or more, the stapler is often stapled after copying in many cases, so that the auto stapling can be performed even if the stapler is not set. Since this mode is determined by the user's preference, a switch (S15) is provided so that the user can select the automatic staple selection mode.

After the ADF original feeding is completed and various automatic switching operations are completed, the original counter [CNTOL] is cleared once, 1 is set, and the process proceeds to the next step.

In FIG. 24, first, the copy counter [CNTCP] is cleared.

Next, after executing a series of copy processes (not described in detail) such as document exposure, development, paper feeding, transfer, separation, and cleaning, the copy counter [CNTCP] is incremented by +1 and then sorting or stapling is selected. The sheet is discharged to the sorter bin with the number corresponding to [CNTCP]. When the sheets are not sorted or stapled, they are discharged to the same bin.

Next, the set counter and copy counter are [SNTST] ≠
If [CNTCP], the copy operation of the original is not completed, so the next copy process is executed, and [SNTST] = [CNT
Repeat until CP]. If [SNTST] = [CNTCP], then in the stack mode, the discharge port of the copy sheet for the next original is set to the bin of the sorter in which +1 is added to the contents of [CNTOL].

Next, check the document set sensor (S20) of the ADF. If the document set sensor (S20) is ON, the next document is present, so the document discharge ON and document feed ON are performed, and the document is discharged and fed. Is completed, and then the document is discharged and fed. Next, the document counter [CNTOL] is incremented by +1. As a result, if the document counter [CNTOL] is not equal to or more than 31, the process returns to the copy routine again and repeats this.

After the above-mentioned repetition, when [CNTOL] ≧ 31, if the staple mode is selected, the staple mode is released and all the staple-related LEDs are turned off. Then, select the sort mode and turn on the sort LED.

This is because in the case of staple, the staple capacity is limited, and in the present embodiment, the limit is set to 30 sheets. Therefore, when the number of staples exceeds 30, the mode automatically shifts to the sort mode.

After the copying and document exchange are repeated as described above, when the ADF document set sensor is turned off, there is no next document, so the post-copy processing routine is executed. The post-copy processing routine is for turning off the copying machine drive motor, and will not be described in detail.

Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the mode is the staple mode. If not, the process returns to B and enters a standby state such as reception of the next copy condition.

In the staple mode, the staple operation subroutine "STPL1" is executed from here.

In the subroutine "STPL1", as shown in FIG.
First, the contents of the copy counter [CNTCP] are set in the staple counter [CNTSP]. Next, a stapler initialization subroutine "PST1" is executed.

Thereafter, a subroutine "SUB400" for stapling operation is executed.

Next, -1 is added to the counter [CNTSP] and the counter (CNT
SP] = 0. Since this counter matches the content of the copy counter, it becomes zero when stapling for the number of copies is performed. If it is not 0, the staple operation is repeated after executing the subroutine "SUB500" for one bin downward in the staple unit.

When [CNTSP] becomes 0, it is checked whether or not double hit is performed. If not, the "STPL1" routine ends. 2
If it is a real hit, the subroutine "PS
T2 ", the stapler unit is moved to one position sensor (S10) in the X direction and finely adjusted.

Next, copy counter [CNTC] is again stored in counter [CNTSP].
P], the staple operation subroutine "S
UB400] and after counter [CNTSP] -1 [CNTS
After the check of [P] = 0, if it is not 0, the moving subroutine "SP510" for one bin above the stapler unit
And repeat the stapling operation.

After that, when [CNTSP] = 0, the subroutine "STPL
1 "is ended, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 24, and then returns to B of FIG. 21 to enter a standby state.

The stapler 13 is provided with a needle end sensor (S12) 32 for detecting the absence of a needle. This needle end sensor (S1
2) Even if 32 detects that there is no needle, about 70-100 needles still remain at that time.

The stapler-less check of the stapler 13 is performed only when the staple mode is selected, as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a concern that it is not necessary to carry out the stapling check during the stapling operation.However, as described above, even when the needleless sensor operates, about 70 to 100 stitches are left. The number of sorter bins is 20 bins or the number of stitches is 40 even in the double-punching mode, and there is no need to worry about running out of staples during stapling of the copy paper, so that there will be no stapleless interruption. . Therefore, even if the staple end sensor (S12) 32 detects the staple-out state during the stapling operation, the stapling of the job can be continued, and when all the staples for the discharged sheets have been completed and the above-mentioned standby state is reached, When the sensor is checked, the indication of no needle and the next copy are prohibited.

The operation timing of each part during auto staple operation is
This is as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41. FIG. 40 shows the operation timing of single-punch staple, and FIG. 41 shows the operation timing of double-punch staple.

In the above embodiment, a copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine, but can be used for various image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile and a printer. In this specification, copy paper is not limited to paper that has been subjected to copy processing by a copier, but is used in a broad sense including various types of image-formed paper.

〔effect〕

As can be seen from the comparison of the operation times of M2 and M4 in FIG. 41, the stapling device is set to the double-strike mode rather than the time required to move the plurality of bins and the stapling device relatively by one bin in the bin arrangement direction. Therefore, it takes more time to move between two different positions, but according to the configuration of the present invention, the number of times to move between the two different positions is smaller than the number of times to move by one bin. It can bind to a bundle of sheets collated in multiple bins,
The processing time in the double hit mode can be reduced. Moreover,
The greater the number of collated parts, the higher the processing efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of a copying machine to which the apparatus according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the relationship between a bin of a sorter and a stapling apparatus, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a stapler, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the relationship between the bin, the stapler, and the copy paper, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a change in the direction of the stapler,
6 is a plan view showing the automatic direction changing means of the stapler, FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the manual direction changing means of the stapler, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining stapler position adjustment, and FIG.
The figure shows a plan view of the stapler manual position adjustment means, twelfth
The figure is a perspective view showing the stapler automatic position adjusting means, and FIG.
14 is a front view showing the position detecting means, FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is a front view showing the arrangement of the position detecting means in the means of FIG. 13, and FIG. 16 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the operation panel of the copying machine, and FIG. 18 is a control block diagram of FIG.
Is an overall view, B is a partial view of a key matrix, C is a partial view of an LED matrix, FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of a signal group A, FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an example of a load group A,
21 to 39 are flowcharts showing the operation of the control, and FIG.
40 and 41 are timing charts of the auto stapling operation. 1 Automatic document feeder, 2 Copier body 3 Sorter, 10 Bin 11 Stapling device, 12 Table 13 Stapler, 33 Center shaft 39 Motor (drive) Means) 110 staple direction key

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kawano 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-269852 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model SHO 59-127056 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A collating device having a plurality of bins, a stapling device for binding a sheet bundle collated with each bin, and the plurality of bins and the stapling device are relatively moved in the bin arrangement direction. First moving means; second moving means for moving the stapling device in a direction parallel to one side edge of the sheet; and binding two different positions along a direction parallel to one side edge of the sheet. A double-strike mode setting means for setting a final-stroke mode; and a control means for operating the first and second moving means when double-strike mode is set by the double-strike mode setting means; In a sheet processing apparatus for performing binding at two different positions along a direction parallel to one side edge of a sheet bundle collated with the plurality of bins by the apparatus, the control unit includes: After sequentially binding one of the two positions in one direction along the direction in which the bins are arranged, the second position is sequentially bound in the direction opposite to the one direction. A sheet processing apparatus for operating first and second moving means.