JP2767682B2 - Automatic paper processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which printed sheets are stacked while being sequentially folded on a sheet table of a post-processing apparatus (stacker). The present invention relates to a processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus in which sheets (continuous paper) printed by a printing section are sequentially folded and stacked by a post-processing apparatus provided on the downstream side of the printing section, a post-processing apparatus is used. The folding state of the paper in the above is always detected by the photoelectric sensor, and if a paper jam (jam) occurs due to the folding failure, the printing unit and the post-processing device are immediately stopped and the operator is notified of the abnormal state. (Eg, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-19624)
No. 8). When such an abnormality is detected, the operator once lowers the sheet table of the post-processing device to the lowest position, and thereafter checks the state of the sheet in the processing device.
After the paper is manually folded as necessary, the paper table is returned to the original position to continue printing. Also, in the case of erroneous detection in which the photoelectric sensor detects an abnormality even though the folded state of the sheet is normal, the operator performs the same processing as described above.

[0003]

However, in the above-described processing method when the sheet is not properly folded, the operation burden on the operator is large, and it takes time to restart the apparatus in order to stop the apparatus when an abnormality occurs. Therefore, there is a problem that the execution processing speed of the apparatus is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an automatic paper processing apparatus capable of reducing the burden on an operator and preventing a reduction in execution processing speed when a paper folding failure occurs. The purpose is to:

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention focuses on the point that, when a folding defect is detected, the apparatus is temporarily stopped instead of being stopped, and only the post-processing device is operated to automatically correct the folding defect. It was done.

That is, as shown in the principle diagram of the invention in FIG. 1, the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus for sequentially stacking printed sheets 1 while sequentially folding them on a sheet table 3 of a post-processing apparatus 2. In (a) the folding failure detecting means 4 for detecting the occurrence of the folding failure of the paper 1 in the post-processing device 2 and (b) when the folding failure detecting means 4 detects the occurrence of the folding failure of the paper 1, The printing operation by the printing mechanism 5 is temporarily stopped, and the paper table 3 is controlled to return to the original position after being lowered, and then the folding failure detecting means 4 detects the release of the folding failure of the paper 1. A folding failure control means for controlling the printing operation by the printing mechanism when the printing operation is restarted. It is intended.

The folding failure control means 6 controls the paper 1
When the occurrence of the folding failure is detected, it is preferable that the feed roller 7 for feeding the sheet 1 to the post-processing device 2 is further controlled to rotate in the reverse direction for a predetermined time.

[0008]

When the folding failure occurs in the sheet 1 in the post-processing device 2 of the printing apparatus and the failure is detected by the folding failure detecting means 4, the printing operation on the sheet 1 is temporarily stopped by the folding failure time controlling means 6. At the same time, the sheet table 3 of the post-processing device 2 is controlled to return to the original position after being lowered. If the folded state of the sheet 1 is returned to the normal state by the operation of the sheet table 3, the printing operation is restarted, and if not, the operation of the sheet table 3 is repeated again. Thus,
The improper folding of the sheet 1 is automatically corrected, so that the burden on the operator is reduced and the execution processing speed is prevented from lowering.

In the present invention, when the occurrence of the folding failure of the sheet 1 is detected,
Further, if the feed roller 7 for feeding the paper 1 to the post-processing device 2 is controlled to rotate in a reverse direction for a predetermined time, the jammed paper 1 in the post-processing device 2 is reversely fed by a predetermined distance. In combination with the lowering and raising operations of the sheet table 3, it is possible to more reliably correct the folding failure.

[0010]

Next, a specific embodiment of the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows an overall configuration of a printing apparatus to which an automatic sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 2, paper (continuous paper) 11
Is pulled out from the hopper 12 to a tractor in a transport unit 13 disposed above the hopper 12, and is then sent between the transfer guide 14 and the photosensitive drum 15 in the transport unit 13. Then, the toner image transferred onto the sheet 11 by the transfer unit is fused to the sheet 11 by a fixing unit 16 provided on the downstream side,
The sheets 11 having passed through the fixing unit 16 are sequentially stacked on a stacker table 19 via a scuff roller 18 of a stacker (post-processing device) 17.

Below the scuff roller 18 and slightly above the uppermost layer of the sheets 11 stacked on the stacker table 19, there are a light transmitter and a light receiver arranged at the front and oblique rear of the apparatus, respectively. A photoelectric folding sensor 20 is provided. This folding sensor 20
Detects the presence or absence of the sheet 11 by being shielded from light by the sheet 11 folded right and left at the perforation position,
When the light-shielding time (or the light-projecting time) becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined time, paper jam is detected, that is, a sheet folding failure is detected. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the stacker 17 is provided with a rotary impeller that presses the upper surface of the sheets 11 stacked on the stacker table 19 to smoothly fold the sheets 11. ing. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes a control device.

Next, a control system of the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

As shown in the figure, when the folding sensor 20 detects a folding failure of the sheet 11, a detection signal is input to the MPU mechanical controller 21. This M
The PU mechanical controller 21 issues a folding defect correction command to the stacker controller 22 based on the detection signal, and also temporarily stores the photosensitive drum 15 (see FIG. 2), a printing unit 23 such as a transfer unit, and a transport unit 24 such as a tractor. Issue a stop command. Then, based on a correction command from the MPU mechanical controller 21, the stacker controller 22 operates a stacker table vertical movement motor 25 for moving the stacker table 19 (see FIG. 2) up and down, and a paper folding machine for operating a paper folding impeller. A correction operation command is issued to the impeller operation motor 26.

By this correction operation command, the stacker table vertical movement motor 25 is controlled so that the stacker table 19 is lowered to the lowermost position and then returned to the original height, and the sheet folding impeller operation motor 26 is turned on. Is controlled so as to stop once when the stacker table 19 is lowered, and to operate again when the stacker table 19 returns. Thereafter, when the folding sensor 20 detects that the folding failure has been eliminated by such a correcting operation on the stacker table 19 and the like, a temporary stop command issued from the MPU mechanical controller 21 to the printing unit 23 and the transporting unit 24. Is released. On the other hand, if the folding failure is not resolved even if the correction operation is continued for a predetermined time, a print operation stop command is issued to the print unit 23 and the transport unit 24.

Also, during the above-described paper correction operation, in other words, while the printing operation is temporarily stopped, the MPU mechanical controller 21 notifies the operator of a status indicating that the paper correction operation is being performed.

Next, the control operation at the time of the above-mentioned folding failure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

S1: Defective folding of the sheet 11 is detected based on, for example, the light shielding time of the folding sensor 20. S2: A temporary stop command is issued to the printing unit 23 and the transporting unit 24 to temporarily stop the printing operation. S3 and S4: A folding correction operation is performed. That is, after lowering the stacker table 19 to the lowermost position, the stacker table 19 is returned to the original height, and at the same time, the sheet folding impeller is temporarily stopped when the stacker table 19 is lowered, and is operated again when the stacker table 19 is returned. .

S5: It is detected by the folding sensor 20 whether or not the folding defect has been eliminated by the folding correction operation, and if it has been eliminated, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it has not been eliminated, the process proceeds to step S7. S6: Since the folding failure has been eliminated, the temporary stop command is released and the printing operation is restarted.

S7: Since the folding defect has not been solved yet, it is next determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, one minute) has elapsed since the start of the folding correction operation. Proceeding to S8, if it has not yet elapsed, the flow returns to step S3 to continue the folding correction operation. S8-S9: Since the folding failure has not been resolved even one minute after the start of the folding correction operation, the printing operation is stopped and the operator is notified. With this notification, the operator corrects the sheet to a normal state and restarts the apparatus.

In this embodiment, the stacker table 19 is lowered to the lowermost position when a folding failure occurs. However, the lowering position of the stacker table 19 is not necessarily required to be the lowermost position. May be stopped at an intermediate position before reaching, and raised from that position.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the motor 25 for vertically moving the stacker table and the motor 26 for operating the paper folding impeller are controlled as a correcting operation when a folding failure occurs. In the embodiment, in addition to the stacker table vertical movement motor 25 and the paper folding impeller operation motor 26, a scuff roller operation motor for operating the scuff roller 18 is also controlled.

That is, in the present embodiment, when a correction command is issued from the MPU mechanical controller 21 to the stacker controller 22, first, based on the correction command,
Scuff Flora 1
8 is driven for reverse rotation only for a predetermined time, and the paper 11 of an arbitrary length is pulled back from the stacker 17 toward the printing unit 23.
Next, the stacker table 19 is lowered by a predetermined distance by the stacker table up / down motor 25, and thereafter the scuff roller 18 is again driven forward by half the normal speed by the scuff roller operating motor and pulled back. The returned paper 11 is returned to the original position, and finally, the stacker table 19 is returned to the original height.
Further, in conjunction with the operation of the stacker table 19, when the stacker table 19 is lowered, the sheet folding impeller is temporarily stopped and the stacker table 19 is stopped.
It is activated again when is returned.

Next, the control operation at the time of poor folding in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

T1: Sheet 1 detected by folding sensor 20
1 is detected as a folding failure. T2: A temporary stop command is issued to the printing unit 23 and the transporting unit 24 to temporarily stop the printing operation. T3 to T6: A folding correction operation is performed. That is, the scuff roller 18 is reversely driven for a predetermined time (for example, about 1 second), and the stacker table 19 is moved for a predetermined distance (for example, about 1 second).
00mm) While lowering, stop the sheet folding impeller. Next, after the scuff roller 18 is driven to rotate forward at half the normal speed, the stacker table 19 is raised and the stacker table 19 is moved up.
When the operation returns, the impeller is operated again.

T7: It is detected by the folding sensor 20 whether or not the folding defect has been eliminated by the folding correcting operation. If the folding has been eliminated, the operation proceeds to step T8, and if not, the operation proceeds to step T9. T8: Since the folding failure has been resolved, the temporary stop command is released and the printing operation is restarted.

T9: Since the folding defect has not been solved yet, it is next determined whether or not a fixed time (for example, one minute) has elapsed since the start of the folding correction operation. The process proceeds to T10, and if it has not yet elapsed, the process returns to step T3 to continue the folding correction operation. T10 to T11: The printing operation is stopped and the operator is notified because the folding failure has not been resolved even if one minute has elapsed after the start of the folding correction operation. With this notification, the operator corrects the sheet to a normal state and restarts the apparatus.

In this embodiment, during the correction operation, the stacker table 19 is lowered after the scuff roller 18 is reversed. However, the order of these operations is reversed, and the scuff roller 1 is lowered after the stacker table 19 is lowered.
8 may be reversed. Similarly, regarding the return operation of the scuff roller 18 and the stacker table 19, the scuff roller 18 can be rotated forward after the stacker table 19 is raised.

When the paper 11 of an arbitrary length is pulled back from the stacker 17 in the direction of the printing unit 23 by the reverse rotation of the scuff roller 18, contact of the pulled back paper 11 with the photosensitive drum 15 or the like is taken into consideration. Scuff Flora 18
A buffer unit for slackening the returned sheet 11 downward may be provided immediately upstream of the printer.

In this embodiment, the paper 11 is the paper 1 of the present invention, the stacker 17 is the post-processing device 2, the stacker table 19 is the paper table 3, the folding sensor 20 is the folding failure detecting means 4, the transfer guide. 14,
The photosensitive drum 15, the fixing device 16 and the like are provided to the printing mechanism 5 by the MPU.
The mechanical controller 21, the stacker controller 22, and the control device 27 correspond to the control unit 6 at the time of folding failure, and the scuff roller 18 corresponds to the feed roller 7.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a folding failure is detected, the apparatus is not put into a stop state but in a temporary stop state, and only the post-processing device is operated to automatically correct the folding failure. Since it is configured in
In addition, it is possible to reduce the burden on the operator when a sheet folding failure occurs, and to prevent a reduction in the execution processing speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of an automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing apparatus to which the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation performed when the folding of the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment is defective.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation performed when a folding failure occurs in the automatic sheet processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 11 paper 2 post-processing device 3 paper table 4 folding failure detection means 5 printing mechanism 6 folding failure control means 7 feed roller 17 stacker 18 scuff roller 19 stacker table 20 folding sensor 21 MPU mechanical controller 22 stacker controller 27 controller

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 43/04 B65H 45/109

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A post-processing device (2) for printing printed paper (1).
(A) folding failure detecting means (4) and (b) for detecting the occurrence of the folding failure of the paper (1) in the post-processing device (2). When the occurrence of the folding failure of the sheet (1) is detected by the folding failure detecting means (4), the printing operation by the printing mechanism (5) is temporarily stopped, and the original is lowered after the paper table (3) is lowered. To return to the original position, and when the folding failure detecting means (4) detects that the folding failure of the sheet (1) is detected, the printing operation by the printing mechanism (5) is restarted. An automatic sheet processing apparatus comprising a folding failure control means (6) for controlling. 2. The folding failure control means (6) comprises:
When the occurrence of a folding failure of the sheet (1) is detected, control is further performed to reverse the feed roller (7) for feeding the sheet (1) to the post-processing device (2) for a predetermined time. 2. The automatic sheet processing apparatus according to 1.