JP2783341B2 - Sheet ejection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a laser beam printer.
The present invention relates to a sheet discharge device that pushes out a sheet conveyed from these devices onto a discharge tray and discharges the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent copiers are used in combination with an automatic document feeder and a post-processing apparatus for automating copying operations and post-processing operations such as stapling or punching of sheets after copying. It has become so. The automatic document feeder is provided on a document table of a copying machine, and for example, sequentially transports a plurality of documents to a document table of the copying machine. Also, the post-processing device is
A process such as stapling or punching is performed on each sheet of a predetermined number of sheets on a sheet on which a document image is copied and discharged from a copying machine.

In the above-mentioned conventional post-processing apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-144370, when performing a stapling process, for example, sheets discharged from a copying machine are stacked on a processing tray. After being stapled by the stapler, a bundle of sheets, that is, a sheet bundle, is discharged onto a discharge tray by discharge rollers provided above and below.

[0004]

However, not only in the above-mentioned post-processing apparatus, but in an apparatus for discharging a sheet bundle from a processing tray only by upper and lower rollers, a large number of sheets formed into a bundle from one sheet When the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray, it is difficult to appropriately set the pressing force on the sheet from the upper and lower rollers in accordance with the amount of each sheet, and the sheet cannot be discharged properly depending on the amount of sheets. In addition, when a sheet bundle that is not integrated by the stapling process is discharged onto a discharge tray, there is a problem that the sheets are likely to be shifted from each other.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet discharging apparatus for receiving a sheet carried in from a main body, and a sheet discharging device for discharging the sheet from the sheet receiving table. A sheet ejection device having a sheet ejection tray for receiving the sheet, and a sheet ejection device for extruding the sheet on the sheet receiving table toward the ejection tray, and an upper end portion of the sheet abutting portion of the sheet ejection device has
The lower end portion of the seat abutting portion projecting to the discharge tray direction
So that the sheet contact portion is inclined forward with respect to the sheet receiving table.
It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet discharging apparatus, comprising: a sheet receiving tray for receiving a sheet conveyed from a main body; and a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet receiving unit. And a sheet ejecting device for pushing out the sheet on the sheet receiving table in the direction of the ejection tray, wherein the upper end of the sheet contact portion of the sheet pushing device is ejected more than the lower end of the sheet contact portion. Projecting in the tray direction, and the angle formed between the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is not less than 15 ° 5.
0 ° or less, and the distance of the upper end of the sheet contact portion from the sheet receiving table is 1.5 times or more and 4 times or less the maximum sheet thickness that can be pushed out by the sheet pushing means. .

[0007] sheet discharging device of the invention of claim 3, in order to solve the above problems, the configuration of claim 1 or 2, wherein
An alignment means having sheet alignment members on both sides in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the extrusion direction by the sheet extrusion means, and aligning the sheet on the sheet receiving table with the reference position in the sheet width direction by these sheet alignment members; Sheet extruding means for extruding the sheet aligned by the aligning means in the direction of the discharge tray, and extruding the sheet by the sheet extruding means so that the sheet is aligned with both sheet aligning members of the aligning means. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet discharging apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems, comprising: a sheet receiving table for receiving a sheet carried in from a main body; and a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet receiving table. And a sheet ejecting device for extruding the sheet on the sheet receiving table in the direction of the ejection tray, wherein the sheet abutting portion of the sheet ejecting device is moved in a direction opposite to the pushing direction and the pushing direction by the sheet pushing device. A sheet contact portion turning member for turning the sheet contact portion in the pushing direction is provided at the end of the sheet receiving stand on the discharge tray side, which is characterized by being rotatably provided.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, so that the sheet can be discharged onto the discharge tray regardless of the amount of sheets. At the same time, even when a sheet bundle that is not integrated is discharged, deviation between the sheets is less likely to occur.

Further, when the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, the upper end of the sheet contact portion of the sheet pushing means is higher than the lower end of the sheet contact portion. so as to protrude in a direction,該Shi
The seat abutment is inclined forward with respect to the seat support ,
The rear end of the sheet is not caught on the sheet contact portion. Thus, it is possible to smoothly push the sheet to the discharge tray.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, similarly to the first aspect, the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, so that the sheet can be discharged regardless of the sheet amount. In addition, even when a sheet bundle that is not integrated is discharged, deviation between the sheets hardly occurs.

Further, when the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, the sheet contact portion has an angle of 15 ° or more with the sheet receiving table.
0 ° or less and the distance between the upper end of the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is 1.5 times or more and 4 times or less the maximum sheet thickness that can be pushed out by the sheet pushing means. The upward bending of the sheet due to the pushing operation of the sheet is restricted by the sheet contact portion, and the sheet can be pushed smoothly to the discharge tray.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the sheets on the sheet receiving table are pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, so that the sheets can be discharged regardless of the amount of sheets. In addition, even when a sheet bundle that is not integrated is discharged, deviation between the sheets hardly occurs.

When the sheet is pushed out by the sheet pushing means, the sheet is pushed along both sheet aligning members of the aligning means provided on both sides in the sheet width direction. When the sheet is pushed out, the inclination of the sheet in the sheet width direction is restricted, and the sheet can be pushed out to the discharge tray smoothly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, similarly to the first aspect, the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, so that the sheet can be discharged regardless of the amount of the sheet. In addition, even when a sheet bundle that is not integrated is discharged, deviation between the sheets hardly occurs.

Further, when the sheet on the sheet receiving table is pushed out onto the discharge tray by the sheet pushing means, the sheet contact portion of the sheet pushing means rotates in the pushing direction by the sheet pushing means, and the sheet contacts the sheet. The catch of the rear end of the sheet on the sheet or the sheet receiving stand is eliminated. Thus, it is possible to smoothly push the sheet to the discharge tray.

[0017]

Embodiment 1 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment shows a case where a sheet post-processing apparatus as a sheet discharging apparatus is applied to a copying machine.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet post-processing device 41
Are provided in the copying machine main body 1 as a main body device.
An RDH (Recirculating Doc), which is a type of an automatic document feeder for transporting the document M onto the platen glass 3 of the copying machine body 1, is provided on the copying machine body 1.
A document handler 31 is provided.

At the upper end of the copying machine body 1, the above-mentioned original platen glass 3 is disposed. Below the original platen glass 3, an optical system comprising a light source lamp 4, mirrors 5, 6, 7 and a lens 8 is provided. A system 9 and a photosensitive drum 10 are provided. The optical system 9 optically scans the original M conveyed onto the original platen glass 3 by the RDH 31 with the light emitted from the light source lamp 4, and reflects the reflected light to each of the mirrors 5, 6, 7.
By irradiating the exposure point A on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 via the lens 8, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original M is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 uniformly charged by the main charger 11. Is formed.

Around the photosensitive drum 10, a main charger 11, a developing device 12, a transfer charger 13
And a peeling charger 14 are provided.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the transfer charger 1 is developed as a toner image by the developing device 12, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer charger 1.
3, the sheet S is separated from the photosensitive drum 10 by the separation charger 14.

A sheet conveying path 15 for conveying the sheet S to the photosensitive drum 10 is provided below the photosensitive drum 10, and a sheet feeding sheet S is provided upstream of the sheet conveying path 15. A table 19, a sheet cassette 20, and a sheet deck 21 are provided. On the other hand, the sheet conveying path 15
A transport belt 22 for transporting the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred, and a fixing device 23 for fixing the toner image onto the sheet S are provided downstream of the printer.

On the downstream side of the fixing device 23, a deflector 24 for switching the conveying direction of the sheet S between the direction of the sheet post-processing device 41 and the direction of the re-conveying path 25 is provided. The re-conveying path 25 forms a circulation path for conveying the sheet S, on which the toner image has been transferred by the photosensitive drum 10, to the photosensitive drum 10 again. It enables double-sided copying.

The RDH 31 has a document tray 32 at an upper portion, a feeding belt 33 on one side of the document tray 32, and a feeding belt 34 on the document table glass 3, and these are circulating paths. Are connected by the original document conveying path 35. Then, the RDH 31 sends out the original M stacked on the original tray 32 onto the original glass 3 by the feed belt 33, and positions the original M at a predetermined position on the original glass 3 by the transport belt 34. At the same time, after the scanning of the original by the optical system 9 is completed, the original is returned to the original tray 32.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet post-processing apparatus 41 is provided with a post-processing conveyance path 42 for conveying the sheet S carried out from the copying machine body 1 in the sheet post-processing apparatus 41. The sheet S by the post-processing conveyance path 42
The staple plate 43 as a sheet receiving table is provided in the transport direction of the sheet S, and a discharge tray 44 is provided in the transport direction of the sheet S from the staple plate 43.

The post-processing conveyance path 42 is formed at one end thereof with a carry-in port 42a for carrying a sheet S carried out from the copier body 1, and has a lower main path 42b and an upper bypass 42c in the middle. It is branched into two branches. At the ends of the main path 42b and the bypass 42c, a pair of upper and lower transport rollers 45, 45,
46 is provided, and a bypass 42c and a main path 42b are provided.
A deflector 47 is provided at the branch point between the _two to rotate the sheet S in the B ₁ -B ₂ direction and switch the conveying direction of the sheet S between the main path 42b direction and the bypass 42c direction. Further, in order to detect the sheet S, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet detection switch SW ₁ is provided in the main path 42b, a sheet detection switch SW ₂ is provided in the bypass 42c.

The staple plate 43 is used to bind (staple) the sheets S having passed through the post-processing conveyance path 42.
To be loaded. The staple plate 43 is disposed so as to be inclined so that the front end thereof when the conveyance direction of the sheet S is the front side is at an upper position with respect to the rear end, and the front end is near the discharge port 114 of the sheet S. Has been reached. On the staple plate 43, there is provided a paddle 48 that is rotated in the C direction while the lower end of the blade portion is in contact with the upper surface of the staple plate 43. The paddle 48 rotates as described above, and retracts the sheet S at its blade portion to a position where the rear end of the pad S contacts the stopper 49, thereby aligning the sheet S in the transport direction.

On both sides of the staple plate 43 in the width direction, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the staple plate 43 viewed obliquely from the rear, excluding the paddle 48, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 6 which is a view in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 1, a width shifting device 50 as an alignment means is provided. This width adjuster 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a positioning plate 51 as a sheet alignment member that is fixedly provided on one side in the width direction of the staple plate 43, and a width adjustment plate as a sheet alignment member that is driven in the width direction of the staple plate 43. 52.

As shown in FIG. 6, the width shifting plate 52 is provided on a support plate 54 which is guided by a guide rail 53 and is movable in the width direction of the staple plate 43. A rack gear 54a is formed on a side edge portion of the support plate 54, and the rack gear 54a is
5 is transmitted via the pulley 56, the belt 57, and the pinion gear 58, the width shift plate 52 is driven in the width direction of the staple plate 43, and the sheet S
Are aligned with a reference position set by the positioning plate 51. The width shifting operation by the width shifting plate 52 is performed in accordance with the width of the sheet S being used by controlling the width shifting plate driving motor 55 by a control device (not shown).

A stapler 59 for closing a corner of the sheet S aligned with the staple plate 43 on the stopper 49 side and the positioning plate 51 side is provided at a position behind the positioning plate 51 in the above-mentioned width shifting device 50. I have.

At the front end of the staple plate 43,
As shown in FIG. 6, a rotating shaft 74 extending in the width direction of the staple plate 43 is provided, and the rotating shaft 74 is provided with a plurality of discharge rollers 75. Rotating shaft 74
Is connected to the discharge roller drive motor (not shown), the rotary shaft 74, i.e. the discharge rollers 75 ... is rotated in G ₁ -G ₂ direction shown in FIG. 1 are driven to the discharge roller drive motor. That is, the discharge roller 75, by rotating the G ₂ direction, while assisting the alignment of the conveying direction by moving the sheet S in the staple plate 43 to the stopper 49 direction, by rotating the G ₁ direction Then, the bound sheets S are discharged onto the discharge tray 44.

A driven roller 78 is provided above the discharge roller 75. The driven roller 78 is rotatably supported at one end of the offset guide 77 of the offset guide device 80. Offset guide device 8
0, the other end is rotatably supported by a support shaft 79,
The offset guide 77 includes the above-described offset guide 77 that guides the upper surface of the sheet S conveyed from the main path 42b in the offset mode and guides the sheet S toward the discharge tray 44, and an offset guide driving device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of the receiving surface of the sheet S, that is, the portion corresponding to the discharging roller 75, is a concave portion 44a, which is the lowermost surface of the discharging tray 44. The upper part of the surface is an inclined surface having substantially the same angle as the inclined angle of the staple plate 43.

The discharge tray 44 is provided on a tray shift unit 81. In the tray shift unit 81, a shift frame 82 extending in the width direction of the staple plate 43 is supported so as to be movable in the width direction of the staple plate 43. Then, the power of the tray shift motor 85 is transmitted to the shift frame 82 via a plurality of gears or the like, so that the shift frame 82, that is, the discharge tray 44 and the tray back plate 94 shown in FIG.
Are integrally shifted in the width direction of the stapling plate 43.

The discharge tray 44 is driven in the vertical direction by a tray elevating unit 95 shown in FIG. The tray elevating unit 95 includes a tray elevating motor (not shown), a belt 97 vertically provided on the inner surface of the tray back plate 94, belt support rollers 98 and 98 for supporting the belt 97, and a tray shift unit 81. A lift auxiliary roller 99 provided on the outer surface of the tray back plate 94 and a pulley 100 provided on a drive shaft of a tray lift motor;
0 and a belt 101 hung between the lower belt support roller 98. A tray shift unit 81 is connected to the belt 97, and the discharge tray 44 is moved up and down by driving the tray 97 to move the belt 97.

At the rear of the staple plate 43, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an extruding device 60 as a sheet extruding means is provided. This extrusion device 6
Reference numeral 0 denotes an extruding member 61 which is a sheet extruding member for extruding the sheet S on the staple plate 43 in the direction of the discharge tray 44, and the sheet S on the staple plate 43 is placed on the discharge tray 44. D ₁ direction advanced position for pushing, and a pushing member driving device 109 shown in FIG. 1 as an extrusion member driving means for moving to the retracted position of the D ₂ direction side end position of the staple plate 43. This pushing member driving device 10
9 is an extrusion belt 62 to which the extrusion member 61 is connected.
6, a belt supporting roller 63, a guide shaft 65 also shown in FIG. 6, a connecting member 66, a sliding member 67, and a pushing member driving motor (not shown).

The pushing member 61 has a flat base 6.
Standing portions 61b, 61b on both side edges in the width direction in 1a
And a sheet contact portion 61c that contacts the rear end of the sheet S is formed at the front of each standing portion 61b. The sheet contact portion 61c is formed such that its upper end protrudes more toward the discharge tray 44 than its lower end. That is, when the sheet S on the staple plate 43 is extruded onto the discharge tray 44, the rear end of the sheet S is
The sheet S can be easily discharged onto the discharge tray 44 without being caught on the sheet S.

The pushing member 61 is provided with an upright portion 61b.
Reference numeral 61b is disposed so as to protrude above the staple plate 43 through insertion holes 43a formed in the staple plate 43. Extrusion belt 62
Are arranged below the staple plate 43, and are stapled by the belt support rollers 63.
3 is supported so as to be movable in the D ₁ -D ₂ direction parallel to the upper surface of the staple plate 43 and along the upper surface of the staple plate 43. The base 61a of the extruding member 61 is connected to the extruding belt 62 by a connecting member 66.
An extrusion member drive motor, not shown, is connected to one of the three and 63. The guide shaft 65 is supported on the lower surface of the staple plate 43 in parallel with the lower surface, and the guide shaft 6
The sliding member 67 slidably provided on the pushing member 6
The base member 61a is connected to the extruding member 6
1 is guided by the guide shaft 65 and moves forward and backward in the direction D ₁ -D ₂ .

Between the upper edge of the stopper 49 on the staple plate 43 and the lower conveying roller 45 in the main path 42b, the lower part is the stopper 4
9 is provided.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the stopper 49 has push-out member passing holes 49a / 4 for allowing the push-out member 61 to pass therethrough.
9a are formed.

Further, the staple plate 43, as shown in FIG. 4, a sheet detection switch SW ₃ and the extrusion detection switch SW ₄ is provided. The sheet detection switch SW ₃ is connected to D ₁ in the staple plate 43.
The sheet S is provided at the leading end in the
Is detected. On the other hand, the push-out detection switch SW ₄ is turned ON / OFF by the movement of the push-out member 61 in the push-out device 60, and when the sheet S on the staple plate 43 is pushed out to the discharge tray 44 by the push-out member 61, The state immediately before the completion of the pushing operation is detected. As the means for detecting this state, in addition to extrusion detection switch SW ₄ above, it is also possible to configure a timer for measuring the elapsed time from the start of movement of the pusher member 61.

Further, the sheet post-processing device 41 is configured to perform the above-described operations based on the sheet detection switches SW ₁ , SW ₂ , SW ₃ , the push-out detection switch SW _4, and the input from a control device (not shown) of the copying machine main body 1. And a control device (not shown) for controlling the operation of each means. This controller is
The microcomputer includes a storage device, a counter, a timer, and the like, and controls each of the above-described units according to an offset mode, a staple single mode, and a staple multi mode set in the copying machine main body 1 as described later. It has become.

In the offset mode, the copying machine 1
Is a processing mode in which sheets S conveyed from the copier 1 are sequentially discharged onto the discharge tray 44 without post-processing, that is, without performing stapling processing. S is stapled and bound as one set of sheets S, and then the bound sheets S (hereinafter, referred to as bound sheets S)
In the staple multi mode, the sheet S conveyed from the copying machine body 1 is stapled to form a bookbinding sheet S, and then the bookbinding sheet S is discharged. Is a processing mode in which a series of operations for discharging the paper to the discharge tray 44 are continuously performed a plurality of times.

In the above configuration, the sheet post-processing device 4
The operation of the sheet post-processing device 41 based on the control of the first control device will be described below.

First, in the offset mode, when the number of offsets, that is, the number of copies, is set in the copying machine main body 1 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, a signal indicating the number of offsets is transmitted from the control device of the copying machine main body 1. Is done. When receiving the above signal (S1), the control device of the sheet post-processing device 41 sets the offset number in the storage device (S2). Next, when the control device of the sheet post-processing device 41 receives a signal indicating an operation start from the copying machine body 1 (S3), it performs a predetermined start process (S4).
The counter for counting the number of processed sheets is cleared (S5).

In the start process of S4, for example,
Drives the deflector 47 to the B ₁ direction, placing the discharge tray 44 in a predetermined position by the tray lifting unit 95, the driven roller 78 is discharged by the offset guide drive roller 7
5 and driving the offset guide 77 so as to abut the F ₁ direction, rotation, and processing such as rotation of the conveying rollers 45, 45 is carried out the discharge roller 75 to the G ₁ direction.

Thereafter, when the sheet S on which the image of the original M has been copied from the copying machine main body 1 is carried into the carry-in entrance 42a of the post-processing carrying path 42, the sheet S passes through the main path 42b, and then passes through the discharge roller The paper is discharged onto the discharge tray 44 through the space between the roller 75 and the driven roller 78. At this time, the ON of the sheet detection switch SW _1, is detected conveying operation of the sheet S in the main path 42b is (S6), ON of the sheet detection switch SW ₃ (S7), and subsequent OFF
By (S8), the passage of the sheet S between the rollers 75 and 78 is detected. Thereby, the count value of the number of processed sheets is increased (S9).

Next, the control device of the sheet post-processing apparatus 41 determines whether or not the current number of processed sheets has reached the previously set offset number (S10). If the number of processed sheets has not reached the offset number. For example, the operation shifts to S6. On the other hand, if the processed number has reached the offset number, the processed number of the counter is cleared (S11), and the discharge tray 44
Is lowered (S12), shifted by the tray shift unit 81 (S13), and then raised again to a predetermined position (S14). The discharge tray 44 in S13
The shift operation of the discharge tray 4
This is for distinguishing on the discharge tray 44 a part of the sheets S discharged onto the discharge tray 44 and a part of the sheets S discharged onto the discharge tray 44 by the next discharge operation.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating the end of the operation has been received from the copying machine body 1 (S15). If no such signal has been received, the process proceeds to S6, while if the above signal has been received. Is subjected to a predetermined end process (S16).
End the operation.

Next, in the staple single mode,
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, when the control device of the sheet post-processing device 41 receives a signal indicating the number of staples (S21), the controller sets the number of staples in the storage device (S22). Next, when a signal indicating an operation start is received from the copying machine body 1 (S23), a predetermined start process is performed (S24), and a counter for counting the number of processed sheets is cleared (S25).

[0049] In the start process of S24,, for example, drives the deflector 47 to the B ₁ direction, the discharge tray 44
An arrangement in place, driving the offset guide 77 in the F ₂ direction, rotating the discharge roller 75 to the G ₂ direction, rotating the paddler 48 in the direction C, and processing such as rotation of the conveying rollers 45, 45 is performed.

Thereafter, when the sheet S is conveyed from the copying machine main body 1 to the entrance 42a of the post-processing conveyance path 42, the sheet S passes through the main path 42b and then conveys to the conveyance roller 45.
・ Sending out toward the discharge roller 75 by 45,
By a discharge roller 75 and paddler 48 which rotates in the direction C, rotates the G ₂ direction, the rear end stopper 49
Is placed on the staple plate 43 in a state of contact with the staple plate 43.

At this time, the O of the sheet detection switch SW ₁
By N (S26) and OFF (S27) thereafter, the passage of the sheet S through the main path 42b is detected.
Thereby, the control device clears the timer (S28),
The count value of the number of processed sheets is increased (S29).

Thereafter, when a predetermined time set by the timer elapses (S30), it is determined that the sheet S has been placed on the stapling plate 43 as described above, and Position the sheet S on the positioning plate 5
It is moved to the reference position set in step 1 and aligned in the width direction (S31).

Next, the control device determines whether or not the current number of processed sheets has reached the previously set offset number of sheets (S32). If the number of processed sheets has not reached the number of staples, the control device shifts to the operation of S26. I do. On the other hand, if the number of processed sheets has reached the number of staples, the number of processed sheets of the counter is cleared (S33), and stapling is performed by the stapler 59 (S34).

Next, bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing is performed (S35). The bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjusting process is a series of processes for discharging the bookbinding sheets S on the staple plate 43 to the discharge tray 44 and adjusting the position of the discharge tray 44 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. It is. That is, first, after the discharge roller 75 is rotated in the G ₁ direction (S41), the pusher member 61 is advanced to the D ₁ direction by the pushing member driving unit 109 (S42). By the operation of S42, the binding sheets S on the staple plate 43 are transferred to the discharge tray 44.
Extruded up. Then, when the extrusion detection switch SW ₄ is turned ON by the movement of the pushing member 61 (S4
3) Lower the discharge tray 44 (S44), and then
The extruding member 61 that has completed the extrusion of the bookbinding sheet S is retreated (S45). Next, the tray shift unit 81
To shift the discharge tray 44 (S46), and then raise the discharge tray 44 to a predetermined position (S4).
7).

Thereafter, when a signal indicating the end of the operation is received from the copying machine main body 1 (S36), predetermined end processing is performed (S37), and the operation is ended.

Here, when the bookbinding sheet S is extruded in S42, the sheet contact portion 61 of the pushing member 61 is pushed.
If the upper end of c is not formed so as to protrude in the direction of the discharge tray 44 from the lower end, the binding sheet S extruded by the extruding member 61 of the extruding device 60 is soft and stiff, and the discharge tray 44 At the top, the rear end tends to be caught by the sheet contact portion 61c,
Smooth extrusion becomes difficult.

However, in the present sheet post-processing apparatus 41, the upper end of the sheet abutting portion 61c of the pushing member 61 is formed so as to protrude more toward the discharge tray 44 than the lower end thereof. As shown in FIG.
Bookbinding sheet S to sheet contact portion 61c of extrusion member 61
Of the rear end is eliminated. Therefore, the bookbinding sheet S can be extruded smoothly.

Next, in the staple multi mode, the operation shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 to 15 is performed.
The bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing in each flowchart is the operation shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 11, when the control device of the sheet post-processing device 41 receives a signal indicating the number of staples for forming the bookbinding sheet S of each unit (S6).
1) The number of staples is set in the storage device (S6).
2). Next, when a signal indicating an operation start is received from the copying machine body 1 (S63), a predetermined start process is performed (S64), and a counter for counting the number of processed sheets is cleared (S65).

[0060] In the start processing of step S64, for example, drives the deflector 47 to the B ₁ direction, the discharge tray 44
An arrangement in place, driving the offset guide 77 in the F ₂ direction, rotating the discharge roller 75 to the G ₂ direction, rotating the paddler 48 in the direction C, and processing such as rotation of the conveying rollers 45, 46 is performed.

Thereafter, the first copy of the first copy from the copier body 1 is performed.
When the second sheet S is carried into the carry-in entrance 42a of the post-processing carrying path 42, the sheet S passes through the main path 42b, and is sent out by the carrying rollers 45 toward the discharge roller 75. Discharge roller 7 that rotates in _two directions
5 and the paddle 48 rotating in the C direction, is placed on the staple plate 43 with its rear end in contact with the stopper 49.

At this time, the O of the sheet detection switch SW ₁
By N (S66) and OFF (S67) thereafter, the passage of the sheet S through the main path 42b is detected.
Thereby, the control device clears the timer (S68),
The count value of the number of processed sheets is increased (S69).

Next, since the sheet S being conveyed on the main path 42b is the first sheet S of the first copy,
Since the number of processed sheets is 1 (S70), and the staple plate 43 is in a ready state in which the sheet S is not placed (S71), the process proceeds to S78 shown in FIG. The sheet S is aligned in the width direction by the device 50 (S79). Then, since the number of staples has not been reached (S80), the process proceeds to S66.

Next, when the second sheet S of the first copy is carried into the main path 42b, the above-described steps S66 to S66 are performed.
After performing the operation of S69, the number of sheets to be processed becomes two.
70), and the process proceeds to S78 in FIG. And S78
After the operation of S79, if the previously set number of staples has been reached, that is, if the previously set number of staples is 2 (S80), the processing number counter is cleared (S81) and the stapler is cleared. The stapling process is performed in step S59 (S82), and the flow advances to step S66.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S80 that the number of staples has not been reached, S66 to S70 and S78 to S8
0 is performed until the number of staples is reached, and when the number of staples is reached, the process proceeds to S66 through S81 and S82.
Move to

Next, in S66, when the sheet detection switch SW ₁ is not ON after stapling of S82, the process proceeds to S83 shown in FIG. 13. And S
If the above-described bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing has not been completed in 83, this processing is performed (S84).
The process returns to S66. If the bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing has been completed in S83, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating the end of the operation has been received from the copying machine body 1 (S85). S66
On the other hand, if a signal has been received, predetermined termination processing is performed (S86), and the operation is terminated.

[0067] Further, after the stapling process in S82 in S66, when already ON sheet detection switch SW ₁ by the first sheet S of the second copy, the sheet detection switch SW ₁ in S67 is not OFF,
The process moves to S87 in FIG. If the bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing has not been completed in S87, this processing is performed (S88), and the process proceeds to S67. If the bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing has been completed, S67 remains unchanged. Move to.

Next, ON and subsequent OFF the sheet detection switch SW ₁ in S66 and S67 of the
After the operations of S68 and S69 are performed based on, the sheet S being conveyed along the main path 42b is
If it is the first sheet, since the number of processed sheets is 1 in S70, the process proceeds to S71. Then, in this S71,
The bookbinding sheet S of the first copy is already extruded from the staple plate 43 by the binding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing, and the staple plate 43 is ready.
In this state, the flow shifts to S78 in FIG. 12 to perform the following operation.

On the other hand, in step S71, if the extrusion of the first binding sheet S on the staple plate 43 is not completed, the transport rollers 45 are stopped to stop the second binding sheet S. The first sheet S is stopped in the main path 42b (S72). afterwards,
Rotate the deflector 47 to the B ₂ direction, the main path 42
b is closed (S73). Thereby, the post-processing conveyance path 42
The second sheet S of the second copy carried into the second sheet is conveyed through the bypass 42c. Then, after the sheet detection switch SW ₂ is turned ON by the second sheet S (S7
4), OFF Then (S75), thereby to confirm the transfer of the second sheet S of the second copy in the bypass 42c, the deflector 47 B ₁ direction, i.e. the bypass 42
c in the closing direction (S76).
By rotating 45, the conveyance of the first sheet S of the second copy is restarted (S77). As a result, the first sheet S and the second sheet S of the second copy are placed on the staple plate 43 in synchronization.

[0070] Further, in S74 described above, when the sheet detection switch SW ₂ is not ON, the process proceeds to S89 shown in FIG. 15. Then, if the above-described bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing is not completed in S89 (S90), the process proceeds to S74 again. If the bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing has been completed in S89, the process directly proceeds to S74.

Next, S68 to S70 and S78 to S8
2, or S68-S70, S78-S80, S
The stapling process is performed through the operations of 66 to S70 and S78 to S82. Thereafter, when the creation of the bookbinding sheet S is completed at the second copy, the sheet detection switch SW ₁ is not ON in S66, whereby the process proceeds to S83 shown in FIG. 13, the operation ends as described above I do. On the other hand, when the creation of the bookbinding sheet S is continued for the third copy and thereafter, after the operations of S66 to S70, S78 to S84, and S87 to S90 are performed as appropriate, S85 and S8 are performed.
After the operation of No. 6, the operation of the staple multi mode ends.

As described above, in the staple multi-mode in the book sheet post-processing apparatus 41, a part of the bookbinding sheets S in a plurality of copies are created.
However, if the first sheet S of the next part is placed on the staple plate 43 when the first sheet S of the next portion is not yet pushed out to the discharge tray 44, Since the first sheet S is placed on the staple plate 43 in synchronization with the second sheet S, the processing speed is increased.

[Embodiment 2] Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For the sake of convenience, members having the same functions as those shown in the drawings of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The sheet post-processing apparatus 121 according to the present embodiment includes an extruding member 61 of the extruding apparatus 60 shown in FIGS.
Instead, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, an extruding member 122 having an inclination angle and a distance to be described later with respect to the staple plate 43 is provided.

The sheet contact portion 12 of the pushing member 122
2c, the upper end protrudes more toward the discharge tray 44 than the lower end, and the sheet contact portion 122c has an inclination angle α of 15 ° or more and 50 ° or less, preferably 35 ° or more and 45 ° or less with respect to the staple plate 43. It is formed so that it becomes. Further, the distance H from the staple plate 43 to the upper end of the sheet abutting portion 122c is the pushing member 12.
2 is formed so as to be 1.5 to 4 times, preferably 2 to 3 times the maximum sheet S thickness that can be extruded. This distance H is specifically, for example,
The maximum sheet S that can be pushed out by the pushing member 122
When the thickness is 12 mm, the thickness may be 18 mm or more and 48 mm or less, and particularly preferably 24 mm or more and 36 mm or less.
In addition, the staple plate 43 is approximately 40 ° with respect to the horizontal direction so that the alignment of the sheet S in the transport direction and the pushing of the bookbinding sheet S to the discharge tray 44 are performed smoothly.
It is installed with an inclination of. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the above configuration, the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 121 based on the control of a control unit (not shown) is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the offset mode, FIG. 9 in the staple single mode, and FIG. Sometimes it is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing in each flowchart is shown in FIG.
The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the book post-processing apparatus 121 executes the bookbinding sheet S in S42.
When the sheet is pushed out, the sheet contact portion 12 of the pushing member 122 is
2c is formed so that the inclination angle α is not less than 15 ° and not more than 50 ° with respect to the staple plate 43, and the upper end of the sheet contact portion 122c is
Since the distance H from 3 is set to be 1.5 times or more and 4 times or less the bookbinding sheet S, upward curving of the bookbinding sheet S is restricted as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the bookbinding sheet S is soft and stiff, it can be smoothly pushed out without causing the bookbinding sheet S to bend upward.

[Embodiment 3] Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The sheet post-processing device 141 of this embodiment has the same structure as the sheet post-processing device 41 shown in FIG.
The operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 141 based on the control of a control device (not shown) is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the offset mode, FIG. 9 in the staple single mode, and FIGS. 11 to 15 in the staple multi mode. This is shown in the flowchart. In the bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing in each flowchart, the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is performed.

However, the control device of the sheet post-processing device 141 performs the alignment in the sheet width direction at S31 in the staple single mode, after the alignment by the width shifting device 50, the number of staples does not reach at S32. In the meantime, while the width shifting plate 52 is retreated to the home position, when the number of staples is reached, the width shifting plate 52 is held at the position where the width shifting is performed until the pushing operation by the pushing device 60 is completed. Control is performed. Further, the above-described control device performs the same control in the sheet width direction alignment in the staple multi mode.

As described above, the sheet post-processing device 141
Then, when the bookbinding sheet S is extruded in S42, S
As shown in FIG. 19, the inclination of the bookbinding sheet S in the sheet width direction is regulated by the width shifting plate 52 held at the position where the width adjustment has been performed in 31. Therefore, even if the bound sheet S is soft and stiff, it can be smoothly pushed out without leaning in the sheet width direction.

[Embodiment 4] Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For the sake of convenience, members having the same functions as those shown in the drawings of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The sheet post-processing apparatus 151 according to the present embodiment is similar to the extrusion member 61 of the extrusion apparatus 60 shown in FIGS.
Instead, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, an extrusion member 152 is provided. The pushing member 152 has upright portions 152b, 152b at both side edges in the width direction of the flat base 152a.
A sheet contact portion 152c that contacts the rear end of the sheet S is provided at the front of 52b. This sheet contact portion 152
20C, a weight 152d is attached to a lower end portion, and J ₁ -J shown in FIG.
It is supported rotatably in _two directions. However, rotation in the J ₂ direction of the sheet contact portion 152c is regulated by the projecting portion 152e provided on the standing portion 152b. That is,
Seat contact portion 152c, when it was added the pressure on the D ₂ direction to the lower end, rotates in the J ₁ direction, when the pressure on the the D ₂ direction is released and attached to the lower end portion Weight 1
Rotates J ₂ direction by 52 d, so that the stop to its original position by the protrusion 152e. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the above-described configuration, the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus 151 based on the control of a control unit (not shown) is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the offset mode, FIG. 9 in the staple single mode, and FIG. Sometimes it is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing in each flowchart is shown in FIG.
The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In the flowchart of FIG. 10, the book sheet post-processing apparatus 151 uses the bookbinding sheet S in S42.
When the sheet is pushed out, the sheet contact portion 15 of the pushing member 152 is
When the sheet 2c advances to the front end of the staple plate 43, as shown in FIG. 23, the lower end of the sheet contact portion 152c is rotated by a rotating shaft 74 of a discharge roller 75 provided at the front end of the staple plate 43 (see FIG. Rotating member for sheet contact part)
Contact, exerted the pressure on the D ₂ direction to the lower portion. Then, the sheet contact portion 152c of the pushing member 152 pushes the upper discharge tray 44 bookbinding sheet S by rotating the J ₁ direction. The lower end portion of the seat abutting portion 152c upon regression of pusher member 152 in S45 is away from the rotational axis 74 of the discharge roller 75, the pressing of the D ₂ direction is released,
The sheet contact portion 152c is a weight 152 attached to the lower end.
rotates J ₂ direction by d, and stops to the original position by the protrusion 152e.

As described above, this sheet post-processing apparatus 151
Then, when the bookbinding sheet S on the staple plate 43 is pushed out onto the discharge tray 44, the rear end of the sheet S does not catch on the sheet contact portion 152c, the discharge roller 75, etc. , The sheet S can be discharged. Therefore, even if the binding sheet S is soft and stiff, it can be extruded smoothly.

[0087]

As described above, the sheet discharging apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with the sheet pushing means for pushing the sheet on the sheet receiving table toward the discharge tray, and the upper end of the sheet abutting portion of the sheet pushing means. The sheet contact portion so that the portion protrudes toward the discharge tray from the lower end of the sheet contact portion.
The part is inclined forward with respect to the sheet receiving table .

Thus, regardless of the amount of sheets, it is possible to discharge the sheets onto the discharge tray, and even when discharging a sheet bundle that is not integrated, it is difficult for the sheets to be shifted. Further, when the sheet is pushed out to the discharge tray, the sheet abutting portion of the sheet pushing means is so set that the upper end of the sheet abutting portion protrudes in the direction of the discharge tray from the lower end of the sheet abutting portion. On the seat support
Since the sheet is inclined forward and the rear end of the sheet is not caught by the sheet contact portion, the sheet can be pushed out to the discharge tray smoothly.

The sheet discharging apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with the sheet pushing means for pushing out the sheet on the sheet receiving table in the direction of the discharge tray as described above. , Projecting from the lower end of the sheet contact portion in the direction of the discharge tray, and the angle formed by the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is 15 ° or more and 50 ° or more.
In addition, the distance between the upper end of the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is 1.5 times or more and 4 times or less the maximum sheet thickness that can be pushed out by the sheet pushing means.

Thus, regardless of the amount of sheets, it is possible to discharge the sheets onto the discharge tray, and even when discharging a sheet bundle that is not integrated, it is difficult for the sheets to be shifted from each other. When the sheet is pushed out to the discharge tray, the angle formed between the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is 15 ° or more and 50 ° or less, and the distance between the upper end portion of the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table. Is not less than 1.5 times and not more than 4 times the maximum sheet thickness that can be extruded by the sheet pushing means, and the upward bending of the sheet due to the pushing operation of the sheet pushing means is regulated by the sheet contact portion. The sheet can be smoothly pushed out to the discharge tray.

As described above, the sheet discharging apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention has the sheet aligning members on both sides in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the extruding direction by the sheet pushing means. Alignment means for aligning the upper sheet to a reference position in the sheet width direction, and sheet pushing means for pushing out the sheet aligned by the aligning means in the direction of the discharge tray. This is performed in a state where the sheet is along both of the sheet alignment members.

Thus, according to the configuration of claim 1 or 2,
In addition to the above effect, when the sheet is pushed out by the sheet pushing means, the sheet is pushed along both sheet aligning members of the aligning means provided on both sides in the sheet width direction, and the sheet is pushed out by the sheet pushing means. Since the inclination of the sheet in the sheet width direction when the sheet is fed is restricted, the sheet can be smoothly pushed out to the discharge tray.

As described above, the sheet discharging apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with the sheet pushing means for pushing out the sheet on the sheet receiving table in the direction of the discharge tray, and the sheet contact portion of the sheet pushing means is provided with the sheet pushing means. A sheet contacting portion rotating member that is provided rotatably in a pushing direction by the means and in a direction opposite to the pushing direction, and that rotates the sheet contacting portion in the pushing direction at an end of the sheet receiving table on the discharge tray side. Is provided.

Thus, regardless of the amount of sheets, it is possible to discharge the sheets onto the discharge tray, and even when discharging a sheet bundle that is not integrated, it is difficult for the sheets to shift. When the sheet is pushed out to the discharge tray, the sheet contact portion of the sheet pushing means rotates in the pushing direction by the sheet pushing means, and the trailing end of the sheet to the sheet contact portion or the sheet receiving table. Can be smoothly pushed out of the discharge tray.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus which is a sheet discharging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of a main part in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a copier including the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement position of each detection switch in the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the structure on the staple plate shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from above from the rear except for a paddle.

FIG. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a bookbinding sheet at the time of extrusion by the extrusion device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation in an offset mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation in a staple single mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of bookbinding sheet discharge / discharge tray position adjustment processing shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of an operation in a staple multi mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation in a staple multi mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

13 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation in a staple multi mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a part of an operation in a staple multi mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation in the staple multi mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the structure on the staple plate shown in FIG. 16 viewed obliquely from above from the rear except for a paddle.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a bookbinding sheet at the time of extrusion by the extrusion device shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a regulating operation for the inclination of the bound sheet in the sheet width direction at the time of being pushed out by the width shifting device of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the structure on the staple plate shown in FIG.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing a structure of a sheet contact portion of the extrusion device shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of a sheet contact portion at the time of extrusion by the extrusion device shown in FIG. 20;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 copier main body (main body device) 41 sheet post-processing device (sheet discharging device) 42 post-processing transport path 42b main path 43 staple plate (sheet receiving table) 44 discharge tray 44a concave portion (lowest lower surface) 47 deflector 48 padola 49 stopper Reference Signs List 50 width shifting device (alignment means) 51 positioning plate (sheet alignment member) 52 width adjustment plate (sheet alignment member) 59 stapler 60 extrusion device (sheet extrusion member) 61 extrusion member (sheet extrusion member) 61c sheet contact portion 75 discharge Roller 77 Offset guide 80 Offset guide device 81 Tray shift unit 95 Tray elevating unit 109 Extrusion member driving device (Extrusion member driving means) 114 Discharge port (Sheet discharge port) S Sheet SW ₁ Sheet detection switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37/04 B65H 29/46 G03G 15/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] In a sheet discharging apparatus having a sheet receiving tray for receiving a sheet conveyed from a main body and a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet receiving tray, a sheet on the sheet receiving tray is moved in a direction of a discharge tray. a seat pushing means for pushing the upper end portion of the sheet contact portion of the sheet extrusion means, so that the lower end portion of the seat abutting portion projecting to the discharge tray direction, the seat abutment portion Sea
A sheet discharging device characterized by being inclined forward with respect to a tray . 2. A sheet discharging apparatus having a sheet receiving tray for receiving a sheet carried in from a main body and a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet receiving tray, wherein a sheet on the sheet receiving tray is moved in a discharge tray direction. Sheet extruding means for extruding the sheet abutting portion, the upper end portion of the sheet abutting portion of the sheet extruding portion protrudes toward the discharge tray from the lower end portion of the sheet abutting portion, and the sheet abutting portion and the sheet receiving table And the distance between the upper end of the sheet contact portion and the sheet receiving table is 1.5 times or more and 4 times or more the maximum sheet thickness that can be pushed out by the sheet pushing means. A sheet discharging device characterized by the following. 3. A sheet aligning member is provided on both sides in a sheet width direction orthogonal to an extruding direction by sheet extruding means,
A sheet aligning means for aligning the sheet on the sheet receiving table with the reference position in the sheet width direction by these sheet aligning members; and a sheet extruding means for extruding the sheet aligned by the aligning means toward the discharge tray. 3. A sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet is pushed out by the sheet aligning means in a state where the sheet extends along both sheet aligning members of the aligning means. 4. A sheet discharging apparatus having a sheet receiving tray for receiving a sheet conveyed from a main unit and a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet receiving tray, wherein the sheet on the sheet receiving tray is moved in a direction of the discharge tray. And a sheet abutting portion of the sheet pushing means is provided rotatably in a direction opposite to the pushing direction and the pushing direction by the sheet pushing means, and is provided on the discharge tray side of the sheet receiving table. A sheet discharging device comprising a sheet contact portion rotating member for rotating a sheet contact portion in a pushing direction at an end portion.