JP2800853B2 - Sheet post-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 sheet which can be stacked by classifying sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine or another recording apparatus and which is connected to the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a post-processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a sheet post-processing apparatus for automatically classifying and stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-185355 is known. . In a sheet post-processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) in the specification, a bin unit having a plurality of bins is moved up and down to sort and stack sheets on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus. The corners of the plurality of sheets stacked in each bin are closed by the electric stapler.

FIG. 28 shows an example of sorting and stacking of sheets in a conventional sorter. A plurality of sheets P on which different images have been formed by an image forming apparatus (not shown) are separated by a discharge roller 301 into a sorter 302. Each bin B1 (the others are not shown) is sequentially loaded.

[0004]

However, in the conventional sorter, when the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is curled, for example, when the rear end of the sheet P is curled as shown in FIG. The lower curl of the sheets P1 to P6 already discharged onto the bin B1 becomes a resistance, and the discharged sheet P6 is moved to the stopper portion 30 of the bin B1.
Sometimes it doesn't go back to 3. In this state, the sheet P7 to be discharged next pushes out the discharged sheet P6 or sinks below the sheet P6.

Further, as shown in FIG. 29, when the rear end of the sheet P is curled upward, there is a problem that the discharged sheet P pushes out the rear end of the discharged sheet P.

Further, even if the sheets P can be barely stacked on the bin B1, as shown in FIG. 30, the upper surface of the opening of the electric stapler 305 which can be moved back and forth between the closed position and the standby position of the sheets P. When the height T of the sheets P stacked on the bin B1 is larger than the interval t between the unit and the bin B1, the sheet P does not fit in the opening of the electric stapler 305, and a stapling failure occurs. There is. Further, as described with reference to FIG.
P whose rear end has not reached the stopper 303
Causes a problem that the staple position cannot be reached.

Therefore, in another conventional apparatus, there is an example in which a sheet pressing solenoid for pressing the rear end of the sheet P when stapling the sheet P is arranged. However, in this apparatus, the number of parts is increased, and the apparatus is increased in size and cost is increased. There was a problem of becoming.

In the case of a sorter 302 having a plurality of bins, as shown in FIG. 31, sheets P stacked in bins 2 to n of the second and subsequent bins from the top are curled by the lower surface of the bin above them. However, the sheet P stacked in the first bin is in a state where curl is not suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 32, there is an example of an apparatus provided with a sheet holding member 306 for holding the sheet P of the first bin when the bin B is shifted upward.
In the mode in which the sheets B are stacked only in the first bin, the bin B1 does not shift upward, so that the sheet pressing member 306 is always at a position far from the sheet pressing member 306 as shown in FIG. However, there was a disadvantage that it could not be suppressed.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a sheet holding member disposed above the uppermost bin, and moves the uppermost bin up and down to move the curled sheet between sheets during sheet ejection. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus which stably sorts and stacks sheets by pressing the sheets.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a sheet holding member disposed above an uppermost bin, and stacks sheets on the uppermost bin. The uppermost bin is moved up and down by the lead cam means at the time of the sheet interval in the mode to be performed, so that the sheet pressing member is brought into contact with or pressed against the sheet.

Further, according to the present invention, when a plurality of sheets are stacked in one bin and then sheets are stacked in the next bin, the bin is discharged by moving the bin up and down by the lead cam means. The sheet is contacted or pressed against the upper bin before the next sheet is discharged.

[0013]

According to the above construction, when a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is in a mode in which the sheets are stacked in the uppermost bin, a so-called sheet interval between the discharge of the sheet and the discharge of the next sheet. Sometimes the top bin is moved up and down by the lead cam means. As a result, the curled sheet stacked in the uppermost bin is brought into contact with or pressed against the sheet holding member, so that the next sheet is reliably discharged.

In a mode in which a plurality of sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are discharged to one bin and then discharged to the next bin, the bin is moved up and down by the lead cam means at the time of a sheet interval. Is done. Thus, the curled sheet discharged onto the bin is brought into contact with or pressed against the upper bin before the next sheet is discharged, so that the next sheet can be reliably discharged to the bin.

[0015]

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral M indicates a longitudinal side view of an image forming apparatus M to which a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 to which the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention is applied is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes an upper cassette, and sheets P in the cassette are separated and fed one by one by the action of a separation claw (not shown) and a feeding roller 201, and are guided to registration rollers 206. Reference numeral 202 denotes a lower cassette, and sheets P in the cassette are separated and fed one by one by the action of a separation claw (not shown) and a feeding roller 203, and the registration rollers 2
06. Reference numeral 104 denotes a manual feed guide,
Sheets P are guided one by one to registration rollers 206 via rollers 205. Reference numeral 209 denotes a sheet stacking device (deck type), which is an intermediate plate 2 that moves up and down by a motor or the like.
The sheet P on the middle plate 209a is separated and fed one by one by the action of the feeding roller 210 and the separation claw, and is guided to the conveying roller 211.

Reference numeral 212 denotes a photosensitive drum, 213 denotes a reading optical system, 215 denotes a developing device, 216 denotes a transfer charger, 21
Reference numeral 7 denotes a separate charger, and these constitute an image forming unit 220.

Reference numeral 221 denotes a conveyance belt for conveying the sheet P on which an image is formed, 222 denotes a fixing device, 223 denotes a conveyance roller, and 126 denotes a flapper. The sheet P on which the image is formed is guided to the discharge roller 226 by the flapper 126 and is conveyed into the sorter 127. The sorter 127 includes a non-sort tray 230a, a sort bin tray 230b, and a non-sort tray discharge roller 23.
0c, a sort bin tray discharge roller 230d, a non-sort tray 203a and a sort bin tray 2
30b moves up and down to sort the sheets P one by one. A discharge tray may be mounted in place of the sorter 127.

Reference numeral 231 denotes an automatic document feeder,
Tray 231a, separating means 231b, return path 231
c, a discharge roller 231d and the like. The automatic document feeder 231 causes the document D to be transferred one by one to the platen 232.
It is positioned above and read by the optical system 213. Reference numeral 233 denotes a transport belt, which rotates the document D forward (in the direction of arrow 260) to guide the document D to the platen 232, and discharges the document D from the platen 232 by reverse rotation.

An image is formed on the photosensitive drum 212 in accordance with the set number of copies for one document D placed on the platen 232, and the sheet P for the number of copies is formed.
Is fed from the cassette 200, 202 or the deck 209 each time an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 212. The registration between the image on the photosensitive drum 212 and the sheet P is performed by a registration roller 216.

When the required number of copies are formed, the original D is discharged from the platen 232, and the next original D is positioned on the platen 232. Hereinafter, the same operation is repeated.

Reference numeral 240 denotes an intermediate tray for forming images on both sides of the sheet P, or
In the case of forming an image by superimposing on one side of (multiple), once,
The sheet P on which an image is formed is stocked.
Reference numeral 241 denotes a conveyance roller, 242 denotes a conveyance belt, 243
Denotes a flapper, 245 denotes a transport belt, and 246 denotes a transport roller. Pass 2 for duplex copy
The sheet P is guided to the intermediate tray 240 by the discharge roller 248 through the sheet 47. The sheet P has an image surface facing upward. In the case of multiple copying, the sheet P is guided to the intermediate tray 240 through the path 249. The sheet P has an image surface facing downward.

Sheets P stacked on intermediate tray 240
Are the auxiliary rollers 250 and 251 and the forward / reverse separation roller pair 2
By the action of 52, the sheets are separated one by one from below and fed again. The re-feeded sheet P is transported by the transport rollers 253,
255, 256, roller 211, registration roller 20
6 to the image forming unit 220.

In accordance with the number of copies set for one document D placed on the platen 232, first, single-sided copies are made, and these are stacked on the intermediate tray 240. Thereafter, the document D on the platen 232 is turned upside down and guided on the platen 232 again, and this image is read by the number of copies. The read image is formed on a sheet P that is re-fed from the intermediate tray 240 every time the image is read. These are sheet post-processing devices (hereinafter called sorters)
1 in page order.

On the other hand, there is also a method in which only one copy of the original D is made each time the automatic original feeder 231 makes a round. According to this method, even when making copies of a plurality of copies, a copy group having the same page order can be obtained in order.
Even without the sorter 230, the required number of copies can be obtained separately. When making a double-sided copy in this manner, both sides of one original D are continuously read, and both sides of the sheet P are continuously copied and ejected. If this is repeated many times, a divided double-sided copy group can be obtained.

Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention applied to the image forming apparatus M will be described. 3 and 5, a bin-movable sheet post-processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) 1 has a sorter body 7 including a pair of left and right side plates 3, a base 5, a cover 6, and the like. The sorter 1 accommodates a bin B composed of a set of a large number of bins B1 to Bn, and is vertically movable along a pair of guide rails 9 provided on the side plate 3, respectively. It has.

The sorter main body 7 is connected to an image forming apparatus M provided on the upstream side thereof, and is connected to the image forming apparatus M.
And a pair of carry-in rollers 11 for carrying in the sheet P discharged from the printer. The first sheet transport path 1 extends from the carry-in roller pair 11 toward the bin unit 2.
2 and an upper discharge roller 13 are provided. A second sheet conveying path 15 which branches off from the upper discharge roller pair 13 and faces downward, and a lower discharge roller pair (sheet discharge means) 16 facing the bin unit 2 are provided. Each is provided.
A deflector 17 is disposed at a branch portion between the sheet conveying paths 12 and 15, and the deflector 17 is selectively displaced, and a sheet to be discharged from the upper discharge roller 13 to the bin B is a first sheet. The sheet to be guided to the transport path 12 or the sheet to be discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 16 to the bin B is guided to the second sheet transport path 15.

A paper sensor 19 for detecting the sheet P is disposed in the vicinity of the sheet discharge section of the second sheet transport path 15, and in this embodiment, the paper sensor 19 is a lead with a built-in photo interrupter. Although it is composed of switches,
A similar function can be obtained with a transmission sensor. The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus M is detected by a discharge sensor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus M. In this embodiment, the passage time of the sheet P and the sheet P and the next sheet P Can also be measured, and the arithmetic circuit incorporated in the main body of the image forming apparatus allows the sheet P to be measured.
, And the above signal is transmitted to the microcomputer in the bin unit 2.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bin unit 2 has a pair of bin support plates 20 having a frame structure at the front and rear. A bin slider 21 is attached to the tip of the bin support plate 20, and a bin cover 22 is fixed to the bin support plate 20 and the bin slider 21. An alignment reference wall 23 is fixed from the bin cover 22 to the bin support plate 20. Further, an alignment rod 26 penetrates the notch 25 formed in each bin B over all the bins B, and vertically supports the alignment rod 26 via a pair of upper alignment arms 27. The alignment bar 26 is swingable about a center bar 29 that is located. The sheets P stored in the bins B are pressed against the alignment reference wall 23 by the swing of the alignment bar 26 and aligned.

Each of the bins B accommodated in the bin unit 2 is movably mounted at its free end in a comb-shaped groove (not shown) of the bin slider 21.
As shown in detail in FIG. 7, pins 30 are fixedly provided on the left and right portions of the base end of the bin slider 21, respectively. The pins 30 pass through slits 31 provided on the left and right bin support plates 20, respectively, and have trunnions 33 at their outer ends via O-rings 32 as cushioning materials.
Is rotatably mounted.

The trunnions 33 are fitted into the guide rails 9 so that the trunnions 33 of the bins B are stacked, and the lowermost trunnions 33 are inserted into lower guide rollers 35 rotatably supported by the bin support plate 20. Also, the uppermost trunnion 33 abuts on the upper guide roller 36 rotatably supported by the bin support plate 20, so that the bin interval between the bins B is kept equal to the outer diameter of the trunnion 33. And supported by the bin unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bin unit 2 can move up and down along the guide rail 9 with the upper guide roller 36 and the lower guide roller 35 fitted in the guide rail 9. A tension spring 39 is provided between the metal fitting 37 fixed to the bin unit 2 and the side plate 3.
Is stretched, and acts to raise the bin unit 2 by its elasticity.

The positions facing the lower discharge roller pair 16 supported by the left and right side plates 3 are shown in FIGS.
The camshaft holders 40 are respectively provided as shown in FIG. 1, and a lead camshaft 42 is rotatably arranged between the camshaft holder 40 and the base plate 5 via a bearing 41. A pair of left and right lead cams 43a and 43b each having a spiral cam surface are fixed above the lead cam shafts 42 provided on the left and right sides, respectively.

In FIGS. 9 and 14, a shift motor 45 that can rotate forward and reverse is fixed to one side plate 3, and
A bevel gear 46b integral with a pulley 46a is fixed to one end of the output shaft 45a, and the pulley 46a is connected via a belt 47 to a lead cam shaft 42 of a lead cam 43b.
Is connected to a pulley 49 fixed to the pulley. The bevel gear 5b fixed to one end of the through shaft 50 is attached to the bevel gear 46b.
1 meshes with the bevel gear 52 fixed to the other end of the through shaft 50 with a bevel gear (not shown) integrated with the pulley 53. The pulley 53 is connected via a belt 55 to a pulley 53 fixed to the lead cam shaft 42 of the other lead cam 43a as shown in FIG.
When the shift motor 45 rotates forward and backward by the drive transmission system configured as described above, the lead cams 43a and 43b rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

The output shaft 45 of the shift motor 45
The clock disk 56 is provided at the other end (the lower end in FIG. 9).
The rotation speed of the shift motor 45, that is, the rotation speed of the lead cams 43a and 43b can be read by the interrupter 59 held on one side plate 3 via the sensor holder 57. Lead cams 43a and 43b together with the lead cam control circuit
Can be freely controlled.

Further, below the lead cam 43b shown in FIG. 9 and on the same axis as the lead cam shaft 42, a pair of flags 6 for detecting the positions of the lead cams 43a and 43b are provided.
1 and 62 are fixed, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are enlarged views thereof. 10 and 11, an interrupter 6 for reading flags 61 and 62 is used.
3 and 65 are held by a holder 66 fixed to the side plate 3.

The interrupters 63 and 65 have the same flag angles, but are shifted in phase by a predetermined amount. By turning ON / OFF the two interrupters 63 and 65 based on the phase shift, it is determined whether the bin B is the home position in the ascending direction or the home position in the descending direction as described later.

The lead cams 43a and 43b have a parallel portion (about 180 °) as described later, and determine the phase shift of the flags 61 and 62 corresponding to the parallel portion. Incidentally, the phases of the flags 61 and 62 are shifted by a predetermined angle (approximately 30 °), and the ON / OF of the interrupters 63 and 65 is caused by the angle shift of the flags 61 and 62.
The position of the lead cam 43a, 43b is determined by F.

Next, the operation of the bin B determined by the shapes of the lead cams 43a and 43b and the trunnions (bin rollers) 33 engaged therewith will be described.

FIG. 12A shows the relationship between the left lead cam 43a, the trunnion 33 and the bin B, and FIG.
(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the right lead cam 43b and the trunnion 33, respectively, and FIG. 14 is a plan view of a drive transmission system of the lead cams 43a and 43b.

As shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, respectively, the lead cams 43a and 43b are formed in this embodiment so that the directions of rotation are reversed and the directions of the spirals are reversed. Therefore, both are mirror symmetric with each other. Further, in the present embodiment, the two-row type is configured so that the space between the bins B can be expanded at two places of the expanding portions X and X '. This is due to the provision of the 67, and if the function is only for the sorter, the above-mentioned expanding portion may be only the expanding portion X into which the sheet P is carried in.

When the lead cams 43a and 43b rotate in the direction of the arrow or in the opposite direction by the drive of the shift motor 45, the trunnion 33 is moved by the lead cams 43a and 43b.
It is pressed by the inside groove and is guided by the guide rail 9 to ascend or descend. The reason why the bent portion is provided in a part of the guide rail 9 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is that the bin B is moved in the front-rear direction (in the sheet advancing direction) because the sorter 1 in this embodiment has the sheet closing mechanism 67. ), And does not limit the configuration of the present invention at all.

FIG. 15 (a) shows a cam diagram of the lead cam 43a according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 15 (b) shows a cam diagram of a conventional lead cam. The hatched portions in the figure indicate the cam grooves of the lead cam 43a. The cam diagram is the left side (sheet P) in both FIGS.
(The left side in the direction of travel), the cam diagram of the other lead cam 43b is mirror symmetric between mirrors. The cam diagram shows a range of 0 ° to 360 ° and is a cam diagram in the present embodiment, so that it is a two-line cam diagram.

The positions of the trunnions 33 in the grooves of the lead cam 43a are indicated by reference numerals 33a, 33b and 33c, respectively. In addition, the portion indicated by reference numeral H in FIG.
It shows a substantially parallel part of the lead cam 43a,
In this embodiment, a parallel portion of about 180 ° is set. In the above cam diagram, when the lead cam 43a moves to the right, that is, when the lead cam 43a rotates in the right arrow direction in FIG. 15 (the trunnion 33 moves relatively to the left), the bin B rises and When the lead cam 43a moves to the left (the trunnion 33 moves relatively to the right), the bin B moves down. The parallel portion H indicates a sheet discharge position of the lead cam 43a, and the inclined portion K indicates a shift position.

Here, when the sheet P in FIG.
a is set so that a substantially plane (parallel portion H) comes to the traveling direction of a.
The home position in the downward direction is 33y.
The above home position 33x and home position 33y
In this embodiment, the phase is shifted by 180 ° as shown in FIG. Also, here, the lead cam 43
The positions indicated by 33x and 33y in FIG.
They correspond to the flag areas (a) and (b), respectively.

The lead cam 43 (43) in this embodiment
a, 43b) is 2π (rad), and the parallel portion H is θ
(Rad), and assuming that the time that the sheet P passes through the lower discharge roller pair 16 is t1, the rotational speed R of the lead cam 43
1 (rpm) can be expressed by the following equation (1).

[0049]

(Equation 1) Therefore, as the discharge time of the sheet P is shorter, the rotation speed (process speed) of the lead cam 43 increases.

Next, the time interval (sheet interval) of each sheet P when the sheet P is continuously discharged from the image forming apparatus is represented by t.
Assuming that the rotation of the lead cam 43 is one rotation of the sheet P +
In order to make room for the paper interval, the rotation speed R2 (rpm) of the lead cam 43 in the remaining 2π-θ (the inclined portion of the lead cam 43a) is

[0051]

(Equation 2) And must be. Here, if the angle θ of the parallel portion H of the lead cam 43 is set so that R1 = R2,
The rotation speed of the lead cam 43 is theoretically constant at the time of sheet discharge and at the time of sheet separation, so that the sheet P can be received in the bin B and the bin can be shifted while rotating the lead cam 43. That is, a series of sheet sorting functions of the sheets P discharged from the image forming apparatus can be achieved while the rotation of the lead cam 43 is constant.

Further, when the image forming apparatus is a high-speed machine, t2 becomes particularly small. Therefore, even if the rotational speed of the lead cam 43 is not constant, if the two-speed control from R1 to R2 is performed, the read cam 43 Will not stop even if the rotation speed changes. As a result, the impact noise generated by the inertia of the bin unit due to the rotation and stoppage of the lead cam in this type of bin movable sorter up to now is eliminated in the present embodiment, and the noise reduction design is achieved. It becomes possible.

Further, it is suitable for a higher-speed copying machine (high productivity). The set angle θ of the parallel portion H of the lead cam 43 is changed to some extent (for example, 180 °
By doing so, the rotation angle of the lead cam 43 between the sheets is reduced accordingly, so that even if the rotation speed of the lead cam 43 is considerably reduced, it corresponds to a high-speed machine (high productivity) more than a conventional copying machine. be able to.

Further, since the ON / OFF control (moving and stopping operations) of the bin unit 2 having a large mass is eliminated, the loss of power consumption of the copying machine can be reduced.

Next, a series of operations for carrying the sheet P from the image forming apparatus into the sorter 1, discharging the sheet P to the bin B, shifting the bin B by bin, and aligning and stapling the sheet P will be described.

First, a sheet P discharged from an image forming apparatus (not shown) to which the sorter 1 (see FIG. 3) is connected.
Is carried in from the carry-in entrance 10 and discharged to the bin B via the carry-in roller pair 11 and the deflector 17. When the sheet P is discharged, the sheet P is discharged from the upper discharge roller pair 13 to the bin B during non-sorting, and is discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 16 to the bin B via the second sheet conveying path 15 during sorting.

Here, the passage time of the sheet P and the interval (inter-sheet distance) between the sheet P and the next sheet P are measured by a sheet discharge signal from an image forming apparatus (not shown), and the measured information is stored in a bin unit. 2 is transmitted to the microcomputer.

If the detection time of the sheet P exceeds a predetermined time due to a sheet conveyance failure or the like, or if the next sheet P cannot be detected within the predetermined time, the same staying state as that of a normal sensor is used. -A delayed jam signal is issued to the microcomputer of the image forming apparatus main body, and the entire system in the jam state is stopped.

The transit time of the sheet P and the sheet interval are measured, and the microcomputer in the sorter 1 receiving the information calculates the sheet P ejection time (time during which the sheet P is ejected into the sorter 1) and the sheet interval. Recognize. Then, the rotational speed of the lead cam 43 and the position of the lead cam 43 are controlled based on the data. The position of the lead cam 43a is controlled by the timing of discharging the sheet P into the bin B,
3 is performed in synchronization with the start timing of the parallel portion H.

As described above, the speed of the lead cam 43 can be recognized by the clock disk 56 (see FIG. 9) and the interrupter 59 provided on the output shaft 45a of the shift motor 45 for driving the lead cam 43. Also, a flag 61 provided below the lead cam shaft 42,
62 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) makes it possible to recognize one end and the other end of the substantially parallel portion H of the lead cam 43.

For example, when the bin unit 2 is sorted in the ascending direction, when the trunnion 33 of the bin B corresponding to the home position 33x shown in FIG. 15A comes, the discharge of the sheet P is started and the trunnion 33 is moved to the home position. 33
The number of rotations of the lead cam may be set such that the discharge of the sheet P is completed while moving from x to the position 33y.

Further, bin shift of the bin unit 2 is performed between the positions 33y and 33z. Since the time between papers is recognized by the above information, the time between the paper shifts is 33y.
The trunnion 33 only has to perform the rotation from to z. At that time, the next bin B has reached the position 33x, and the next sheet P is received. This operation is performed for each bin B
It is repeated every time.

When the bin unit 2 is sorted in the descending direction, the discharge of the sheet P is started when the trunnion 33 of the bin B corresponding to the discharge comes to the position 33y.
End discharge during x. The trunnion 33 is rotated from 33x to 33w between the sheets P to be discharged, and the above operation is repeated as if the next bin B has reached the receiving port 33y.

During the discharge of the sheet P, an error fluctuation such as a process speed of the image forming apparatus main body and a sheet interval is transferred from the image forming apparatus main body to the microcomputer of the bin unit 2 as needed. Feedback control is always applied with new information.

With the structure of the sorter 1 described above, not only can the sorter 1 be connected to a different model having a different process speed and a different sheet between papers, but the individual image forming apparatuses Enables the best lead cam control and sorter (sheet post-processing equipment)
(1) A stable response to a wide range of models is possible.

As shown in FIG. 18, the sorter 1 in FIG. 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a read-only memory (ROM) 112, a random access memory (RAM) 113, an input port 114, and an output port 1.
16 and the like.
12 stores a control program, and the RAM 113 stores input data and work data.
4, a sensor and a switch such as a non-sort path sensor S1 are connected, and a load such as a transport motor 117 for driving the carry-in roller pair 11, the lower discharge roller pair 16 and the like is connected to the output port 116. , CPU 111 is RO
Each unit connected via the bus is controlled in accordance with the control program stored in M112. In addition, the CPU 111
Has a serial interface, for example, performs serial communication with the CPU of the copying machine main body, and controls each section by a signal from the copying machine main body.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 19, for example, when the copy start key of the copying machine body is pressed to start the copying operation, a sorter start signal is sent from the copying machine body by a serial signal. The sorter 1 waits for this signal (Step 101), and proceeds to Step 102 when a sorter start signal is sent. In Step 102, the operation mode during one job until the sorter start signal disappears next time is determined, and the mode data is stored in the RAM 113. Then, in order to detect the position of the alignment bar 26, the alignment bar 26 is returned to the home position once (Step 10).
3).

Next, each unit is operated based on the mode determined in Step 102. That is, Step
At 104, it is determined whether the mode is the non-sort mode. If the mode is the non-sort mode, it is determined whether to perform stapling (Step 105). If the stapling is performed, the stapling non-sort mode (Step 107) is not performed. In this case, the process proceeds to the non-sort mode (Step 108). If it is determined in step 104 that the mode is not the non-sort mode, the process proceeds to step 106 to determine whether the mode is the sort mode. If the mode is the sort mode, the process proceeds to the sort mode Step 109. If the mode is not the sort mode, it is determined that the mode is the group mode, and the process proceeds to Step 110. After the operation in any of the above modes is completed, the program proceeds to Step 111, and determines whether or not there is a sorter start signal, that is, whether or not one job has been completed. If there is a sorter start signal, it is determined that one job has not been completed, and the process returns to Step 104 again. If there is no sorter start signal, the program proceeds to the first Step 101 as the end of one job.

If it is determined in step 101 that there is no sorter start signal, the process proceeds to step 120, where it is determined whether or not the staple door 97 is open. Step 121 if the door 97 is closed
And the stapler 67 is retracted, and the program proceeds to S
It returns to step101. If it is determined in Step 120 that the staple unit door 96 is open, the program proceeds to S
Proceeding to step 122, it is determined whether or not there is no needle. If there is a needle, the program remains in Step1
01, but if there is no staple, the stapler 67 is moved to the operating position (Step 123), and the staple cartridge 69 is moved.
Remove the interlock mechanism.

Next, the operation in the staple non-sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

The position of the bin unit 9 in the staple non-sort mode is the home position as shown in FIG. 30. In Step 201, the bin unit 9 is moved to the home position. Here, the stapler (sheet closing mechanism) 67 cannot staple the sheets placed on the bin cover 22 and staples the sheets P stored in the bin B, so that the staple mode is selected even in the non-sort mode. In this case, it is necessary to put out the sheet P to the bin B, so the flapper solenoid 122 is turned off, and the sort discharge port (lower discharge roller pair) 16 is selected (St).
ep202). After that, it waits until a size determination signal comes (Step 203), and when a size determination signal comes, Step
Proceed to 204. In Step 204, the data of the size sent from the copying machine body is stored in the RAM 113, and if the sheet discharged from the copying machine body is the first sheet (St
ep205) Since the alignment bar 26 should be at the home position, the alignment bar 26 is moved to the width approaching position 26a (Step 206). If it is determined in Step 205 that the sheet is not the first sheet, or after the aligning rod 26 has been moved to the width adjustment position 26a in Step 206, the program ends.
Proceed to 207.

In Step 207, the control waits until a paper discharge signal from the copying machine main body comes, and when the paper discharge signal comes, the aligning rod 26 is moved from the width approaching position 26a to the standby position 26b (Step 207).
p208), the sheet is conveyed onto the bin B, and after the conveyance operation is completed (Step 209), the lead cam 43 is rotated a predetermined number of clocks in the bin ascending direction.
As shown in FIG. 17, 36 → 36 ′, 33a → 3
3a ', 33b->33b', respectively, and as a result, the uppermost bin approaches the bin cover 22 as shown in FIG.
2 are pressed by the projections 22b provided on the base 2. Thereafter, the lead cam 43 immediately returns to the home position (Step 211). Here, it is necessary to set the speed of the lead cam 43 and the number of clocks so that the sheet interval time> bin rising time + bin falling time. Thereby, the curl of the sheet P can be suppressed without lowering the process speed of the image forming apparatus. The alignment bar 26 performs the width adjustment of the sheet P during the sheet interval, aligns the sheet P (Step 210), and the program proceeds to Step 212. In Step 212, it is determined whether or not there is a staple signal. If there is a staple signal, a stapling operation is performed. If there is no staple signal, the program returns to the main routine as it is.

Next, the operation in the non-sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In the non-sort mode, the sheet is discharged onto the bin cover 22 so that the bin unit 2 is moved to the lowest position as the home position (Step 310), and the flapper solenoid is discharged to discharge the sheet from the non-sort discharge port 15. 122 is turned on (Step 311). Then, wait until a size determination signal arrives (Step 31).
2) When the size determination signal is received, the size is determined (Step
p313), the program proceeds to Step 314.
In Step 314, the apparatus waits for a paper output signal from the copying machine main body.
When a paper discharge signal is received, the process proceeds to Step 315, where the sheet is discharged onto the bin cover 22, and the program returns to the main routine.

Next, the operation in the sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

It is determined whether there is a bin initial signal indicating whether or not to return the bin unit 2 from the copier body to the home position (Step 401). If yes, the bin unit 2 is moved to the home position (step 401). Step
402) Then, the flapper solenoid 122 is turned off to select the sort discharge port 16 (Step 403),
The program proceeds to Step 404. Step40
In step 4, the process waits for a size determination signal, and proceeds to step 405 when the size determination signal arrives. The size is determined in Step 405, and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the size of the first sheet is determined (Step 406). Only in the case of the first sheet, the alignment rod 26 is moved to the width adjustment position 26a (Step 406).
p407), the program proceeds to Step 408.
In Step 408, the apparatus waits for a paper output signal from the copying machine main body.
When the paper ejection signal comes, the alignment bar 26 is moved to the standby position 43b (Step 410). Next, a conveying operation for discharging the sheets into the bins B is performed (Step 411), and the alignment bar 26 is moved to the width approaching position 26a (Step 41).
3), the program proceeds to Step 414. Ste
In p414, it is determined whether or not there is a staple signal, and the stapling operation is performed only when there is a staple signal (Step 41).
5) The program returns to the main routine.

The movement of bin B at the time of sorting will be further described later.

Next, the operation in the group mode will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a bin initial signal from the main body of the copying machine (Step 501), and if there is, the bin unit 2 is moved to the home position (Step 502). Next, wait for a size determination signal (S
Step 503), when the size determination signal comes, Step 50
Proceed to 4. In Step 504, the size is determined, and thereafter, it is determined whether the size of the first sheet has been determined (Step 50).
5) If it is the first sheet, align the alignment bar 26
a (Step 506), and the program proceeds to St.
Proceed to ep507. In Step 507, the process waits for a paper output signal, and proceeds to Step 508 when the paper output signal comes. In Step 508, the alignment rod 26 is moved to the standby position 26b.
Then, a transport operation for transporting the sheet into the bin B is performed (Step 509). After the transport operation is completed, the bin B is moved up and down in the same manner as in the staple non-sort mode. Hold curls.

Thereafter, the program proceeds to Step 510. In Step 510, it is determined whether or not there is a bin shift signal from the copying machine main body.
Are shifted by one bin (Step 511), and after the alignment bar 26 is moved to the width shift position 26a to align the sheets (Step 512), the program returns to the main routine.

Next, the transport operation of the sheet P will be described with reference to FIG.

In the transport operation, when the sorter 1 receives a sheet from the copying machine main body, if the transport speed of the sheet of the sorter 1 is lower than the discharge speed of the sheet of the copying machine main body, the sheet loops between the sorter 1 and the copying machine. Creates paper jams. Further, if the sheet conveying speed of the sorter 1 is higher than the sheet discharging speed of the copying machine main body, the sheets are attracted, and there is a danger of generating abnormal noise and damaging the sheets. Then, the transport speed of the sorter 1 is synchronized with the process speed of the copying machine main body (Step 601). Next, it is determined whether or not the flapper solenoid 122 is turned on, that is, which of the sort outlet 16 and the non-sort outlet 15 is selected (Step 602). Is selected, the non-sort path sensor S1
Is detected, and if the flapper solenoid 122 is off, the sort discharge port 16 has been selected, so that the sort path sensor S2 detects Step 60.
Proceed to 4. In Step 603 and Step 604, the non-sort path sensor S1 and the sort path sensor S2 are respectively provided.
Is turned on, and after turning on, the process proceeds to Step 605.

In Step 605, a counter for measuring a point to be controlled at the time of discharging the transport motor 117 is set. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the counter set in Step 605 has finished counting (Step 60).
6) If the count is up, the process proceeds to Step 609; otherwise, the process proceeds to Step 607. S
At step 607, it is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge signal from the copying machine main body. Only when there is no signal, it is determined that the sheet has been completely removed from the copying machine main body, and the conveying speed is maximized (Step 6).
08). Step 609 proceeds after it is determined that the discharge control is performed in Step 608, and controls the transport motor 117 to the sheet discharge speed of the copying machine main body. Thereafter, a counter for measuring the discharge completion point is set (Step 610), and when the counter is up, the operation is terminated (Step 611).

Next, the stapling operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in Step 701, the stapler 67
In order to move the stapler swing motor 119, the stapler swing motor 119 is driven until both the stapler operating position sensor S7 and the stapler positioning sensor S6 are turned on, that is, until the stapler 67 moves to the operating position 67a. . Next, the stapler motor 7
1 is driven to perform stapling. The stapler drives a stapler motor 71 and a stapler cam sensor S10.
After confirming that is turned off, the stapler motor 71 is turned off until it is turned on, that is, after one rotation, and one stapling is terminated (Step 702). Thereafter, the stapler swing motor 1 is turned on until the stapler operating position sensor S7 is turned off and the stapler positioning sensor S6 is turned on, that is, until the stapler 67 moves to the retreat position 67b.
19 is driven (Step 703). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all bins B have been completed. If not completed, the bins are shifted by one bin (Step 705), and the process proceeds to Step 701 to perform the next stapling. When the staple operation is completed, the staple operation is completed.

Next, the shift operation in the sort mode, which is the most characteristic part of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG.

In the shift operation in the sort mode, first, in order to synchronize with the sheet P, a discharge signal of the image forming apparatus is monitored (Step 801).
The timing at which the end of the lead cam 43 enters the bin B and the end of the parallel portion of the lead cam 43 are set. Specifically, a counter for synchronization is set (Step 803), and after counting up (Step 805), the process proceeds to Step 807.

In Step 807, it is determined whether or not the transfer paper is the last paper of one document.
Since there is no need to further advance the lead cam 43,
The rotation of the lead cam 43 is stopped (Step 809).

However, if it is not the last sheet, the program proceeds to Step 811 to change the speed of the lead cam 43. The speed of the lead cam 43 at this time is obtained by dividing the parallel portion of the lead cam 43 by the time of (paper length / conveyance speed). The data of the paper length is transmitted from the main body by the serial communication shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the program proceeds to Step 813 to wait for confirmation of the ON state of the sort path sensor S2, and then the sort path sensor S in order to know the rear end of the sheet P.
Wait for OFF of Step 2 (Step 815). Thereafter, a counter from when the sort path sensor S2 is turned OFF to detect the rear end of the sheet P until the sheet P is completely stored in the bin B is set (Step 817).
(Step 819) The program proceeds to Step 821.

In Step 821, the shift speed is changed between the sheets, and the speed is obtained by (the amount of movement of the non-parallel portion / the time between sheets). It should be noted that this inter-sheet time is sent from the copier body via serial communication. After the shift speed is determined, the program executes Step for processing the next sheet P.
Return to 801.

Subsequently, referring to FIG.
Speed control will be described.

The shift motor 45 is controlled by the CPU 111
Using the timer interrupt function and the clock interrupt function.

The timer interrupt function is a function of generating an interrupt at an arbitrary interval by a hard counter in the CPU 111, and the clock interrupt is a function of generating an interrupt by an edge of an external pulse. In this control, the clock interrupt turns on the clock sensor S13 attached to the encoder of the shift motor 45.

In the control method, the timer interrupt interval is set to the clock interrupt time when the shift motor 45 reaches the target speed, and an increase / decrease counter for the ideal time and the number of clock interrupts is provided. By controlling the counter to be 0, an ideal speed can be obtained.

FIGS. 27 (a) and 27 (b) show specific flowcharts of the above control.

FIG. 27A shows the processing of a clock interrupt, in which a shift control counter which is an increase / decrease counter is incremented. This shift control counter is set in the RAM 113.

FIG. 27B shows the processing of a timer interrupt. First, the shift control counter is decremented (Step 951). Next, the shift motor 45
Is determined, it is determined whether or not the shift control counter is greater than 0 (Step 95).
3) If it is large, the shift motor 45 is too fast, so it is turned off (Step 955). Also, Step95
If the shift control counter is equal to or less than 0 in Step 3, St
It is determined whether the value is less than 0 in ep957.

If the shift control counter is not less than 0, the shift control counter is 0, so that the speed is the target speed, and the timer interrupt ends. If the shift control counter is less than 0, it means that the speed is lower than the target speed, so the shift motor 45 is turned on (Step 95).
9) Terminate the timer interrupt. As described above, the speed control of the shift motor 45 for moving the bin unit 2 up and down and expanding the bin B is performed.

As a second embodiment of the present invention, when the sheet P is discharged from the image forming apparatus, bin movement between sheets in the staple non-sort mode and the group mode is performed, for example, every time five sheets are stacked. You may.

As a third embodiment, when the sheet P is discharged in the non-sort mode, the sorter 1 discharges the first bin, and in the non-sort mode, the same as in the first embodiment. Alternatively, the bin B may be moved up and down during the sheet interval.

[0103]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a mode in which sheets are stacked in the uppermost bin of the sheet post-processing apparatus, a sheet pressing member that moves the bin up and down to dispose a curl of the discharged sheet above the bin during a time interval between sheets to be discharged. , It is possible to realize good stacking of sheets on the bin.

In a mode in which a plurality of sheets are stacked in one bin and then a plurality of sheets are stacked in the next bin, the curl of the discharged sheet is set between the discharged sheets. Is pressed by the upper bin, it is possible to realize good stacking of sheets on the bin.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bin showing an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing one embodiment of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the relationship between the bin and the alignment rod.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bin unit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the lead cam and the trunnion portion.

9 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the opposite side.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the flag portion of the lead cam.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the flag unit.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the relationship between the lead cam and the bin.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the relationship between the lead cam and the bin.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a drive system of the lead cam.

FIG. 15 is a cam diagram of the same lead cam.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a sheet discharging operation to a bin.

FIG. 17 is a cam diagram of the lead cam.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of a control device applied to the sheet sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 20 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart similarly.

FIG. 22 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 23 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart similarly.

FIG. 25 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart similarly.

FIG. 27 is also a flowchart.

FIG. 28 is a view showing the operation of discharging a sheet to a bin in a conventional sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 29 is a sheet discharge action diagram.

FIG. 30 is a sheet discharge action diagram.

FIG. 31 is a sheet discharge action diagram.

FIG. 32 is a sheet discharge action diagram.

FIG. 33 is a sheet discharge action diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B, B1, B2, B3... Ba, Bb Bin M Image forming apparatus 1 Sheet post-processing apparatus 2 Bin unit 9 Guide member (guide rail) 16 Sheet discharging means (lower discharging roller pair) 22 Bin cover 22b Sheet pressing member (projection) 23) alignment reference wall 26 alignment rod (alignment member) 23, 26 alignment means 33 trunnion 43 lead cam means (lead cam) P sheet 212 image forming section 226 sheet discharge means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 39/11 B65H 31/26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A sheet holding member disposed above the uppermost bin, wherein the uppermost bin is moved up and down by lead cam means during a sheet interval in a mode in which sheets are stacked on the uppermost bin. A sheet post-processing device for contacting or pressing the sheet holding member with the sheet. 2. In a mode in which a plurality of sheets are stacked in one bin and then sheets are stacked in a next bin, the bins are moved up and down by a lead cam means to discharge a discharged sheet to the next bin. A sheet post-processing device, wherein the sheet is brought into contact with or pressed against an upper bin before the sheet is discharged. 3. A plurality of bins having a trunnion at a base end thereof, the trunnions being moved by being guided by a guide member, and sheet discharging means for discharging sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus to the bins. A lead cam means for transferring the trunnions of each bin so as to open and widen the bins facing the sheet discharge means; and a lead cam means, and a trunnion which can be transferred by the lead cam means at an end portion. And a sheet pressing member disposed above, and at the time of a sheet interval in a mode in which the sheets are stacked in the uppermost bin, the uppermost bin is moved up and down by the lead cam means, and the sheet pressing member is moved. An image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing device that is brought into contact with or pressed against a sheet, wherein the image forming device forms an image on the sheet. An image forming apparatus characterized by having a sheet discharging means for supplying a sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus has completed the image formation by the image forming unit.