JP2856536B2 - Post-processing device in image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus in an image forming apparatus, which binds a recording sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer by a staple unit and performs bookbinding processing. About.

(Prior Art) A technique of performing one-point spelling and two-point spelling using two staplers is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-13364.

In addition, a technique of using one stapler, fixing it at a corner, and spelling only a predetermined position is disclosed in JP-A-59-82263, JP-A-62-290669, JP-A-63-101268, and the like. It has been disclosed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The use of one stapler has a simpler configuration than the use of a plurality of staplers. However, in the above-described conventional technology, one-stapler and two-speller can be freely used by using one stapler. Can't choose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus capable of arbitrarily selecting one-point binding or two-point binding using one stapler and performing a binding operation.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Image forming means for sequentially forming images of a plurality of sets of sheet bundles one by one, sheet loading means for sequentially loading sheets formed by the image forming means, and sheet loading means And a binding unit that can be moved to a different binding position in order to close the sheet bundle stacked at one or a plurality of positions, and the sheet bundle bound by the binding unit is discharged from the sheet stacking unit. In the image forming apparatus,
A staple mode selecting means for selecting a single-staple mode for binding one place or a multiple-staple mode for binding a plurality of places; and, from the completion of image formation in the preceding image forming cycle according to the staple mode selected by the staple mode selecting means. A control unit is provided for changing a waiting time until the start of image formation in the next image forming cycle and controlling the timing of starting image formation in the next image forming cycle by the image forming unit.

(Operation) The binding means functions according to the binding mode of the recording paper, and the recording paper is not carried in before the binding means moves to a predetermined position.

Embodiment First, an overall outline will be described.

2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a copying machine main body 1A, an automatic document feeder 1B, a large-volume paper feeder 1C, and a paper discharger 1D. The post-processing device 2 is connected to the paper discharge unit 1D.

The copying machine main unit 1A is configured by an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser printer, or the like.

The automatic document feeder 1B automatically feeds the document G set on the document table 1B-1 to the exposure position. In the case of double-sided copying, the document G is reversed and then sent to the exposure position again. −
Send out to 2. When recording a plurality of copies, for example, the document is circulated a number of times corresponding to the required number of copies, and then sent out to the collection table 1B-2.

The large-volume feeding unit 1C is a paper feeding unit 1A attached to the copier main unit 1A.
A paper feeding unit capable of storing a large amount of recording paper that cannot be covered by recording paper stored in -1, 1A-2 or the like is provided.

The paper discharge unit 1D has a multi-stage paper discharge tray 1D-1, and distributes and holds the copied recording paper according to the sort mode or the stack mode.

The post-processing device 2 functions when a staple mode for binding the recording paper for each predetermined number of copies is designated. When the staple mode is designated, the recorded recording paper passes through the paper discharge unit 1D and does not go to the paper discharge tray 1D-1, but the transport path is switched during the transport, and the paper is sent to the post-processing device 2. Reach.
After the bookbinding process, the sheet is discharged to the staple discharge tray 21.

 Next, the post-processing device 2 will be further described.

3 and 4, the post-processing device 2 includes a staple unit 5 serving as a binding unit that binds recording paper and performs bookbinding processing.
Sheets discharged from the copier main unit 1A, that is, recording paper S1
Alternatively, it has a reference fence 3 for aligning S2 in the paper transport direction YY, and a pair of left and right jogger fences 4 for aligning S2 with XX orthogonal to the paper transport direction YY.

The stapling section 5 is provided with one stapler 5-1 for binding recording paper.

The jogger fence 4 is automatically positioned according to the size of the recording paper used. That is, the distance equally distributed to the center line 0-0, which is the reference for transporting the recording paper, is moved in the direction of opening or closing equally to the left and right.

Next, the stapler 5-1 has a binding portion that pushes a binding staple to the recording paper, and the binding portion moves along an X′-X ′ line along a predetermined binding position of the recording paper positioned by the reference fence 3. The movement of the jogger fence is individually moved in parallel with the staple unit 5. This parallel movement is performed by being guided by a guide shaft (not shown) parallel to the line X'-X ', and its driving force is given by a staple motor.

Note that a part of the member provided with the jogger fence 4 intersects with the line X′-X ′ to support an end of the recording paper, and forms a recording paper holding unit 4-1. Therefore, when the staple unit 5 moves, the holding unit 4-1 interferes with the staple unit 5. In order to prevent this, the staple unit 5 performs a retreating motion as appropriate.

The staple unit 5 moves to a predetermined position in accordance with the staple mode and stops, and the stapler 5-1 operates, and the recording paper stacked on the sheet sanitary means including the jogger fence 4, the release belt 6, the reference fence 3, and the like. Bind.

In FIG. 3, the left side of the center line 0-0 is referred to as the near side and the right side is referred to as the back side. In the recording paper having the printing arrangement as shown in FIGS. The stapling mode is a "front mode" for binding one place, and the "end mode" for binding two places at the top on the near side and the back side is the staple mode. 5 In the recording paper having the printing arrangement as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F, the staple mode is a "back mode" in which the upper portion on the back side is bound at one place.
select.

Here, for example, when the back side mode is selected as shown in FIG. 5 for the recording paper having the printing arrangement as shown in FIGS. Care must be taken because the sheet bundle (hereinafter referred to as a booklet) is formed.

The selection of the staple mode is performed by pressing a staple mode selection key 1-1 as staple mode selection means provided in the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG.

When the staple mode is designated, as shown in FIG. 7, the information is transmitted to the control unit 1-2, and further transmitted to the control unit 2-1 of the post-processing device 2, and the selected staple mode is transmitted. Further, a required position suitable for the recording paper size is calculated, and movement to that position is performed by driving the staple motor M. Then, when the recording paper for a predetermined page constituting the booklet is stocked, the binding unit 5-
1 functions to execute the binding work.

In this example, one stapler performs one-point spelling in the front mode or the back mode or two-point spelling in the two-sided mode.

In the case of two spellings, after finishing two spellings,
That is, after finishing one job, the stapler moves between the front and the back and returns to the home position during the waiting time until the first sheet of recording paper for the next job is conveyed,
Ready for the next job.

More time is required for this movement than in the case of spelling in one place.

Therefore, it is necessary to switch the waiting time between jobs when spelling in one place and spelling in two places to prevent the recording paper of one page of the next job from colliding.

Thus, for example, when selecting the staple mode, the front mode or back mode, as shown latency between jobs in Figure 1, when the T _1, selects a bilateral mode, T ₂ (T _2> T ₁ ).

The switching between the waiting times T ₁ and T ₂ between the jobs may be performed by switching the sheet feeding timing in the image forming apparatus 1, or the staple mode may be switched between the image forming apparatus using an optical fiber and the image forming apparatus in the post-processing apparatus. Send,
Thereby, the waiting time between jobs according to each staple mode may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus from the post-processing apparatus. These operations are performed by control means such as the control units 1-2 and 2-1 in the block diagram shown in FIG.

When the binding process is completed, the release belt 6 is driven to hang the booklet 7 on the claws 6-1 as shown in FIG.

Thus, according to the present example, one stapler can handle one
Two-point spelling and two-point spelling are possible, and there is no inconvenience that recording paper is carried in while the stapler is moving when the stapler mode is switched.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, it is only necessary to change the image forming start timing of the image forming means without changing the structure of the conventional image forming apparatus.
It is possible to arbitrarily select a spelling at one of the locations and perform the binding work smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining waiting time between jobs, FIG. 2 is an external front view of an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a positional relationship of various members in the post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part corresponding to the above drawing, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating various binding positions of recording paper, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a staple mode selection key, and FIG. It is a block diagram concerning movement control of a stapler. 3: Reference fence, 4: Jogger fence, 5: Staple part, 5-1: Stapler.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Yamada 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Osuga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichi Fujii 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Yoko Tabiru Rico Telemex Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-300075 (JP, A) Hei 2-38263 (JP, A) JP-A-60-141591 (JP, A) JP-A-63-1255 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37 / 00-37/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image forming means for sequentially forming an image of a plurality of sheet bundles one by one, a sheet loading means for sequentially loading sheets formed by the image forming means, and a sheet loaded on the sheet loading means. A binding unit movable to a different binding position in order to close the sheet bundle at one or a plurality of locations, wherein the sheet bundle bound by the binding unit is discharged from the sheet stacking unit. A staple mode selecting means for selecting one staple mode for binding one place or a plurality of staple modes for binding a plurality of places; and forming an image in the previous image forming cycle in accordance with the staple mode selected by the staple mode selecting means. Change the waiting time from completion to the start of image formation in the next image forming cycle, and That a control means for controlling the image formation start timing of the next image forming cycle, the image forming apparatus having a.