JP2912969B2 - Paper processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a paper processing apparatus provided in a copying machine, a printing machine, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

In general, a predetermined number of copies of the transfer paper on which an image has been formed and the paper (sheet) for which printing has been completed are accumulated in each bin of a sorter or a stacker. They are bound with a stapler, punched with a punch and bound with a fastener, or glued and bound. However, it is inefficient and cumbersome for an operator to take out sheets from each bin and perform predetermined processing in order to bind sheets discharged onto the bins in this way. Among them, a paper processing apparatus called a sorter / stapler for performing predetermined processing, that is, stapling, has begun to spread.

A representative example of this type of paper processing apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-290.
655, JP 62-290677, JP 63-60871 and JP 63
As disclosed in JP-A-116168, after a predetermined number of sheets are discharged to all the bins, the bins are stapled.

In this case, if stapling is performed, if the copied paper discharged to the bin is not aligned, the sheets may be stapled apart and complete paper binding cannot be performed. It generally has a function of aligning the printed sheets. Regarding this paper alignment,
To improve the productivity at the time of stapling, when the copy sheet of the last original is discharged to the first bin without waiting for the predetermined number of sheets to be discharged to all the bins as described above, It is also conceivable to set so that the stapling operation is started from the first bin.

In addition, in a binding mode of a copying machine having the sorter / stapler as described above, an automatic staple mode and a manual staple mode are generally set.
Auto staple mode is a mode in which the stapling operation is automatically performed after the last original copy is completed and the original is bound in combination with the ADF mode.
Manual staple mode is the platen mode or SA
In combination with the DF mode, the mode is set so that the copying operation is normally performed in the sort mode, and the stapling operation is started by the key operation after the end of the final document.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Incidentally, the above-mentioned JP-A-62-290655, JP-A-62-29067
7, as disclosed in JP-A-63-60871 and JP-A-63-116168, it is configured that after a predetermined number of copy sheets are discharged to all the bins, stapling of each bin is performed. However, if staples are started after all the copy sheets are stored in the bin, it is necessary to wait until the copy paper is set in the last bin even though there is a bin in which the copy sheets are already set, which is extremely inefficient.

In order to improve the productivity during stapling as described above, when the stapling operation is started from the first bin when the copy sheet of the final document is discharged to the first bin, the stapling is performed. Since the operation and the paper alignment operation are generally controlled independently of each other, the staple operation in the previous bin and the paper alignment operation in the next bin may be executed at the same timing. However, as the final step of the stapling operation, the timing at which the stapled copy set is discharged onto the bin and the rocking plate, which is a part of the aligning means, is shaken for paper alignment of the copy discharged to the next bin. If the movement timings coincide, the swing plate may lose the momentum of the discharged copy set, and the copy paper discharged to the next bin may not be sufficiently aligned.

Further, when the paper alignment operation and the stapling operation are independently controlled as described above, the paper is not transferred from when the reference fence in the bin is knocked down by the stapling operation until the paper on the bin is chucked by the stapler chuck unit. When the aligning operation is performed, a paper alignment error or a staple position shift occurs.

In addition, in the conventional copying machine, in the two staple modes as described above, even if the number of copies is changed during the copying operation, the staples are applied to all the sheets stored in the bin. Was running. Therefore, contrary to the operator's intention, there is a problem that an incomplete set of copied sheets is also bound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances of the prior art. A first object of the present invention is to enable efficient stapling operation, achieve high productivity, and reduce the time when binding paper sets. It is another object of the present invention to provide a paper processing apparatus capable of performing a binding operation on a set of sheets on which all pages are aligned as much as possible and performing a binding operation without waste.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a paper processing apparatus capable of reliably performing paper alignment even when a stapling operation and a paper alignment operation are performed at the same timing.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a paper processing apparatus capable of preventing a paper alignment defect and a staple misalignment caused by an overlap between a paper alignment operation and a staple operation.

[Means for solving the problem]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a paper processing apparatus having a plurality of bins, a sorting unit for sequentially sorting sheets discharged on the bins, and a stapling unit for stapling the sheets discharged and stacked on the bins. In the above, the number of sheets to be sorted by the sorting unit can be changed by changing the number of sheets for each cycle, and the sheets on the bin from which the sheets corresponding to the final cycle have been discharged out of the cycles. This is achieved by a first means having control means for activating the stapling means.

The first object is the first means, wherein, when the number of sheets on the bin from which the sheets corresponding to the final cycle are discharged is one, the control means includes the staple for one bin. Prohibit staple operation by means,
The stapling operation of the other bin from which a plurality of sheets have been discharged by the stapling unit is performed by the second unit.

The second object is to provide a plurality of bins, aligning means for aligning sheets discharged on these bins and aligning all the bins, and stapling means for stapling the sheets aligned by the aligning means. In the paper processing apparatus having the above, the present invention is achieved by a third unit including a control unit that executes a stapling operation by the stapling unit during an aligning operation by the aligning unit on a sheet immediately after being discharged to a bin.

The second object is that, in the third means, the staple execution bin on which the stapling operation is performed by the stapling means is at least two times larger than the alignment execution bin on which the alignment operation is performed by the alignment means upon completion of discharge of the sheet.
This is achieved by a fourth means that is set in bins that are more than bin apart.

According to a third object of the present invention, in the third means, the control means detects a timing at which the aligning operation cannot be performed by the aligning means, prohibits the aligning operation by the aligning means based on the detection output, and controls the staple means. This is achieved by a fifth means for prioritizing the stapling operation.

The third object is the third means, in the third means, wherein the control means determines whether or not the sheets on the bin have been aligned, and when the operation timings of the alignment means and the stapling means overlap, the control means has determined that the paper has been aligned. The above is achieved by a sixth means for determining which of the aligning means and the staple means is to be prioritized by judging whether or not the priority is satisfied.

[Action]

According to the first means, the sorting means and the stapling means can be operated simultaneously, and the number of sheets to be sorted by the sorting means can be changed every cycle to perform the sorting. Since the stapling means is activated for the paper on the bin from which the paper corresponding to the cycle has been discharged, it is possible to bind the copied paper in parallel without having to wait for the end of the sorting operation when stapling, In addition, the paper set includes all pages, and there is no possibility that an incomplete paper set is bound as it is.

According to the second means, when the number of sheets on the bin from which the sheet corresponding to the final cycle is discharged is one, the sheet is prohibited from stapling by one stapler by the stapling means. Since the stapling operation is performed by the stapling means on the other bins from which the paper has been discharged, the stapling means operates on the bin having only one sheet on the bin on which the paper corresponding to the final document has been discharged. No unnecessary binding operation is performed.

According to the third means, the stapling operation by the stapling means is performed during the aligning operation by the aligning means for the paper immediately after being discharged to the bin. Therefore, before the stapling by the stapling means, the target paper set is This means that the paper alignment has been performed a plurality of times. As a result, the paper alignment is performed accurately and reliably.

According to the fourth means, since the bin on which the stapling unit performs the stapling operation is set to a bin at least two bins higher than the bin on which the sheets are aligned, before stapling by the stapling unit, That is, at least two paper alignments have been performed on the target paper set. As a result, the paper alignment is performed accurately and reliably.

According to the fifth means, when the timing at which the paper alignment operation cannot be performed is detected, the paper alignment operation is prohibited and the operation of the stapling means is performed with priority. This allows
The stapling operation no longer interrupts the paper alignment operation between the time the reference fence in the bin is knocked down and the time when it is chucked, which can disturb the paper alignment of the paper set or shift the staple position when stapling. Disappears.

According to the sixth means, it is determined whether or not the bins are already aligned, and, based on the determination, it is determined whether to execute the paper alignment operation or the stapling operation, and the bin in which the paper alignment is performed is determined. Only the stapling operation can be performed, so that only the paper set in which the paper alignment is finely performed can be stapled without shifting the staple position.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in the front view of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, entrance guide plates 104a and 104b are provided at the entrance of a copy discharged from a copying machine which is an example of the main body of the apparatus. Are provided with guide plates 107, 109, 110, 111 for conveying the sheet, conveying rollers 106, 108, 112, 113, and a switching claw 115. The upper path by the operation of the switching claw 115 is
A pair of paper discharge rollers 117 and 118 and a paper discharge tray 119 are provided.
A plurality of bins (20 in the example in the figure) provided in parallel with the vertical direction from the bottom of the bin 300 follow a copy vertical feed path along the copy insertion side.

At a position corresponding to each bin in the vertical feed path, a roller pair of a deflection claw 164, a transport roller 162, and a discharge roller 163 are provided, and a plurality of rollers provided at appropriate intervals of the transport roller 162 include: A driven roller across the copy vertical feed path
165 is in pressure contact. The above transport rollers 106, 108, 112, 11
3, paper discharge rollers 117, 118, transport roller 162, discharge roller 163
Are driven by the drive mode 200.

As shown in the plan view of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the side of the group of bins 300 is a stapler which is a stapling means to be described later.
401, a device for moving a sheet to a stapler (hereinafter referred to as a checking unit) 402 and a stapler 401, a checking unit 402
A stapler device (binding means) 400 composed of a vertical movement mechanism for moving the paper to each bin is arranged.

Further, on the side of the group of bins 300 on the opposite side where the stapler device 400 is located, a pressing member 502 (to be described later) serving as an aligning unit for aligning the sheets before stapling, and the pressing member 502 is reduced to the size of the sheet. An oscillating device 500 including a device for moving to a joint place is arranged.

FIG. 3 is a rear view as viewed from the opposite side of FIG. In FIG. 3, what cannot be expressed in FIG. 1 will be described.

The sorter of the present embodiment is a 20-bin sorter, and the first sorter means 100 and the second sorter means 1 each have 10 bins.
01 is divided into two blocks, and the upper block (first sorter means) 100 has bin sensors 176 and 179 and a paper discharge sensor 17.
In the lower block (second sorter means) 101, there are provided bin sensors 181 and 184 and discharge sensors 180 and 183. These sensors 176 to 184 are transmission type optical detection sensors including an LED and a phototransistor. The paper discharge sensors 177, 178, 18 detect whether or not a copy (= paper) has been discharged.
0,183, and the bin sensors 176,179,181,184 determine whether there is a copy in the bin 300. Such bin sensors 176, 179, 181 and 184 make it possible to use the lower block 101 if a copy is on the upper block 100.

 Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described.

The copy discharged from the copier is supplied to the entrance guide plates 104a, 104a.
It is inserted from 04b, and is transported upward by guide plates 107, 109, 110, 111 and transport rollers 106, 108, 112, 113.

Now, assuming that the mode is the normal paper discharge mode (a mode in which paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 119), the switching claw 115 is lowered, and copying is performed along the guide plate 114 by the paper discharge roller pair 117, 118. Is discharged.

Further, assuming that a sorting mode (a mode in which pages are sorted in order) and a stacking mode (a mode in which pages are sorted) are used, the switching claw 115 is mounted on the upper side and is conveyed downward along the guide plate 120. The copy transported by the transport roller 162 and the driven roller 165 is discharged to the bin 300 where the deflecting claw 164 operates. Deflection claw 164
Performs the motion according to the mode (sort or stack).

In the sort mode, the deflecting claw 164 of the first bin is operated to discharge the sheet to the first bin 300, and the second copy of the first page is operated by the deflecting claw 164 of the second bin. Discharge to bin 300. The first page of the second page is placed in the first bin 300
The first sheet is discharged to the second bin 300, respectively. Thus, in the sort mode, one bin 300 contains 1, 2, 3, ...
・ ・ Ejected in page order.

In the stack mode, the deflecting pawl 164 operates so that all copies of the first page are discharged to the first bin, and copies of the second page are discharged to the second bin. In this way,
In the stack mode, a copy of the same page is discharged to one bin and sorted for each page.

The configuration required to perform stapling on such sorted copies will be described below. In order to staple copies, the copies must be aligned. For this reason, the sorter of this embodiment is provided with a swinging device which will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing the swinging device, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the relationship between the swinging device and the bin 300.

On one side edge of each bin 300, a bin fence 316 is provided upright, and on the other side edge which is orthogonal to the edge where the bin fence 316 is provided, a bin rear end rising portion 308 is provided. It is erected. A cutout 311 is provided at the edge opposite to the edge where the bin fluence 316 is provided. The notch 311 is provided so as to extend toward the fence 316 over a predetermined length. A main shaft 501 having a square cross section is erected so as to penetrate vertically through the notch portions 311 provided in each of the bins 300. A plurality of pressing members 502 for abutting on the end face of the sheet bundle and aligning the positions thereof are attached to a position corresponding to each bin 300 at an intermediate portion of the main shaft 501. As shown in FIG. 6, each of these pressing members 502 is provided with pressing elastic members 502a and 502b corresponding to the fence 316. The elasticity of the pressing elastic member 502a absorbs variations in mounting the pressing member 502 and the bin 300. When the sheet curls upward, the curl of the sheet is pressed by the pressing elastic member 502b, and the pressing member 502 is securely brought into contact with the end surface of the sheet bundle to perform the alignment.

Further, at the upper end and the lower end of the main shaft 501, pieces of brackets 505 and 506 formed in an L shape are respectively attached, and the cutouts are formed in the upper area and the lower area of the bin 300. Timing belts 507 and 508 extending in substantially the same direction as the direction in which 311 extends.
Are arranged respectively. Then, for each of the timing belts 507 and 508, each of the brackets 505 and 506 is provided.
Are fixed to each other. Pulleys on which the timing belts 507 and 508 are respectively mounted
Of the 509,510 and 511,512,513, the pulley 50 on the drive side
9 and 511 are fixed to both ends of a drive shaft 514 provided to extend in the vertical direction. The lower timing belt 508 is hung on a pulley 513 provided on the output shaft of the size movement motor 515.

As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the pressing member 502 is detected by a size detection plate 530 fixed to a sorter and a size detection sensor 531 as size information detection means on the lower bracket 506. .

On the lower bracket 506, a swing motor 520 is installed as shown in FIG. An eccentric shaft 520a is provided at an output portion of the swing motor 520 so as to protrude upward. On the other hand, a swing arm 5 is provided at the lower end of the spindle 501.
21 is attached so as to protrude toward the swing motor 520 side. The eccentric shaft 520a is loosely fitted in the long groove 521a formed in the swing arm 521. Accordingly, the rocking arm 521 is rocked by the rotation of the rocking motor 520, and the rocking power is transmitted to the pressing members 502 corresponding to the bins 300 via the main shaft 501. Each pressing elastic member 502a of the member 502 is
Between the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 and the position shown by the dashed line, as shown in FIG. 8, the swing is sinusoidal, so that the swing speed becomes slow at the upper fulcrum. ing. Further, the position where the pressing elastic member 502a is indicated by the one-dot chain line is set so as to have a certain amount of biting from the end face of the sheet in order to reliably press the sheet bundle against the fence 316.

As described above, the oscillating device 500 is made into a unit so that the entire oscillating unit can be moved by the size moving motor 515.

Upon receiving the size signal sent from the image forming apparatus side in the swinging device, the upper and lower timing belts 507, 508 are conveyed by the size moving motor 515, whereby the pressing member 502 attached to the main shaft 501 moves the sheet bundle. It is moved forward toward one end face. Then, the swing unit is moved to a predetermined position by the size detection plate 530 and the size detection sensor 531.

Next, the swing motor 520 rotates forward by half a turn (180 °),
Thereafter, the rocking arm 521 is rocked once by turning over and returning to the home position, and the rocking power is transmitted to each pressing member 502 via the main shaft 501. This causes the pressing elastic member 502a to swing from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 to the position shown by the dashed line. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the swing motor 520 rotates forward by 180 ° or more, then reverses and returns to the home position, so that the swing can be easily performed twice in one process.

Then, the pressing elastic member 502a of the pressing member 502 is brought into contact with one end surface of the sheet bundle by the above-described swing, so that the opposite end surface of the sheet bundle is pressed against the fence 316 side. The position of one end face of the sheet bundle is aligned, and the other end face that is orthogonal to the one end face of the sheet bundle by the oscillating force of the pressing member 502,
The sheet bundle is pushed in the direction of arrow A so as to be in contact with the bin rising portion 308, and as a result, the other end face of the sheet bundle is aligned.

Therefore, the sheet bundle is properly aligned in both directions. Since the swinging is performed by the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the rocking motor 520, even if the sheet is not completely pushed by the forward rotation, the home position can be easily returned by the reverse rotation.

The paper discharged onto the above operation bin 300 can be favorably aligned to the end.

The aligned sheet bundle is taken out in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 5 after various post-processing such as a stapling operation is performed. Since there is no obstacle in the take-out direction in the take-out direction, the paper take-out operation is easily performed.

The bin 300 is also provided with various devices for satisfactorily aligning and stapling sheets.

Hereinafter, the structure of the bin 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 28. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the bottle 300, and FIG. 11 is a side view thereof. A notch 311 substantially at the center of FIG. 10 is for the main axis of swing to move in accordance with the sheet size. Two convex portions 301 located beside the notch 311
Is a swing plate 502 (fifteenth) attached to the swing main shaft 501.
(Fig.) To make a groove. As shown in FIG. 15, the paper P is lifted up by providing the convex portion 301, so that the paper P can be surely brought close during swinging.

The same effect can be obtained by providing the recess 321 as shown in FIG.

In addition, when the convex portion 301 is provided as shown in FIG. 15, the rolled and aligned paper P can be satisfactorily performed by simultaneously performing the role of stiffening the discharged paper P.

The rib 302b of the bin 300 is designed so that the discharged sheet does not enter the notch 311.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the rib 302b near the notch 311.
As can be seen from FIG. 13, the ribs 302b project above and below the bin 300, and prevent the paper P to be stacked from falling under the ribs 302b and at the same time from entering the cutouts of the upper bin. Arrangement is 10 from paper size edge
The distance is set in the vicinity of the center of mm, and it is considered that the end face of the sheet, which easily enters the notch 311, is surely guided.

Further, in FIG. 13, the shape of the rib on the upper side of the bin forms a gentle triangular shape on one side because after the stapled bundle of sheets that have been chucked and then ejected, the ejected sheet P This is for guiding so as not to be caught on the ribs of the like. The rib 302b is a low rib near the bin rising portion 308, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, and is gradually raised to the notch. This is performed to secure a large number of sheets to be loaded.

The bin 300 of this embodiment is provided with a neutralization brush 322 as shown in FIG. 16 in order to increase the number of copies to be stacked.
There is a risk of catching the 322 and adversely affecting the stackability and alignment. However, by providing the ribs 302c, the discharged paper P is guided so as not to be caught on the charge removal brush 322, so that the above-mentioned problem can be solved. The ribs 302c are also arranged so as to press both ends of each size of the paper P.

In FIG. 11, the rib 302e protruding downward serves to press the end face of the sheet P as shown in FIG.
When the chuck portion advances to a curl-sized sheet or the like, the chuck lever 421 is surely prevented from hitting the stacked sheets P.
Can be checked.

The guide member 317 attached to the bin 300 in FIG.
This is a member that guides the sheet P to be surely entered into the frontage 323 of the stapler section when the sheet P stacked on 300 is moved to the stapler section by the chucking section. Without the guide member 317, as shown in FIG. 22, when the paper P moves from the position shown in FIG.
There is a risk of getting caught on 3. In particular, when the number of stacked sheets P or the number of curled sheets P as shown in FIG. 19 increases, this problem increases. However, by attaching the guide member 317, the sheet P is reliably guided to the stapler frontage 323 as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, a convex portion 307 protruding below the bin 300 is used for curling the sheet P. Paper P discharged onto bin 300
Are aligned in one direction, but the paper P with a large curl gets over the bin fluence 316 (FIG. 12) provided on the side of the bin, thereby deteriorating the alignment. The protrusion 307 is a sheet P
It is installed so that curls and the like can be suppressed and alignment can be performed well. FIGS. 23 and 24 show model cases with and without the curl pressing portion 307. FIG. The state of, in the paper P in the figure, is shown in a stepwise manner with the passage of time when the paper P is aligned.

The notch 310 shown in FIG. 10 is a notch for checking the sheet P whose chucking portion is aligned on the bin 300.

The bin 300 is attached to the sorter at an angle. This is for the purpose of aligning the discharged paper P in the discharge direction by rotating the rocking plate 502 and by dropping the paper P by its own weight. For example, in this embodiment, 25
It has an inclination of °.

The shape of the rising portion 308 of the bottle 300 is as shown in FIG. 25 in order to improve the system of aligning the discharging direction and to improve the stacking property. An arbitrary vertical portion is provided on the bottom surface of the bottle 300, and a portion which is formed at an acute angle to the bottom surface of the bin 300 at an angle of more than 90 ° is provided. This is because when the paper P is loaded on the rising portion 308, the curl or the like is suppressed at the bent portion B so that the sheets P are aligned well and the stacking is performed. FIG. 26 shows a state in which the sheets are stacked.

FIGS. 27 and 28 show a shape in which the rising portion only extends vertically, and a state in which sheets P are stacked. With this shape, when the curled paper comes out,
The paper P rides on the rising portion without the curl being cut off, and a problem such as a jam occurs.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the bottle 300, showing an attached state. In the figure, 315a, 315b indicates a side plate, 312a, 312b
Indicates a bin support. Bin tray 3 on Binfuence 316 side
The bin 300 is fixed at 12a, and the other bin support 312b is only supported with a slight gap from the bin 300. By fixing the bin fuence 316 side, the position of the staple can be prevented from being varied. In addition, bin support 31
The slight gap provided on the 2b side allows the thermal expansion of the bottle 300 to be absorbed.

 Next, the stapler 400 will be described.

A stapler 400 as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 is arranged on the side of the paper stacking bin 300 provided in multiple stages. In the stapler 400, the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402
Are fixed so that they hang down from the lower surface of the plate-like bracket 403. The stapler 401
Stapling is performed on each of the sorted sheet bundles stacked on each of the bins 300 (not shown), and the sheet pulling device 402 grasps the sheet bundles on the bins 300 to be substantially horizontal. It is transported in the direction.

Both end portions 403a and 403b of the bracket 403 are bent upward and downward, respectively, and rollers 404a and 404b are rotatably attached to the both end portions 403a and 403b. The rollers 404a and 404b are
The stapler 401 is mounted so as to be rolled up and down in the grooves of two guide rails 405a and 405b which stand substantially parallel to the side of the bin 300.
The paper pulling device 402 is reciprocally moved in the vertical direction along the side of each bin 300. Further, two drive belts 406a and 406b are stretched substantially in parallel along the side of the bin 300. These drive belts 406
a, 406b, both ends 403a, 40 of the bracket 403
3b are screwed and fixed respectively. The drive belts 406a and 406b are respectively suspended between two pulleys 407a and 407b and 407b and 407d that are vertically separated from each other. The lower pulleys 407c and 407d are connected by a common support shaft 408 so as to be integrally rotated.

The pulley 4 fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 409
The driving gear 413 is transmitted to the pulley 412 via the power transmission belt 411 and is fixed coaxially.
The rotational driving force is transmitted to a driving pulley 414 fixed to one end of the support shaft 408 via a gear 414 meshed with the shaft 408 in order. The driving belts 406a and 406b are transported and driven by such a driving force transmission mechanism, whereby the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402 are vertically moved.

Furthermore, one edge portion 4 of the bracket 403 is provided.
A position sensor 415 is attached to 03a, and a detection plate 416 is erected so as to be sandwiched by the position sensor 415. On the detection plate 416, projections 416a indicating positions are formed at predetermined intervals so as to correspond to the positions of the bins 300. By such a position detecting mechanism, the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402 are provided.
Is stopped at the installation position of each bin.

The protrusion 403c and the sensor 403d in FIG.
This is for determining the upper limit position of 403. When 403c enters the sensor 403d, the motor 409 stops ascending.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram for making it easier to understand the movement of the above-described stapler device 400. The movement of the paper 423c and the checker 421 discharged onto the bin 300 and the position of the stapler 401 will be described.

The sheet 423c discharged onto the bin 300 is discharged to a position indicated by 423d. Thereafter, it is aligned at a position where it comes into contact with the fence 316 by a swinging device described separately. Thereafter, when copying is completed and stapling is started, the check section 421
Moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line.
Close 421, sandwich paper 423c, and return to the position indicated by the solid line.
By this operation, the sheet 423c moves to the position of 423f, and a certain number of sheets are stapled on the bin 300 by the stapler 401. Thereafter, the chuck portion 421 is opened, and the sheet 423c is returned from the position of 423e to the position of 423d by the return plate described later.
This completes the work for one bin 300 and the next bin 3
Go to 00 and repeat this operation. Details of these operations will be described later. Paper pulling device 40 described above
32, as shown in FIG. 32, includes a check section 421 for gripping a sheet bundle, and a reciprocating mechanism 422 for reciprocating the check section 421 in a substantially horizontal direction. In the chuck section 421, a pair of swing arms 421z and 421s are swingably attached to the substrate 421a. The chucks 421y and 421s are operated by the 421m operates to grip the paper.

The reciprocating mechanism 422 is provided with a feed shaft 422a for moving the check section 421 toward and away from the sheet bundle. Both support shafts protruding from both ends of the feed shaft 422a are rotatably supported on both pieces of a frame 422b formed in a U-shape. One side of each support shaft of the feed shaft 422a penetrates a part of the frame body 422b and further projects by a predetermined amount. As shown in FIG.
2c is fixed, and two round belts 422d are hung on the pulley, and have a structure driven by a drive motor 422f via a relay pulley and a gear 422e.

Further, a feed screw portion constituting a ball screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the feed shaft 422a, and a boss portion 421h fixed to the substrate 421a side is screwed to the feed screw portion. I have. That is, the output of the drive motor 422f
2a is rotationally driven, and the substrate 421a is reciprocated by this rotational force. In the frame body 422b, two position sensors 422j and 422k are installed at a front position and a rear position, respectively, separated by a predetermined distance, and the two position sensors 422j and 422k are provided on the boss portion 421h side.
A detection plate 422m is set up as a detection target of k, and the check section 421 is interposed between these position sensors 422j and 422k.
Is reciprocated.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, when the staple mode is started, first, the drive belt 40 shown in FIG.
6a and 406b, the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 40
2 is moved up and down integrally, the stapler 401 and the paper pulling device 402 are transported toward a predetermined bin 300 where a bundle of sheets to be stapled is deposited, and based on a signal from the position sensor 415, the predetermined bin 300 is moved. Is stopped at a position close to. At this time, the solenoid 421c is turned off, and accordingly, both the swinging arms 421z and 421s and the checks 421y and m are placed in an open state.

Next, the feed shaft 422a is rotationally driven by the output of the drive motor 422f, and the chuck portion 421 moves forward toward the sheet bundle by this rotational force.

FIG. 45 is a view showing a groove 430 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the feed shaft 422a. The ball 431 that has entered this groove 430 is the feed axis
The reciprocation is performed by the rotation of 422a guided by the groove 430. Both ends of the feed shaft 422a are provided with idling portions 432 of 180 ° or more, and the groove ends of the idling portions 432 serve as stoppers, thereby eliminating variations in stop positions due to inertia of rotation.

By performing the above-described drive transmission method using the round belt 422d, the impact when the ball 431 hits the end of the groove can be absorbed by the slip, and the problem caused by the impact can be eliminated. Although the present embodiment has been described with the round belt 422d, the same applies to a friction transmission system such as a flat belt.

FIG. 51 is a developed view showing another embodiment of the groove in FIG. 45. In the figure, speed control during movement is performed by changing the amount of advance with respect to the rotation angle. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the entire movement amount is moved by two rotations (720 °). If the movement amount A is assumed to be 42 mm, the movement amount B after rotating 90 ° B = 3 mm, and the next 90 ° The amount of movement when rotated C = 4 mm, the amount of movement D when rotated next 90 ° D = 6 mm,
The amount of movement at the time of 90 ° rotation E = 7 mm, the acceleration is gradually accelerated in the first one rotation, and is decelerated and stopped in the next one rotation in the same manner as the rate of acceleration in the one rotation. FIG. 52 is a graph of the above description. By performing the speed control as described above, the chuck unit 421 grips the aligned sheet bundle 423c with the chucks 421y and 421m, and moves the sheet bundle 423c due to the inertia at the time of start and stop when returning to the staple position. Prevents variation.

Then, when the chucks 421y and 421m are moved to a position where they can grip the sheet bundle, they are stopped there, and at the same time, the solenoid 421c is turned on. When the solenoid 421c is turned on, the chucks 421y and 421m are closed as shown in FIG. 35, and the edges of the sheet bundle are gripped by the chucks 421y and 421m.

The movement at this time will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus moves from the state shown in FIGS. 32 and 34 to the state shown in FIGS. 35 and 36.
That is, when the solenoid 421c is turned on, the lever 421l is moved to 421d.
Is pivoted on the fulcrum. Spring hooked on lever 421l
421k causes lever 421j to rotate clockwise about 421w. Further, a gear A421g is fixed to the lever 421j, and is in mesh with the gear B421w, so that the movement is transmitted. Gear B421w is fixed to lever: upper 421z, lever:
The upper 421z pivots counterclockwise about the 421x, and moves downward at the 421t portion, and is pivotally supported at the 421t:
The upper 421y moves down. In addition, since the check portion is in a state of protruding forward, as shown in FIG.
It falls into the notch 422w of 422z.

Further, since the gear B421w is meshed with the gear C421p, the gear C421p also rotates clockwise, and the lever fixed thereto: the lower 421s also rotates clockwise around the 421r as a fulcrum, and is pivotally supported at the 421n portion. Check: 421m below, as shown in Fig. 35,
Move upward. The spring 421f pulls the lever: the lower 421s counterclockwise, but moves in this manner because it is weak.

Check: Upper 421y and Check: Lower 421m The amount of movement from the fixed position is determined by the number of teeth of the gears A421g, B421w, 421p, the rotation fulcrum, and the length of the action point.

In the case of the present embodiment, the number of teeth of the gear A421g is 40, the number of teeth of the gear B421w is 32, and the number of teeth of the gear C421p is 56, so that if the movement amount of each gear is represented by a ratio, A: B: C = 1: 1.25: 0.7. Lever: The distance between the fulcrum 421x of the upper 421z and the action point 421t is 52 mm, and the distance between the fulcrum 421r of the lower 421s and the action point 421n is 37 mm, so that the movement ratio is 1.25 × 52: 0.7.
It becomes × 37 and moves at a ratio of 2.5: 1. That is, check:
Check if the top moves down 2.5: the bottom will move 1 up.

Further, the chucking force sandwiched between the upper and lower 421y and 421m is determined by the force of a spring 421k attached to the solenoid 421c.

As can be seen in FIG. 32, the chuck: upper, lower 421y, 421
As the thickness sandwiched by m increases, the spring 421k extends. That is, as the number of sheets sandwiched between the check units 421 increases, the check force is considered to increase, thereby eliminating problems such as displacement due to insufficient check force.

Next, due to the reverse rotation of the drive motor 422f, the check portion 421
While holding the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is returned to its original position as shown in FIG. 37, whereby the sheet bundle is translated in a substantially horizontal direction and drawn toward the stapler 401 side. When the edge portion of the bundle of recording sheets is transported to a position where stapling is possible, it is stopped there.

FIG. 34, FIG. 36, and FIG. 38 are views in which the return plate portion is visible.

At this time, since the notch 422w and the pin 421v are hooked on the return plate, the return plate moves to the position shown in FIG. 38 by the reverse rotation of the motor. Return plate 422z is notch 422t of return plate bracket 422x
The pin provided on the return plate 422z is inserted into the notch 422r, and the pin 422p provided with the return plate bracket 422x is inserted into the notch 422r provided on the return plate 422z.

The return plate bracket 422x is fixed to the frame 422b, and the return plate bracket 422x and the return plate 422z are
422n. Accordingly, the return plate 422z changes from the state shown in FIG. 36 to the state shown in FIG. 38 due to the reverse rotation of the drive motor 422f, and the return plate 422z itself is pulled leftward by the spring 422n in FIG. 38. . After that, the stapler 401 drives the staples into the edge portion of the sheet bundle.

When stapling is completed, solenoid 421c is turned off.
I do. As a result, the previously closed check: upper 421y,
Chuck: The lower 421m will be open. The movement at this time is changed from the state shown in FIG. 37 to the state shown in FIGS.
Return to the state shown in the figure.

Also, since the pin 421v hooked on the return plate 422z also comes off, the return plate 422z is pulled by the spring 422n, and returns from the state of FIG. 38 to the state of FIG. 34, at which time the sheet bundle is returned to the original position. It works like returning.

FIG. 43 shows the relationship between the return plate 422z, the return plate bracket 422x, and the spring 422n. The leading end of the return plate 422z is designed to be wider than the space between the bins so that the sheet is surely returned onto the bin 300. Also, a part of the return plate bracket 422x protrudes obliquely toward the bin 300. As shown in FIG. 44, this is a guide plate as a countermeasure for the problem that there is a possibility that the paper is pushed back by the return plate 422z and escapes upward when returning the weak paper or the paper P having a large curl as shown in FIG. . Thus, the stapled paper P is surely returned to the bin.

Thereafter, the stapler 401 and the sheet pulling device 402 are transported downward toward the next bin, where the same stapling operation is repeatedly performed.

As shown in FIG. 39, at an edge portion of each bin 300 facing the stapler 401 side, a bin fence 316 for aligning the recording paper bundle is provided so as to rise from the bin 300. . This bin Fuence 31
The lower edge of 6 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 425 provided along the lower surface of the bin 300, so that the bin fence 316 is tilted to the open position shown in FIG. ing. Both ends of the support shaft 425,
The bottle 300 is rotatably supported by a shaft support piece 423b formed at both ends of the bottle 300 so as to face downward. Further, a winding spring 426 is mounted on the bearing 425. Both winding end portions of the coil spring 426 are respectively abutted and locked on the lower surface side of the bottle 300 and the rear surface of the bin fence 316, and the rotational force of the coil spring 426 causes the bin fence 316 to rise in the rising direction. They are now receiving power.

Further, the bin fence 316 is opened according to the vertical movement of the stapler 401 via a fence tilting member. The fence tilting member includes a fence movable plate 427 attached to the support shaft 425 side and a fence release plate 428 provided on the stapler 401 side.

The fence movable plate 427 is a part of bin fence 316
A part of the fence movable plate 427 is inserted into the fan-shaped hole of 424a, and when the fence movable plate 427 is rotated downward, the lower part of the fan-shaped hole of one piece 316a of the bin fence 316 contacts. The bin fence 316 is tilted along the fence movable plate 427. Also, when the fence movable plate 427 is rotated upward, it is rotated so as to be separated without contacting the bin fence 316 side, so that the fence movable plate 427 is freely rotated. Becomes

The roller 428a of the fence release plate 428 extends to a position where it comes into contact with the fence movable plate 427, and comes into contact with the fence movable plate 427 when the stapler 401 moves up and down to rotate the fence movable plate 427. It has become.

In the apparatus in such an embodiment, when the sorting operation is performed first, as shown in FIG. 39, the bin fluence 316 is maintained at the rising position by the rotational force of the helical spring 426, and By the operation, the edge of the sheet discharged onto the bin 300 comes into contact with the bin fence 316 to perform the sheet alignment. When this sort operation is completed,
The above-described stapler 401 starts descending, and the roller 428a of the fence release plate 428 on the stapler 401 comes into contact with the fence movable plate 427 on the bin 300 side. And Fuens movable plate 427
Is rotated to the lower position as shown in FIG. With the rotation of the fence movable plate 427, the bin fence 316 is tilted against the rotational force of the helical spring 426.
00 is released. At this time, the bin fence 316 and the fence movable plate 427 are pushed down to a position below the plane position A of the bin 300 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. Then, in this state, the stapling operation as described in the above embodiment is executed.

At the same time as the stapling operation is completed and the sheet bundle is returned to the original position of the bin 300, or while the sheets are returned,
The stapler 401 is moved downward toward the next bin. When the stapler 401 lowers the fence release plate 428 from the fence movable plate 427 due to the lowering operation of the stapler 401, the bin fence 316 rises by the rotational force of the winding spring 426 and returns to its original position. Such an opening operation and a stapling operation of the bin 300 are performed by the sorted bin 30.
Performed for all zeros.

When stapling has been performed on all the recording sheet bundles, the stapler 401 is raised and returned to the highest home position. The home position is located further above the first-stage bin 300 disposed at the top. When the stapler 401 returns, the fence release plate 428 of the stapler 401 contacts the fence movable plate 427 from below, but in this case, the fence movable plate 427 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 41. The bin fluence 316 is not rotated at all once in the idle state. Due to the rising operation of the stapler 401, the fence release plate 428 on the stapler 401 side is moved to the fence movable plate 427.
When detached from the side, the fence movable plate 427 is returned to its original position shown in FIG. 39 by its own weight.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 42, an elastic body 429 that receives a fence movable plate 427 is provided on the bin fence 316 side. In such an embodiment, when the stapler 401 returns and the fence movable plate 427 is rotated upward and escapes in an idling state, the fence movable plate 427 is brought into contact with the elastic body 429 and received. Due to the repulsive force of the elastic body 429, the fence movable plate 427 is returned to its original position.

Next, about needle cartridge exchange of stapler 401,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 46 to 50.

In this embodiment, the copying machine main body (not shown) has a paper reversing device, and the paper is discharged downward from the first sheet of the document bundle to the image surface. Therefore, the stapler 401 is mounted in reverse.

FIG. 46 shows the configuration of the stapler 401. In the same figure, by pushing the release lever 480C upward, the shaft 480F moves clockwise around the shaft, and the shaft 480E slides in the groove, so that the release claw 480B moves counterclockwise around the shaft 480D,
The shaft 481E is released (FIG. 47).

Further, as shown in FIG. 48, since the shaft 481E is released, the stapler portion 481 can be moved clockwise around the shaft 483, and the release claw 480B is returned to the initial state by the spring 480G. The stapler section 481 moved in the clockwise direction is also locked when the shaft 482A slides in the groove and is locked in the groove. In this state, the stapler section 481 stops slightly obliquely from the vertical, almost comes out of the outer appearance of the sorter body, and the user can easily replace the needle cartridge 481C. After the replacement of the needle cartridge 481C, as shown in FIG. 49, when the release lever 480C is pushed upward, the shaft is moved clockwise about the shaft 480F and the lock of the shaft 482A is released. When the lock on shaft 482A is released,
The stapler 481 can be moved counterclockwise about the shaft 483, and the release lever 480C is returned to the initial state by the spring 480G.

As shown in FIG. 50, the stapler portion 481 moved in the counterclockwise direction has the shaft 481E hit against the release claw 480B, and the release claw 480B is opened by the force of the shaft 481E, and after the shaft 481E passes, the release claw is released. 480B is closed by spring 480G and stapler section 48
1 is locked. By such an operation, the needle cartridge of the stapler can be easily replaced.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram of the control system in the present embodiment. This control is performed by the ROM 601 and R
AM602, I / O ports 603, 606, clock timer controller
604 (hereinafter abbreviated as CTC), a universal, asynchronous, receiver transceiver (hereinafter abbreviated as UART) 605 is a micro computer control system. At any time, the RAM 602
The signals from the respective input systems to be described later are transmitted from the I / O port 606 to the multiplexer 6
In response to an input signal from a group of sensor switches (SW) input through the switch 07, various drivers 608, 611, 615, 616, 617, and a phase signal generator 61 are output from the I / O ports 603 and CTC 604.
4, Each load described later is controlled via SSR609. Also,
Each status and instruction signal are exchanged with the copying machine by the UART 605 via the receiver 612 and the driver 613.

Specific members of the sensor switch group include a bin sensor upper 631, a bin sensor lower 630, an entry sensor upper 62
9, lower entry sensor 628, size home sensor 627,
Size detection sensor 531, swing home sensor 626, vertical home sensor 403d, vertical position sensor 415, pre-check sensor 4
22j, post-check sensor 422k, staple home sensor 6
25, a needle presence sensor 624, a paper presence sensor 623, a cover upper switch 622, a door left switch 621, a door right switch 620, an entrance sensor 619, a paper ejection sensor 618, and the like.

The load (output system) is as follows: drive motor (AC motor) 200, needle non-display 656, stapling operation display 655,
Deflection solenoid (SOL) 635, switching SOL 634, electromagnetic clutch (CL) 421c, staple motor (DC motor) 632, chuck motor (DC motor, forward / reverse rotation) 422f, vertical movement motor (stepping motor) 409, size movement motor ( There are a stepping motor 515, a swing motor (stepping motor) 520, and the like.

Among the signals exchanged with the copier, the signals sent from the copier to the sorter and the stapler include a sorter start signal, a copier discharge signal, a mode signal, a size signal, a staple start signal, a staple end signal, and a service. There is a call reset signal (SC reset), etc. The signals sent from the sorter and stapler to the copier include a discharge signal, each door cover open signal, a JAM signal, a bin count over signal,
There are an abnormal signal, a staple no signal, a staple end signal, a staple permission signal, a sort permission signal, and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation and control of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in accordance with a flowchart. The overall operation flow is shown in FIG.
This is shown in FIG. 54 (b).

First, an operation mode signal sent from the copying machine is received (step 54-1), and a set number signal sent from the copying machine is received (step 54-2). After the copy is started, a sorter start signal is sent from the copying machine (step 54-3), and upon receiving the signal, the drive motor 200 is turned on (step 54-4), and the sort mode is set (steps 54-5 and 54-). 6). When a sorter start signal is not sent, a wait state is set. The operation in the sort mode is as shown in FIG. 54 (b), and a size signal indicating the size of the paper fed from the copying machine is slightly delayed from the sorter start signal (step 54-3). It is transmitted (step 54-10). The size signal is received, and it is determined whether or not swinging is possible (step 54-11). If swinging is possible, the swinging device is moved to a position corresponding to the received size signal (step 54-12).

Hereinafter, each operation will be described with reference to subroutines shown in FIGS. 56 (a) and 56 (b).

The preset operation of the size counter in FIG.
If the size signal has been received (step 56-1), the size position data is set in the size counter based on the received size signal (step 56-2), and the swing unit movement instruction is issued (step 56-3). Return (RET) (step 56-4). If the size signal has not been received, RET is performed as it is.

The moving operation of the oscillating device (unit) shown in FIG. 56 (b) is performed if the oscillating unit does not move (step
56-5), RET as it is (step 56-6). Since the swinging unit moves (step 56-5), it is determined whether swinging is possible or not (step 56-7). If it is possible (step 56-7), the size movement motor 515 is turned rightward at high speed (step 56-5). -
8) It is determined whether the size detection sensor 531 has changed from OFF to ON.

If the size detection sensor 531 has not changed from OFF to ON (step 56-9), RET is performed as it is (step 56-).
6). If it has changed, the size counter is decremented by 1 (step 56-10), and the size counter is determined (step 56-1).
1).

If the size counter is 1, the size movement motor 515
Is changed to a low speed (step 56-12), and RET is performed (step 56-13). If the size counter is 0 (step 56-14), the size movement motor 515 is turned off (step 56-15), the movement of the swing unit is terminated (step 56-16), and RET is performed.

Next, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 54B, when a copy (paper) is discharged from the copying machine, a discharge signal is sent (step 54-13). The electromagnetic clutch (CL) 633 turns on at the timing of receiving the paper ejection signal (step 54-1).
Four). Next, a copy is carried in from the copying machine, and the entrance sensor 619
Is turned on (step 54-15), the switching SOL 634 is turned on at the timing of turning on the entrance sensor 619 (step 54-16), and the preparation for paper discharge to the sort bin is completed. Slightly after the ON timing of the entrance sensor 619, of the deflections SOL635 to 654 of the discharge bin, those of the discharge bin are turned on, and the copy is guided to the bin (step 54-17). After an appropriate time elapses before the copy is ejected and put on the bin (for example, after 300 msec, step 54-1)
8), the paper is aligned by turning on the rocking motor 520 and moving the rocking plate (step 54-19). The timing of moving the rocking plate is based on the detection of the trailing edge of the copy and based on it.

Next, this swinging operation will be described with reference to FIG. 57 showing a subroutine.

At the time of copy discharge, the upper 629 or lower 628 of the entry sensor for detecting discharge to the bin is first turned ON. Next, when ejection is completed, the upper 629 or lower 628 of the entry sensor changes from ON to OFF (step 57-1). The point where the state changes from ON to OFF is the trailing edge of the paper. The timer provided in the CPU 600 is started at the timing when the upper 629 or lower 628 of the entry sensor changes from ON to OFF (step 57-).
2). Next, the timer value is monitored, and when it is determined that 300 mSEC has elapsed from the timer start in this embodiment (step 57-
3) If the timer is stopped (step 57-4) and the swing is possible (step 57-5), the swing motor 520 is turned on.
To start rocking (step 57-6). Thereafter, the above operation is performed for each copy discharge, and the paper alignment is performed.

However, after the stacking number of copies to the bin exceeds the stapleable number (30 sheets in this embodiment), the swing that hinders the sorting is stopped, and the swing unit is retracted to the home position. Prohibits stapling of discharged copies.

The operation will be described below with reference to the subroutine shown in FIG.

The number of stacked copies on the bin is detected by counting (step 58-2) when the copy is discharged to the first bin (step 58-1). When it is determined that the discharge count value of the leading bin has exceeded the number of sheets that can be stapled (step
58-3), the swing operation is stopped (step 58-4), and the swing unit is retracted to the home position (step 58-).
5) Thereafter, paper alignment is not performed for the discharged copy. At the same time, staples are also prohibited for previously ejected copies (step 58-6).

Next, the stapling operation will be described. Fig. 54 (b)
In step, when a staple start signal is received (step 54-20), the stapling operation starts (step 54-21).
When the stapling operation is completed (step 54-22), the staple moving unit moves to the home position (step 54-23). The stapling operation is performed according to a command from software (steps 54-24).

Therefore, as can be seen from the flowchart shown in FIG. 54 (b), the case where the stapling operation in this embodiment is controlled so as to be alternately performed in parallel before all the sorting operations (sorting operations) are not completed. Therefore, paper processing can be efficiently performed.

There are two types of staple operation modes, and a "manual staple operation mode" in which stapling is performed after sorting, and a stapling operation is automatically started after sorting into one bin while continuing the sorting operation. There is an "auto staple operation mode".

First, the manual stapling operation will be described with reference to FIG. 55 (a) showing a subroutine.

After sorting, if there is a copy on the bin,
A staple start signal is transmitted from the copying machine, and the operation is started by receiving this signal. First, the stapler 401 in the home position is moved to the first bin to be stapled. After the stapler 401 moves to the first bin, the operation proceeds based on the value of the stapling operation sequence counter described in FIG. 55 (a).

When the stapler 401 has finished moving to the first bin, the value of the staple sequence counter is set from 0 to 1 (step 55-1). When the value of the staple sequence counter is 1, the check motor 422f is turned on to advance the check unit (step 55-2). When the pre-chuck sensor 422j for detecting the end of the forward movement of the chuck unit is turned on (step 55-3), the forward movement of the chuck unit is completed (step 55-4), and the staple sequence counter is incremented by two.
Is set (step 55-5), and the operation proceeds to the next step.

When the value of the staple sequence counter is 2 (step 55-6), the check SOL421c is turned on (step 55-).
7), 3 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-8), and the operation proceeds to the next step.

When the value of the staple sequence counter is 3 (step 55-9), the state is held for 0.2 seconds, and after 0.2 seconds has elapsed (step 55-10), 4 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-11). Next, the operation proceeds.
If the value of the staple sequence counter is 4 (step 55-12), the check motor 422f is turned on, and the check unit is moved to the home position (step 55-1).
3). The post-check sensor 422k for detecting the end of the home movement of the chuck unit is turned on (step 55-14), the home movement of the chuck unit ends (step 55-15), and 5 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-14).
55-16), Proceed to the next operation.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 5 (step 55-17), the output of the paper presence / absence sensor 623 is checked (step 55-18), and if there is paper, the staple binding operation is performed (step 55-19). . The end of the binding operation is detected (step 55-20), 6 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-12), and the operation proceeds to the next step. When the output of the paper presence / absence sensor 623 indicates that there is no paper, the next operation proceeds without performing the staple binding operation.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 6 (step 55-22), the check SOL421c is turned off (step 55-).
23) Count up the stapled bin counter and move the rocking motor to move it closer (step
55-24). Then, the value of the staple reservation bin memory indicating the total number of bins to be stapled is compared with the value of the stapled counter, and if the values match (step 55-25),
The staple sequence counter is set to 0 to end the stapling operation (step 55-26), and then the up / down motor 409 is turned on to move the stapler unit to the home position (step 55-27). The method of calculating the value of the staple reservation bin memory and the staple paper shifting will be described later. If the value of the stapled counter is smaller than the value of the staple reservation bin memory, 7 is set to the staple sequence counter (steps 55-28), and the operation proceeds.

When the value of the staple sequence counter is 7, the state is held for 0.3 seconds, and after 0.3 seconds (step 55-30), the counter is set to 0 (step 55-31), and the subroutine 5
5 Instruct the start of stapler movement to the next bin shown in FIG. 5B (step 55-32).

The operation of the subroutine shown in FIG. 55 (b) will be described below.

First, the start of the stapler movement is determined, and when the start of the stapler movement is instructed (step 55-50), the timer is started at the same time as the vertical movement motor 409 is turned on (step 55-51). It is determined that the time is over, and when the time is over (steps 55-52), 1 is set to the staple sequence counter (steps 55-53), and the staple operation of the next bin is started. The ON / OFF of the vertical position sensor 415 is determined (steps 55-54), and when it is ON, the vertical movement motor 409 is turned off (steps 55-55), and the movement between bins ends.

In this embodiment, the stapler finishes moving to the next bin.
By starting the stapling operation of the next bin 100 mSEC before, the time is shortened. The above operation is repeated until the value of the staple bin reservation counter matches the value of the stapled counter.

Next, the autostable operation will be described with reference to FIG. During sorting, a staple start signal is transmitted at a timing when the copier discharges the first copy of the final document. After receiving this signal, the first copy of the final document is discharged from the machine, and The stapling operation starts when the copy is rocked. First, the staple 401 in the home position is moved to the first bin to be stapled. After the stapler 401 moves to the first bin, the operation proceeds based on the value of the stapling operation sequence counter described in the subroutine FIG. 55 (a). When the stapler 401 finishes moving to the first bin, the value of the staple sequence counter is changed from 0 to 1.
Is set (step 55-1). When the value of the staple sequence counter is 1, the check motor 422f is turned on.
Then, the check unit is advanced (step 55-2).
When the pre-chuck sensor 422j for detecting the end of the forward movement of the chuck unit is turned on (step 55-3), the forward movement of the chuck unit is completed (step 55-4), 2 is set to the staple sequence counter, and the next operation proceeds. If the staple sequence counter value is 2 (step 55
-6), turns ON the check SOL421c (step 55-7), and sets 3 to the staple sequence counter (step 55).
-8), Proceed to the next step.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 3 (step 55-9), the state is held for 0.2 seconds, and after 0.2 seconds has elapsed (step 55-10), 4 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-11). Proceed to the next operation.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 4 (step 55-12), the check motor 422f is turned on, and the check unit is moved to the home position (step 55).
-13). The post-check sensor 422k for detecting the end of the home movement of the chuck unit is turned on (step 55-14), and the home movement of the chuck unit ends (step 55-15).
5 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-16), and the operation proceeds to the next step.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 5 (step 55-17), the output of the paper presence / absence sensor 623 is checked (step 55-18), and if there is paper, the staple binding operation is performed (step 55-19). Binding operation end detection (Step 55-
20), 6 is set to the staple sequence counter (step 55-12), and the operation proceeds to the next step. Paper presence sensor 6
If the output of 23 is that there is no paper, the staple binding operation is not performed, and the next operation proceeds.

If the value of the staple sequence counter is 6 (step 55-22), the check SOL421c is turned off (step 55-).
23) The count of the stapled bin counter is counted up, and the swing motor is moved to perform the approach (step 55).
-twenty four). Then, the value of the staple bin reservation memory indicating the total number of bins to be stapled is compared with the value of the stapled counter, and if the values match (step 55-25), 0 is set in the staple sequence counter and the stapling operation ends. (Step 55-26), then move up and down motor 4
09 is turned ON, and the stapler 400 is moved to the home position (step 55-27). The method of calculating the value of the staple reservation bin memory and the staple paper shifting will be described later.

If the value of the staple counter is smaller than the value of the staple bin reservation memory, the staple counter is compared with the oscillated bin memory indicating the number of bins that have been oscillated (step 55-33). If the value of the bin memory is large, 7 is set to the staple sequence counter, and the operation proceeds to the next step. When the value of the rocked bin memory is small or equal (step 55-33), the stapler holds the state, cancels the rocking inhibition processing (step 55-38), and prompts rocking. In this way, the paper alignment means (oscillating motor) and the stapling means (stapling device 40)
0) is prioritized.

If the value of the oscillated bin memory is 2 or more than the value of the stapled bin memory at the determined size (step 55-35), 7 is set to the staple sequence counter, and the next operation proceeds (step 55-35). 36).
If the value is 1 or less, the stapler holds the state, cancels the swing prohibition process (step 55-37), and prompts the swing. The swing prohibition process and the calculation of the swing bin memory will be described later. In this manner, at least two swing operations can be performed on a target sheet set before stapling.

When the swinging is performed and the value of the swung bin memory becomes larger than the value of the stapled bin memory, or when it becomes 2 or more in the predetermined size, 7 is set to the staple sequence counter ( Step 55-2
8) Proceed to the next operation. When the value of the staple sequence counter is 7, the state is held for 0.3 seconds, and after 0.3 seconds has elapsed, the start of stapler movement to the next bin is instructed to the previously described subroutine in FIG. 55 (b).

The calculation of the staple reservation bin will be described according to a subroutine shown in FIG. For this calculation, in the present embodiment, in the sort mode operation, the original document copy discharge bin number memory for storing the number of bins into which the copy paper of the document has been discharged for each document, and during the sorting operation, a maximum of It has a maximum number of bins discharged before storing the number of bins discharged and a staple bin number reservation memory that indicates how many bins to staple, at the timing shown below,
You are moving the contents of memory.

The copy operation is started in the sort mode (step 59-1), and at the timing when the copy paper is discharged from the first bin of the sorter (step 59-2), the copy of the previous original copy discharge bin number memory and the previous discharge maximum bin number memory are performed. The contents are compared (step
59-3) If the value of the previous original copy output bin number memory is larger than the value of the previous maximum output bin memory, substitute the value of the previous original copy output bin number memory into the previous maximum output bin memory (step 59-4), 1 is substituted into the memory of the number of bins for discharging the original copy (step 59-5).

When the copies are discharged to the second original bin, the third bin,..., The value of the preceding original copy discharge bin number memory increases to 2, 3,. In the staple bin number reservation memory, the number of bins currently discharged and the contents of the maximum number of bins discharged before are always compared (step 59-6), and the content of the smaller memory is substituted into the staple bin number reservation memory. (Step 59-7). Since the contents of the staple bin number reservation memory change depending on the situation, it is possible to cope with the case where the stapling operation is performed while the copy is discharged as in the auto staple mode.

 This will be described specifically.

As an example, it is assumed that the first copy of a document is stapled in 10 bins, the second copy is 5 bins, and the third copy is 7 bins.

First, the first copy of the document is discharged to one bin (top bin). At this time, since the maximum number M of bins to be discharged before and the number of bins to be discharged before the original copy are both 0, step 59-3
Is determined as N, and 1 is entered in the number of bins for discharging the original copy (step 59-5). Next, in step 59-6, the number of bins currently discharged is compared with the numerical value stored in the previous maximum discharged bin number memory. When the first copy of the original is discharged to 10 bins, the current discharge bin number is 10 and the previous discharge bin number M is 0, so that the current discharge bin number is larger. The determination at 59-6 is N, and 0 is stored in the staple bin number reservation memory.

Next, the second copy of the document is discharged to one bin (top bin). At this time, since the maximum number M of bins discharged before is 0 and the number of bins discharged before copying (counted up in another routine) is 10, the determination in step 59-3 is Y, and the maximum bin number M discharged before is M. Enter 10. When the second copy of the original is discharged to 5 bins, the number of bins currently discharged is 5, the maximum number of bins M discharged before is 10, and the determination in step 59-6 becomes Y, so that the staple bin number reservation memory Contains 5.

Finally, the third copy of the document is discharged to one bin (top bin). At this time, the maximum number M of bins to be discharged before is 10 and the number of bins to discharge the previous original copy is 5, so the determination in step 59-3 is N, and the maximum number M of bins to be discharged remains at 10.
When the third copy of the document is discharged to 7 bins, the number of bins currently discharged is 7 and the maximum number of bins discharged before is 10
Then, the determination in step 59-6 is Y, and 7 is finally entered in the staple bin number reservation memory, and stapling is performed up to the bin from which the copy corresponding to the final original has been discharged.

By doing so, the bin for operating the binding means 400 can be the bin from which the paper corresponding to the final document has been discharged, and it is possible to bind as many paper sets as possible on all pages.

However, if only to realize the above, without having to set up such a complicated procedure, simply look at the number of bins currently ejected and enter the value into the staple bin number reservation memory. It can be executed in a flow. However, the procedure is set as described above with the intention described below.

 Hereinafter, description will be given according to the following example.

In this example, it is assumed that the first copy of the document is reserved for 7 bins, the second copy is 5 bins, and the third copy is reserved for 10 bins.

First, the first copy of the document is discharged to one bin (top bin). At this time, since both the maximum number M of bins for previous ejection and the number of bins for ejecting the previous original copy are 0, the determination in Step 59-3 is N, and 1 is entered for the number of bins for previous original copy (Step 59-5). Here, putting 1 means that the number of bins for copying the previous document is reset for each document. When the processing of step 59-5 is completed, step 59-6
Compares the number of bins currently discharged with the maximum bin number memory before discharge. When the first copy of the document has been discharged to seven bins, the number of bins currently discharged is 7, the maximum bin number M discharged before is 0, and the determination in step 59-6 is N.
As a result, 0 is stored in the staple bin number reservation memory.

In this way, when the copy of the first document is discharged to 7 bins, then the copy of the second document is discharged, but when the second copy of the document is discharged to 5 bins, , The number of bins currently discharged is 5, the maximum number of bins discharged before M
Is 7, the determination is Y, and 5 is entered in the staple bin reservation memory in step 59-7.

Subsequently, the third copy of the document is discharged to one bin (top bin). At this time, since the number M of previous ejection bins is 7, and the number of copies of the previous original copy is 5, the determination in step 59-3 is N, and the maximum number M of previous ejection bins remains 7. And
When the third copy of a manuscript is discharged to 10 bins,
The number of bins currently discharged is 10, the maximum number M of discharged bins is 7, and the determination in step 59-6 is N. As a result, 7 is finally entered in the staple bin number reservation memory, and 7
It will be stapled to the bin.

This means that up to seven bins are stapled, while up to ten bin copies of the final document are included. The reason for this is that one copy is not stapled because only one copy is finally contained in the 8, 9, and 10 bins.

When there is only one document, the content of the staple bin reservation memory is 0, and stapling of one copy is naturally prohibited.

In this manner, the binding means 40 is attached to the bin where the number of sheets on the bin from which the sheet corresponding to the final original has been discharged is only one.
By not operating 0, unnecessary binding operation is prevented even when the number of copies for the final document is changed.

The staple priority swing inhibition process will be described with reference to a subroutine shown in FIG.

First, check whether the stapling operation is being performed (step 60-1). If YES, check SOL (solenoid) is activated.
Check if it is ON (step 60-2), YES
Then, after the check is moved to the home position, the time is 0.3S
Check if it is EC or more (Step 60-
3) If NO, swing is permitted (step 60-4). If the check SOL is not ON, the swing is prohibited (step 60-5). If the time is 0.3SEC or more after the chuck has moved to the home position,
RET. If the stapling operation is not being performed, the swing is unconditionally permitted and RET is performed.

Next, the calculation of the swung bin memory will be described with reference to the subroutine shown in FIG.

First, it is checked whether or not the rocking operation has been performed once (step 61-1). If the rocking has not been performed once, RET is performed as it is. If the swinging operation has been performed once, the value of the number of output bins is entered in the swinging bin memory (step 61-2), and RET is performed. The number of discharged bins indicates the number of the currently discharged bin, and the oscillated bin memory indicates the number of the bin currently oscillated.

The staple paper shifting will be described with reference to a subroutine shown in FIG.

After the stapling is completed (step 62-1), when the chuck solenoid 421c is turned off, the stapled copy (paper) is laid out on the bin by the paper return bracket 422z, and is pushed back into the swing plate rotation area, and is stapled. One operation ends. At this time, the staple 1 operation end flag is set in the subroutine shown in FIG. 55 (a). The staple 1 operation end is determined based on the contents of the staple 1 operation end flag. After it is determined that the staple 1 operation has been completed, the staple 1 is moved to the next bin, and when it is determined that the chuck SOL421c has been turned on while performing the staple 1 operation again (step 62-2), swinging is started (step 62-).
3). Then, the stapled paper in the front bin is moved to a predetermined position. By this stapling operation, the stapled paper on the bin is moved to a predetermined position so as not to adversely affect the alignment of the paper discharged after the next bin.

In this embodiment, in addition to the functions and operations described above, there are some functions and operations described below.

Each will be described based on the flow of the subroutine.
First, the two-system stapling process divides the sorter bin into upper and lower two systems, sorts them into one system, performs staple processing, sorts the other systems without opening the bin in the first system, and performs staple processing. This is a function that can be performed, and the mode A is that the upper and lower systems have the same copy size, and the upper and lower systems that have the copy size of the system to be processed later are larger than the preprocessed system. Has a mode B, which can be switched according to the user.

The mode A-2 stapling process will be described with reference to the subroutine flow of FIG.

Here, sorting using the other system after the first system processing is referred to as dual sort. When performing dual sort, if dual sort is not possible (step
63-1), the sort mode is prohibited (step 63-2), and a warning is issued. If dual sort is possible, the paper size is detected, and if the paper size at the time of the previous sort is the same as the paper size to be subjected to the dual sort, the operation is continued as it is. If the paper size in the previous sort and the paper size to be dual-sorted are different sizes (step 63-
3), retract the swinging part (step 63-4), prohibit stapling (step 63-5), and continue the operation.

Next, regarding the mode B-2 stapling process, the 64th stapling process will be described.
Description will be made based on the subroutine flow shown in FIG.

When performing dual sorting, if dual sorting is not possible (step 64-1), the sort mode is prohibited (step 64-2), and a warning is issued. If dual sort is possible, the paper size is detected, and if the paper size to be subjected to dual sort is larger than the paper size at the previous sort or the paper size is the same, the operation is continued as it is. I do. If the paper size to be subjected to the dual sort is smaller than the paper size at the time of the previous sort (step 64-3), the swing unit is retracted (step 64-3).
-4), stapling is prohibited (step 64-5), and the operation is continued.

In the above processing, the staple prohibition of the stapling means 401 has been described.
It is conceivable that the operation release for 02 is performed by the same processing.

Regarding door opening during stapling,
Description will be made based on the subroutine flow shown in FIG. If all of the stapler door, sorter door, and sorter cover are closed during the stapling operation (step 65-1), the operation is continued. If the stapler door is opened (step 65-2), the stapling is performed. Set the sequence counter to 0 (step 65-3) and turn off all loads (step 65-
Four).

The processing when the stapler door is closed during the stapling operation and one of the sorter door and the sorter upper cover is opened (state 1; step 65-5) will be described below.

If the check unit is moving forward in state 1 (step 65-6), the staple sequence counter is set to 0 (step 65-7), and the check motor is turned off (step 65-).
8).

If the check unit has advanced in state 1 and it is within 0.2 seconds after the check SOL421c is turned on (step 65-
9), the staple sequence counter is set to 0 (step 65-10), and the check SOL421c is turned off (step 65-1).
1).

The processing in the case where the check unit is advanced in the state 1 and 0.2 seconds or more after the check SOL is turned on (hereinafter referred to as state 2) will be described below.

If the check unit is retreating in state 2 (step 65-12), the staple sequence counter is set to 4 (step 65-13), and the operation is continued.

If the stapler is in the stapler closing operation after the chuck unit has retreated in state 2 (step 65-14), the staple sequence counter is set to 5 (step 65-15).
Continue operation.

If the stapler closing operation has been completed after the check unit has retreated in state 2, the staple sequence counter is set to 0 (step 65-3), and the full load is turned off (step 65-4).

If the vertical movement motor 409 is operating in the state 1 (step 65-16), the staple sequence counter is set to 0 and all loads are turned off.

The variable lowering speed corresponding to the staple start bin will be described with reference to the subroutine flow of FIG.

If the currently stopped position is other than the home position (step 66-1), the number of rotations of the motor is set to high speed (step 66-2), and the vertical movement motor 409 is turned on to descend (step 66-1). -3).

If the currently stopped position is the home position, the descending speed is varied according to the number of bins to be stopped next. That is, when the bin to be stopped is the first bin (step 66-4), the rotation speed is set to high speed (step 66-4).
-2), the vertical movement motor 409 is turned on (step 66-3).
If the bin to be stopped is the second bin or more (step 66-
4) The rotation speed is set to low speed (step 66-5), and the vertical movement motor 409 is turned on (step 66-3).

Next, a description will be given of the function of the vertical up / down slowdown. In this function, when the vertical movement starts, the moving speed is gradually increased, and when the set value is reached, the moving speed is made constant, and when the vertical movement is stopped, the moving speed is gradually reduced from before the bin position to stop. When the value has been reached, it is moved at a constant speed and stopped at the stop bin position.

Description will be made based on the subroutine flow of FIG. 67. 1mSE
In the subroutine called for each C, after the vertical movement motor 409 is turned on (step 67-1), if the slow-up operation is not completed (step 67-2), the slow-up counter increments by one for each subroutine call. (Step 67-3). Set the speed to gradually increase based on the value of this slow-up counter (step 67-
4) Speed data is set in the CTC 604 from the speed data group in the ROM 601 (step 67-5). This CTC6
A frequency based on the speed data set from 04 is generated and sent to the phase signal generator 614 in FIG. 53. The phase signal is sent from the phase signal generation unit 614 to the constant current driver 615, and the up / down moving motor 409 operates at the rotation speed corresponding to the speed data.

When the slow-up counter reaches a set value (step 67-6), the slow-up counter ends (step 67-6).
67-13), the vertical movement motor 409 thereafter operates at a constant rotation speed.

After a certain time, the slowdown operation starts (step 67).
-7), the slowdown counter increments by one for each subroutine call (step 67-8). Based on the value of the slowdown counter, the speed data is set in the CTC 604 from the speed data group in the ROM 601 set so that the speed gradually decreases (step 67-9) (step 67-10). From this CTC 604, a frequency based on the set speed data is generated, and a phase signal generation unit is generated.
Sent to 614. The phase signal is sent from the phase signal generation unit 614 to the constant current driver 615, and the up / down moving motor 409 operates at the rotation speed corresponding to the speed data.

When the slowdown counter reaches a certain set value (step 67-11), the slowdown ends (step 67-12), and the vertical movement motor 409 thereafter operates at a constant rotation speed. When the stapler reaches the stopping bin,
The vertical movement motor 409 turns off and stops, and the slow up counter and the slow down counter are cleared (step
67-14).

The vertical movement abnormality mitigation routine will be described with reference to the subroutine flow of FIG.

When the abnormality of the vertical movement motor 409 is detected, if the abnormality detection count (step 68-1) is the second time (step 68-2), the abnormality signal is transmitted and the count is cleared (step 68-6). Serviceman call (Step 68-
7). However, when abnormality detection is performed for the first time (step 68-
2) If the vertical movement motor 409 is in the up position (step 68)
-3), the motor 409 is restarted (step 68-4), and the operation is continued. If the motor is down, a jam signal is transmitted (step 68-5), and the process proceeds to the next processing.

Specifically, when any abnormality occurs in the stapling unit 401 or the aligning unit 502, for example, a first interruption signal for simply interrupting the paper ejection from the copying machine body, interrupting the paper ejection from the copying machine body, and A second interruption signal requesting an abnormality set signal is generated, the first interruption signal is transmitted when the first abnormality is detected, and the second interruption signal is transmitted when the second and subsequent abnormalities are detected. It is possible to do. It is also conceivable that the first interruption signal is a jam signal and the second interruption signal is an abnormal signal. The abnormality is not limited to the abnormality in the vertical movement motor 409, but also includes an abnormal state in each unit constituting the stapling unit 401 or the aligning unit 502.

The processing operations corresponding to various abnormal conditions are shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 69 to 79. These processing procedures will be described below.

FIG. 69 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for size shift or more detection.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the size movement motor is ON (step 69-1), and if it is ON, it is further determined whether or not the size movement abnormality detection timer is operating (step 69-2). . If the size movement abnormality detection timer is not operating, the size movement abnormality detection timer is started (step 69-3), and the size detection sensor is turned on from OFF.
Is determined (step 69-4). Also,
If it is determined in step 69-2 that the size movement abnormality detection timer is in operation, the processing in step 69-4 is directly performed without performing the processing in step 69-3.

If it is determined in step 69-4 that the size detection sensor has changed from OFF to ON, the size movement abnormality detection timer is reset and restarted (step 69-5), and is the size movement stop position reached? It is determined whether it is (Step 69-6). If the stop position has not been reached in this determination, it is determined whether or not the size movement abnormality detection timer has exceeded (step 69-7). If so, an abnormality signal is transmitted to the copying machine (step 69-8). ) Execute a subroutine for abnormal processing (step 69-9). Further, after executing the abnormality processing subroutine of step 69-9, the size movement motor is turned off (step 69-10), the size movement abnormality detection timer is reset and the timer is stopped (step 69-11), and RET is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 69-6 that the size movement stop position has been reached, the size movement motor is turned off.
Then, the size movement abnormality detection timer is reset (step 69-12), and the timer is stopped (step 69-13). If it is determined in step 69-7 that the size movement abnormality detection timer has not expired, the size movement abnormality detection timer is counted up (step 69-14), and the process returns to step 69-4. Is repeated.
If it is determined in step 69-1 that the size movement motor has not been turned ON, RET is performed as it is.

FIG. 70 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of vertical movement abnormality detection.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the vertical movement motor is ON (step 70-1), and if it is ON, it is further determined whether or not the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is operating (70-2). If the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is running,
Start the vertical movement abnormality detection timer (Step 70-
3) It is determined whether the vertical sensor has changed from OFF to ON (step 70-4). If it is determined in step 70-2 that the up / down movement abnormality detection timer is in operation, the process directly proceeds to step 70-4 without performing the processing in step 70-3.
Is performed.

If it is determined in step 70-4 that the up / down detection sensor has changed from OFF to ON, the up / down abnormality detection timer is reset and restarted (step 70-5). Determine whether (Step 70
-6). If the stop position has not been reached in this determination, it is determined whether the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is over (step 70).
-7) If it is over, an abnormal signal is transmitted to the copying machine (step 70-8), and a subroutine for abnormal processing is executed (step 70-9). Further, after executing the abnormality processing subroutine of step 70-9, the vertical movement motor is turned off (step 70-10), the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is stopped and reset (step 70-11), and RET is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 70-6 that the size movement stop position has been reached, the vertical movement motor is turned off (step 70-12), the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is reset, and the timer is stopped ( Step 70-13) RET. Also,
If it is determined in step 70-7 that the vertical movement abnormality detection timer has not exceeded, the vertical movement abnormality detection timer is counted up (step 70-14).
Return to step 4, and repeat the processing from the same step. If it is determined in step 70-1 that the up / down moving motor is not turned on, RET is performed as it is.

FIG. 71 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure for detecting a swing abnormality.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the oscillating motor is ON (step 71-1). If it is ON, it is further determined whether or not the oscillating abnormality detection timer is operating (step 71-2). ). If the oscillation abnormality detection timer is not running,
Start the oscillation abnormality detection timer (step 71-3),
It is determined whether the swing home sensor has changed from OFF to ON (step 71-4). When it is determined in step 71-2 that the swing abnormality detection timer is operating,
The processing of step 71-4 is directly performed without performing the processing of step 71-3.

If the swing home sensor does not change from OFF to ON in step 71-4, it is determined whether the swing abnormality detection timer is over (step 71-5).
An abnormality signal is transmitted to the copying machine (step 71-6), and a subroutine for abnormality processing is executed (step 71-7). further,
After executing the abnormality processing subroutine of step 71-7, the oscillation motor is turned off (step 71-8), the oscillation abnormality detection timer is stopped, and the timer is reset (step 71-9).
I do.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 71-4 that the swing home sensor has changed from OFF to ON, the swing motor is turned off (step 71-10), the swing abnormality detection timer is stopped, and the timer is stopped. Reset (step 71-11) and RET.
If it is determined in step 71-5 that the swing abnormality detection timer has not exceeded the predetermined value, the swing abnormality detection timer is counted up (step 71-12).
And the process from the same step onward is repeated. If it is determined in step 71-1 that the swing motor is not turned on, RET is performed as it is.

FIG. 72 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for chuck abnormality detection.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the chuck motor is ON (step 72-1). If it is ON, it is further determined whether or not the chuck abnormality detection timer is operating (step 72-2). If the chuck abnormality detection timer is not operating, the chuck abnormality detection timer is started (step 72-3), and it is determined whether the chuck motor is rotating forward or reverse (step 72-4). If it is determined in step 72-2 that the chuck abnormality detection timer is in operation, the process of step 72-4 is directly performed without performing the process of step 72-3.

If it is determined in step 72-4 that the chuck motor is rotating forward, it indicates that the chuck is moving forward.
Determine if it has changed to N. If it is determined in step 72-5 that the pre-chuck sensor has not changed from OFF to ON, it is determined whether or not the chuck abnormality detection timer has expired (step 72-6). An abnormal signal is transmitted to the machine (step 72-7), and a subroutine for abnormal processing is executed (step 72-8). Further, after executing the abnormality processing subroutine of step 72-8, the chuck motor is turned off (step 72-9), the chuck abnormality detection timer is stopped, and the timer is reset (step 72-1).
0) RET.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 72-4 that the chuck motor is rotating in the reverse direction, it indicates that the chuck is retracting, and it is determined whether the post-chuck sensor has changed from OFF to ON (step 72-4). 72-11). Then, when it is determined in this step 72-11 that there is no change, the processing from step 72-6 is performed. Step 72-5
If it is determined in step 72-11 that the sensor has changed from OFF to ON, the chuck has moved forward in the former case and the chuck has receded in the latter case, and no abnormality has occurred. Proceed to -9 to turn off the chuck motor and perform the subsequent processing. If it is determined in step 72-6 that the chuck abnormality detection timer has not exceeded, the chuck abnormality detection timer is counted up (step 72-12), and the process returns to step 72-4.
Repeat the process from 2-4. If it is determined in step 72-1 that the chuck motor is not turned on, RET is performed as it is.

FIG. 73 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of staple abnormality detection.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the staple motor is ON (step 73-1). If the staple motor is ON, it is further determined whether or not the staple abnormality detection timer is operating (step 73-2). If the staple abnormality detection timer is not running, the staple abnormality detection timer is started (step 73-3), and the staple home sensor is turned off.
It is determined whether the state has changed from ON to ON (step 73-4).
If it is determined in step 73-2 that the staple abnormality detection timer is in operation, the process of step 73-4 is directly performed without performing the process of step 73-3.

In step 73-4, the staple home sensor turns ON from OFF
If not, it is determined whether or not the staple abnormality detection timer is over (step 73-5). If it is over, an abnormality signal is transmitted to the copier (step 73-5).
-6) Execute the subroutine for abnormality processing (step 73-
7). Furthermore, after executing the abnormality processing subroutine of step 73-7, the staple motor is turned off (step 73-
8), stop the staple abnormality detection timer, reset the timer (step 73-9), and return.

On the other hand, in step 73-4 above, the staple home sensor
If it is determined that the state has changed from OFF to ON, the staple motor is turned off (step 73-10), the staple abnormality detection timer is stopped, and the timer is reset (step 73-10).
73-11) RET. If it is determined in step 73-5 that the staple abnormality detection timer has not expired, the staple abnormality detection timer is counted up (step 73-12), and the process returns to step 73-4. repeat. If it is determined in step 73-1 that the oscillating motor is not ON, the RE
T.

FIG. 74 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the entire process of abnormality detection.

In this process, a subroutine of the above-described size abnormality detection process (step 74-1 <process shown in FIG. 69>), a subroutine of vertical movement abnormality detection (step 74-2 <process shown in FIG. 70>), Subroutine (step
74-3 <process shown in FIG. 71>), subroutine for chuck abnormality detection (step 74-4 <process shown in FIG. 72>),
Staple abnormality detection subroutine (Step 75-5 <
After executing each of the processes shown in FIG. 73), it is determined where an abnormality has occurred (step 74-6). If no abnormality has occurred at any point, RET is performed, and if it is determined that there is an abnormality, it is determined whether a serviceman call (SC) reset corresponding to a system reset has been received from the copier body (step 74). -7). If the reset has not been performed, the process cannot proceed to the next process. Therefore, the process waits until the reset is performed, and at the time of the reset, it is determined which part has an abnormality.

That is, in this embodiment, first, it is determined whether or not the size movement is abnormal (step 74-8). When it is determined that the size movement is abnormal, the process of recovering the size movement abnormality shown in FIG. 75 is performed (step 75), and when it is determined that the size movement is not abnormal, it is determined whether or not the vertical movement is abnormal (step 75). 74-9). When it is determined in this step that the vertical movement is abnormal, the vertical movement abnormal return process (step 76) shown in FIG. 76 is performed, and when it is determined that the vertical movement is not abnormal, it is determined whether or not the swing is abnormal (step 74-). Ten). If it is determined in this step that the swing is abnormal, the swing abnormality recovery process (step 77) shown in FIG. 77 is performed, and if it is determined that the swing is not abnormal, it is determined whether the chuck is abnormal (step 77).
74-11). When it is determined in this step that the chuck is abnormal, the process for recovering the chuck abnormality shown in FIG. 78 (step 78) is performed, and when it is determined that the chuck is not abnormal, it is determined whether or not the staple is abnormal.
If it is determined in this step that the staple error has occurred, the staple error recovery process (step
If it is determined that there is no stapling error, a sorter / stapler operation permission signal is transmitted to the copying machine (step 74-13) and RET is performed.

Next, a description will be given of the processing procedure of each of the above-described abnormal recovery in steps 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79.

In the size movement abnormality return process corresponding to step 75,
As shown in FIG. 75, first, it is determined whether or not the size home sensor is ON (step 75-1). If the size home sensor is OFF, it means that it has not returned to the home position. Therefore, the size motor is reversed (step 75-2), set to the stop position home (step 75-3), and then the size is moved. Perform abnormality detection processing (Step 75-
Four). After executing the processing of step 75-4, step 75-
In step 5, it is determined again whether the size is abnormal. If not abnormal, it means that the abnormal state of the size movement has returned to the normal state, and as indicated by the sign, the processing after the determination of the abnormal vertical movement in step 74-9 is performed. If it is abnormal,
As indicated by the reference numerals, the processes after step 74-7 are executed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 75-1 that the size home sensor is ON, the size motor is rotated forward (step 75-6), for example, set to the stop position A3 (step 75-7). ) Execute size movement abnormality detection processing (step 75-8). Then, in step 75-9, it is determined again whether the size movement is abnormal, and if it is determined that the size is not abnormal,
The size motor is rotated in the reverse direction (step 75-2), and the processing after the step is executed. Also, when it is determined that there is an abnormality, the processing from step 74-7 is executed as shown by the reference numerals.

In the vertical movement abnormality recovery processing corresponding to step 76, the 76th
As shown in the figure, first, it is determined whether or not the upper and lower home sensors are ON (step 65-1). If the vertical home sensor is OFF, it means that the motor has not returned to the home position. Therefore, the vertical motor is reversed and raised (step 76-2), and set to the stop position home (step 76).
-3) After that, perform vertical movement abnormality detection processing (step 76-
Four). After executing the processing of step 76-4, step 76-
In step 5, it is determined again whether the vertical movement is abnormal. If not abnormal, it means that the vertical movement abnormal state has returned to the normal state, and the processing after the swing abnormality determination in step 74-10 is performed as indicated by the reference numeral. If abnormal, the process from step 74-7 is executed as indicated by the reference numeral.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 76-1 that the upper and lower home sensors are ON, the upper and lower motors are rotated forward and lowered (step 76-6), for example, by setting the stop position to one bin. (Step 76-7) The vertical movement abnormality detection processing is executed (step 76-8). Then, it is determined again whether or not the vertical movement is abnormal in step 76-9, and if it is not abnormal, the vertical motor is reversed (step 76-2), and the processing after the same step is executed. Also, when it is determined that there is an abnormality, step 74
Execute the process after -7.

In the swing abnormality return process corresponding to step 77, as shown in FIG. 77, first, the swing motor is turned on (step 77-
1), a swing abnormality detection process is executed (step 77-2).
Next, it is determined whether or not a swing abnormality has occurred (step 77-3). If no swing abnormality has occurred, the processes subsequent to the chuck abnormality determination in step 74-11 are executed as indicated by the reference numerals. When it is determined that the swing abnormality has occurred, the processes in and after step 74-7 are executed as indicated by the reference numerals.

In the chuck error recovery processing corresponding to step 78, the 78th
As shown in the figure, first, it is determined whether or not the post-chuck sensor is ON (step 78-1). If it is determined in this step that the post-chuck sensor is OFF, the chuck motor is rotated in the reverse direction to retract the chuck (step 78-2), a chuck abnormality detection process is performed (step 78-3), and the chuck is moved again. It is determined whether there is any abnormality (step 78-4). If it is determined in this step that there is no abnormality, as indicated by the reference numeral, the processing subsequent to the staple abnormality determination in step 74-12 is executed. When it is determined that the state is abnormal, the processing from step 74-7 is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 78-1 that the post-chuck sensor is ON, the chuck motor is rotated forward to advance the chuck (step 78-5), and chuck abnormality detection processing is executed (step 78-6). ), It is determined again whether the chuck movement is abnormal (step 78-7). If it is determined in this step that the process is not abnormal, the process from step 78-2 is performed. If it is determined that the process is abnormal, the process proceeds to step 74-7.
The subsequent processing is repeated.

In the staple error recovery process corresponding to step 79,
As shown in FIG. 79, first, the staple motor is turned on (step 79-1), and staple abnormality detection processing is executed (step 79-2). Next, it is determined whether or not a staple error has occurred (step 79-3). If no staple error has occurred, the processes in and after step 74-13 are executed as indicated by reference numerals. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the process from step 74-7 is performed as indicated by the reference numeral.

FIG. 80 shows a flowchart of the processing procedure of the swung binchieck.

In this process, first, in step 80-1, the swing of the bin is 1
It is determined whether or not the operation has been performed once. If the operation has not been performed once, the RET is performed. If the operation has been performed one or more times, the value of the number of output bins is stored in the oscillated bin memory ( Step 80-2) Perform RET. The number of output bins indicates how many bins are currently output.
The rocked bin memory indicates how many bins have been rocked at present.

As a result, the position of the discharged bin and the position of the oscillated bin become clear.

FIG. 81 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the swing prohibition processing.

In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the stapling operation is being performed in step 81-1. If the stapling operation is being performed, it is determined whether or not the chuck solenoid is ON (step 81-2).
If the chuck solenoid is ON in this step, it is determined whether or not 0.3 SEC or more has elapsed after the chuck moved to the home position (step 81-3). If 0.3 SEC or more has elapsed, it is the timing at which paper alignment can be performed. Therefore, in step 81-4, swinging of the rocking plate is permitted, and after paper alignment is performed, RET is performed. If 0.3 SEC or more has not elapsed, it is a timing at which the paper alignment cannot be performed. Therefore, in step 81-5, the swing operation of the swing plate is prohibited and RET is performed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 81-1 that the stapling operation is not being performed, the stapling operation and the paper alignment operation are not performed simultaneously, so that the swinging plate is unconditionally permitted and the paper alignment is executed. Then, RET.

As a result, the timing of the paper alignment operation coincides with the timing of the stapling operation, resulting in incomplete paper alignment,
It is intended that the staple position does not shift.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sorting unit and the stapling unit are simultaneously operated, and the number of sheets to be sorted by the sorting unit can be changed every one simulatane to perform the sorting. The stapling means is activated for the paper on the bin where the paper corresponding to the cycle is discharged, so that when stapling, it is possible to bind the copied paper in parallel without waiting for the end of the sorting work. The stapling operation can be performed efficiently, and the paper corresponding to the final document is always discharged from the bin where the stapling device is activated, so that a paper set with all pages aligned as much as possible can be stapled. It is possible to provide a paper processing apparatus which can realize a high binding efficiency without any binding operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stapling device does not operate in the bin where only one sheet is discharged on the bin on which the sheet corresponding to the final document is discharged, and the other bin on which a plurality of sheets are discharged. Is performed by the stapling means, unnecessary unnecessary binding operation is not performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the stapling operation by the stapling unit is performed during the aligning operation by the aligning unit on the sheet immediately after being discharged to the bin. On the other hand, the paper alignment is performed a plurality of times, and thereby the paper alignment can be reliably performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the bin on which the stapling unit executes the stapling operation is set to a bin at least two bins higher than the bin on which the sheets are aligned, before the stapling unit performs stapling. In addition, at least two paper alignments have been performed on the target paper set, which enables reliable paper alignment.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the timing at which the paper alignment operation cannot be performed is detected, the paper alignment operation is inhibited and the operation of the stapling means is performed with priority. The alignment operation is not interrupted, and it is possible to prevent the paper alignment of the paper set from being disturbed at the time of stapling or to shift the staple position.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the bins are already aligned, and according to the determination, it is determined whether to execute the paper alignment operation or the stapling operation, and the paper alignment is performed. Since the stapling operation can be performed only on the bins, there is no possibility that a paper misalignment or a stapling position shift occurs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a swinging device, 5 is a plan view showing the relationship between the swinging device and the bin, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the pressing member portion, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the swinging motor portion, and FIGS. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation angle of the dynamic motor and the amount of movement, FIG.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the bottle, Fig. 11 is a side view of the bottle, Fig. 12 is a right side view of the bottle, Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are cross-sectional views of each part of the bottle, and Fig. 16 is a bin. Side view of the static elimination brush part, No. 17
The figure is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the bottle, FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the action of the rib, FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing one state of the paper,
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a guide portion, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG.
Fig. 24, Fig. 24, Fig. 25, Fig. 26, Fig. 27, Fig. 28 are explanatory views showing the state of the paper in the bin, Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the entire stapler, and Fig. 30 is the bracket part. Plan view, No.
FIG. 31 is a plan view of the stapler portion, FIG. 32 is a front view of the stapler portion, FIG. 33 is a side view of the stapler portion, and FIG.
FIG. 35, FIG. 36, FIG. 37, FIG. 38, FIG. 39, FIG.
FIG. 41, FIG. 42, FIG. 43, FIG. 44 are front views for explaining the operation of each member of the stapler portion, FIG. 45 is a front view of the feed shaft, FIG. 46, FIG. 47, FIG. 48, 49, and 50 are front views illustrating the operation of exchanging the staple cartridge of the stapler, FIG. 51 is a front view of another embodiment of the feed shaft, and FIG.
FIG. 51 is a diagram showing the relationship between the speed and the movement amount when the feed shaft is used, FIG. 53 is a block diagram of the control system, FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing the overall operation procedure, FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the stapling operation, FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the swing unit, FIG. 57 is a flowchart showing the swing operation, FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing the evacuation processing of the swing unit, and FIG. 59 is a calculation procedure of the staple reservation bin FIG. 60 is a flowchart showing a swing prohibition procedure, FIG. 61 is a flowchart showing a swing bin check processing procedure, FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a staple paper shift chuck processing procedure, and FIG. And FIG. 64 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the dual sort, and FIG. 65 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for coping with the door opening during the stapling process. FIG. 66 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of elevator lowering, FIG. 67 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of vertical movement of the bin, FIG.
FIG. 68 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the vertical movement abnormality mitigation process, FIG. 69 is a flowchart showing the size movement abnormality mitigation processing procedure, FIG. 70 is a flowchart showing the vertical movement abnormality detection processing procedure, and FIG. 71 is the swing abnormality detection A flowchart showing the processing procedure, FIG. 72 is a flowchart showing the chuck abnormality detection processing procedure, FIG. 73 is a flowchart showing the staple abnormality detection processing, FIG. 74 is a flowchart showing the entire procedure of the abnormality detection processing, and FIG. FIG. 76 is a flowchart showing a procedure for returning abnormalities in bin vertical movement, FIG. 77 is a flowchart showing a procedure for returning abnormalities in swing, and FIG. 78 is a flowchart showing a procedure for recovering chuck abnormalities. FIG. 79 is a flowchart showing a staple error return processing procedure, and FIG.
FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the swinging bin check, and FIG. 81 is a flowchart showing the swing inhibiting procedure. 100 ... first sorter means (upper block), 101 ... second
Sorter means (lower block), 300 ... bin, 400 ... stapler device (binding means), 401 ... stapler (staple means), 481 ... stapler section, 500 ... swinging device, 502 ... pressing member (Alignment means), 600 ... CPU (control means).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Ueno 2-28-24 Yokota Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Yokota Building Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Ichinose 2-28-24 Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Yokota Building Ricoh Elemex, Inc. (72) Inventor Shin Umeda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company Limited (72) Inventor Hirofumi Yoshino 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo (56) References JP-A-62-288090 (JP, A) JP-A-63-147775 (JP, A) JP-A-50-99548 (JP, A) JP-A-62-196676 (JP) JP, A) JP-A-2-305691 (JP, A) Patent 2693176 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37/04, 39/11 G03G 15/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of bins; sorting means for sequentially sorting sheets discharged on the bins; and staple means for stapling sheets discharged and stacked on the bins. The number of sheets to be sorted by the sorting unit can be changed by changing the number of sheets for each cycle, and the staples can be sorted on the sheets on the bin from which sheets corresponding to the last cycle have been discharged. A paper processing apparatus having control means for operating the means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means, when one sheet on the bin from which the sheet corresponding to the last cycle is discharged is one sheet, the sheet corresponds to one bin. Prohibit stapling by staple means,
A paper processing apparatus wherein a stapling operation is performed by the stapling means on the other bin from which a plurality of sheets have been discharged. 3. A bin having a plurality of bins, aligning means for aligning sheets discharged on the bins and aligning all the bins, and stapling means for stapling the sheets aligned by the aligning means. The paper processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to execute a stapling operation by the stapling unit during an aligning operation by the aligning unit on the sheet immediately after being discharged to the bin. 4. The stapling execution bin on which the stapling operation is performed by the stapling means is at least two times larger than the alignment execution bin on which the aligning operation is performed by the alignment means upon completion of discharge of the sheet.
A paper processing apparatus, wherein the paper processing apparatus is set in a bin that is separated by at least a bin. 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means detects a timing at which the aligning operation cannot be performed by said aligning means, and inhibits the aligning operation by said aligning means based on a detection output thereof, and said staple means. A paper processing apparatus characterized in that priority is given to stapling operation by a user. 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means determines whether or not the sheets on said bin have already been aligned, and if the operation timings of said alignment means and stapling means overlap, the control means determines whether or not the sheets have been aligned. A paper processing apparatus for determining whether to give priority to the aligning unit or the stapling unit based on a determination as to whether or not the processing has been completed.