JP2922683B2 - Image formation post-processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming post-processing apparatus for stapling recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming post-processing apparatus for stapling recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus includes:
There is known a type in which a staple unit is moved in order to change the binding position according to the size of the recording paper or to change the number of binding locations such as one- or two-position binding. A detection plate is mounted on a movable staple unit, and one optical sensor for detecting the detection plate is mounted on a frame or the like.

The staple unit is designed to return to the home position every time one job is completed in order to improve positional accuracy and to simplify a control program.

[0004]

When a job in the same mode (mode of the same binding position) is repeatedly performed, the stapling unit is returned to the home position each time one job is completed. If they are far apart, the time required to move the staple unit is lengthened, and there is a disadvantage that the work efficiency is greatly reduced.

Here, it is conceivable to wait for the next job without returning the staple unit to the home position after the completion of one job. However, even if the staple unit is displaced for some reason, the staple unit may be stapled. Since the unit is maintained at that position, there is a drawback that a recording sheet bundle in which the binding position is defective is continuously formed.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming post-processing apparatus for performing stapling processing by aligning recording sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, a staple unit is formed by stacking recording sheet bundles. The staple unit is provided movably along an end surface thereof, and the staple unit is provided with position detecting means, and at least two or more detected means facing the position detecting means are provided, and the home position detecting means is opposed to the detected means. At least two positions were provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the staple unit is returned to the home position closest to the previous job position until a signal such as a mode clear or a binding position change is input. I made it.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of home positions of the staple unit can be provided, and when returning the staple unit to the home position after completion of one job, a home position which requires the least time to return is selected. By doing so, work efficiency is improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the stapling unit automatically returns to the home position closest to the previous job position until a signal such as a mode clear or a binding position change is input, thereby improving work efficiency. I do.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The finisher shown in FIG. 1 is provided on a side of a copying machine main body which is an image forming apparatus (not shown), and includes a shift sorting section 1 on an upper side and a staple section 2 on a lower side. ing.

First, the transport path of the shift sorting section 1 includes:
A plurality of transport rollers and a driven roller driven by the transport rollers are provided. The rotation shaft of the first conveyance roller 3 is connected to the rotation shaft of the conveyance motor 5 via the first timing belt 4, thereby obtaining a driving force. The rotation shaft of the first conveyance roller 3 is also rotated by the second timing belt (not shown) with the rotation shafts of the other conveyance rollers and the discharge roller 6, and further with the rotation shaft of the paper shift fur brush 7. It is connected.

An entrance sensor 8 is provided immediately before the first transport roller 3 at the uppermost stream, and a paper discharge sensor 9 is provided immediately before the paper discharge roller 6 to be conveyed. The leading and trailing edges of the recording paper are detected. A switching claw 10 is disposed downstream of the first conveyance roller 3, and the action of a driving solenoid 11 and a spring (not shown) changes the conveyance direction of the recording paper between the shift sorting unit and the staple unit 2. It can be changed in that direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, near the paper discharge port, the paper shift fur brush 7 is disposed directly below the paper discharge roller 6, and is dropped onto the discharge tray 12. The recording paper is moved in the direction of the abutment plate 13 by the rotation of the paper-adjusting fur brush 7 and abuts against the abutment plate 13, whereby the rear end of the recording paper on the discharge tray 12 is aligned. ing.

Next, a shift mechanism provided in the shift sorting section 1 will be described. The butting plate 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge tray 3 and the discharge tray 12 are configured to be engaged with each other. As a result, the discharge tray 12 can be freely moved in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4) with respect to the abutment plate 13, and can be moved to the abutment plate 13 in the front-rear direction (the horizontal direction of the paper surface of FIG. 4). It moves in conjunction with it. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the abutment plate 13 is supported by a shaft-like shift guide 15 via a bearing 14 on the back side (the side opposite to the discharge tray 12).
Are supported by side plates 16 disposed before and after the finisher, and the abutment plate 13 is configured to be freely movable in the front-rear direction. The abutment plate 13 is eccentrically connected to a crank 18 via an arm rod 17. A bracket 19 protruding in the front-rear direction is detachably attached to one of the side plates 16. A gear train 20 is attached to the bracket 19, and the crank 18 is connected to the shift motor via the gear train 20. 21. By driving the shift motor 21, the crank 18 is driven, and the abutting plate 13 reciprocates in the front-rear direction by the eccentric rotation action. For this reason,
The discharge tray 12, which is not restricted in the front-rear direction with respect to the abutment plate 13, also reciprocates in the front-rear direction. The shift plate 13 is provided with two shift detection plates 22 which are disposed at an interval substantially equal to the amount of movement of the crank 18 due to rotation of the abutment plate 13.
The shift operation of the abutment plate 13 and the discharge tray 12 is detected by the shift detection sensor 23 facing the abutment plate 13 detecting these shift detection plates 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pressing roller 25 is supported by a bracket 24 fixed to the abutment plate 13 so as to be vertically movable and rotatable. The upper surface of the discharge tray 12 and the stacked recording papers is pressed by this. The recording paper discharged onto the discharge tray 12 is moved under the holding roller 25 by its own weight and the conveying force of the fur brush 7 for paper shifting, and is hit against the hitting plate 13. And
The pressing force of the press roller 25 prevents the recording sheet from shifting when the discharge tray 12 is shifted. A paper surface detection sensor 26 is attached to the abutting plate 13 at a position facing the press roller 25, and when the position of the press roller 25 rises due to accumulation of recording paper, the paper surface sensor 26 detects a part of the presser roller support bracket 27, thereby detecting that the upper surface of the recording paper or the upper surface of the discharge tray 12 has reached a specified height.

Next, a vertical movement mechanism provided in the shift sorting section 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the discharge tray 12 is fixed to a tray support 28. The tray support base 28 is supported by a tray vertical movement base 30 via rollers 29 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the tray vertical moving base 30 is fixed to the third timing belt 31.
The third timing belt 31 is provided one by one on the outside of the side plate 16, and each of the third timing belts 31 is
2 and the driven pulley 33. The pair of vertically driving pulleys 32 facing each other in the front-rear direction is the side plate 1.
6 is fixed to a vertically moving drive shaft 34, to which a gear 35 having a one-way clutch (not shown) is mounted. The one-way clutch is configured to transmit a force in a direction in which the discharge tray 12 is lifted to the vertical drive shaft 34. The gear 35 is connected to a vertical drive motor 39 via an idle gear 36, a worm wheel 37, and a worm 38. A roller 40 is attached to a side surface of the tray vertical moving base 30, and the roller 40 comes in contact with a vertical moving guide rail 41 fixed to the side plate 16 to guide the vertical movement and discharge. The falling of the discharge tray 12 due to the rotational moment due to the weight of the tray 12 is prevented.

With the configuration described above, the lowering of the discharge tray 12 is stopped in a normal state by locking the worm 38 and the one-way clutch. The vertical drive motor 3
9 is rotated in a direction to raise the discharge tray 12,
The one-way clutch is locked and pulley 32
33 is rotated, whereby the discharge tray 12 is raised. When the vertical drive motor 39 is rotated in a direction to lower the discharge tray 12, the one-way clutch is in a free state, whereby the discharge tray 12 moves downward by its own weight.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an upper limit sensor 42 and a lower limit sensor 43 are installed inside the third timing belt 31 so as to face the discharge tray 12, and the tray moves up and down. The upper and lower limits of the discharge tray 12 are detected by detecting the vertical movement detection plate 44 attached to the table 30 by these sensors 42 and 43. When the discharge tray 12 is lowered, the one-way clutch is in the free state, so that the driving force of the vertical drive motor 39 is not transmitted to the discharge tray 12 and the vertical drive motor 39 is stopped even if the discharge tray 12 is stopped by external force. Since the motor runs idle, trouble caused by overload of the vertical drive motor 39 is prevented.

When the copying operation is started, the shift motor 21 is driven and the crank 18 is rotated, whereby the butting plate 13 is moved in the front-back direction via the arm rod 17. Along with this, the discharge tray 12, which is engaged with the unevenness of the abutting plate 13 and is supported so as to be able to move up and down and back and forth, is moved in the front and rear direction to start the shift operation. Then, one of the shift detection plates 22 detected by the shift detection sensor 23 before the start of the shift operation
When the other shift detection plate 22 is detected, the shift motor 21 is stopped by the signal, and the shift operation is completed. After the shift operation is completed, the vertical drive motor 39 is driven in a direction to raise the discharge tray 12,
The discharge tray 12 moves up. When a part of the holding roller support bracket 27 of the holding roller 25 is detected by the paper surface detection sensor 26 after the discharge tray 12 starts to be raised, or when the upper limit sensor 42 detects the vertical movement detection plate 44, the signal is used to raise or lower. The drive motor 39 is stopped and the discharge tray 1
2 will be terminated. When the paper surface detection sensor 26 detects the press roller support bracket 27, the vertical drive motor 39 is driven in the downward direction of the paper discharge tray 12, and the paper surface sensor 26 no longer detects the press roller support bracket 27. By the way, the vertical drive motor 39
Is stopped.

Here, the recording paper discharged from the copying machine main body is received by the first transport roller 3 rotating at the same linear speed as the discharging speed from the copying machine main body. When the recording sheet is conveyed and the entrance sensor 8 detects the trailing end of the recording sheet, the linear speed for conveying the recording sheet in the shift sorting section 1 is increased to a value larger than the discharge speed from the copying machine body. The linear velocity is returned to the discharge speed from the copying machine main body a specified time after the trailing end of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor 8, and then the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 12.
The recording paper discharged to the discharge tray 12 is moved under the holding roller 25 by its own weight and the conveying force of the rotation of the fur brush 7 for paper shifting, and is abutted against the abutting plate 13 so that the rear end is aligned. .

When the set number of recording papers has been discharged, the shift motor 21 is driven by the signal and the discharge tray 12 is driven.
And a shift operation for shifting the butting plate 13 in the front-rear direction is started.
1 is stopped. By this shift operation, the discharge tray 1
2, the recording paper stacking position is changed, and the recording paper is sorted. Then, when a series of copying operations is completed and the final recording paper is discharged, the signal drives the vertical drive motor 39 in the direction of lowering the discharge tray 12, and after the discharge tray 12 is lowered by a specified amount, the vertical drive motor 39 is driven. 39 is stopped.

On the other hand, a fixed amount of recording paper is accumulated on the discharge tray 12, and the upper surface of the accumulated recording paper approaches the paper discharge port, and a part of the holding roller support bracket 27 is used as the paper surface detection sensor 2.
6, the vertical drive motor 39 is driven by the signal in the direction of lowering the discharge tray 12, the holding force of the worm 38 and the lock of the one-way clutch are released, and the discharge tray 12 is lowered by its own weight. When the discharge tray 12 is lowered, the upper surface of the stacked recording papers is lowered, and when a part of the presser roller support bracket 27 is not detected by the paper surface detection sensor 26, the vertical drive motor 39 is stopped by the signal and the worm 38 , And the lock of the one-way clutch acts to stop the discharge tray 12. The discharge tray 12 descends,
The vertical drive motor 39 is stopped by a signal when the vertical movement detection plate 44 is detected by the lower limit sensor 43, and the discharge tray 12 is prevented from lowering further.

Next, the staple unit 45 in the staple unit 2 and its moving mechanism will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10 to 12, the stapler 46 is fixed to a stapler base 47, and the stapler base 47 is inserted into a guide hole 49 of a stapler slider 48 via a guide pin 50 as indicated by an arrow X in FIG. Movably engaged in the direction. The staple unit 45 is constituted by the stapler 46, the stapler base 47, the stapler slider 48, and the like. Further, a shaft 51 is fixed to the back side of the stapler base 47, and a guide roller 52 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 51. The upper portion of the stapler 48 is attached so as to be slidable in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 12 with a guide rod 53 spanned between the side plates 16 as a guide. A guide roller 54 is attached to a lower portion of the stapler 48, and the guide roller 54 comes into contact with the stay 55 fixed to the body of the finisher so as to roll on the surface thereof. The rotation of the slider 48 around the guide rod 53 is prevented.
A guide cam 56 is fixed to the stay 55, and the guide roller 52 is in contact with a cam surface 56 a formed on an upper end side of the guide cam 56 so as to roll. This allows the stapler 48 to reciprocate in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. Here, a central portion of the cam surface 56a with which the guide roller 52 abuts is formed so as to be depressed downward, and the stapler base 47 is moved along the central portion.

At the upper end of the stapler 48, a home position sensor 57, which is a position detecting means, is mounted. The home position sensors 57 are provided at two positions on the front side and the back side of the body of the finisher. The detection portions are shielded by the detection plates 58 and 59, which are the detected means, so that the stapler unit 45 is
Is detected. One side plate 16 is provided with a stepping motor 60 for moving the stapler unit 45, and a part of a belt 61 driven by the stepping motor 60 is fixed to the stapler slider 48,
As the belt 61 rotates, the stapler 48 reciprocates in the arrow Y direction.

Next, a mechanism for moving the jogger fences 62 and 63 provided on the staple unit 2 will be described. A pair of right and left sliders 65 and 66 are attached to a jogger fence rod 64 bridged between the side plates 16 so as to be reciprocally movable.
The jogger fence 62 is fixed to 5 and the jogger fence 63 is fixed to the right slider 66. These jogger fences 62, 63
Has a function of performing the operation of aligning the recording paper bundle in the stapling operation, and is extended from the vicinity of the paper ejection roller 67 to the vicinity of the paper ejection tray 68 to guide the recording paper bundle after stapling. It has a function as a member. In addition, the jogger fence 6
Rear end fences 69 and 70 for holding the lower edge of the stapled recording paper bundle are formed at the lower ends of the sheets 2 and 63.

A jogger motor 71 for driving the jogger fences 62 and 63 is attached to the main body of the finisher.
66. Note that these sliders 6
The left and right jogger fences 62, 6 are fixed to different sides of the belt 72, respectively.
3 is reciprocated symmetrically in the left-right direction of FIG. Guide rollers 73 are attached to the upper rear side of the jogger fences 62 and 63, and these guide rollers 73 are abutted so as to roll on guide stays 74 that are bridged between the side plates 16. I have. A detection plate 75 is attached to the slider 65 on the left side. The detection plate 75 shields a detection portion of a jogger home position sensor 76 provided on the main body side of the finisher, thereby forming the jogger fences 62 and 63.
Home position is detected. As shown in FIG. 15, the jogger fence 6
A curl presser 77 is attached to the lower ends of the sheets 2 and 63, thereby suppressing the buckling of the recording sheets stacked on the staple tray 78. The staple tray 7
Reference numeral 8 includes the jogger fences 62 and 63 and a discharge belt and a guide plate, which will be described later. Also,
The curl presser 77 is formed of an elastic member such as a polyester film.

Next, the belt releasing mechanism of the staple unit 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10, 13, and 14, a drive shaft 79 is provided between the side plates 16, and a drive pulley 80 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the drive shaft 79. A driven pulley 81 is provided below the driving pulley 80.
A discharge belt 82 is stretched between 0 and 81. An intermediate portion of the discharge belt 82 is hung on an idle pulley 83 and guided by a guide plate 84 disposed inside the discharge belt 82 so as to prevent bending and displacement. A belt drive motor 85 is attached to one of the side plates 16, and a pulley 86 attached to an output shaft of the belt drive motor 85 and a pulley 87 attached to one end of the drive shaft 79. A belt 88 is stretched between the belts to transmit a belt driving force. In the middle of the surface of the discharge belt 82, a projection-like claw 89 is provided so as to grip the recording paper bundle from below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, a belt home position sensor 90 for detecting the position of the claw 89 is provided inside the discharge belt 82.
The value 0 indicates that the home position of the claw 89 is detected. The transport speed V of such a discharge belt 82
₂ is set so that (V ₂ ≧ V ₁ ) is slightly higher than the discharge linear velocity V ₁ of the discharge roller 67, whereby the recording paper bundle of the next job is already bound. Is not discharged together with the

The staple unit 45, the staple tray 78, etc., as a whole,
1 and 92, it is supported so that it can be pulled out to the near side.

In the paper discharge tray mechanism of the staple section 2, the base of the paper discharge tray 68 is fixed on a tray table 93 as shown in FIG. A guide roller 94 is rotatably mounted on the tray base 93, and is vertically moved by engaging the guide roller 94 with a guide rail (not shown).
The tray table 93 is given an upward biasing force by a lift spring 95.

A driving force is transmitted from a conveying motor 99 to conveying rollers 96, 97 and 98 disposed along a conveying path in the staple section 2 by a belt (not shown). Driving force is also transmitted to the discharge roller 67 from the conveyance motor 99 by a belt (not shown). Fur brushes 101 and 102 are attached to a rotating shaft 100 of the paper discharge roller 67, and the fur brushes 101 and 102 are driven to rotate in synchronization with the paper discharge roller 67.
The fur ends of the fur brushes 101 and 102 are the guide plate 10.
3,104. The guide plate 103, 1
04 has projecting ribs 103a, 104a for holding the lower edge of the stapled recording sheet bundle, and these projecting ribs 103a, 104a are formed so as to project to the front side. Therefore, the bundle of recording paper is composed of the protruding ribs 103a, 104a and the fur brushes 101, 102.
Due to the pressing force of the bristle tip, the paper is bent back and deformed into a wavy shape, so that the recording paper bundle is given a certain waist so as not to buckle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the protrusion amount A of the paper discharge unit upper guide plate 105 from the rotation center of the paper discharge roller 67 is set to be larger than the protrusion amount a of the recording paper to be sent. In this case, the recording paper does not fall below the fur brushes 101 and 102 so that the upper guide plate 105 and the fur brushes 101 and 10 do not fall.
2, the trailing edge of the recording paper is scraped down by the ends of the fur brushes 101 and 102.

Next, the operation of processing a recording sheet will be described. First, a stapling operation is selected by a stapling key, and a document (N) is placed on a document feeding table (RDH) (not shown).
Is set, and when the copy button is pressed after the number of copies (K copies) is input using the numeric keypad,
A copy size signal is received from the copying machine main body, and it is determined whether or not the size is such that it can be inserted into the staple unit 2. If the size is such that it can be inserted into the staple unit 2, it is determined whether or not the claw 89 of the release belt 82 is at the home position.
It is returned to the home position by the belt drive motor 85. Next, it is detected whether or not the staple unit 45 is at the home position. If the home position is detected, the staple unit 45 is moved to a predetermined position by the copy size signal. If the home position has not been detected, the staple unit 45 is moved until the home position is detected, and after the home position is detected, the staple unit 45 is moved to a predetermined location by the copy size signal.

Also, it is detected whether or not the jogger fences 62, 63 are at the home position. If the home position is detected, the jogger fences 62, 63 are moved to a predetermined location by the copy size signal.
If the home position is not detected, the jogger fences 62 and 63 are moved to a predetermined position by the copy size signal after the home position is detected. The moving place at this time is bmm on one side and 2b on both sides from the size width of the recording paper.
mm.

When the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor 8, the switching claw 10 is switched by the solenoid 11 to a position where it is guided to the staple 2. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor 8, high-speed feeding is performed. After a lapse of a predetermined time from the trailing end of the recording paper passing through the entrance sensor 8, that is, the time until the trailing end of the recording paper passes through the switching claw 10, the solenoid 11 is turned off. The recording paper conveyed along the conveyance path in the staple unit 2 is discharged onto the staple tray 78 by the discharge rollers 67. During this discharge, the charge on the recording paper is removed by the discharging brush 106 fixed to the upper guide plate 105 of the discharge portion. Further, a flange portion is provided on the paper discharge roller 67, whereby the recording paper is bent into a wave shape so that the recording paper can be attached. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the paper discharge roller 67, the coaxial fur brushes 101 and 102 push down the trailing edge of the recording paper.
Rear fences 103a, 10 of guide plates 103, 104
4a and rear end fence 6 of jogger fences 62 and 63
9, 70. After a predetermined time has passed after the trailing end of the recording sheet has passed through the lower sheet ejection sensor 107 provided slightly upstream of the sheet ejection roller 67, the jogger motor 71 that has been waiting until that time has rotated once forward or reverse. This is repeated twice, so that the jogger fences 62 and 63 hit the discharged recording paper in the width direction to align the width direction of the recording paper. It is returned to the standby position. Note that this paper alignment operation is repeated each time each recording sheet is discharged, and is performed until the end signal of one job is issued from the copying machine main body.

Next, when the end signal of one job is issued from the copying machine main body, after the jogger fences 62 and 63 execute the paper alignment operation, the recording paper bundle is pressed in the width direction by the jogger fences 62 and 63. . Then, the staple motor 108 provided in the stapler 46 starts driving, and the recording paper bundle is bound. In this binding operation, it is determined whether or not one-position binding is performed. In the case of one-point binding, the jogger fences 62 and 6 are set after the completion of the binding operation.
3 is moved to a position slightly escaped from the recording paper width. In the case of two or more stapling, the stapling unit 45 is moved to a predetermined position by the stepping motor 60, and the stapling operation is executed again. Moved to Subsequently, the discharge belt 82 is rotated in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 13, and the bound recording paper bundle is discharged to the discharge tray 68 while being pushed up by the claws 89.

Here, the operation of binding one recording paper bundle (1)
After the job is completed, the staple unit 45 is returned to the home position in preparation for the next job. The home position is determined by the home position sensor 57.
Is a main home position where the front side detection plate 58 is detected, and a sub home position where the home position sensor 57 detects the back side detection plate 59. After one job, the staple unit 45 is detected.
Returns to one of the home positions. The operation of returning the staple unit 45 to one of the home positions will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether one job has been completed,
If not, the job continues. When one job is completed, it is determined whether or not the job is bound at one position. When the job is bound at one location, it is determined whether or not the job is bound at the front. In the case where the stapling is performed at one position and the front stapling, the staple unit 45 when the job is completed is located near the front side detection plate 58. Therefore, returning the staple unit 45 to the home position on the near side (main home position) requires a shorter time than returning the staple unit 45 to the home position on the back side (sub home position), and the work efficiency is improved. Accordingly, the staple unit 45 is moved to the front side by rotating the stepping motor 60 forward, and the stepping motor 60 is turned off when the home position sensor 57 detects the detection plate 58 and turns on.

On the other hand, if the binding is not one-position binding, or if the binding is one-position binding but not the front binding, when the job is completed, the staple unit 45 moves the detection plate 59 on the back side.
Will be located near. Therefore, returning the staple unit 45 to the home position on the back side is shorter than returning the staple unit 45 to the home position on the front side, and the work efficiency is improved. Accordingly, the staple unit 45 is moved backward by reversing the stepping motor 60, and the stepping motor 60 is turned off when the home position sensor 57 detects the detection plate 59 and turns on.

Next, when the mode clear key is pressed,
If the timer exceeds a certain set time “x ₁ ”,
The staple unit 45 is returned to the main home position on the near side, and its operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the mode clear key is turned on or the mode clear signal is input after the set time “x ₁ ” or more has elapsed, the stepping motor 60 is driven in the normal rotation direction and the staple unit 45 is rotated.
Moves to the front side, and when the home position sensor 57 detects the detection plate 58 and turns on, the stepping motor 60 is turned off.

In such an apparatus, the discharge tray 12
When the power is turned on or the mode is selected, the CPU first checks the output state of the upper limit sensor 42, the lower limit sensor 43, and the paper surface detection sensor 26. It is determined whether there is. If the upper limit sensor 42 and the paper surface detection sensor 26 are on, the vertical drive motor 39 is turned on and the discharge tray 1 is turned off until the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned off.
2 is lowered. If only the upper limit sensor 42 is ON, nothing is performed. When all of the upper limit sensor 42, the lower limit sensor 43, and the paper surface detection sensor 26 are off, the vertical drive motor 39 is turned on and the upper limit sensor 4
2 or the discharge tray 12 is raised to a point where the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on, and when the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on, the discharge tray 12 is lowered until the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned off. When only the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on, the vertical drive motor 39 is turned on, and the paper surface detection sensor 2 is turned on.
The discharge tray 12 is lowered until 6 is turned off. When the lower limit sensor 43 and the paper surface detection sensor 26 are ON, it is determined that the recording paper on the discharge tray 12 is full, and a signal indicating that the recording paper is full is transmitted to the copying machine main body. The vertical drive motor 39 is turned on a predetermined time after the recording paper is removed, and the discharge tray 12 is raised until the upper limit sensor 42 or the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on. When the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on, the discharge tray 12 is lowered until the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned off.

When restarting in the same mode, the same operation as when the power is turned on and when the mode is selected is performed in synchronization with the copy start signal of the copying machine body.

During copying and at the end of copying, when the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned on, the vertical drive motor 39 is turned on, and the discharge tray 1 is turned on until the paper surface detection sensor 26 is turned off.
2 is lowered. When the lower limit sensor 43 is turned on by repeating this operation, a signal that the recording paper is full in the discharge tray 12 is transmitted to the copying machine main body. Note that if this operation overlaps with the shift operation of the discharge tray 12, the shift operation has priority, and during the shift operation, the shift operation is performed after the shift operation is completed. After the final recording paper has passed through the main body discharge sensor 109, a finisher stop signal is transmitted. When this signal is received, the final recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 12, and then the vertical drive motor 39 is turned on. Then, the discharge tray 12 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and the recording paper stacked on the discharge tray 12 can be easily taken out.

Next, when the power is turned on, the discharge tray 1
When the shift operation is not performed and the shift or proof mode is selected and the mode signal is received, the shift motor 21 is turned on, the discharge tray 12 is moved, and the shift detection sensor 23 is turned on. The shift motor 21 is turned off. By this operation, the recording paper remaining on the discharge tray 12 and the recording paper of a newly performed job are sorted. Such an operation is on standby during the up and down operation of the discharge tray 12, and is performed after the up and down operation is completed. By doing so, even if recording paper remains on the discharge tray 12, the recording paper is pressed by the pressing roller 25, and the recording paper does not shift during shifting.

At the time of copying and at the end of copying, a shift signal is transmitted when the last recording sheet of the copy set passes through the main body discharge sensor 109, and after receiving this signal, the trailing end of the last recording sheet is discharged. After passing over the sensor 9, the shift motor 21 is turned on after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the shift operation of the discharge tray 12 is started. Then, when the shift detection sensor 23 is turned on after the start of the shift operation, the shift motor 21 is turned off. The shift operation has a higher priority than the tray up / down operation. During the shift operation, the tray up / down operation is on standby, and the tray up / down operation is performed after the shift operation is completed. This prevents the recording paper from shifting due to the shift operation.

When the restart is performed in the same mode, the shift operation is not performed at the start of the copy, and the same operation as during the copy is performed during the copy.

Next, the operation of the jogger fences 62 and 63 will be described. First, when the power is turned on and the mode is selected, the CPU checks the output states of the jogger home position sensor 76 and the recording paper presence / absence sensor 110 for detecting the presence / absence of recording paper on the staple tray 78, and executes the following operations. If only the jogger home position sensor 76 is ON, nothing is performed. If the recording paper presence sensor 110 is on,
A signal indicating that recording paper remains on the staple tray 78 is transmitted to the copying machine main body. When the jogger home position sensor 76 and the recording paper presence / absence sensor 110 are turned off, the jogger motor 71 is turned on, the jogger fences 62 and 63 are moved toward the home position, and when the jogger home position sensor 76 is turned on, the jogger is turned on. The motor 71 is turned off.

During copying, at the end of copying, and at the time of restarting copying, if a recording paper size signal is received after the copying machine starts copying, the jogger motor 71 is turned on, the jogger fences 62 and 63 are moved, and the recording paper is copied. It is stopped at a position that is a predetermined amount before the width size and waits. When a predetermined time elapses after the recording paper has passed the lower paper discharge sensor 107, the jogger motor 71 is turned on, the jogger fences 62 and 63 at the standby positions are moved, the papers are aligned, and the paper is returned to the standby position again. At this time, the jogger motor 71 repeats the forward rotation and the reverse rotation once to a plurality of times, whereby the jogger fences 62 and 63 align the recording paper in the width direction. Such a paper alignment operation is performed every time the recording paper is discharged onto the staple tray 78.

When the last recording paper of the copy set passes through the main body discharge sensor 109, a staple signal is transmitted. When the staple signal is received, the jogger fence is performed after the paper alignment operation after the last recording paper is discharged. 62, 63
Are pressed against both sides in the width direction of the recording paper bundle, and then stapled. When the stapling operation is completed, the jogger fences 62 and 63 are moved to positions slightly away from both ends in the width direction of the recording paper, and the stapled recording paper bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray 68 by the discharge belt 82. By doing so, the jogger fence 6
Reference numerals 2 and 63 prevent the recording sheet from shifting in the width direction during stapling, and also function as a guide in the width direction when the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 68.

The above operation is repeated for the number of copies, and when the stapled final sheet bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray 68, the jogger motor 71 is turned on, and the jogger fences 62 and 63 are moved to the home position. When the jogger home position sensor 76 is turned on, the jogger motor 71 is turned off.

When power is supplied to the stapler and when a mode is selected, one of the staplers 46 is provided.
The output states of the rotation sensor 111, the needle presence sensor 112, and the stapler home sensor 113 are checked by the CPU, and the following operations are performed.

If the one-rotation sensor 111 is turned off and the recording paper presence sensor 110 is turned on, it is determined that a stapling failure has occurred, and a stapler abnormality signal is transmitted to the copying machine main body.

When the staple sensor 112 is off, a stapler staple-less signal is transmitted to the copying machine. When the stapler home sensor 113 is turned on, nothing is performed. Stapler home sensor 1
13 is off, if the one-rotation sensor 111 is on, the stepping motor 60 is on,
When the staple unit 45 is moved in the home position direction and the home position sensor 57 is turned on, the stepping motor 60 is turned off.
If the one-rotation sensor 111 is turned off, it is determined that a staple error, a jam has been cleared, or the like, and the apparatus stands by in that state. When the one-rotation sensor 111 is turned on by artificial processing, the stepping motor 60 is turned on, the staple unit 45 is moved in the home position direction, and after the home position sensor 57 is turned on, the stepping motor 60 is turned off.

At the time of copying, at the end of copying, and at the time of copying restart, a recording paper size signal is received after the copying machine body starts copying, and after the reception, the stepping motor 60 is turned on to move to a position corresponding to the recording paper size. The staple unit 45 is moved by a predetermined amount. Next,
After the last recording sheet of the copy set passes through the main body discharge sensor 109, an ON signal of the stapler 46 is transmitted from the copying machine main body, and after the ON signal is received, the final recording sheet is discharged onto the staple tray 78. When the jogger fences 62 and 63 press both ends in the width direction of the recording paper bundle, the staple motor 108 is turned on to perform the stapling operation. When the one-rotation sensor 111 is turned on, the staple motor 108 is turned off. In the case of the two-position stapling mode, after the first stapling is completed, the stepping motor 60 is turned on, the staple unit 45 is moved by a predetermined amount according to the recording paper size, and the staple motor 108 is turned on again, and the second stapling is performed. Stapling is performed. When such a stapling operation is repeatedly performed for the number of copies and the final recording paper bundle is stapled,
When the stepping motor 60 is turned on and the staple unit 45 is moved in the home position direction, and the home position sensor 57 is turned on, the stepping motor 6 is turned on.
0 is turned off.

Next, the operation of the discharge belt 82 will be described. When the power is turned on and the mode is selected, the belt home position sensor 90, the recording paper presence sensor 110,
The CPU checks the output state of the one-rotation sensor 111 and performs the following operation. When the belt home position sensor 90 is turned on and the recording paper presence / absence sensor 110 is turned off, nothing is performed. If both the belt home position sensor 90 and the recording paper presence sensor 110 are off, it is determined that the ejection belt 82 has not returned to the home position, the belt drive motor 85 is turned on, and the ejection belt 82 is driven to rotate. When the belt home position sensor 90 is turned on, the belt drive motor 85 is turned off. If the belt home position sensor 90 is turned off and the recording paper presence / absence sensor 110 is on, it is determined that a discharge failure has occurred, and a signal is sent to the copier body to remove the recording paper on the staple tray 78. Then, after the recording paper on the staple tray 78 is removed, the belt driving motor 85 is turned on to rotate the discharge belt 82, and when the belt home position sensor 90 is turned on, the belt driving motor 85 is turned off.

At the time of copying and at the end of copying, when the last recording sheet of the copy set is ejected onto the staple tray 78 and the stapler 46 performs the binding operation of the recording sheet bundle, the one-rotation sensor 111 is turned on to normally operate. It is confirmed that stapling has been performed. Thereafter, the belt drive motor 85 is turned on, the discharge belt 82 is operated, the stapled recording paper bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray 68, and when the belt home position sensor 90 is turned on, the belt drive motor 85 is turned off. . Such an operation is repeated for the number of copies.

In the shift sorting section 1 of the transport system, a finisher start signal is transmitted when the copying machine body starts copying. When the signal is received, the transport motor 5 is turned on and the main body line is turned on. A low speed operation at the same speed as the speed is performed. When the recording paper is discharged from the copying machine body and the entrance sensor 8 is turned on, a timer is set to monitor whether or not the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor 8 within a predetermined time, thereby detecting a jam. It is. The trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor 8 and enters the entrance sensor 8.
Is turned off, the transport motor 5 is switched to high-speed operation, and the transport speed is increased. Further, a timer is set to monitor whether or not the leading end of the recording paper turns on the paper discharge sensor 9 within a predetermined time, thereby detecting a jam. When a predetermined time has passed after passing through the entrance sensor 8, the transport motor 5 is returned to the low-speed operation, and is ready for the next loading of the recording paper. When the paper discharge sensor 9 is turned on by the recording paper, a timer is set and it is monitored whether or not the recording paper passes within a predetermined time, thereby detecting a jam.

By repeating such an operation, in the case of the shift sorting mode, when a shift signal is received, the shift OK is set after a lapse of a predetermined time after the last recording sheet of the copy set has passed the sheet ejection sensor 9. A signal is output, and the timing at which the shift operation of the discharge tray 12 is performed is measured. When the final recording paper is discharged from the copier body, a finisher stop signal is transmitted. When the finisher stop signal is received, the conveying motor is driven after a predetermined time has passed after the final recording paper passed the paper discharge sensor 9. 5 is turned off.

Next, in the transport system of the staple unit 2, when the copying machine body starts copying, a finisher start signal is transmitted. When the signal is received, the transport motor 5 is turned on. A low-speed operation at the same speed as the main body linear speed is performed. When the recording paper is discharged from the copying machine main body and the entrance sensor 8 is turned on, the solenoid 1 is turned on.
1 is turned on, the switching claw 10 is turned to feed the recording paper to the staple unit 2 side, and the conveyance motor 99 is turned on at a low speed operation, a timer is set, and the recording paper enters within a predetermined time. Whether or not the light passes through the sensor 8 is monitored, and jam detection is performed. When the entrance sensor 8 is turned off by the trailing edge of the recording paper passing through the entrance sensor 8, the conveyance motor 99 is switched to high-speed operation after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the conveyance speed increases. Further, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether or not the leading end of the recording sheet turns on the lower sheet ejection sensor 107 within a predetermined time, and jam detection is performed. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the entrance sensor 8, the solenoid 11 is turned off. When the lower sheet discharge sensor 107 is turned on by the recording sheet, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether the recording sheet passes within a predetermined time to detect a jam. The recording sheet is the lower sheet ejection sensor 107
When a predetermined time elapses after passing through, the transport motor 99 is switched to low-speed operation.

When a staple signal is received by repeating such an operation, a predetermined time after the last recording sheet of the copy set has passed the lower sheet ejection sensor 107, and the paper alignment by the jogger fences 62 and 63 is performed. The operation is performed, and then the timing at which the stapling operation is performed is measured. When the final recording paper is discharged from the copying machine main body, a finisher stop signal is transmitted. When the signal is received, when a predetermined time has passed after the final recording paper passed the lower discharge sensor 107,
The transport motors 5, 99 are turned off.

Next, a control configuration in the finisher will be described with reference to FIG. First, the CP of the copier body
U (not shown) and the finisher-side CPU 114 are connected by an optical fiber 115.

In the shift sorting section 1 of the finisher, the transport motor 5 is connected to the CPU 114 via a servo control circuit 116, and the up / down drive motor 39 is connected via a forward / reverse driver circuit 117. The shift motor 21 is connected via a forward / reverse driver circuit 118. Further, the CPU 114
, Signals from various sensors and various switches 119 are input.

Further, the staple unit 2 is connected to the CPU 114 via an interface I / O. The transport motor 99 via the servo control circuit 120 is supplied to the interface I / O.
And the belt drive motor 8 via the servo control circuit 121
5 is connected to the staple motor 108 via the servo control circuit 122, and the jogger motor 71 via the stepping motor control circuit 123 and the stepping motor 6 via the stepping motor control circuit 124.
0 is connected. Further, signals from various sensors and various switches 125 are input to the interface I / O.

[0062]

As described in the first aspect of the present invention, a position detecting means is provided on a staple unit movable along the end face of the stacked recording paper bundle, and at least a detected means opposed to the position detecting means is provided. Since at least two home positions are provided and at least two home positions are provided for the position detecting means facing the detected means, the time required for returning the staple unit to the home position after the completion of one job is minimized. The work efficiency can be improved by selecting the position. Further, as in the invention according to claim 2, until a signal such as mode clear or binding position change is input,
By returning the staple unit to the home position closest to the previous job position, the staple unit after one job is automatically returned to the home position closest to the previous job position. This has the effect that it can be achieved more reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall configuration of a finisher to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a discharge unit to a discharge tray.

FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining a fitting state of a discharge tray and an abutment plate.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a drive system of a shift operation of the discharge tray.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a drive system of a shift operation of the discharge tray.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a mechanism for pressing a recording sheet discharged onto a discharge tray.

FIG. 7 is a rear view showing a drive system for vertically moving a discharge tray.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of a drive system for vertically moving a discharge tray.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a simplified paper discharge processing system in the finisher.

FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a staple unit.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the staple unit.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged front view showing the configuration of the staple unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a paper discharge mechanism in a staple unit.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view of a discharge section of the staple section.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of returning a staple unit to a home position after one job is completed.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of returning a staple unit to a main home position with a mode clear or with a lapse of a predetermined time.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the finisher.

[Explanation of symbols]

 45 Staple unit 57 Position detecting means 58, 59 Detected means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37/00-37/06 G03G 15/00 534

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming post-processing apparatus for performing stapling processing by aligning recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus, wherein a staple unit is provided movably along an end face of a stacked recording paper bundle. A unit is provided with position detecting means and at least two or more detected means facing the position detecting means are provided, and the position detecting means is provided with at least two or more home positions facing the detected means. Image forming post-processing apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the staple unit is returned to a home position closest to a previous job position until a signal such as a mode clear or a binding position change is input. Post-processing device.