JP2957773B2 - Sheet post-processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for use in stapling a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, and a recording device. More specifically, the present invention is applied to a case where stapling is not properly performed. And a sheet post-processing apparatus that operates appropriately.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device for stapling a sheet bundle includes an electric staple or a manual stapler used on a desk in an office or the like, and an aligned sheet bundle is inserted into a stapling portion of the stapler, and staple binding is performed. Was implemented. In such a case, since the user himself performs the stapling operation, it is easy to confirm whether or not the staples are properly bound to the sheet bundle or whether or not the staples are not hit. Then, in the case of an abnormality, it is relatively easy to return to a normal state, for example, by removing a staple jam or setting a new staple.

[0003] Therefore, when stapling a plurality of sheet bundles, it is easily possible to finally finish all the bundles in a state where the staples are properly bound by the above operation. There is no danger of the stapler being damaged due to repeated use of the stapler in the staple jam state or the idling state.

On the other hand, recently, there is a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a staple unit for automatically stapling a sheet bundle output from an image forming apparatus. For example, specifically, there are a finisher, a sorter stapler, and the like that automatically perform alignment of sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and stapling.

[0005]

According to the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus as described above, the alignment of the sheet bundle and the stapling are automatically performed, which is convenient. However, unlike the case where a manual stapler or the like is used, Confirmation of abnormalities such as stapling of the stapler and jamming of the stapler is delayed, and the stapling operation may be repeated in the abnormal state.

Accordingly, for example, even if the stapling apparatus is operating normally, the sheet bundle is not stapled even after the operation is completed due to a staple-feeding state or a staple jam due to a staple jam or the like. Alternatively, there is a problem that the stapling operation is repeatedly performed even though there is a staple accumulated due to a staple jam at a driving portion of the stapling apparatus, and the stapling apparatus itself is broken down or damaged.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a sheet post-processing device which can prevent stapling failure of a sheet bundle, breakage of a staple unit, and the like by providing means for detecting and determining a staple feeding state in a staple unit. It is intended to provide a device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a needle cartridge portion for holding a needle belt to which a plurality of needles are connected, and a needle for feeding the needle belt. A sheet post-processing device , comprising: a feeding section ; and a needle driving section for sequentially driving a needle at the tip of the needle belt fed by the needle feeding section into a sheet.
Needle belt that generates an output signal by the movement of the needle belt due to
A movement detection means, based on an output signal <br/> No. from the needle belt movement detecting means, and the needle feeding determining means said needle belt to determine whether being sent to normal by the needle feed unit, the It is characterized by having.

[0009] As an example, the needle belt movement detecting means detects an uneven shape resulting from a connected state of the needles of the needle belt. Output signal.

Further, there is provided a staple stapling prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus based on an abnormal signal of the staple feeding determining means.

Alternatively, there is provided a display device for displaying the feeding state of the needle based on a signal from the needle feeding determining means.

Furthermore, the needle on the basis of the signals of the belt movement detection means, monitoring means for determining whether the output signal of the same number at the end of the staple driving movement of the predetermined number of times is obtained from the needle belt movement detection means And staple stapling prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation of the sheet post-processing device based on a signal from the monitoring means.

Alternatively, based on the signal of the monitoring means,
A display device for displaying the feeding state of the needle.

[0014]

[Action] Based on the above configuration, the needle feeding section has a poor needle feed,
When a stuck jam or the like occurs and the needles are not sent out and are in an idling state, the staple belt movement detecting means issues an output signal corresponding to the staple feeding state. Based on the needle feeding determining means such signals, needle feed determines whether abnormal or not, emits a signal, as a result, the staple staple driving prohibiting means when the abnormality is sheet
The operation of the post-processing device is prohibited, or the display device displays the needle feeding state.

When the monitoring means is provided, it is determined whether or not the monitoring means has obtained the same number of output signals at the end of a predetermined number of stapling operations based on a signal from the needle belt movement detecting means. as before, if emitted was determined to be abnormal signal, after stapling staple driving means sheets
The operation of the processing device is inhibited, or the display device displays the needle feeding state.

[0016]

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 illustrates a sorter stapler having a bin-movable sorter 1 as a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention.

First, an outline of the sorter 1 will be described in order to explain an embodiment according to the present invention. This sorter 1
The present invention is not limited to the following structure, and may be of any type as long as the sheet is fed to the staple unit.

The sorter body 7 includes a pair of left and right side plates 3, a base 5, a cover 6, and a bin unit 2. The bin unit 2 has a bin B composed of a group of a large number of bins B1 to Bn, and can be moved vertically along a pair of guide rails 9 provided on the side plate 3 respectively. Supported.

The sorter main body 7 is connected to an image forming apparatus M disposed on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 2) of the sorter main body 7, and has a carry-in port 10 for carrying in a sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus M; It has a carry-in roller pair 11. A first sheet conveying path 12 and an upper discharge roller pair 13 extend from the carry-in roller pair 11 to the bin unit 2.
Are provided, and a second sheet conveying path 15 branching downward from the carry-in roller pair 11 and a lower discharge roller pair 16 facing the bin unit 2 are provided. A deflector 17 is disposed at a branch portion between the sheet conveying paths 12 and 15, and the deflector 17 is selectively displaced, and a sheet to be discharged from the upper discharge roller pair 13 to the bin B is first discharged. Leading to the sheet transport path 12,
The sheet to be discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 16 to the bin B is guided to the second sheet conveying path 15.

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

As shown in FIG. 3, the bin unit 2 has a pair of bin supporting plates 20 having a frame structure at the front and rear. A bin slider 21 is attached to the tip of the bin support plate 20, and a bin cover 22 is fixed to the bin support plate 20 and the bin slider 21. The alignment reference wall 23 extends from the bin cover 22 to the bin support plate 20.
Has been fixed. Further, an alignment rod 26 penetrates the notch 25 formed in each bin B over all the bins B, and the alignment rod 26 is vertically connected to a center B rod 29 via a pair of alignment arms 27. The alignment rod 26 is pivotally supported, and can swing about the center rod 29. Sheet P stored in each bin B
Are aligned against the alignment reference wall 23 by the swing of the alignment rod 26.

Each of the bins B accommodated in the bin unit 2 is movably mounted at its free end in a comb-like groove (not shown) of the bin slider 21.
Pins are respectively fixed to the left and right portions of the base end of the bin slider 21, and a trunnion 33 is rotatably attached to the outer end.

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

As shown in FIG. 2, the bin unit 2 can move up and down along the guide rail 9 with the upper guide roller 36 and the lower guide roller (not shown) fitted in the guide rail 9. ing. In addition, a tension spring 39 is stretched between the metal fitting 37 fixed to the bin unit 2 and the side plate 3 so that the bin unit 2 is pulled up by its elasticity.

As shown in FIG. 3, cam shaft holders 40 are provided at positions facing the lower discharge roller pair 16 supported by the left and right side plates 3, respectively. A lead camshaft 42 is rotatably disposed between the base plate 5 and the base plate 5 via a bearing (not shown). Above the lead cam shafts 42 provided on the left and right, a pair of left and right lead cams (screw cam means) 43a each having a spiral cam surface of a spiral shape are fixedly provided.

The lead cam 43a is driven by a forward / reverse rotatable shift motor (not shown) via a pulley 46a, a bevel gear 46b, a 51 belt 47, a lead cam shaft 42 and the like. Further, in this embodiment, the lead cam 43a is formed in a two-row system that can be expanded between the bins B at two positions of the expansion portions X and X '. This is because the staple unit 67 is provided.

When the lead cam 43a rotates in the forward and reverse directions by the shift motor, the trunnion 3
3 is pressed by the groove in the lead cam 43a and is guided by the guide rail 9 to ascend or descend.

Next, the staple unit in this embodiment will be described in detail.

The staple unit 67 is configured to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the bin B of the sorter 1. 1 and 4 illustrate this configuration in more detail.

A staple unit 67 indicated by a two-dot chain line rectangle in the drawing is a general electric stapler, and includes a staple cartridge unit 69 capable of storing a plurality of staple belts N in which a plurality of staples are connected in a single row. A needle feeding section 67 for feeding the needle belt N sequentially from the needle cartridge section 69 to the needle driving section.
a, and a staple driving portion 67b for sequentially driving the staples of the staple belt N fed by the staple feeding portion 67a into the sheet P or the like to enable the binding operation.

The staple driving portion 67b has a center of rotation 67c, and the upper unit of the staple unit 67 (the upper unit is movable in the Y direction in FIG. 1) and the lower unit sandwiches the sheet P between the staple unit 67 to perform the staple driving. Done. In the staple unit 67, a stapler cover 70 covering a motor and a drive system (not shown) is screwed to a stapler attachment sheet metal 71, and the stapler attachment sheet metal 71 is
The staple unit 67 body is fixed with screws.

The stapler attachment sheet metal 71
Is a moving table 72 that reciprocates the staple unit 67.
It is fixed with screws. A moving guide 73 and a slider roller 75 are fixed to a lower portion of the moving table 72, and a drive from a stapler driving motor (not shown) is driven by a gear (1) 7.
6. Transmission to the link gear 79 via the gear (2) 77. The link gear 79 has two concave portions 79b and a protruding portion 79a that engages with the roller slider 75, and has a configuration rotatable in the direction A in FIG.

When the link gear 79 is rotated half a turn, the projection 7
Since the roller 9a rotates by 180 °, the roller slider 75 can move a distance corresponding to the rotation diameter of the protrusion 79a of the link gear 79. The moving guide 73 engages with a guide shaft 81 on which a stapler fixing sheet metal 80 is mounted, and moves the moving table 72 on which the staple unit 67 is mounted to a link gear 79.
And can be moved in parallel.

The rotation detecting microswitch 82 is provided at a position where the actuator portion faces the concave portion 79b of the ring gear 79, and the link gear 79 is turned on and off.
Is to be detected every half rotation of. The staple unit position detection microswitch 83 engages with a cam 85 attached to the side surface of the movable base 72, and is turned off when the staple unit 67 is in the retracted position where the staple unit 67 is retracted from the bin B, and is turned on at other times. ing.

At one end of the moving table 72, there is provided a transparent paper sensor 86 capable of sensing the sheet P from the upper and lower protrusions in a U-shape. When the staple unit 67 reaches the sheet binding position, the sheet is detected. P can be detected. The staple unit 67 and the unit that enables the unit to reciprocate are fixed to the side plate 3.

The taper guide 87 is tapered on the leading end side of the sheet entrance so that when the staple unit 67 advances on the sheet P (sheet binding position), the leading end of the sheet P is not turned or displaced. ing.
The taper guide 87 is rotatable about a rotation center 87a, and the rear end 87b is normally attached counterclockwise by a spring means (not shown) so as to actuate the stapler safety micro switch 89. It is being rushed.

For example, when the staple unit 67 has advanced onto the sheet P (sheet binding position), foreign matter (for example, an operator's hand) or a sheet P having a thickness greater than the closing ability of the staple unit 67 is placed on the bin B. If it is located, the bin B and the lower taper guide 90 are used as fixed seats, and a moment is generated to push up the tip of the upper taper guide 87, and the upper taper guide 8 is rotated about the rotation center 87a.
7 is rotated clockwise, thereby turning off the safety micro switch 89, so that the power supply to the staple unit 67 is shut off by hardware.

An interlock arm 91 having a center of rotation 91a is provided above the stapler cover 70. The interlock arm 91 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown) or the like.

An actuating plate 92 provided on the side plate 3 is disposed above the interlock arm 91, and the staple unit 67 is at the sheet binding position with the reciprocating movement of the staple unit in the direction of FIG. 1X. At that time, the interlock arm 91 is at the position indicated by the solid line,
When the actuator is in the retracted position, the actuator plate 92
The interlock arm 91 is in contact with the tip of
As shown by 1X, the lower part of the arm of the interlock arm 91 is the needle cartridge part 69 of the staple unit 67.
It is designed to be pivoted to the upper part and pushed down.

Next, the stapling of the staple unit 67 will be described.

The reflection-type needle sensor 93 serving as the detection means shown in FIG. 1 is a high-sensitivity sensor having a spot light source provided to face the lower side of the needle belt N. The sensor 93 receives light reflected from the lower surface of the needle belt N, converts the light into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal. The staple feed determining means 95 receives the signal from the sensor 93, determines whether or not the staple feed state is normal, and outputs the state to a display device 203 provided in an operation unit or the like of the sheet post-processing apparatus. Alternatively, a signal is issued to the needle feed inhibiting means 203.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of this embodiment. The microcomputer 204 includes, for example,
A program for controlling the sequence in a time-series manner is built in. When the stapling unit 67 is stopped due to an abnormality during the stapling operation, a signal from the rotary micro switch 82 is received, and a forward / reverse operation is performed. The drive of the stapler drive motor 150 is controlled by the driver 202. Further, the microcomputer 204 incorporates the above-described staple feed determining means 95 and the staple staple break prevention means 201,
The stapler drive motor 150 or the display device 203 is controlled based on a signal from

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

First, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus M to which the sorter 1 (see FIG. 2) is connected is carried in from the carry-in port 10 and the carry-in roller pair 11 and the deflector 1
7 to bin B. When the sheet P is discharged, the sheet P is discharged from the upper discharge roller pair 13 to the bin B during non-sorting, and is discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 16 to the bin B via the second sheet conveying path 15 during sorting.

Here, the passing time of the sheet P and the sheet P and the next sheet P are determined by the sheet discharge signal from the image forming apparatus M.
Is measured, and the measured information is transmitted to the microcomputer in the bin unit 2.

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

The microcomputer in the sorter 1 having measured the passing time of the sheet P and the sheet interval, and having received the information, determines the sheet P ejection time (time during which the sheet P is ejected into the sorter 1) and the sheet interval. Recognize. Then, the rotational speed of the lead cam 43 and the position of the lead cam 43 are controlled based on the data.

Further, at the time of sorting, the movement of the bin B is controlled by the lead cam 43 so that the spread portion X is generated in accordance with the timing at which the sheet P is discharged from the lower discharge roller pair 13.

The alignment of the sheet P discharged to the bin B is performed by the alignment bar 26.

Next, the operation of stapling the aligned sheet P will be described.

In this embodiment, when all the copy sheets are distributed and the alignment is completed in the bin B, the sheets P are sequentially stapled from the bin B in which the alignment is completed last. I have.

The above process will be briefly described. First, after the alignment of the last paper is completed, the sheet bundle (the entire inside of the bin) stacked by the alignment rod 26 is again aligned with the alignment reference wall 23.
Press The pressing amount of the alignment rod 26 at this time is set to be smaller than that at the time of alignment in the present embodiment for the above-described reason (the alignment pressing amount a ≒ 0 in the present embodiment). . With the above configuration, the consistency is improved even for a small number to a large number of sheets P.

As described above, the sheet P is
The whole is kept. Next, in the opening of the staple unit 67, near the sheet entrance of the upper taper guide 87 and the lower taper guide 90, a curl press (not shown) for the sheet P is provided. The large sheet P is restricted to a predetermined amount (the height from the surface of the bin B to the start of the taper guide 87).

In this state, the staple unit 67
With the configuration as described above, the sheet P moves forward to stop stapling. At this time, the upper curl of the sheet P on the bin B is regulated by a curl holder (not shown).
The lower curl that hangs down from the upper end is lifted by the tapered portion of the tapered guide lower 90, and functions as a jumping table at the top of the tapered guide lower 90 so as not to be caught in the opening of the staple unit 67. .
With this configuration, it is possible to stably enter the sheet P loaded in the bin B into the opening of the staple unit 67 regardless of whether the curl is upper or lower.

When the staple unit 67 reaches the forward position, the sheet P is detected by the transmission sensor 86, and the sheet P is bound only when the sheet P is stacked on the bin B. When the closing of the sheet P is completed, the staple unit 67 returns to the retreat position where the sheet P on the bin B and the bin B are not buffered even if the bin B shifts.

When the staple unit 67 returns to the retracted position, the staple unit position detection microswitch 83
Is turned off, the shift motor (not shown) is allowed to rotate, the bin unit is shifted up or down, and the stapling operation of the next bin B is started in the same manner as the above movement.

If the bin B shifts while the staple unit 67 is in the forward position, the leading end of the staple unit may interfere with the sheet P or the bin B and may be damaged in the worst case. The bin unit energization circuit is connected in hardware only when the detection microswitch 83 is OFF, and the bin shift is never performed when the staple unit is in the 67Y position even when the system runs out of control. Has become.

Next, at the time of the stapling operation, for example, in a state where the staple unit 67 is defective or a sheet P having a staple force or more is stacked on the bin B, the stapling operation is started and the staple unit 67 is operated. If the staple unit is returned to the retracted position and the bin B is shifted when the load is stopped during the process due to a large load, there is a problem that the sheet P is broken. In such a case, when the staple unit 67 does not return to the home position within a predetermined time after the operation is started (attached in the timer circuit) by the sensor 82 in the staple unit 67, one rotation of the staple unit 67 is performed. The configuration is such that the drive is rotated (that is, reversely rotated) in the direction opposite to (the direction in which the spring is operated) to return to the home position, and then return the staple unit to the retracted position.

In this case, since the staple unit 67 has failed to make one rotation in the predetermined direction, a stapler abnormality signal is issued from a control circuit (not shown), and an abnormality display is displayed on a display or the like on the image forming apparatus main body. It has become.

In the above-described embodiment, during the stapler operation, the rearmost end of the sheet-like needle passes through the reflective needle sensor 93, the needle runs out, and the needle feed determining means 95 determines that the needle feed is abnormal. Displays the feeding state of the staple on the display device 203, and operates the staple staple driving prohibiting means 201 to prohibit the staple driving. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the staple operation from continuing even though the staple is not being fed, and to prevent waste of time due to finding a defect for the first time after a series of automatic stapling operations and re-stapling. it can. Further, there is no danger that the stapling operation is continued in a state where the jam needle that has caused the feeding failure stays and the functional components in the staple unit are damaged or the durability is reduced. Further, the cartridge unit 69
It is possible to easily determine whether or not the inner needle has been used, and by replenishing a new needle belt N, it is also possible to prevent waste of time due to unnecessary idle driving.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows the needle belt N and the reflection type needle sensor 93.
7 (a) and 7 (b) are diagrams showing a positional relationship with respect to FIG.
It is a figure showing an output voltage waveform of the sensor 93 ′.

The other devices such as the staple unit 67 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and the description is omitted.

The reflection-type needle sensor 93 'is a high-sensitivity sensor having a spot light source provided to face the lower side of the conveyed needle belt N.

The sensor 93 'of this embodiment differs from that of the above-described embodiment in that the diameter of the spot light source is different from the width W of the needle.
Smaller sensor. The sensor 93 'receives light reflected from the lower surface of the needle belt N and emits an electric signal according to the intensity of the reflected light. FIG. 7 (a)
It is an example showing the electric signal. The voltage V shown in FIG.
₁ indicates the voltage of the electric signal generated by the sensor 93 'having received the reflected light from the needle Nn. When the reflected light is received from the gap N' between the needle and the needle, the reflected light is relatively weak.
Voltage value of the electrical signal of the sensor 93 'drops from V ₁ by [Delta] V. That is, the reflection type needle sensor 9 as the needle detecting means
Reference numeral 3 'indicates that the intensity of the reflected light changes according to the uneven shape resulting from the connection state of the needles of the needle belt N, and the output voltage changes accordingly. FIG. 7B shows an electric signal of the sensor 93 'when the needle is not conveyed and the sensor 93' receives the reflected light from the needle Nn itself.

The needle feed determining means 95 is configured to receive a signal from the sensor 93 'and determine the transport state of the needle. Specifically, the electrical signal a predetermined time t from the sensor 93 ', for example in a single operating time of staples, compares whether taking a lower value than the reference voltage V _0, needle transport state of Is determined, and a signal is sent to the display device 203 and the staple stapling prohibition unit. The display device 203 is disposed at an easy-to-see location such as the operation unit of the sheet post-processing device, and displays the staple transport state. On the other hand, the stapling prohibiting means 201 is configured to send a signal to the stapler drive motor 150 and the like.

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

When the staple belt N is conveyed by the above-described staple feeding portion 67a in the direction of arrow (left direction) in FIG.
The gap N 'between the needles passes through the irradiation area of the spot light source 3'. At this time, since the output voltage of the sensor 93 'becomes low for the above-described reason, if the transport of the staple belt N accompanying the staple operation is performed normally, the pulses corresponding to the number of times of the staple operation are generated as shown in FIG. Appears like When receiving the staple start signal, the staple feed determining means 95
As shown in FIG. 8, for example, it is determined whether or not the pulse appears at a predetermined time t, and when no pulse appears, it is determined that the detected waveform is abnormal and an abnormal signal is displayed.
3 or is issued to the staple stapling prohibiting means 201. Thereby, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment is obtained.

FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) show another embodiment of the needle belt movement detecting means.

The detection lever 101 shown in FIG. 9 (a) is pivotally movable and has a fulcrum 1 so that the upper end abuts on the lower surface of the needle belt N.
01a. The upper end of the lever 101 is shaped to make a point contact with the needle belt N.
1 is a spring or the like (not shown) so that the upper end abuts on the needle belt N
Powered by

A known font interrupter 100 is disposed at the other end of the detection lever 101, and the other end of the lever 101 is configured to swing up and down in the gap of the photo interrupter 100. .

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

The upper end of the detection lever 101 is in point contact with the lower surface of the needle belt N, and the needle belt N has an uneven shape resulting from the connected state of the needles. Accordingly, when the needle belt N is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow (left direction) in the figure by the above-described needle feed portion 67a, the detection lever 101 swings around the fulcrum 101a in accordance with the irregularities of the conveyed needle belt N. I do. The other end of the lever 101 responds to the swing by moving the photointerrupter optical axis 100 within the gap of the photointerrupter 100.
Turn ON / OFF a. In addition, even if the difference between the irregularities on the surface of the needle belt N is small, the detection becomes easy by appropriately setting the distance from the fulcrum 101a to the lever end.

According to the needle belt movement detecting means, there is not much difference between the intensity of the reflected light from the gap N 'between the needle and the intensity of the reflected light from the needle Nn. Even if it is difficult to detect the needle feed, it is sufficient to detect only physical unevenness of the needle belt N, so that it is possible to detect the needle feed.

On the other hand, the reflection type needle sensor 93 'shown in FIG.
Is the same as that of the sensor 93 'in the above-described embodiment, but the needle belt N uses a part of each needle Na with a color such as black having a small spotlight reflectance. The three needle belts N in the figure show the aspect of the difference in the position of the discolored portion Na.

By providing the discolored Na in this way,
The difference in the reflectance of the spot light source of the reflective needle sensor 93 'is
The waveform shown in FIG. 7A is more likely to appear due to the needle feed, and the accuracy of the needle feed detection is improved.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The monitoring means 96 determines whether or not the same number of signals have been received from the reflective needle sensor 93 'during the predetermined number of stapling operations, and if the signals have been obtained the predetermined number of times, there has been an abnormality during operation. Regardless of whether or not, it is determined that it is operating normally. On the other hand, if the signal of the predetermined number of times is not obtained from the reflection type needle sensor 93, it is determined that there is an abnormality for the first time, and the feeding of the needle is displayed on the display device 203 or the staple needle is displayed as in the above-described embodiment. Beating prohibition means 201
To stop the stapling operation.

With this configuration, similar to the above-described embodiment,
The staple unit 67 can be prevented from being damaged. Also,
In the same needle belt, there is a variation in the needle feed detection accuracy due to the connection state of the needles, etc.Therefore, if the staple feed is checked every time the staple operation is performed, there is a possibility that the efficiency of the stapling work may be hindered on the contrary. This has the effect that the work efficiency can be maintained.

In each of the embodiments described above, either the display device 203 or the staple stapling prohibiting means 201 is provided, but both may be provided.

[0082]

According to the present invention, when the needle belt movement detecting means detects the needle belt and issues a signal, the needle feed determining means can determine whether or not the needle feed is normal based on the signal. In particular, by activating the staple-stapling prohibiting means in response to a signal from the staple-feed determining means and stopping the staple operation, it is possible to prevent the staple operation from continuing even though the staple is not being fed, and to stop staples. It is possible to prevent a waste of time caused by finding a defect for the first time after the end of a series of automatic operations and re-perforating the needle. Further, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the needle in the cartridge has been used, and to replenish a new needle belt, so that it is possible to prevent waste of time due to unnecessary idle driving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view around a staple unit showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a cartridge unit.

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

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the staple unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view around a reflective needle sensor showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 (a) is a diagram showing a voltage waveform output by the sensor when needle feeding is normally performed, and FIG. 7 (b) is a diagram showing a voltage waveform output by the sensor when needle feeding is not performed; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the needle feed determining means according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a needle belt movement detecting unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view showing the operation of the monitoring means in another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 sorter 7 sorter main body 43a lead cam 67 staple unit 67a needle feeding section 67b needle driving section 69 cartridge section 93 needle belt movement detecting means (reflective needle sensor) 95 needle feeding determining means 96 monitoring means 201 staple stapling inhibiting means 203 display means

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A needle cartridge unit for holding a needle belt to which a plurality of needles are connected, a needle feed unit for feeding the needle belt, and a needle at the tip of the needle belt fed by the needle feed unit. And a needle driving section for sequentially driving the sheet into the sheet
In the sheet post-processing device , the output signal is generated by the movement of the staple belt by the staple feeding unit.
A needle belt movement detecting means for, based on an output signal from the needle belt movement detection means, the needle belt is provided with a needle feeding determining means for determining whether or not being sent to normal by the needle feed unit A sheet post-processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The needle belt movement detecting means detects an uneven shape resulting from a connection state of the needles of the needle belt, and the number of times of the needle feeding is equal to the number of times the needle is fed by the needle feeding unit. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the device outputs an output signal. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a staple stapling prohibition unit that prohibits the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus based on an abnormal signal from the staple feeding determination unit. 4. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display device for displaying a state of feeding of the staples based on a signal from the staple feeding determining means. Based on wherein signals of the needle belt movement detection means, monitoring means for determining whether the output signal of the same number at the end of the staple driving movement of the predetermined number of times is obtained from the needle belt movement detection means 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a staple stapling prohibition unit that prohibits the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus based on a signal from the monitoring unit. Based on wherein signals of the needle belt movement detection means, monitoring means for determining whether the output signal of the same number at the end of the staple driving movement of the predetermined number of times is obtained from the needle belt movement detection means 3. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a display device for displaying a feeding state of the staple based on a signal from the monitoring unit.