JP3033977B2 - Recording paper processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming post-processing apparatus used with an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus and a printer, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming post-processing apparatus that collects and aligns recording paper discharged from a printer and performs post-processing such as stapling.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional image forming post-processing apparatus, for example,
JP-A-31247 (sheet collecting apparatus and sheet processing apparatus using the same).

According to this device, a stack support surface, an alignment stop for aligning the edges of a sheet received on the support surface, and engaging a rear end of the sheet when the sheet is received on the support surface One or more brushes disposed at the input end of the support surface to move the brushes such that the bristle of the brush strikes the rear end of the seat and strokes downward. .

That is, with reference to FIG. 6, the one or more brushes 601 are arranged at the input end of the support surface 602, and the brush 601 strokes downward on the rear end 604 of the sheet 603 received on the support surface 602. The brush 601 is driven as described above. The brush 601 holds down the rear end 604 of the sheet 603 by stroking the top of the stack downward, and
03 should not be in the way of the next sheet entering the collection device.

The brush 601 has a bristle 605 protruding substantially radially outward.
Is a rotary type having such a brush 60
1 is fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the support surface 602. In this case, due to the depth of the collecting device and the length of the bristle, the brush 601 does not firmly stroke the sheet 603 until the stack is stacked to a certain height, but the height of the stack is When the brushes 601 are stacked, the brush 601 hits the rear ends 604 of all the sheets 603 in the collection device and strokes them.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described apparatus, the bristle of the brush is driven so as to strike the trailing end of the sheet and stroke downward, that is, the brush strikes the top of the stack and strokes downward. However, in the case of curled recording paper (especially back-curled recording paper, see FIG. 7), there is a problem in that it is not possible to realize accurate alignment of the recording paper and the accompanying accurate binding processing. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and ensures that the recording paper loaded on the recording paper loading unit is discharged onto the loading tray irrespective of the size of the recording paper and whether or not the paper is curled, and the alignment is reliably performed. An object of the present invention is to accurately perform various processing such as processing.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording paper stacking section for stacking recording paper to be conveyed, the recording paper stacking section being inclined so as to be higher in the conveyance direction, and a recording paper in the conveyance direction. Transport means having a discharge member arranged at the most downstream in the transport direction for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper loading section, and the transporting section below the transporting means and with respect to the recording paper loading section. An aligning unit that is disposed upstream of the discharge member in the transport direction and aligns an end of the recording paper stacked in the recording paper stacking unit in the transport direction; and an alignment unit that is below the transporting unit and relative to the recording paper stacking unit. A post-processing unit disposed downstream of the discharge member in the transport direction and post-processes the recording paper aligned by the alignment unit, and a recording paper bundle post-processed by the post-processing unit are disposed obliquely. Higher side of the recording paper stacking section There is provided a recording paper processing apparatus and a discharging means for discharging.

Further, the discharge member is a pair of discharge rollers arranged in a vertical direction, has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower discharge roller, is coaxial with the discharge roller, and is discharged from the pair of discharge rollers. And a brush arranged to contact the upper portion near the rear end of the recording paper and guide the recording paper to the aligning means.

[Action]

In the recording paper processing apparatus according to the present invention, the recording paper stacking section is arranged to be inclined so as to be higher in the transport direction, and the aligning means and the post-processing means are arranged below the transporting means and in the recording paper stacking section. On the other hand, it is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the discharge member, so that it is possible to reduce the installation space in the recording paper transport direction with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, even if the recording paper discharged from the pair of discharge rollers is curled, the recording paper can be smoothly guided to the aligning means, and when the recording paper is abutted against the aligning means, the middle portion of the recording paper is Bulging can be controlled.

Further, the discharge unit discharges the recording paper bundle from a higher side of the recording paper loading unit disposed at an inclination, thereby providing a tray as a discharge destination at a position higher than the lower end of the recording paper loading unit. Can be. For this reason, the operator can take out the recording paper bundle from this tray while standing.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a recording paper processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views showing a schematic configuration of a stapling section in a recording paper processing apparatus.
Is fixed to the stapler base 201. The stapler base 201 has a guide hole for the stapler slider 202.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is movably engaged with 202a via a guide pin 203 in one direction. Stapler stand 20
A shaft 204 is fixed to the back side of the unit 1, and a guide roller 205 is rotatably attached to the shaft 204. The upper part of the stapler slider 202 has two side plates 206,
A guide roller 209 slidably mounted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2 is used as a guide with a guide lock 208 extended between the 207 and a guide roller 209 attached to a lower portion of the stapler slider 202. Two
The stapler slider 202 is in contact with the surface 10 so as to roll, thereby locking the stapler slider 202 in the rotation direction. A guide cam 211 is fixed to the stay 210, and the guide roller 205 is in contact with the cam surface formed on the upper end side of the guide cam 211 so as to roll. This causes the stapler slider 202 to reciprocate in the k direction in FIG. At this time,
The central portion of the guide cam 211 is formed so as to be depressed downward, along which the taper slider 202 moves.

At the upper end of the stapler slider 202, a detection plate 202b is provided. The detection plate 202b shields a detection portion of a home position sensor 212 provided on the main body side, thereby the home position (HP) of the stapler S. ) Is detected. A stapler moving stepping motor M20 is attached to the side plate 206, and an intermediate portion of a belt 213 driven by the stepping motor M20 is fixed to the stapler slider 202 so that the stapler slider 202
Reciprocates in the left-right direction in FIG.

Jogger fence rod 214 between both side plates 206 and 207
, And this jogger fence rod 214
A left jogger fence 218 and a right jogger fence 217 are fixed to the left slider 216 and the right slider 215, respectively. The left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217 have a function of performing a paper bundle aligning operation in a stapling operation, and also have discharge rollers 219a and 219b.
(244 is the rotation axis of the discharge roller 219a) and extends from the vicinity of the paper discharge tray to function as a guide member when discharging the paper bundle after the binding processing.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, fur brushes 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d, which are driven to rotate in synchronization with the discharge roller 219a, are arranged on a rotation shaft 244 of the discharge roller 219a. Among them, the fur brushes 245a, 245b are configured to be larger than the diameter of the discharge roller 219a,
Is placed in contact with the fur brush
The diameters of 245c and 245d are smaller than the diameters of the fur brushes 245a and 245b, and the recording paper is configured so that the recording paper becomes rigid when the conveyed recording paper is discharged to the stacking tray 250.

Width l of fur brush 245a, b, c, d in FIG.
Is larger than the maximum width of recordable paper,
This makes it possible to reliably scrape the recording paper downward in combination with the above-described continuous arrangement of the fur brushes 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d.

In FIG. 1, the motor M2 for driving the jogger fence
The left slider 216 and the right slider 215 are fixed to an intermediate portion of the belt 221 driven by 1. The left slider 216 and the right slider 215 are respectively fixed to different sides of the belt 221 so that the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217 are reciprocated symmetrically in the left-right direction in FIG. I have.
A guide roller 222 is attached to the upper back side of the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217, and the guide roller 222 rolls on a guide stay 223 bridged over the upper portions of both side plates 206 and 207. Is in contact with The left slider 216 is provided with a detection plate 216a, and the detection plate 216a shields a detection portion of the home position sensor 224 provided on the main body side, so that the home positions of the jogger fences 218 and 217 ( H
P) is detected.

Above left jogger fence 218 and right jogger fence 2
A reference fence 24 which moves separately from the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217
6 and 247 are provided.
The lower edge of the paper bundle is held by rear end abutting portions 246a and 247a formed in a hook shape at the lower end of 47. The reference fences 246 and 247 are fixed to intermediate portions of different belt portions of the belt 290 driven by the reference fence driving motor M24. 1 is configured to reciprocate symmetrically in the left-right direction in FIG.

An engagement portion for the stapler S is provided at a portion between the rear end butting portions 246a and 247a formed on each of the reference fences 246 and 247.
When the stapler S is moving to the upper position, which is the area on both ends of the apparatus, each of the engaging portions is engaged with the stapler S, and the stapler S moves to the lower position, which is the apparatus central area. The stapler S is configured to be in a detached state when the stapling is performed. Further, when the stapler S and the reference fences 246, 247 are connected via the above-mentioned respective engagement portions, the moving force of the stapler S is transmitted to the reference fences 246, 247,
At this time, as the stapler S moves, the reference fence 24
6, 247 will move. In fact, one of the two reference fences 246 and 247 is connected to the stapler S via the engaging portion, and the one of the reference fences 246 and 247 fitted with the stapler S moves. The reference fences 246 and 247 on the other side in the detached state move symmetrically.

Next, the discharge belt mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. A drive shaft 226 is provided at the upper end of both side plates 206 and 207.
And a drive pulley 227 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the drive shaft 226. A fixed pulley 228 is provided below the drive pulley 227.
Between 8, the endless discharge belt 229 is stretched. An intermediate portion of the discharge belt 229 is hung on an idle pulley 230 and guided by a stacking tray 250 disposed inside the discharge belt 229 so as to prevent bending and displacement. Further, a belt drive motor M22 is fixed to the side 206, and a pulley 2 attached to an output shaft of the belt drive motor M22 is fixed.
A belt 233 is stretched between the pulley 31 and a pulley 232 attached to one end of the drive shaft 226 to transmit the belt driving force. In the middle of the surface portion of the discharge belt 229, a protruding claw 234 is provided so as to grip the sheet bundle from below. Release belt 229
Is provided with a home position sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the claw 234, and the home position of the claw 234 (H
P) is detected. The transport speed of such a discharge belt 229
V ₂ is set to be slightly higher than the discharge linear velocity V ₁ of the discharge roller 219 (V ₂ ≧ V ₁ ), so that the magnetic flux of the next job is formed together with the already bound paper bundle. It is configured not to be discharged.

Further, a rear end abutting portion 250a formed in a hook shape is provided at a lower end portion of the stacking tray 250, and a lower edge portion of the sheet bundle is held by the rear end abutting portion 250a. It has become so.

 Next, the paper discharge tray mechanism of the staple unit will be described.

A fur brush 245 is attached to the rotation shaft 224 of the discharge roller 219a.
a, 245b, 245c, and 245d are attached, and these fur brushes 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d are rotationally driven in synchronization with the discharge roller 219a. Of the fur brushes, the bristle tips of 245a and 245b are in contact with the stacking tray 250. Further, since the fur brushes 245c and 245d having different diameters are similarly connected to the rotating shaft 244, the pressing force by the bristle tips of the fur brushes 245c and 245d and the pressing by the bristle tips of the fur brushes 245a and 245b are also increased. The recording paper is deflected to the rear side by the pressure and deformed into a wavy shape, whereby the recording paper has a certain waist so as not to buckle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the amount L of projection of the upper guide plate 248 of the paper discharge unit from the rotation center of the paper discharge roller 219b is set to be larger than the amount _{1 of the} paper to be sent out. As a result, the fur brushes 245a and 245b
Even if the recording paper does not fall below the upper guide plate 248 and enters between the fur brushes 245a and 245b.
The rear end of the recording paper is scraped down by the bristle tips of 5b.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 225 denotes a curl press which suppresses the ruggedness of the recording paper when the recording paper is stacked on the stacking tray 250, and 249 is connected to the upper guide plate 248 to remove unnecessary charges on the recording paper. It is a brush.

 Next, the binding operation of the recording paper will be described.

First, a stapling operation is selected by a stapling key, a document (N sheets) is set on a document feeding table (RDH, not shown), and after a copy number (K portion) is input by a numeric keypad, a copy start button is pressed. When pressed, a copy size signal is input from the image forming apparatus main body to a finisher (image forming post-processing apparatus), and the finisher determines whether or not the size of the recording paper is a size that can be carried into the staple unit. In the case of a size that can be carried into the staple unit, the claw 234 of the release belt 229 is used.
Is determined to be in the home position (HP).
Belt drive motor M2 when not in home position
2, the claw 234 of the discharge belt 229 is returned to the home position. Next, it is detected whether or not the stapler S is at the home position. If the stapler S is at the home position, the stapler S moves based on the copy size signal. If not, the stapler S moves to the home position. The stapler S moves on the basis of.

Also, it is detected whether or not the jogger fences 217, 218 are at the home position (HP). If the home position is detected, the jogger fences 217, 218 move to a predetermined location based on the size signal, If the home position is not detected, move until the home position is detected, detect the home position, and then move to the predetermined position according to the size signal.
18 are configured to move. The moving place at this time moves to a position a mm away from the size width on one side and 2 mm away on both sides.

Then, the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor (not shown).
When detected by the switching guide member (not shown)
Is loaded by a switching solenoid (not shown)
It is switched to 250 to guide the recording paper. When the trailing end of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor, high-speed feeding is performed. The switching solenoid is turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time from the entrance sensor, that is, the time required to exit the switching guide member. After that, the recording paper is discharged onto the stacking tray 250 by the discharge rollers 219a and 219b, and when the discharging process is being performed, the recording paper is charged by the discharging brush 249 fixed to the upper guide plate 248 of the discharge portion. The charge is removed. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the discharge rollers 219a and 219b, the trailing edge of the recording paper is pushed down by the coaxial fur brushes 245a, 245c and 245d, and the trailing end abutting portions 250a and 246a as aligning means. ,twenty four
It is brought close to each of 7a. After a predetermined time elapses after passing through the lower sheet ejection sensor (not shown), the normal / reverse rotation by the driving motor M21 of the jogger fences 217 and 218 waiting until then is repeated once or twice,
As a result, the recording paper is aligned in the width direction, and after such paper alignment processing is performed, the recording paper is returned to the standby position. This paper alignment operation is repeated for each recording sheet, and is performed until the end signal of one job is issued from the image forming apparatus main body.

Next, when an end signal of one job is input from the image forming apparatus main body, the above-described operation is performed again, and the recording sheet bundle is pressed in the width direction by the jogger fences 217 and 218. Then, the stapler S starts driving, and the recording paper bundle is bound. In this binding operation, it is determined whether or not one-shot operation is performed. In the case of one-shot operation, the jogger fences 217 and 218 move to positions slightly away from the paper bundle after the end of the binding operation. In the case of two or more hits, the stapler is moved to a predetermined position by the stapler moving motor M20, the binding operation is performed again, and after the binding operation is performed, the jogger fences 217 and 218 are moved to positions slightly away from the paper bundle. Will be returned.

The operation of the reference fences 246 and 247 at this time will be described. First, the lower end engaging portion of the reference fence 247 at the left end in FIG. 1 is fitted to the stapler S. Move to the right. Then, as the stapler S moves, the reference fence 247
Is moved to the position shown in FIG. 1 (1). At this time, the other reference fence 246 is also moved symmetrically and brought to the position shown in FIG. 1 (iii). When the stapler S further moves rightward in FIG. 1 from the position shown in FIG. 1 (i), the stapler S moves downward and separates from the reference fence 247. Therefore, the reference fence 247 and the reference fence 246 are
It stops at the positions shown in FIGS. 1 (i) and (iii), respectively. When the stapler S moves to the upper position shown in FIG. 1 (iii) through the central position shown in FIG. 1 (ii), the reference fence 246 waiting at that position
The stapler S is fitted to the engaging portion, whereby the stapler S and the reference fence 246 are integrally moved to the right end side in FIG. At this time, the other reference fence 247 is also moved symmetrically, and is moved to the original left end position.

Such a stapler S and reference fences 246, 247
By performing the above operation, the binding operation can be performed at an arbitrary position other than the range where the stapler S is at the lower position.

At this time, the discharge belt 229 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, and the recording paper bundle is discharged to the discharge tray while the rear end of the recording paper bundle is pushed up by the claw 234.

It is determined whether or not the last set number of copies (K portions) has been completed. At the end, the jogger fences 217 and 218 and the stapler S are moved to the home position, and when not completed, the above-described operation is executed again. You.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the fur brush presses the upper portion near the rear end of the recording paper stacked on the stacking tray, it is resistant to curling of the recording paper, and the number of stacked papers is set to be larger than usual. It has become possible.

Further, since the fur brush has a two-stage diameter, when the aligning process is performed in the width direction of the recording paper, the recording paper can be displaced because the area of the fur brush in contact with the recording paper is small. Yes, it is possible to reliably perform width direction alignment.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the recording paper processing apparatus of the present invention, the recording paper stacking section is arranged so as to be inclined so as to be higher in the transport direction, and the aligning means and the post-processing device are arranged below the transport direction. Since it is arranged on the upstream side of the discharge member with respect to the recording paper loading section with respect to the sailing method improvement, there is an effect that the installation space in the recording paper conveyance direction can be reduced with a simple configuration.

The discharging member is a pair of discharging rollers arranged in the vertical direction, has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower drainage roller, is coaxial with the discharging roller, and is discharged from the pair of discharging rollers. Since a brush is provided so as to come into contact with the upper portion near the rear end of the recording paper and guide the recording paper to the aligning means, even if the recording paper discharged from the pair of discharge rollers is curled, it is smooth. The recording paper can be guided to the aligning means, and when the recording paper is hit against the aligning means, it is possible to suppress the bulging of the middle part of the recording paper.

Further, since the discharging unit discharges the recording paper bundle from a higher side of the recording paper stacking unit, the discharge destination tray is provided at a position where the operator can take out the recording paper bundle while standing. be able to. Such a configuration can reduce the load on the operator and enhance the operability of the recording paper processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are explanatory views showing a staple portion of the recording paper processing apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views showing the vicinity of a stack tray of the recording paper processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the discharging device, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the brush in the conventional image forming post-processing device, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for pointing out problems in the conventional image forming processing device. is there. Reference numerals 217, 218: jogger fences 219a, b, c, d: discharge rollers 229: discharge belts 224: rotary shafts 245a, b, c, d: fur brushes 245a, b, c, d ... … Fur brush 246, 247 …… Standard fence 250 …… Loading tray S …… Stapler

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-243465 (JP, A) JP-A-64-17755 (JP, A) JP-A-64-69450 (JP, A) JP-A-61-178367 (JP) , A) Hira 1-88666 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 31 / 34,31 / 30 B65H 37 / 04,29 / 22

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A recording paper stacking section for stacking recording paper to be conveyed, the recording paper stacking section being arranged to be inclined so as to be higher in the conveyance direction, and conveying the recording paper in the conveyance direction; A transport unit having a discharge member disposed at the most downstream in the transport direction for discharging the recording paper to the recording paper loading unit; and a transport direction upstream of the discharge member below the transport unit and the recording paper loading unit with respect to the recording paper loading unit. And an aligning means for aligning the ends of the recording paper stacked in the recording paper stacking section in the conveying direction; and a conveying direction upstream of the discharge member below the conveying means and relative to the recording paper stacking section. A post-processing unit disposed on the side and post-processing the recording paper aligned by the alignment unit; and a recording paper stack post-processed by the post-processing unit, the recording paper stack unit disposed at an angle. Discharge means for discharging from the high side, A recording paper processing apparatus comprising: 2. The discharge member is a pair of discharge rollers arranged in a vertical direction, has a diameter larger than the diameter of the lower discharge roller, and is coaxial with the discharge roller. 2. The recording paper processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a brush arranged so as to contact an upper portion near a rear end of the recording paper discharged from the printer and guide the recording paper to the aligning means.