JP3280304B2 - Finisher device and image forming apparatus using the same - 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 apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly, to temporarily stacking a plurality of image-formed sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus main body on a staple tray. The present invention relates to a finisher device that staples the trailing end of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction with a stapler and then stores the sheet on an accumulation tray, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, a finisher device is horizontally connected to an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer, and an image forming process and a finisher process are sequentially arranged side by side. Is widely known that accommodates sheets of paper on a discharge stacker.

[0003]

In such an apparatus, since the main body of the image forming apparatus and the finisher are connected in the left-right direction, not only a large installation area of the entire apparatus is required, but also an image is required. A discharge stacker protrudes from the side of the forming apparatus main body opposite to the side where the finisher device is connected, and the discharge stacker protrudes from the side of the finisher apparatus opposite to the side where the image forming apparatus main body is connected. In order to do so, the installation area had to be kept fairly large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a finisher capable of reducing the installation area of the entire image forming apparatus and making the entire apparatus compact, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stacking tray for storing sheets from the image forming apparatus main body, and a sheet from the image forming apparatus main body to the collecting tray. A stapler tray for temporarily accumulating paper, and a stapler device for binding a bundle of sheets on the stapler tray, wherein the finisher device is disposed above the image forming apparatus main body, and a sheet from the image forming apparatus main body is provided. A first paper transport path that guides the paper in a substantially vertical direction, a second paper transport path that is continuous with the first paper transport path, and that has a deflecting unit that guides the paper in a substantially horizontal direction. A second deflecting portion formed on the first sheet conveying path for guiding the sheet in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second sheet conveying path is changed, and extending below the outlet end of the second sheet conveying path. Steps A tray, a stacking tray for stacking and storing sheets from the staple tray, and a staple tray disposed between the deflecting unit and the staple tray of the second sheet transport path and between the upper and lower deflecting units. And a stapling device for binding the rear end of the upper sheet discharging direction.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed stacker for storing paper, image forming means for forming an image on the paper from the paper feed stacker, and temporary transfer of the paper from the image forming means. A staple tray that accumulates
In an image forming apparatus including a stapling device for binding the sheets on the staple tray, and an accumulation tray for sequentially stacking and storing the sheet bundle on the staple tray, the sheet feeding stacker disposed substantially horizontally on the bottom of the device. A feeding path for deflecting the sheet from the sheet feeding stacker in a substantially orthogonal direction and conveying the sheet in a substantially vertical direction, the image forming unit disposed in the feeding path, and a sheet from the image forming unit. A first paper transport path leading in a vertical direction, a second paper transport path connected to the first paper transport path and having a deflecting unit for guiding the paper in a substantially horizontal direction, and a first paper transport path below the deflecting unit. A second deflecting unit formed in the sheet transport path for guiding the sheet in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second sheet transport path is changed; and a staple tray extending below an outlet end of the second sheet transport path. And before A stack tray for stacking and storing sheets from the staple tray, and a sheet discharging unit disposed between the deflecting unit of the second sheet conveying path and the staple tray and between the upper and lower deflecting units; And a stapling device for binding the rear end in the direction.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a paper discharge processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, as applied to a finisher installed on the upper surface of an image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 5, an image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus main body 2 such as a copying machine or a laser printer, and a finisher device 3 installed in the image forming apparatus main body 2.
And an adapter device 4 for connecting the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the finisher device 3 to each other.

The image forming apparatus main body 2 has a paper supply cartridge 5 for storing a plurality of papers, and an image forming means having a transfer drum 6 for transferring an image to the paper conveyed from the paper supply cartridge 5 via a paper supply path 8. 7, and a feeding path 8 for feeding the sheet after the image is fixed to the finisher device 3,
The sheet P1 sent from the feeding path 8 is supplied to the finisher device 3 via the adapter device 4. The adapter device 4 is inserted to fit the finisher device 3 to various image forming apparatuses.

It is to be noted that the image forming apparatus main body 2 may have a function of a finisher device 3 to be described later, and the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the finisher device 3 may be provided in one apparatus. It is possible.

The finisher device 3 includes an adapter device 4
A second sheet P1 which is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 2 through the first and deflects the sheet P1 sent upward from the image forming apparatus main body 2
A first sheet transport path 10 for guiding the sheet from the second deflection section 9 in a substantially vertical direction, and a deflection section for guiding the sheet from the first sheet transport path 10 in a substantially horizontal direction. A second paper transport path 11 and a processing which is also formed between the outlet end of the second paper transport path 11 having the deflecting section on the downstream side of the paper discharge and the paper discharge port 3 a of the finisher device 3. A space 12 and a second sheet discharge path 13 (third deflecting unit) branched from a boundary between the first sheet conveying path 10 and a second sheet conveying path 11 having a deflecting unit are provided. .

That is, the sheet P1 is guided to the processing space 12 via the second deflecting path 9, the first sheet conveying path 10, and the second sheet conveying path 11 having a deflecting section, and the processing space 12 is guided to the processing space 12. After the passage, the path for the stapling process that reaches the sheet discharge port 3a, the second deflecting path 9, the first sheet conveying path 10,
A non-processing path that passes through the processing space 12 to the sheet discharge port 3a after passing through the second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting unit, a second deflection path 9, a first sheet transport path 10, A non-processing path leading to the second sheet discharge path 13 (third deflection unit) is provided. In addition, the second deflection path 9 and the first
The paper transport path 10 and the second paper transport path 11 having a deflecting unit are provided with a stapling device 15 by detouring the entire path in a substantially U-shape along the rear shape of the housing 14 of the finisher device 3. To form a storage space 16 for the storage.

(Second Deflection Path 9) The second deflection path 9 is formed by a pair of guide plates 17 and 18 which are opposed to each other with an interval through which the sheet P1 can pass. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet detecting sensor 2 for detecting the leading end and the trailing end of the sheet P1 sent from the adapter device 4 is provided at the beginning of the second deflection path 9 as shown in FIG.
0, and supply roller pairs 21 and 21 provided at two places in the sheet width direction (see FIG. 2) so as to convey the sheet P1 to the downstream side of the second deflection path 9.

(First Paper Transport Path 10) The first paper transport path 10 is formed by a guide plate 22 opposed to the guide plate 12 at an interval at which paper can pass. In the middle of the first paper transport path 10, transport roller pairs 23, 23 for transporting the paper sent from the second deflection path 9 downstream in the transport direction are provided.

(Second paper transport path 1 having a deflecting unit)
1) The second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting section is formed by a guide plate 24 opposed to a guide plate 22 at an interval at which sheets can pass. A plurality of pairs of transport rollers 25 and 2 for transporting the sheet sent from the first sheet transport path 10 downstream in the discharge direction are provided at the end of the second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting unit.
5 and 25, and a sheet detection sensor 26 that detects a leading end and a trailing end of a sheet in the second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting unit. Also, a first sheet transport path 10 and a second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting unit are provided.
Paper transport path 1 having a deflecting unit at the boundary between
A switching means 27 for switching the paper transport direction is provided between the first and second paper discharge paths 13 (third deflecting unit).

After the sheet detection sensor 26 has counted the number of copies set on the control panel of the image forming apparatus main body 2 or on the computer side, the sheet detection sensor 20 detects a sheet trailing end portion corresponding to the count-up detection. Is detected, the staple device 1
5 is output.

In this embodiment, the finisher 3 itself determines the timing of the stapling process based on the information of the sheet detection sensor 20 and drives the stapling device 15. The image forming apparatus 2 itself knows this timing, and it is possible to consider a system in which the image forming apparatus 2 itself performs the counting of the number of sheets and the stapling process, and issues a stapling command to the finisher apparatus 3. Further, a signal for driving the stapling device 15 may be generated by a button pressed manually or the like. The switching means 27 includes crank arms 28 and 29 driven in pairs by driving the stapling device 15 along the sheet width direction, and a switching lever 30 rotated by driving the crank arms 28 and 29. I have.

(Processing Space 12) The processing space 12 is located below the exit end of the second paper transport path 11 having a deflecting section and has a lower end near the exit end of the second paper transport path 11 having a deflecting section. Are formed on a staple tray 31 which is set to be inclined toward the paper discharge port 3a in an overlapped state. Further, a paper discharge processing unit 32 is provided in the processing space 12 near the paper discharge port 3a.

The housing 1 is located below the paper discharge processing section 32.
A stacking tray 33 is provided which is inclined upward and protrudes from the outer wall of No. 4. This stacking tray 33
Is moved up and down by rollers 35, 35 provided on a bracket 34 fixed at the base thereof moving along a guard rail 36 extending in the up and down direction. An elevating device 37 for the up and down movement is It is provided outside.

The staple tray 31 has a pair of guides 38 for aligning both widths of the paper from the second paper discharge path 11,
38, at least one of which is displaceable in the sheet width direction according to the sheet size. Also,
The stapling device 15 described above is positioned between the lower end of the stapling tray 31 and the first sheet conveying path 10 so that the second deflecting path 9, the first sheet conveying path 10,
It is provided in a storage space 16 formed by bypassing the second paper transport path 11 having a deflecting unit. Further, the staple tray 31 is provided with a weighing sensor 39 for detecting the amount of stacked paper. The detection amount of the weighing sensor 39 is set in accordance with the allowable binding amount of the stapling device 15, and the stapling is not performed when the sheets are stacked in excess of the allowable binding amount. Also, at the lower end of the staple tray 31,
As shown in FIG. 3, a paddle 40 is provided.

The paddle 40 is connected to the paper detecting sensor 26.
Is rotated (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) when a predetermined time has elapsed after the passage of the sheet is detected, and the sheet is discharged onto the staple tray 31 toward the staple device 15 by this rotation, and the weight of the sheet is reduced. Thus, the paper that has slipped down is surely brought into contact with the stopper 90 and the staple regulating wall 15b to be dropped so that the trailing edge is aligned.

The paper discharge processing unit 32 includes a staple tray 31
Discharge drive rollers 4 rotatably provided at the upper end of the paper
, Arm driven rollers 42, 42, which can be brought into contact with and separated from the paper discharge drive rollers 41, 41, and a rotary arm 43 provided coaxially with the paper discharge drive rollers 41, 41,. ing.

The arm type driven roller 42 approaches (separates as shown in FIG. 1) and separates (as shown in FIG. 8) the paper discharge drive roller 41 in accordance with the paper discharge state. When the sheets are bundled, they approach the sheet discharge drive roller 41 and pinch the sheet bundle with the sheet discharge drive roller 41, so that the sheet bundle is discharged onto the accumulation tray 33 from the sheet discharge port 3a. As shown in FIG. 3, the arm-type driven roller 42 approaches and separates from the arm 44 which rotatably holds the arm-type driven roller 42 with an engaging claw 44a protruding therefrom. The eccentric cam 46 is brought into contact with the other end of the L-shaped lever 45 with which one end is engaged, and the rotation of the eccentric cam 46 is controlled. That is, the eccentric cam 46
The L-shaped lever 45 is rotated by the rotation angle to move the engagement claw 44a up and down, and the arm 44 is rotated by this up and down movement.

The rotating arm 43 has rollers 47,
48 has a substantially L-shape provided rotatably. The rotation of the rotary arm 43 is such that the worm gear 50 is rotated by the drive of the motor 49, and the rotary gear 51 receives the rotation of the worm gear 50 to rotate the rotary arm 43. The paper ejection drive roller 41 and the rotary gear 51 are coaxial but rotate independently.

(Second paper discharge path 13) Second paper discharge path 1
Reference numeral 3 is formed by guide plates 52 and 53 facing each other at an interval allowing paper to pass. Also, the paper is supplied to the auxiliary discharge port 3
b, and an auxiliary stacking tray 55 that is openably and closably provided at the top of the housing 14 in a state of being inclined obliquely from below to above the auxiliary discharge port 3b.
And a loading amount detection sensor 56 for detecting the loading amount of the paper sheets accumulated in the printer.

When the stapling device 15 is moved to the home position by not using the stapling device 15, the crank arms 28 and 29 are conveyed to the second paper discharge path 13 in conjunction with the transition. The sheet is conveyed from the end of the first sheet conveyance path 10 by being driven and the switching lever 30 switching the conveyance path.

When the stacking amount detection sensor 56 detects that the stacking amount becomes maximum, the stacking amount detection sensor 56 operates the switching lever 30 so that the remaining sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 33. The stacking of the sheets when the stapling device 15 is not used may be performed on the stacking tray 33, and the auxiliary stacking tray 55 may be used when the stacking on the stacking tray 33 is maximized.

The auxiliary collecting tray 55 is rotatably provided on the housing 14 so as to open the upper part of the staple tray 31. The sensors 26 and 39 also serve as a paper jam detection sensor. When the sensors 26 and 39 detect a paper jam, the jam can be cleared by opening the auxiliary accumulation tray 55. .
The jam detection in the second deflection path 9 and the first sheet conveyance path 10 is performed by the sheet detection sensor 20.
The jam can be cleared by opening the cover 14a.

Further, by providing a supporting member such as a wire at the position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the auxiliary collecting tray 55 can be adapted to discharge a large size that cannot be handled by the collecting tray 33.

Each roller pair 21, 23, 25, 54
One is a driving roller and the other is a driven roller. The driving of the motor 57 rotates the roller pair 54 and drives the roller pairs 21, 23, 25 via a plurality of pulleys and belts. The rollers rotate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the stapling apparatus 15 includes a bench unit 58 for bending the needle and a driver unit 59 for pushing the needle into the paper.
The rotation center position of the driver unit 59 is fixed with respect to the bench frame 60 surrounding the bench unit 58, and the driver unit 5
9 is provided rotatably. The rotational power of the drive motor 62 is transmitted to a three-stage sequence gear 63.

The sequence gear 63 is provided with a gear pin 64 for controlling opening and closing of the bench unit 58 by the driver unit 59.

A driver 65 for inserting a needle from the staple cartridge 15a containing a plurality of staples into the bundle of sheets on the staple tray 31 from below is inserted into the staple cartridge 15a. Then, the needle is inserted from the driving portion 67 of the driver unit 59. The driver arm 66 has a gear pin 64 connected by a long hole 66a about the rotation center thereof, and performs one vertical movement per rotation of the sequence gear 63.

On the other hand, the stapling device 15 can be moved in the width direction of the paper by the moving device 68 in order to enable, for example, the width and the binding position of the paper or a plurality of bindings. The cartridge 15a built in the stapling device 15 is made possible by opening the rear cover 10a of the housing 10 (see the arrow), and the guide plates 17, 18, and 22 allow the cartridge 15a to be attached and detached. The center is open so that

Each of the trays 31, 33, and 55 is inclined upward at least in part so that the trailing end of the sheet is located below the leading end of the sheet and the trailing edge is aligned by its own weight. ing. The paper dropped by its own weight is regulated by the stopper 90 and the staple regulating wall 15b and is aligned at the rear end. However, there are a plurality of stapling positions, and the rear end must be properly adjusted in any state. For this purpose, the following ideas were devised.

The stopper 90 is rotatable by a shaft. Since the stopper 90 is engaged with the shaft by a winding spring, when the stopper 90 comes into contact with the upper surface of the stapling device 15 when it rotates,
The winding spring loses and the stopper 90 is locked. The stopper 90 is provided at two places on the shaft, and the stapling device 15
Is stopped at any position, the rear end can be supported by at least one stopper 90 and the staple regulating wall 15b.

In the above configuration, the staple device 15
When the sheet bundle is stapled by using the sheet P1, the sheet P1 discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 2 is
Drive of 1, 23, 25 and guide plates 17, 1
The second deflection path 9, the first
The paper is conveyed as if bypassing via the second paper conveyance path 11 having the paper conveyance path 10 and the deflecting unit. At this time, the arm type driven roller 42 is in a state separated from the paper discharge drive roller 41.

When the trailing end of the discharged paper exits from the transport roller pair 25 provided at the end of the second paper transport path 11 having the deflecting section, the stapling tray 31 discharges the paper due to the force accompanying the forced discharge. The leading end is the paper ejection drive roller 41
After projecting to the outside from between the arm-type driven roller 42 and the arm-type driven roller 42, the sheet is guided in the opposite direction by its own weight, and both ends in the width direction of the sheet are aligned with a pair of alignment plates 38, 38. The rotation of the paddle 40 abuts on the stopper 90 and the staple regulating wall 15b to be aligned.

The sheet detection sensor 20 counts a predetermined number of sheets, and when the sheet detection sensor 26 detects that the last sheet counted up is conveyed to the staple tray 31 and the alignment is completed within a predetermined time, the paddle 40 rotates. Then, the final sheet is dropped into the stapling device 15. Thereafter, the transfer sheet bundle is stapled by the stapling device 15.

At this time, the stapling device 15 performs stapling from below the stapling device 15 because the transfer surface of the sheet faces the stapling tray 31 (depending on the discharge state of the image forming apparatus main body 2).

At the time of performing stapling, the arm type driven roller 42 has already approached the paper discharge drive roller 41 (FIG. 1).
), And the sheet bundle is gripped, so that the sheet bundle does not collapse due to the stapling process.

Further, the sheet bundle after the stapling is moved onto the stacking tray 33 by the arm type driven roller 42 approaching the sheet discharge drive roller 41 (the state shown in FIG. 1) and rotating while holding the sheet bundle in a gripped state. Thereafter, the processing according to the number of sets of the sheet bundle is repeated, and when the stacking amount of the sheet bundle increases, the accumulation tray 33 shifts downward, and a large number of sheet bundles can be accumulated.

In general, as in the case of the stapling device 15, the driver unit 59 for driving the needle into the bench unit 58 for bending the needle occupies an overwhelmingly large volume. Therefore, the stapling tray 31 and the stapling device 1 which cannot be separated too much from the conveying roller pair 25
The path system according to the present invention is to compactly store the relationship of No. 5 and to drive the needle from below when the printing screen faces the loading side of the finisher device 3 when the substantially vertical paper is carried into the finisher device 3. Is compact and has an optimal system.

On the other hand, when stapling is not performed, the stapling device 15 shifts to the home position, and the shift causes the levers 28 and 29 to rotate. The second paper discharge path 13 communicates with the first paper transport path 10.

The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 2 is driven by a pair of conveying rollers 21, 23, 54 to form a second sheet.
Are transported through the deflection path 9, the first paper transport path 10, and the second paper discharge path 13, and are sequentially stacked on the second stacking tray 55.

As described above, the finisher device 3 of the present invention
, The second deflection path 9 and the first sheet transport path 1
0, the second paper transport path 11 having the deflecting unit
By positively forming the installation space 16 for installing the staple device 15 by detouring along the shape of
A compact finisher device 3 that can be installed above the image forming apparatus main body 2 can be formed, and a reasonable transport path can be formed regardless of the size of paper. Also, the second sheet transport path 11 having a deflecting unit
The stapling device 15 does not protrude above the upper side, and the second paper discharge path 13 (third deflecting unit) can be easily formed at a low position.

[0047]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a finisher device, showing a finisher device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is also a plan view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a sheet discharge portion.

FIG. 4 is also an enlarged side view of the stapler device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image forming apparatus 2 image forming apparatus main body 3 finisher device 9 second deflecting unit 10 first sheet conveying path 11 second sheet conveying path having deflecting unit 13 second discharging path (Third deflecting unit) 15: Stapling device 31: Stapling tray 33: Stacking tray

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] A stacking tray for storing sheets from the image forming apparatus main body; a staple tray for temporarily stacking sheets from the image forming apparatus main body to the stacking tray; and a sheet bundle on the staple tray. A finisher device provided with a stapling device and disposed above the image forming apparatus main body, wherein a first paper conveying path for guiding a sheet from the image forming apparatus main body in a substantially vertical direction; A second sheet transport path having a deflecting section that is continuous with the path and guides the sheet in a substantially horizontal direction; and a deflecting direction of the second sheet transport path that is formed in the first sheet transport path below the deflecting section. A second deflecting unit that guides the sheet in a direction opposite to the above, a staple tray extending below an outlet end of the second sheet transport path, and a collection for loading and storing sheets from the staple tray. A tray and a stapling device disposed between the deflecting section of the second sheet transport path and the stapling tray and between the upper and lower deflecting sections, and binding a rear end of the sheet discharging direction on the staple tray. Equipped finisher device. 2. The finisher device according to claim 1, wherein the stapler tray is configured by a tray unit that supports a part of a rear end side of a sheet from the main body of the image forming apparatus to the stacking tray in a conveying direction. Finisher device. 3. The finisher device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the staple tray is inclined so that the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction is lower, and the stacking tray is inclined such that the upstream side in the sheet discharging direction is lower. Finisher equipment. 4. The finisher device according to claim 1, wherein the stapling device inserts a stapled needle having a U-shaped cross section from a lower portion of the stacking bottom of the stapling tray onto a sheet stacked on the stapling tray. Finisher device that inserts and binds. 5. The finisher device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking tray is attached to an apparatus frame so as to be able to move up and down such that the stacking tray is lowered in accordance with a stacking amount of sheets. 6. The finisher according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting an uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the stapling tray, and detecting that a predetermined stacking amount has been reached, and generating a stapling inhibition signal. A finisher device provided with control means for emitting. 7. A paper feed stacker for storing paper, image forming means for forming an image on paper from the paper feed stacker, a staple tray for temporarily accumulating the paper from the image forming means, An image forming apparatus including a stapling device for binding sheets on a tray, and an accumulation tray for sequentially stacking and storing the sheet bundle on the stapling tray, wherein the sheet feeding stacker is disposed substantially horizontally on a bottom of the device; A feed path for deflecting the paper from the paper feed stacker in a substantially perpendicular direction and transporting the paper in a substantially vertical direction; the image forming means disposed in the feed path; and a substantially vertical direction of the paper from the image forming means. A first paper transport path leading to the first paper transport path, a second paper transport path having a deflecting part connected to the first paper transport path and guiding the paper in a substantially horizontal direction, A second deflecting section formed in the first sheet transport path and guiding the sheet in a direction opposite to the direction of deflection of the second sheet transport path; and extending below the outlet end of the second sheet transport path. A stapler tray provided, an accumulation tray for stacking and storing sheets from the stapler tray, and a stacker tray disposed between the deflecting unit of the second sheet transport path and the staple tray and between the upper and lower deflecting units. An image forming apparatus comprising: a stapling device for binding a rear end of the stapling tray on the sheet discharging direction. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a third deflecting unit that deflects the sheet in a substantially horizontal direction on the first transport path via a path switching unit, and the third deflecting unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet storage tray different from the stacking tray extended in a section.