JP3413988B2 - Sheet processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for offsetting a plurality of image-recorded sheet bundles and discharging them to a stack tray. In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet bundle width direction moving device that alternately moves the sheet bundle whose edge is positioned on the compile tray to the opposite side with respect to the width direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this type of sheet processing apparatus, the following technologies (J01) and (J02) have been known. (J01) (Technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-106754) In a finishing device for a copying machine described in this publication, when stacks of sheet copies are created on a compiler tray, a stack forming device is moved by a motor in a lateral direction. Alternating stacks of adjacent sheet copies to offset each other. (J02) (Technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-46862) In a sheet material sorting and stacking device described in this publication, a tray (stack tray) for accumulating sheet materials is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the sheet material discharge direction. The sheet materials are sorted and stacked on the right and left sides of the tray. Further, position regulation releasing means such as a lever moving motor and a solenoid for pushing up the sheet material sorting lever during the movement of the tray is required.

As described above, the conventional sheet bundle finishing apparatus shifts the position of the sheet bundle (offset) and discharges it to the stack tray in order to distinguish the sheet bundle created without performing post-processing such as stapling. You are doing the action. When performing this operation, the stack tray side is moved in the width direction by the amount necessary to distinguish the discharged sheet bundle, the sheet bundle on the compile tray is discharged to the stack tray, and the next sheet bundle is discharged. At that time, the operation of moving the stack tray in the opposite direction by the same amount is repeatedly performed.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
1) and (J02) have the following problems. 1) Since the stack tray is moved at a right angle to the sheet discharge direction, it becomes a cause of deterioration of the sheet alignment of the sheet bundle,
It is actually causing it. 2) If an attempt is made to move the sheet bundle in an offset direction other than the vertical direction, a separate drive device is required, which complicates the stack tray moving mechanism and becomes a factor that hinders downsizing of the sheet processing apparatus. 3) When creating a large number of sheet bundles, that is, when stacking them high on the stack tray, when the trays are moved, the amount of movement between the sheet bundles and the like shifts, resulting in poor overall appearance and falling sheets. Etc. may occur. Further, in the moving mechanism, a powerful driving device for offsetting all the sheets placed on the stack tray is required.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention has the following problems. (O01) To provide a sheet processing apparatus having a good sheet alignment property of a sheet bundle. (O02) To simplify the offset mechanism in the sheet processing apparatus as much as possible. (O03) Correctly offset the sheet bundle by a predetermined movement amount so that a large number of sheet bundles can be placed on the stack tray.

[0006]

The present invention devised to solve the above problems will now be described. The elements of the present invention are to facilitate correspondence with the elements of the embodiments described later. Note that the reference numerals of the elements of the embodiments are enclosed in parentheses. The reason why the present invention is described in association with the reference numerals of the embodiments described below is to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(First Invention) In order to solve the above problems, a sheet processing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application is a compile tray (C) for accommodating a plurality of sheets (Si), and the compile tray (C). A sheet side edge positioning member (41) for positioning the sheet (Si) carried in the sheet in the width direction and a sheet side edge positioning member (42;) for moving the sheet (Si) to the sheet side edge positioning member (41). 71) and the compile tray (C)
A sheet provided with a sheet bundle discharging means (6, 7, 16 to 31) for discharging a sheet bundle (S) composed of a plurality of sheets (Si) whose ends are aligned to each other to a stack tray (64). The processing device (U) is provided with the following requirements: (Y01) The compile tray
(C) A rotationally driven belt (46) arranged below
And the sheet side that is movable in the width direction of the sheet (Si)
Bracket fixedly supported by the edge positioning member (41)
(51) and the bracket (51) support the
The bracket (51) and the bell
(46) is connected and demagnetized,
Release the connection between the bracket (51) and the belt (46).
A sheet bundle width direction moving device (41 to 54; 41, 43 to 5) having a solenoid (54) for releasing and for moving the sheet bundle (S) on the compile tray (C) in the width direction.
4).

(Second Invention) The sheet processing apparatus according to the second invention of the present application is the first invention described above.
In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the invention, the following constitutional requirements are provided, and (Y02) sheet (Si)
The sheet side edge aligning member (42) movable in the width direction
Fixedly supported bracket (51) and the bracket
The bra is supported by (51) and is excited.
The ket (51) and the belt (46) are connected and erased.
In the magnetized state, the bracket (51) and the belt
A solenoid (54) to release the connection with the lt (46)
And a sheet bundle (S) sandwiched by the sheet side edge positioning member (41) and the sheet side edge aligning member (42) movable in the width direction of the sheet (Si), the sheet side edge positioning member (41) and the sheet side edge aligning member (42) for simultaneously moving the sheet bundle in the width direction
Width moving device (41 to 54). (Third Invention) The sheet processing apparatus according to the third invention of the present application is the above-mentioned first invention.
In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the invention, the following structural requirements
Characterized by comprising a, (Y011) the compilation
Position of the rear end of the sheet (Si) carried into the tray (C)
Seat rear end positioning member (8), (Y012)
The sheet rear end positioning member (8) and the sheet side edge position
Inclining at a predetermined angle with respect to the determining member (41)
The sheet side edge aligning member (71)
And the sheets carried into the compile tray (C)
The sheet (Si) that is in contact with the upper surface of (Si)
Seat rear end positioning member (8) and seat side edge position
The sheet side edge aligning member (7) which is brought closer to the determining member (41)
1). (Fourth Invention) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fourth invention of the present application
The sheet processing apparatus stores a plurality of sheets (Si).
Accommodates a pile tray (C) and multiple sheets (Si)
Compile tray (C) and the compile tray
Positioning of the sheet (Si) loaded in (C) in the width direction
Sheet edge positioning member (41) Contact and sheet to perform
(Si) is moved to the sheet side edge positioning member (41)
Sheet side edge aligning member (42; 71) and the compiling
Multiple sheets (S) with their edges aligned on the tray (C)
stack tray of sheet bundle (S) composed of i)
Sheet bundle discharging means (6, 7, 16-
31) and a sheet processing apparatus (U) including
(Y011) said controller
Rear end of sheet (Si) carried into pile tray (C)
Sheet rear end positioning member (8), (Y
[0113] The sheet (Si) is brought into contact with the upper surface of the sheet (S)
a sheet that brings i) closer to the sheet trailing edge positioning member (8).
Rear end aligning member (37; 71), (Y014)
A connecting member (32) connected to the il tray (C), and
Upper biasing arm for pulling up the connecting member (32) upward
(21) and an arm driving motor (23) that is rotationally driven.
Of the plate (29) extending radially from the center of rotation of the
A pressing member (31) supported on an end portion, the pressing member (31)
The plate (2) driven by the drive motor (23)
9) is moved downward with the rotation of 9), and the upper biasing arm is moved.
The pressing member (31) for pressing the (21) downward,
Tray arm interlocking mechanism, (Y015) Comparing
The number of sheets (Si) stored in the ile tray (C)
In response, the arm drive motor (23) is driven to
The tray that moves the compile tray (C) downward
Lee arm interlocking mechanism. (Fifth invention) Further , any one of the first invention, the second invention, and the fourth invention.
Sheet processing device (U) has the following configuration requirements
(Y016) Compile tray
A sheet placing portion (42) arranged along the upper surface of (C).
a) and vertically from the rear end of the sheet placing portion (42a)
The sheet side edge pressing wall (42b) that stands up
The side edge of the sheet (Si) loaded into the ile tray (C)
It is formed on the inner surface of the sheet side edge pressing wall (42b) to be pressed.
A plurality of protrusions parallel to the upper surface of the compile tray (C)
The sheet side edge aligning member (4
2). (Sixth invention) Further , the sheet processing apparatus according to the third invention or the fourth invention.
(U) is characterized by having the following configuration requirements.
(Y017) From the top of the compile tray (C)
The rear end contact wall (8a) of the seat which rises vertically and the seat
The compile tray from the upper end of the rear end contact wall (8a)
Seat trailing edge that extends diagonally upward toward the inside of (C)
Sheet rear end positioning member having an id wall (8b)
(8).

[0009]

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. (Operation of First Invention) In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the first invention of the present application having the above-mentioned characteristics, the sheet (Si) carried into the compile tray (C) is a sheet orthogonal to the discharge direction. -Seat side edge positioning member (4) for positioning the width (Si) in the width direction
1) and the sheet side edge aligning member (42) for aligning the sheet (Si) with the sheet side edge positioning member (41),
The edges are aligned. The edge of each sheet (Si) is aligned on the compile tray (C) by a predetermined number of sheets, for example, 2 to 10.
This is repeated until 0 sheets (Si) are accommodated, and one copy of the desired sheet bundle (S) is created. Then, the sheet bundle width direction moving device (41 to 54; 41, 43 to 54) is operated to cause the sheet side edge positioning member (41) to move.
The bracket is brought into a state where the noid (54) is excited.
(51) is connected to the belt (46). In this state,
By rotating the belt (46),
The side edge positioning member (41) is in the width direction of the sheet (Si)
To the sheet side edge positioning member (41)
The sheet stack (S) on the pile tray (C) moves in the width direction.
Move. The sheet bundle (S) on the compile tray (C) is moved in the width direction, and the stack tray (6) is moved by the sheet bundle discharging means (6, 7, 16-31).
The operation of discharging the sheet bundle (4) and the operation of moving the sheet bundle (S) in the width direction on the side opposite to the previous time and discharging the sheet bundle (S) to the stack tray (64) are alternately repeated. When a preset number of sheets (S) are discharged to the stack tray (64) by a control device such as a microcomputer, these series of operations are completed. In this way, the offset sheet bundle (S) is placed on the stack tray (64) in a state of being displaced by a constant distance in the width direction thereof to distinguish the sheet bundle (S) from each other. You can In the compile tray (C), a sheet trailing edge positioning member (8) and a sheet (Si) for positioning the trailing edge of the sheet carried into the compile tray (C) in the discharge direction to the stack tray (64). The sheet trailing edge aligning member (37; 7)
1) and are preferably provided. In that case, a sheet trailing edge positioning member (8) for positioning the trailing edge in the discharge direction to the stack tray (64) and a sheet trailing edge shifting member (8) for shifting the sheet (Si) to the sheet trailing edge positioning member (8). 37; 71), the edges of the sheets (Si) carried into the compile tray (C) can be aligned accurately.

(Operation of Second Invention) Further, in the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the second invention of the present application,
The offset sheet bundle (S) is created as described below. Sheet (Si) on compile tray (C)
Once loaded, the sheet side edge positioning member (41)
The sheet 54 is demagnetized and the sheet side edge aligning member
The solenoid (54) of (42) is excited. This state
Then, the belt (46) is driven to rotate and connected to the belt (46).
Seat side edge alignment supporting the tied bracket (51)
The member (42) moves in the seat width direction. The seat side
Compile tray by moving the alignment member (42)
The sheet (Si) carried into (C) is positioned on the side edge of the sheet.
It is brought close to the female member (41) and its edges are aligned. At that time, the sheet side edge aligning member (42) extends in a width direction between a sheet side edge facing the sheet side edge positioning member (41) and a position separated from the sheet side edge positioning member (41) by a predetermined width in the same direction, depending on the sheet size. Move back and forth. During this reciprocating movement, the sheet (Si) carried into the compile tray (C) moves in the width direction toward the sheet side edge positioning member (41), and the opposing side edges thereof are the sheet side edge aligning members ( 42) and is pressed against the sheet side edge positioning member (41). The reciprocating movement of the sheet side edge aligning member (42) is repeated until a predetermined number of sheets (Si) are accommodated in the compile tray (C), and one desired sheet bundle (S) with aligned edges is created. To be done.

Next, the sheet bundle width direction moving device (41-
54) to activate the sheet side edge positioning member (4
1) Solenoid (54) and seat side edge aligning member (4)
Exciting solenoid of 2), seat side edge positioning member
(41) Bracket (51) and seat side edge aligning member
Attach the bracket (51) of (42) to the belt (46).
Link. In this state, the belt (46) is rotationally driven.
By doing so, a sheet bundle on the compile tray (C)
(S) is the sheet side edge positioning member (41) and
In the state of being sandwiched by the sheet side edge aligning member (42),
Sheet side edge positioning member (41) and sheet side edge alignment
The member (42) is simultaneously moved in the width direction of the sheet bundle (S).
It After moving the sheet bundle (S) on the compile tray (C) in the width direction, the sheet bundle discharging means (6, 6).
7, 16 to 31), the operation of discharging to the stack tray (64) and the operation of moving the sheet bundle (S) in the width direction on the side opposite to the previous time and discharging to the stack tray (64) are alternately performed. repeat. Then, when a predetermined number of sheet bundles (S) are discharged to the stack tray (64), these series of operations are completed. In this way, the offset sheet bundle (S) is placed on the stack tray (64) in a state of being displaced by a constant distance in the width direction thereof to distinguish the sheet bundle (S) from each other. You can ( Operation of Third Invention) In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the third invention of the present application,
Carried in the compile tray (C) as follows
The edges of the sheet (Si) are accurately aligned. The compa
On the upper surface of the sheet (Si) carried in the ile tray (C)
Is a sheet rear end positioning member (8) and a sheet side edge
Inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the positioning member (41)
The sheet side edge aligning member (71) arranged obliquely contacts.
I'm touching. The sheet side edge aligning member (71) is rotated.
When moved, the sheet rear end positioning with respect to the sheet (Si)
Direction toward the member (8) and sheet side edge positioning member
A component force acts in the direction toward (41), and the sheet (Si) edge
The sheet rear end positioning member (8) and the side edge of the sheet
It is brought close to the positioning member (41). In this way
Of the sheets (Si) loaded into the compile tray (C)
Positioning of the rear and side edges is performed. Sheet of the second invention
In the processing device (U), the sheet side edge positioning member (71)
The sheet (Si) by the sheet rear end positioning member
Since it is moved to (8), separate the sheet to the rear end position of the sheet.
Sheet trailing edge aligning member (37) to be aligned with the placement member (8)
It is not necessary to provide a seat, a simple structure and low cost seat processing
Edge (side edge and rear edge) of the sheet (Si) in the processing device (U)
The edges can be aligned accurately (the paper alignment can be improved
). In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the third invention,
Stack tray with the stack of sheets (S) offset
When discharged to (64), the sheet width direction of the second invention
Compared with the moving device (41 to 54), the sheet side edge aligning portion
Bracket (51) of material (42) and solenoid (5
4) etc. can be omitted and the sheet processing unit (U)
Further simplification can be achieved, which is advantageous in terms of cost. (Fourth Invention) In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the fourth invention of the present application,
Carried in the compile tray (C) as follows
The edges of the sheet (Si) are accurately aligned. The compa
The sheet (Si) loaded into the ile tray (C) is
Sheet rear end aligning member (3
7; 71), the sheet rear end positioning member
The rear end is positioned by being moved to (8). That
And sheets stored in the compile tray (C)
As the number of (Si) sheets increases, the tray arm
The mechanism arm drive motor (23) is rotationally driven. The above
Plate driven by rotation of arm drive motor (23)
It was supported by the plate (29) with the rotation of (29).
The pressing member (32) moves the upper urging arm (21) downward.
Press on. Downward pressing by the pressing member (32)
Moves the upper biasing arm (21) downward,
The chain that was pulled up by the biasing arm (21)
The connecting member (32) moves downward and the connecting member (32) is connected.
The bound compile tray (C) moves downward. Previous
Sheet (Si) accommodated in the compile tray (C)
Compile tray (C)
Contacts the upper surface of the sheet (Si) as it moves downward.
Sheet rear end aligning member (37; 71) and sheet (S
i) It is possible to prevent the contact pressure with the upper surface from becoming too large.
Wear. As a result, the contact pressure becomes too high.
Damage to the sheet (Si) or uneven sheet (Si)
It can prevent the occurrence of burrs and can align the edges accurately. But
A sheet processing device with good sheet alignment of the sheet bundle (S)
As possible out to provide a location (U). (Fifth Invention) In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the fifth invention of the present application,
Sheet side edge pressing wall of the sheet side edge aligning member (42)
The inner side of (42b) has the compile tray (C).
A plurality of parallel ridges (42d) are formed on the upper surface.
Press the side edge of the sheet (Si) with its side edge curled.
When pressed by the wall (42b), the sheet side edge pressing wall (42
may slide up or ride up along b)
To be prevented. Therefore, the sheet side edge is curled.
Sheets are aligned accurately,
A sheet processing device (U) having a better paper alignment property of (S)
Can be provided. (Sixth Invention) In the sheet processing apparatus (U) of the sixth invention of the present application,
The sheet trailing edge positioning member (8) contacts the sheet trailing edge.
Inside the compile tray (C) from the top of the wall (8a)
Seat rear end guide wall (8
b). Therefore, the seat rear edge positioning part
The trailing edge of the sheet moving toward the material (8) is curled upward
If it is, the seat trailing edge is the seat birth guide wall 8
Since it is guided downward by b, the curl amount is reduced.
While aligning the sheets. As a result, the rear edge of the seat
Accurate sheet alignment is performed on the sheet that has been curled upward.
It Therefore, the sheet alignment of the sheet bundle (S) is further improved.
A favorable sheet processing device (U) can be provided.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. In order to facilitate understanding of the explanation below,
In the drawing, coordinate axes X, Y, and Z that are orthogonal to each other are defined, and the arrow X direction is the front, the arrow Y direction is the left, and the arrow Z direction is the up. In this case, the direction opposite to the X direction (-X
Direction) is backward, Y direction is opposite (-Y direction) to the right, Z
The direction opposite to the direction (-Z direction) is downward. In the following description, the X direction and the -X direction are referred to as the front-back direction or the X-axis direction, the Y direction and the -Y direction are referred to as the left-right direction or the Y-axis direction, and the Z direction and the -Z direction are referred to. Including the above, it will be referred to as the vertical direction or the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, in the figure,
"○" in "○" means the direction from the back of the paper to the front, and "X" in "○" means the direction from the front to the back of the paper. Shall mean.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which a discharge pinch roller is moved to an open position (a position away from the upper surface of a sheet bundle). FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sheet processing apparatus,
It shows a state in which the discharge pinch roller has moved to a pressure contact position (a position where it is in pressure contact with the upper surface of the sheet bundle). FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the compile tray and its rotating mechanism. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the compile tray and the sheet edge aligning member. FIG. 5 is a right side view (viewed from the −Y side) of the compile tray viewed from the arrow V in FIG. 4 except for the rotation shaft of the discharge drive roller and the discharge drive roller. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the pinch roller support arm and its rotation drive mechanism.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet processing apparatus U has a surface connected to the copying machine F (the left side surface in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the sheet processing apparatus) on which the sheet Si discharged from the copying machine F is carried. A carry-in port 1 is provided. A transport roller 2 is arranged at the sheet carry-in port 1. At the end (right end in FIG. 1) of the sheet carrying-in path 3 connected to the carrying roller 2, a carrying-in path terminating roller 4 is arranged. The sheet Si carried in from the sheet carry-in port 1 is carried into the compile tray C from the carry-in path end roller 4. The compile tray C is arranged so as to be inclined so as to rise outward (to the right in FIG. 1). At the right end (-Y side end) of the compile tray C, the rotary shaft 6 and three discharge drive rollers 7 fixed to the rotary shaft 6 are arranged. The rotating shaft 6 is rotatably supported by the frames U1 and U2 (see FIG. 4) in the front and rear of the sheet processing apparatus U via bearings, and the rear side of the frame U2 (-
It is adapted to be rotationally driven by an ejection drive motor (not shown) arranged on the X side). On the right side portion (the -Y side portion) of the compile tray C, a plurality of cutout portions are provided for disposing the discharge driving roller 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, both side portions of the cutout portion are bent downward.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the compile tray C is shown.
Will be described in detail. At the left end (Y side end) of the compile tray C, three sheet rear end positioning members 8 bent upward are formed at intervals in the front-rear direction (X axis direction). A rear end portion (-X side end portion) of the compile tray C is provided with a rear end bent portion 11 which is bent downward, and the right end portion (-Y side end portion) thereof.
Is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 6 of the discharge driving roller 7 via a bearing. Similarly, a front end portion (X side end portion) of the compile tray C is provided with a front end bending portion 12 that is bent downward so as to face the rear end bending portion 11, and the right end portion thereof is a bearing. It is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 6 of the discharge driving roller 7 via the. Therefore, the compile tray C is rotatable around the rotary shaft 6. At the center of the compile tray C in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction), guide grooves 13a, 13b extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) are formed on the end side. Further, a pulley mounting portion 14 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) is provided at the rear end portion (-X side) of the central portion in the left-right direction of the compile tray C.

Next, the rotary shaft 6 of the compile tray C
A rotation mechanism for rotation and an open position (see FIG. 1) separated from the discharge driving roller 7 and a pressure contact position (see FIG. 2) for pressing the discharge driving roller 7 from above via a sheet bundle S described later. The moving mechanism of the discharging pinch roller 16 that can move between the two will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an arm support shaft 17 and an arm drive output shaft 18 arranged above the carry-in path terminating roller 4.
Rotates at the positions shown in FIGS. In FIG. 6, the arm support shaft 17 is rotatably supported by the frames U1 and U2. Two pinch roller support arms 19 are fixed to the arm support shaft 17. The pinch roller support arm 19 is composed of a leaf spring, and the discharge pinch roller 16 is rotatably supported at its tip.

An upper urging arm 21 as an upper urging member is fixed to the front end (X side end) of the arm support shaft 17. The upper biasing arm 21 has a pin 21a protruding rearward (-X direction). The pin 21a
Is always pulled upward by the tension spring 22.
Therefore, the upper biasing arm 21 is connected to the tension spring 22.
Due to the above action, the upward turning force around the arm support shaft 17 is always acting. In FIG. 6, the rotation output of the arm driving motor 23 is transmitted to the arm driving output shaft 18 via the reduction gear box 24. A rotational position detecting disc 26 is mounted on the arm driving output shaft 18. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rotational position detecting disc 26 is provided with a cutout portion 26a on a part of its circumference.

Optical sensors 27 and 28 are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the rotational position detecting disk 26 at positions separated by 180 °. Each of the optical sensors 27 and 28 includes a light emitting element 2
7a, 28a and light receiving elements 27b, 28b. Then, the light emitting elements 27a and 28a and the light receiving element 27
The b and 28b are arranged so as to sandwich the disc 26 from the front and rear (X-axis direction). The optical sensors 27 and 28 are arranged such that when the cutout portions 26a of the rotational position detecting disk 26 face each other,
Each is configured to be turned on. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when the optical sensor 28 is opposed to the cutout portion 26a and is on, the pinch roller support arm 19 is rotated upward, and the compile tray C is also rotated upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the optical sensor 27 faces the cutout portion 26a and is turned on, the pinch roller support arm 19 rotates downward, and the compile tray C also rotates downward.

The rear surface (-X
The side surface) is provided with a plate 29 (see FIG. 3) extending from the center of rotation in the radial direction. Plate 29
6 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 6 and rotates integrally with the rotational position detecting disc 26. A pressing pin (pressing member) 31 projects rearward from the tip of the plate 29. The pressing pin 31 rotates in a circle with the rotation of the plate 29, and is arranged so as to press the upper surface of the upper biasing arm 21 downward when the pressing pin 31 is located at the lower side in FIG. . Therefore, although the upper biasing arm 21 is rotated to the upper position by the tension spring 22 in the state of FIG. 1, the pressing pin 31 is moved to the lower position shown in FIG. 2 as the plate 29 rotates. When it is moved, it is pushed down and rotated downward against the force of the tension spring 22.

The rotation driving of the arm driving motor 23 is controlled by an arm rotation control device (not shown) composed of, for example, a microcomputer. Then, the rotary shaft 6, the discharge drive roller 7 fixed to the rotary shaft 6, a discharge drive motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the rotary shaft 6, a controller (not shown) thereof, and the reference numeral 1.
The sheet bundle discharging means of this embodiment is constituted by the elements 6 to 31 and the arm rotation control device (not shown). The sheet bundle discharging means holds the discharging pinch roller 16 in a pressure contact position (a position shown in FIG. 2 in which the discharging pinch roller 16 is pressed against the discharging drive roller 7 from above), and the discharging drive roller 7 and the discharging pinch roller 16 are connected to each other. With the sheet bundle S sandwiched therebetween, the ejection drive roller 7 is rotationally driven by the ejection drive motor to eject the sheet bundle S to a stack tray (64) described later.

The upper biasing arm 21 and the compile tray C are connected by a connecting member 32. That is, the lower end of the connecting member 32 is rotatably connected to the connecting pin 12a (see FIGS. 4 and 5) protruding forward from the front end bent portion 12 provided at the front end of the compile tray C. There is. In addition, a long hole 32a having a predetermined length extending vertically is formed at the upper end of the connecting member 32.
The pin 21a of the upper biasing arm 21 is engaged with the elongated hole 32a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the downward rotation position of the compile tray C is regulated by a stopper 33 that contacts the lower end of the front end bent portion 12.

As is clear from the above description, since the pressing pin 31 is in the upper position in FIG. 1, the upper biasing arm 21 is held in the raised position by the tension spring 22. At this time, the pin 2 of the upper biasing arm 21
1a engages with the upper end of the long hole 32a of the connecting member 32 to pull the connecting member 32 upward, and the compile tray C is rotated upward. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the bracket 12 has a stopper 3
Away from three. Further, the discharge pinch roller 16 is held in the raised open position. On the other hand, when the pressing pin 31 moves downward and presses the upper surface of the upper urging arm 21, the upper urging arm 21 rotates downward against the force of the tension spring 22, and the pin 21a also moves downward. Moving. At this time, in the connecting member 32 pulled up by the pin 21a, the upper end of the elongated hole 32a is the pin 2
In the state of being engaged with 1a, the compile tray C moves downward due to its own weight. As the connecting member 32 moves downward, the compile tray C also rotates downward.

When the compile tray C further rotates and the lower end of the front end bent portion 12 contacts the stopper 33 (see FIGS. 2 and 5), the compile tray C and the connecting member 32 stop at that position. . When the pressing pin 31 moves further downward in this state, the upper urging arm 21 rotates further downward. At that time, the pin 21a of the upper biasing arm 21 moves away from the upper end of the long hole 32a of the connecting member 32 and moves downward in the long hole 32a. As described above, the tray / arm interlocking mechanism of the present embodiment is provided with the arm support shaft 1
7, pinch roller support arm 19 fixed to this, upper biasing arm 21, pin 21a, tension spring 22, connecting member 32, elongated hole 32a engaging with the pin 21a, front end folding provided in the compile tray C The bent portion 12, a connecting pin 12a for connecting the front end bent portion 12 and the connecting member 32, and the like.

Next, the sheet trailing edge aligning member will be described. 3 to 5, the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 includes a sheet trailing edge contact wall 8a that rises vertically from the upper surface of the compile tray C, and this sheet trailing edge contact wall 8a.
It has a sheet rear end guide wall 8b extending obliquely upward from the upper end toward the inside of the compile tray C. The sheet trailing edge guide wall 8b guides the sheet trailing edge downward when the sheet trailing edge that moves toward the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 for aligning the sheets is curled upward, and the curl amount Has the function of reducing

FIG. 7 is a front view of the sheet trailing edge aligning member as the sheet trailing edge aligning member. FIG. 8 shows an example of a member having a sheet edge alignment function, FIG. 8A is its conical paddle (rotating member for sheet side edge guide), and FIG. 8B is its rotating brush. The trailing edge aligning member support shaft 36 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed slightly above the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 of the compile tray C. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end alignment member support shaft 36 is rotatably supported by a frame U3 and a frame U2 arranged above the compile tray C. The rear end aligning member support shaft 36 is rotatably driven by a rear end aligning drive motor (sheet rear end aligning drive device) (not shown) disposed behind the frame U2.

As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, three sheet rear end aligning members 37, which are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), are fixed. The sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 has four flexible sheet contact members 37a shown in FIG. The sheet contact member 37a has a θ (= 90) in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface.
It extends tangentially at a position shifted by about (°). The value of θ is not limited to 90 °, but 120 °, 72 °, 60
It is possible to adopt values such as °. Further, the sheet contact member 37a can be arranged in a direction extending in the radial direction from the center of rotation.

A conical paddle 38 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is fixed to the front end portion of the rear end aligning member support shaft 36.
The conical paddle 38 is a seat S that moves forward (X direction).
This is a seat side edge guide rotation member that guides one side of i downward, and has a conical rotation surface whose diameter increases toward the front side. That is, the conical paddle 38 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a triangular fin member 38 extending in the radial direction at a position displaced by 60 ° in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface.
Six fins a are provided, and the outer edge of the fin member 38a forms a conical surface during rotation. The conical paddle 38 has a function of directing the upwardly curled portion of the sheet Si downward when the upwardly curled sheet Si is moved in the X direction (front).

A rotary brush 39 having the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is fixed to the rear end portion (-X side end portion) of the rear end aligning member support shaft 36. As shown in FIG. 8B, the rotating brush 39 has a plurality of linear members extending in the radial direction at positions displaced by 60 ° in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface. The rotating brush 39 has a function of pressing down the curl at the end of a large sheet. In the present invention, the conical paddle 38 and the rotating brush 39 can be omitted.

Subsequently, the sheet S on the compile tray C is
A sheet side edge aligning member that aligns both side edges of i will be described. 9 is a view for explaining a connection state of the seat side edge aligning member and the timing belt connecting mechanism, FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along line IXa-IXa of FIG. 4, and FIG. 9B is FIG.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IXb-IXb. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting mechanism between the sheet side edge aligning member (tamper) and the timing belt, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. Figure 11
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of components of the seat side edge aligning member and the connecting mechanism shown in FIG. 10. 9-11,
In order to align both side edges of the sheet Si carried in the compile tray C, the compile tray C has an upper surface shown in FIGS.
Side registration guide 41 as a sheet side edge positioning member and a tamper 42 as a sheet side edge aligning member shown in FIG.
Is opposed to the guide groove 13 in the front-back direction (X-axis direction).
It is movably arranged on a and 13b (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42 may be collectively referred to as a sheet side edge aligning member hereinafter.

The side registration guide 41 is disposed along the upper surface of the compile tray C and has a sheet placing portion 41a whose front end is inclined toward the lower surface and a rear end (X
Seat side edge positioning wall 4 rising vertically from the side edge)
1b and. At the upper end of the seat side edge positioning wall 41b, a laterally long seat side edge locking portion 41c protruding inward is formed. Similarly, the tamper 42 also has a sheet placing portion 42a and a sheet side edge pressing wall 42b that rises vertically from the rear end (-X side end portion). A laterally long sheet side edge locking portion 42c protruding inward is formed at the upper end of the sheet side edge pressing wall 42b. In addition, a large number of ridges 42d parallel to the upper surface of the compile tray C are formed on the inner surface of the sheet side edge pressing wall 42b (the pressing surface that presses the sheet side edge). The seat side edge locking portion 42c and the ridge 42d prevent the seat side edge from riding on the tamper 42 or the curled seat side edge from sliding upward along the pressing surface.

The side registration guide 41 and the tamper 4
2 on the compile tray C by the guide grooves 13a and 13b.
A drive pulley 43, a driven pulley 44, and a timing belt 46 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) are arranged below the compile tray C in order to move the sheet Si in the width direction thereof. As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5, the drive pulley 43 is configured to be rotationally driven in both forward and reverse directions by a belt drive motor 47. The driven pulley 44 is mounted on the pulley mounting portion 14 provided at the rear end of the compile tray C.

9 to 11, the sheet placing portion 4 is shown.
Two guided pins 48, 48 project downward on the lower surfaces of the la and la. The guided pin 48 extends downward through the guide grooves 13a and 13b of the compile tray C. A plastic cylindrical collar 49 is fitted to the guided pin 48. Further, the tip end portion of the guided pin 48 penetrates a through hole 51b formed in the upper wall 51a of the inverted L-shaped bracket 51, and an E clip 52 for preventing slipping out is locked to the tip end thereof. The sheet side edge alignment members 41 and 42 are integrally connected to the brackets 51 and 51. A bracket 51 connected to the sheet side edge alignment members 41, 42,
In order to connect 51 to the timing belt 46, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a protruding portion 53a is formed at the bottom of the connecting plate 53. The protruding amount of the protruding portion 53a is set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the timing belt 46.

The bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53 sandwich the timing belt 46, and the through hole 5 formed under the vertical wall 51c of the bracket 51.
1d and the through hole 53b formed in the protruding portion 53a of the connecting plate 53, the telescopic rod 5 of the solenoid 54
They are connected by inserting 4a. The telescopic rod 54a is adapted to expand and contract by the action of a spring incorporated inside the solenoid 54 in response to the excitation and demagnetization of the solenoid 54, and the solenoid 5 is normally operated.
4 is demagnetized, and the bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53 are
The connection with is released. The enlarged circle portion in FIG. 9 shows a state in which this connection is released.

When the sheet side edge aligning members 41 and 42 are moved, the solenoid 54 is excited and the bracket 5 is moved.
1 and the connecting plate 53 are connected to each other via the timing belt 46, the belt driving motor 47 is rotationally driven to move one or both of the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42 in the forward or backward direction. Can be made. More specifically, the sheet side edge positioning wall 41b of the side registration guide 41 is configured to move between two positions, that is, an end portion of the compile tray C and an offset position that is spaced inward by a predetermined width. The sheet side edge pressing wall 42b of the tamper 42 is initialized and positioned at the end of the compile tray C.
It reciprocates between a position corresponding to the sheet size and a position separated from them by a predetermined width on the rear end side (-X direction) of the compile tray C and at an offset position. Then, when a predetermined number (for example, 2 to 100) of sheets Si are accommodated on the compile tray C, the sheet bundle S having the rear ends and the side edges of the sheets Si aligned is alternately offset in the width direction. Detailed operations of these sheet side edge aligning members 41 and 42 will be described later. The seat width direction moving device of this embodiment is composed of the elements indicated by the reference numerals 41 to 54. At the time of offset, the solenoid 54 is excited and the belt driving motor 47 is driven to move the sheet bundle S in the width direction while being pinched by the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42.

By the way, the stapler (post-processing device) 56 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for binding the bundle S of the sheets Si aligned on the compile tray C. As shown in FIG. 4, the stapler 56 is arranged at the front (X side) and left (Y side) corners of the compile tray C. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a stack tray support frame 57 is provided with a pin 5 below the discharge driving roller 7.
It is rotatably supported by 8. The stack tray support frame 57 is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the sheet processing apparatus U with a screw 59 at a predetermined rotation angle. The stack tray support frame 57 includes pulleys 61, 61 arranged vertically (the lower pulley 61 is not shown).
A belt 62 is hung between them. A slider 63 is fixed to the belt 62. Therefore, the slider 63 moves up and down when the belt 62 is rotationally driven. The slider 63 includes a stack tray 6
4 is rotatably connected around a pin 66, and is fixed by a screw 67 at a predetermined rotation angle.

(Operation of First Embodiment) Next, the operation of the first embodiment having the above-described structure will be described. When the arm rotation control device (not shown) configured by a microcomputer that controls the rotation of the arm driving motor 23 (see FIG. 6) rotates the arm driving output shaft 18 and rotates the plate 29 upward. The pressing pin (pressing member) 31 provided at the tip of the plate 29 moves upward,
The upper biasing arm (upper biasing member) 21 biased upward by 2 is pulled upward by the tension spring 22. At this time, the upper biasing arm 21 moves the arm support shaft 1
The pinch roller support arm 19 fixedly supported by the arm support shaft 17 rotates together with the pin 7 and rotates upward. In this embodiment, as a means for interlocking the pressing pin 31 and the pinch roller support arm 19, first, the pressing pin 31 is used.
The pinch roller support arm 19 is interlocked with the movement of the pressing pin 31. For example, the arm support shaft 17 is rotationally driven, and the arm support shaft 17 is driven.
It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the pinch roller support arm 19 and the pressing member for pressing down the upper biasing arm 21 are interlocked with the rotation of the.

When the upper urging arm 21 rotates upward in conjunction with the pinch roller support arm 19, the pin 21a rises. When the pin 21a moves up by a predetermined distance and engages with the upper end of the elongated hole 32a of the connecting member 32, the connecting member 32 also moves up as the pin 21a moves up. At this time, the compile tray C is pulled upward by the upward urging arm 21 and the connecting member 32, and rotates upward around the rotation shaft 6 of the ejection drive roller 7. FIG. 1 shows the state at this time. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the sheet Si is discharged to the compile tray C. The sheet Si discharged onto the compile tray C first comes into contact with the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 to align the trailing edge of the sheet.

The contact of the sheet Si with the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 is performed by the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 which is supported independently of the compile tray C. The sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 is composed of a rotating member having a plurality of sheet contact members 37a capable of intermittently contacting the sheet Si carried into the compile tray C. While the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 is rotationally driven by the trailing edge aligning drive motor (not shown), the sheet contact member 37a intermittently frictionally contacts the upper surface of the sheet carried into the compile tray C. The sheet Si is brought into contact with the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8. When the sheet rear end moving toward the sheet rear end positioning member 8 is curled upward, the sheet rear end is obliquely upward from the upper end of the sheet rear end contact wall 8a toward the central portion side of the compile tray C. The sheet rear end guide wall 8b extending downward guides the sheet downward, so that the sheets are aligned while the curl amount is reduced.

On the other hand, the tamper 42 in the sheet side edge aligning member is driven by the timing belt 46, the belt driving motor 47 and the like (see FIG. 5), and is kept in a standby position apart from the sheet side edge by a predetermined width according to the size of the sheet Si. Between the position and the sheet alignment position that presses the side edge of the sheet in the width direction (X
Reciprocates in the axial direction). Due to this reciprocal movement, one side of the sheet Si carried into the compile tray C is pressed from the other side and brought into contact with the sheet side edge positioning wall 41b of the side registration guide 41. When the tamper 42 reciprocates,
A solenoid 54 attached below the tamper 42 (hereinafter,
The reference numeral 54t) is energized, the side registration guide 41 is stopped at the front end position, and a solenoid (hereinafter, indicated by reference numeral 54s) attached below the side registration guide 41 is demagnetized.

A large number of ridges 42d are formed on the inner surface of the sheet side edge pressing wall 42b of the tamper 42, and a sheet side edge locking portion 42c is provided at the upper end thereof, so that the curled sheet side edge is formed. When is pressed, it is prevented from sliding upward or riding up along the seat side edge pressing wall 42b. When the side edge of the sheet that is pressed by the tamper 42 and moves toward the side registration guide 41 is curled, the side edge of the sheet is aligned with the rear edge positioning wall 41 of the sheet.
The sheets are guided downward by the sheet side edge guide wall 41c protruding from the upper end of b toward the inside of the compile tray C, so that the sheets are aligned while the curl amount is reduced. When the side edge of the sheet on the side moving toward the stapler (post-processing device) 56 is curled, the curled portion is directed downward by the conical paddle 38. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the side edge of the sheet curled upward comes into contact with the end of the stapler 56 and the stapling operation becomes impossible.

In the trailing edge aligning member support shaft 36 and the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37, which are rotatably driven by the trailing edge aligning drive motor (not shown), the tamper 42 moves the one side of the sheet Si to the side registration guide. When the sheet is moved to the sheet side edge alignment position where it is pressed against 41, the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 rotates so that there is a period in which the sheet contact member 37a does not contact the sheet upper surface. As a method for rotationally driving the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 so that the non-contact period is generated, for example, the following method can be adopted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 of this embodiment has four flexible sheet contact members 37a, so that it does not contact the upper surface of the sheet during one rotation. The period will occur four times. Therefore,
By setting the length of time for the tamper 42 to stop at the sheet side edge alignment position to be equal to or longer than the time required for the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 to make 1/4 rotation, the tamper 42 is set to the sheet side edge. It is possible to generate a period in which the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 does not contact the sheet upper surface while the sheet is stopped at the alignment position. For the sheet Si in which the other side edge of the sheet Si is pressed by the tamper 42 and one side edge of which is in contact with the side registration guide 41, the sheet contact member 37a of the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 is the sheet bundle S.
It can move in the width direction during the period when it does not contact the upper surface.

Sheets S stored in the compile tray C
When the number of i's increases, the upper surface of the sheet newly loaded on the compile tray C rises, and the sheet contact member 3
The contact pressure on the upper surface of the sheet bundle S by 7a increases.
Sheet Si due to this contact pressure becoming too large
In order to prevent damage to the sheet or unevenness of the sheet Si, an arm rotation control device (not shown) that controls the rotation of the arm driving motor 23 rotates the arm driving output shaft 18 to rotate the plate 29. Rotate downwards. Along with the rotation of the plate 29, the pressing pin 31 provided at the tip of the plate 29 moves downward, and the upper urging arm 21 urged upward by the tension spring 22 is moved to the tension spring 2.
Press down against the force of 2. At this time, the upper urging arm 21 rotates downward together with the arm support shaft 17, and the pinch roller support arm 19 fixedly supported by the arm support shaft 17 rotates downward.

The downward rotation amount of the upper biasing arm 21, that is, the rotation amount of the arm driving motor 23 is
It can be determined according to the number of sheets Si accommodated in the compile tray C. The downward rotation amount can also be controlled by detecting the distance from the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 to the upper surface of the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C. An ultrasonic distance sensor can be used as the sensor for detecting the distance.

As described above, the compile tray C is pulled upward by the tension spring 22, the upper urging arm 21, the connecting member 32, etc., and is moved upward about the rotary shaft 6 of the ejection drive roller 7. Since it has rotated, it rotates downward according to the amount of downward movement of the upper biasing arm 21. That is, when the pinch roller support arm 19 is rotated downward by the arm driving motor 23, the compile tray C is rotated downward by the tray / arm interlocking mechanism. By the downward rotation of the compile tray C, the distance between the upper surface of the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C and the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 is increased, and an appropriate distance is maintained. That is, when the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 rotates in a state in which the appropriate distance is maintained, a period occurs in which the sheet contact member 37a intermittently contacts the upper surface of the sheet bundle S and does not contact the upper surface of the sheet. .

When the sheet Si is newly discharged onto the upper surface of the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C and the thickness thereof further increases, the arm driving motor 23 is driven again. Then, when the pressing pin 31 moves downward, the connecting member 32 lifted by the pin 21a of the upper biasing arm 21 descends, so that the compile tray C moves downward similarly to the above. When the lower end of the front end bent portion 12 provided on the compile tray C contacts the stopper 33, the compile tray C and the connecting member 32 do not move downward any further. In this case, when the pressing pin 31 moves further downward, the pressing pin 31
Is separated from the upper end of the long hole 32a of the connecting member 32, and the long hole 32a
Move downward while engaging with. In this case, press pin 3
Even if 1 descends, the connecting member 32 and the compile tray C
Is held stationary by the stopper 33. In this way, the front end bent portion 12 of the compile tray C is
Until the sheet abuts on the stopper 33, the sheet Si can be carried into the compile tray C and the sheets can be aligned without any problem while always maintaining an appropriate distance between the upper surface of the sheet bundle S and the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37. .

In the sheet processing apparatus U of the present invention, after a predetermined number of sheets Si are accommodated in the compile tray C and the edges thereof are aligned, post-processing work such as stapling or offset is performed. The bundle S is discharged to the stack tray. For example, when performing stapling, the arm driving motor 23 is rotationally driven to move the pinch roller support arm 19 and the pressing pin 31 to the position shown in FIG.
Lower to the position shown in. That is, the pinch roller support arm 19 is rotated by the arm rotation control device of the sheet bundle discharging means to move the discharge pinch roller 16 from the open position shown in FIG. 1 to the pressure contact position shown in FIG. The sheet bundle S on the ejection driving roller 7 is pressed against the ejection pinch roller 16 from above. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the stapler (post-processing device)
56 performs stapling on a sheet bundle S composed of a plurality of sheets Si aligned on the compile tray C. After that, while the pinch roller 16 presses the sheet bundle S at the position shown in FIG. 2, the discharging drive roller 7 of the sheet bundle discharging means is rotated to rotate the sheet bundle S.
Are discharged to the stack tray 64.

Next, in the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention,
12 to 18 for offsetting the sheet bundle
Will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the sheet side edge aligning member is initialized. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for forming a sheet bundle while aligning the side edges of the sheets by the reciprocating movement of the tamper. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for fixing the sheet bundle. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for discharging the sheet bundle. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for offsetting the sheet bundle.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for discharging the sheet bundle from a position different from that in FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for moving the sheet side edge aligning member (tamper) from the sheet bundle discharging position shown in FIG. 17 to create a sheet bundle at the same position as in FIG. Further, in FIGS. 12 to 18, ◯ in the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42 indicates that the solenoid 54 is demagnetized, and ● indicates that the solenoid 54 is excited.

1) Initialization of the sheet side edge aligning member When the power of the sheet processing apparatus U is turned on, the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42 are positioned at both ends of the compile tray C as shown in FIG. Both members 4
Initialization is performed to set the positions P1 and P2 (withdrawal positions) where 1 and 42 are maximally separated from each other. That is, the solenoid 54s is excited, the timing belt 46 is sandwiched between the bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53, the belt driving motor 47 is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the side registration guide 41 is rotated.
Is moved backward for a predetermined distance. Then, the side registration guide 41 is moved forward by a predetermined distance by the rotation of the motor 47. When the position sensor (not shown) detects that the side registration guide 41 has reached the position P1, the solenoid 54s is demagnetized. At this time, the side cash register guide 4
1 stops at the position P1. Next, similarly, the tamper 42 is stopped at the position P2. This initialization operation is also performed at the start of sheet processing or at the end of a series of processing operations.

2) Creation of a sheet bundle A sheet rear end aligning member (8, 37 to 39) and a sheet side edge aligning member (41, 42) and, if necessary, one or both of a conical paddle and a rotating brush 39, The sheet bundle S is created on the compile tray C while aligning the edges of the sheets Si, as described above. When the sheet Si is conveyed from the copying machine F to the sheet processing apparatus U, information such as the conveyance of the sheet Si and the size of the sheet Si is transmitted from the copying machine F to the control unit of the sheet processing apparatus U. Based on the transmitted information, the tamper 42 moves from the initialized position P2 to the position P3 (standby position corresponding to the sheet size) inside the compile tray C (X direction) shown in FIG. On the other hand, since the solenoid 54s of the side registration guide 41 is demagnetized, even if the timing belt 46 moves counterclockwise, the side registration guide 41 is held at the initialized position P1. Next, with the solenoid 54t of the tamper 42 still energized, each time the sheet Si is loaded on the compile tray C, the belt driving motor 47 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions in synchronization with this. By driving the motor 47, the sheet side edge pressing wall 42b of the tamper 42 reciprocates between the position P3 and a position P4 (the sheet alignment position) shown in FIG. The one side edge of the sheet Si is pressed to bring the other side edge into contact with the sheet side edge positioning wall 41b of the side registration guide 41. This operation is repeated until a predetermined number of sheets Si are stored on the compile tray C. For example, one sheet bundle S having the same number as the original copied by the copying machine F is one.
Part created.

3) When the fixed sheet bundle S of the sheet bundle is prepared, as shown in FIG.
With the tamper 42 pressing one side edge of the sheet bundle S, the driving of the motor 47 is stopped to temporarily stop the tamper 42 at the position P4. In this way, the sheet bundle S is sandwiched between the side registration guide 41 at the position P1 and the tamper 42 at the position P4 so that the sheet bundle S is not misaligned. During the fixing operation of the sheet bundle S and the subsequent discharging operation of the sheet bundle S, the rear end aligning member support shaft 36 is provided.
Is stopped so that the sheet trailing edge shifting member 37 does not adversely affect the sheets Si on the upper surface of the sheet bundle S.

4) Discharging of the sheet bundle When the fixing of the sheet bundle S is completed, the motor 47 is normally rotated to separate the tamper 42 from the one side edge of the sheet bundle S to the position P3 as shown in FIG. After that, the solenoid 54t is demagnetized. Next, as described above, the arm driving motor 23 is rotationally driven to lower the pinch roller support arm 19 and the pressing pin 31 to the position shown in FIG. 2, and the sheet bundle S is discharged from above by the discharge pinch roller 16. Pressure contact. Then, the discharging drive motor (not shown) rotates the discharging drive roller 7 to discharge the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C to the stack tray 64. When the solenoid 54t is demagnetized, the timing belt 46 held between the bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53 is released from the connection with the tamper 42 and the force for holding the sheet Si is reduced. To the stop position P4 without separating it to the position P3.
The sheet bundle S can be discharged while being held at.

5) Preparation and fixing of sheet bundle After the sheet bundle S of 4) above is discharged, the sheets 2) and 3) above are newly fed to the sheet Si that is newly carried into the compile tray C.
Similarly, the sheet bundle S is created and fixed (see FIG. 1).
3, 14). 6) Offset of sheet bundle As shown in FIG. 16, the solenoid 54 of the tamper 42
The solenoid 54s of the side registration guide 41 is also excited at the same time with t being excited. Next, the sheet bundle width direction moving devices (41 to 54) are operated, the motor 47 is normally rotated in a state where the sheet bundle S is sandwiched between the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42, and the side registration guide 41 is moved. The tamper 42 is moved from position P1 to position P5 again at position P4.
To position P3. In the present embodiment, the offset width is changed from the position P4 to the standby position P3 for convenience.
Is set to a distance (equal to the distance between the position P1 and the position P5), but the offset width can be set arbitrarily, for example, can be set to a range of 0.5 to 5 times the distance. it can.

7) Discharging the sheet bundle After offsetting the sheet bundle S, the side registration guide 4
The solenoid 54s of No. 1 is demagnetized. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the motor 47 is normally rotated to separate the tamper 42 from the one side edge of the sheet bundle S to the position P6,
The solenoid 54t is demagnetized. As in the case of the discharge of 4), the solenoid 54t can be demagnetized while the tamper 42 is held at the position P3. After that, as in the case of the above 4), the discharge driving roller 7 is rotated to discharge the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C to the stack tray 64.

After the sheet bundle S of 7) is discharged, as shown in FIG. 18, the solenoids 54s and 54t are excited and the motor 47 is reversely rotated to move the side registration guide 41 from the position P5 to the position P1. The tamper 42 is moved from the position P6 to the position P3. afterwards,
While repeating a series of operations from 2) the production of the sheet bundle to 7) the ejection of the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle S is alternately offset and ejected to the stack tray 64. After the desired number of sheet bundles S have been discharged, as shown in FIG. 19, the sheet bundles S are placed on the stack tray 64 in a clearly distinguished state. After completion of the series of operations, the sheet side edge aligning members 41 and 42 are initialized and returned to the above 1). If the required number of sheets of the sheet bundle S is input to the copying machine F or the sheet processing apparatus U in advance, the series of operations are automatically performed by the microcomputer control.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, the same groove as the guide groove 13a is provided in parallel on the compile tray C, and the opposing timing belts 46 below the side registration guide 41 are arranged.
The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the connecting mechanism (48 to 54) is added to the second embodiment, but the other elements are configured similarly to the first embodiment. Of the added elements, only the solenoid 54s is shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the sheet processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, and the constituent elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

The operation of the sheet processing apparatus U of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the initialization operation of the sheet side edge aligning member. 1) Initialization of the sheet side edge alignment member When the power of the sheet processing apparatus U is turned on or when a series of sheet processing operations is started or ended, the side registration guide 4
1, the tamper 42 is located at both ends of the compile tray C, and the position P where both the members 41 and 42 are maximally separated from each other.
1. Initialize to set P2 (retracted position). That is, the solenoid 54s on the right side in FIG. 20 of the side registration guide 41 is demagnetized, and the solenoid 54s on the left side and the solenoid 54t of the tamper 42 are excited, so that the timing belt 46 at the position indicated by the ● mark in FIG. It is sandwiched between the bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53 shown in FIGS. Next, the side registration guide 4
1. The belt driving motor 47 is rotated by a predetermined amount in a direction in which the tamper 42 approaches each other. Subsequently, the motor 47 rotates in the opposite direction, so that the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 4 are rotated.
2 are moved in the directions away from each other. When the position sensors (not shown) detect that the sheet side edge aligning members 41, 42 have reached the positions P1, P2, the solenoids 54s and 54t on the left side in FIG. 20 are demagnetized. As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the sheet side edge aligning members 41 and 42 are initialized, the solenoid 54s on the left side in FIG. 20 of the side registration guide 41 and the renoid 54t of the tamper 42 are excited to drive the motor 4.
It is only necessary to rotate 7 in both forward and reverse directions. 2) to 7) Same as the first embodiment except that the left solenoid 54s of the side registration guide 41 such as offset of the sheet bundle is always demagnetized.

(Embodiment 3) FIGS. 21 to 23 are explanatory views of Embodiment 3 of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the sheet edge aligning operation, and FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram when the sheet edge is aligned by receiving the rotational force of the sheet edge aligning member. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the offset operation by the sheet width direction moving device different from that of the first embodiment.
The same reference numerals are given to the constituent elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the following elements are different from the first embodiment, but the other elements are configured in the same manner as the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, of the sheet edge aligning member, instead of eliminating the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37 and the tamper 42, a scuffer roll 71 formed of a cylindrical elastic member is provided at the left front end portion of the compile tray C. It is located in the upper corner (see FIG. 21). This scuffer roll 7
1 is inclined with respect to the seat rear end contact wall 8a and the seat side edge positioning wall 41b at a predetermined angle (about 55 ° with respect to the former in this embodiment),
The sheet comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet loaded on the compile tray C.

Further, by disposing the scuffer roll 71 at the upper corner of the compile tray C, in addition to the sheet trailing edge aligning member 37, the trailing edge aligning member support shaft 36 and the supporting shaft 36 in the first embodiment. The conical paddle 38 and the rotating brush 39 fixed to the base plate have been removed. At the same time, since the tamper 42 is not necessary, the tamper moving guide groove 13b is formed, and the tamper 42 and the timing belt 46 are
The connection mechanism with is also unnecessary. Further, instead of the solenoid 54 that attracts the connecting plate 53 to the bracket 51 for electromagnetically connecting the side registration guide (sheet side edge positioning member) 41 and the timing belt 46,
Through hole 51d of bracket 51 and connecting plate 53
The timing belt 46 is connected to the bracket 51 and the connecting plate 53 by inserting a screw into the through hole 53b. As described above, the sheet edge aligning member of this embodiment includes the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 and the scuffer roll 71.
And side registration guide 41. Further, the sheet width direction moving device excludes the tamper 42 (41 to 41).
54).

(Operation of Embodiment 3) As described above, the scuffer roll 71 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the seat rear end contact wall 8a and the seat side edge positioning wall 41b. Therefore, when the scuffer roll 71 is rotated by a driving device (not shown), as shown in FIG.
The component forces fa and fb act on the rotational force f. Therefore, when the sheet Si is carried onto the compile tray C, the sheet end portion is brought into contact with the sheet trailing edge positioning member 8 and the side registration guide 41 by the rotational force f of the scuffer roll 71 that contacts the upper surface of the sheet Si. Let

Next, the case where the sheet bundle is offset will be described. When a predetermined number of sheets Si are stored on the compile tray C, and the rear end and one side edge of the sheet bundle S are brought into contact with the sheet rear end contact wall 8a and the sheet side edge positioning wall 41b, respectively, and are aligned without irregularity, The rotation of the scuffer roll 71 is stopped, and one copy of the sheet bundle S is created. Then, as described above, the sheet bundle S is pressed against the upper side by the discharge pinch roller 16 lowered to the position shown in FIG. 2, and the discharge drive roller 7 is rotated to discharge the sheet bundle S to the stack tray 64. Subsequently, one sheet bundle S composed of a predetermined number of sheets Si is created, and then the motor 47 is normally rotated to operate the sheet bundle width direction moving devices (41, 43 to 54). That is, as shown in FIG. 23, the side registration guide 41 which is initialized and is located at the position P20 at the front end of the compile tray C is moved to the position P21 on the inner side (-X direction) of the compile tray C, and the sheet bundle S is moved. Offset. Then, the offset sheet bundle S is discharged to the stack tray 64 by the sheet bundle discharging means (6, 7, 16 to 31).

As described above, while repeating the operation of ejecting the sheet bundle S on the compile tray C without offsetting and the operation of ejecting the sheet bundle S by offsetting, a desired number of sheet bundles S are alternately offset and stacked on the stack tray. When discharged to 64, each sheet bundle S is placed on the stack tray 64 in a clearly distinguished state, as shown in FIG. According to the present embodiment, it suffices to provide only one relatively expensive connecting mechanism (48 to 54), and the sheet edge aligning members (8, 41, 7).
1) is simplified and is advantageous in cost. On the other hand, in the sheet processing apparatus U of the first and second embodiments, the side edge of the sheet Si is aligned by the side registration guide 41 and the tamper 42, or the sheet bundle S is sandwiched and offset. There is no risk of the dust falling apart, and there is the advantage that it is ejected neatly on the stack tray.

(Modifications) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, and the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It is possible to make various changes within the range. A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated below. (H01) In each embodiment, it is possible not to provide the post-processing device. (H02) The positioning of the sheet on one side in each embodiment is performed at the front end portion (position P1) of the compile tray C or at the center portion (position P5) as much as the offset width from the front end portion. When the positioning is performed, it is possible to perform the positioning on the center side of the compile tray C from these positions within a range in which the shifting member can reciprocate. (H03) In Embodiments 1 and 2, in order to simplify the program of the control device, 2) after creating a sheet bundle and 3) fixing the sheet bundle, 4) discharging the sheet bundle, and 5) creating a sheet bundle. It is also possible to immediately perform 6) the offset of the sheet bundle alternately without fixing the above.

[0064]

The sheet processing apparatus of the present invention has the following effects. (E01) It is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus in which the sheet alignment of the sheet bundle is extremely good. (E02) By offsetting the sheet bundle on the conventionally mounted compile tray, the components of the offset mechanism can be simplified, and the cost required for the offset mechanism can be suppressed as much as possible. (E03) Since the sheet bundle is accurately offset on the compile tray for each copy and then placed on the fixed stack tray, the sheet bundle does not deviate from a predetermined position. Therefore, after the offset, the sheet bundles are regularly deposited on the stack tray without dislodging, and even when a large number of sheet bundles are created, the finish of the entire sheet bundle looks good and the sheets fall from the stack tray. There is no fear of doing it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a discharge pinch roller has moved to an open position.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which a discharge pinch roller has moved to a pressure contact position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a compile tray and its rotating mechanism in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a compile tray and a sheet side edge alignment member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the compile tray in the first embodiment as seen from the arrow V in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a pinch roller support arm and a rotation drive mechanism thereof in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a sheet trailing edge shifting member according to the first embodiment.

8A and 8B show a sheet side edge guide rotation member that functions as a sheet edge alignment member in the first embodiment, and FIG.
Also indicates a rotating brush.

9 is a view for explaining a connection state of the seat side edge alignment member and the timing belt connecting mechanism in the first embodiment, and FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along line IXa-IXa of FIG.
9B is a sectional view taken along line IXb-IXb of FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view showing the seat side edge aligning member and the timing belt connecting mechanism in the first embodiment, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 9B.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the seat side edge aligning member shown in FIG. 10 and constituent members of the connecting mechanism.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the sheet side edge alignment member according to the first embodiment is initialized.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of forming a sheet bundle while aligning the side edges of the sheets by the reciprocating movement of the tamper in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of fixing a sheet bundle in the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of discharging a sheet bundle in the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for offsetting a sheet bundle in the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of discharging the sheet bundle from a position different from that of FIG. 15 in the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of creating a sheet bundle at the same position as in FIG. 13 by moving the sheet side edge aligning member from the sheet bundle discharging position shown in FIG. 17 in the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a stack tray in which a sheet bundle is offset and discharged.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the initialization operation of the sheet side edge aligning member according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of sheet edge aligning operation by the sheet edge aligning member according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram when the sheet edge is aligned by receiving the rotational force of the sheet edge alignment member in the third embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of an offset operation by the sheet width direction moving device in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

C ... Compile tray, Si ... Sheet, S ... Sheet bundle,
U ... Sheet processing device, 6 ... Rotation shaft, 7 ... Ejection drive roller, 8 ... Sheet rear end positioning member, 16 ... Ejection pinch roller, 19 ... Pinch roller support arm, 21 ... Upward urging member (upward urging member) Arms), 22 ... tension springs, 31 ... pressing member (pressing pin), 32 ... connecting member, 37 ... sheet rear edge aligning member, 41 ... sheet side edge positioning member (side registration guide), 42 ... sheet side edge aligning member (Tampa), 4
6 ... Timing belt, 47 ... Belt drive motor, 5
1 ... Inverted L-shaped bracket, 53 ... Connection plate, 54
... solenoid, 54a ... engaging pin, 56 ... post-processing device (stapler), 64 ... stack tray, 71 ... scuffer roll.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A compile tray for accommodating a plurality of sheets, a sheet side edge positioning member for positioning the sheet carried in the compile tray in the width direction, and a sheet side for moving the sheet to the sheet side edge positioning member. A sheet processing apparatus including an edge aligning member and a sheet bundle discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets whose ends are aligned on the compile tray to a stack tray, and has the following requirements. (Y01) A rotary drive disposed below the compile tray.
The moving belt and the seat that can move in the width direction of the seat.
Front side edge positioning member
In the state of being supported by the bracket and being excited,
The state where the bracket and the belt are connected and demagnetized
Release the connection between the bracket and the belt at
That has a solenoid, the sheet bundle width direction moving device for moving the sheet bundle on the compile tray in the width direction. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with: (Y02) the sheet side edge portion movable in a width direction of the sheet.
A bracket fixedly supported by the supporting member, and the bracket
Supported by the bracket and in the excited state
With the belts connected and demagnetized,
Solenoid for releasing the connection between the bracket and the belt
And a sheet bundle is sandwiched by the sheet side edge positioning member and the sheet side edge aligning member movable in the width direction of the sheet, the sheet side edge positioning member and the sheet side edge aligning member simultaneously in the width direction. the move to the sheet
Bundle width direction moving device. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the following constituent features: (Y011) a sheet carried into the compile tray.
A sheet trailing edge positioning member for positioning the trailing edge, (Y012) the sheet trailing edge positioning member and a sheet side edge
Inclination to the positioning member at a specified angle
The sheet side edge aligning member placed on the sheet,
Contact with the upper surface of the sheet loaded in the ile tray
Said sheet sheet rear end positioning member and the sheet side
The sheet side edge aligning member that is brought closer to the edge positioning member. 4. A compile tray that accommodates a plurality of sheets, a sheet side edge positioning member that positions the sheet carried in the compile tray in the width direction, and a sheet side that brings the sheet closer to the sheet side edge positioning member. A sheet processing apparatus including an edge aligning member and a sheet bundle discharging unit configured to discharge a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets whose ends are aligned on the compile tray to a stack tray, and has the following requirements. A sheet processing apparatus, characterized in that (Y011)
A sheet trailing edge positioning member for positioning the trailing edge, (Y013) the sheet trailing edge position by contacting the upper surface of the sheet
Sheet trailing edge shifting member lapping on select member, coupling member coupled to the compile tray (Y014)
And an upper biasing arm that pulls the connecting member upward.
And halfway from the center of rotation of the arm drive motor
Pressing member supported on the tip of the plate extending in the radial direction
The arm drive motor is driven by the motor.
The upper biasing arm moves downward as the rate rotates and moves downward.
And a pressing member that presses the tray downward.
Mechanism interlocking mechanism (Y015) of the sheets accommodated in the compile tray.
Depending on the number of sheets, the arm drive motor is driven to
The tray ar moving the compile tray downward
Interlocking mechanism. 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus has the following constituent features: (Y016) The sheet processing apparatus is disposed along an upper surface of the compile tray.
Vertically from the rear end of the sheet stacking part
Seat side edge pressing wall that stands up to the
Pressing the side edge of the sheet that has been loaded into a.
The top of the compile tray formed on the inner surface of the wall is flat.
The sheet side edge aligning member having a plurality of convex ridges. 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by comprising the following constituents: (Y017) Standing vertically from the upper surface of the compile tray.
The seat rear end contact wall and the seat rear end contact wall upper end
And extend diagonally upward toward the inside of the compile tray.
Sheet rear end position having a sheet rear end guide wall
Determining member.