JP3882364B2 - Sheet post-processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, sheets discharged after image formation from an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile are sequentially taken into a sheet post-processing apparatus, and post-processing such as binding (stapling) and folding is performed on the sheet. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus having a function of performing and discharging to a paper discharge unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A sheet post-processing device called a finisher is used as a device that collates a plurality of image-recorded recording sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus for each number of copies and binds them by a stapler.
[0003]
This finisher is connected to a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and is driven in response to a sequence operation of a copy or print process.
[0004]
Therefore, for an image forming apparatus capable of processing an image forming process at high speed, a finisher capable of high speed processing capable of performing a function following the processing speed is required.
[0005]
With regard to such a finisher, JP-A-60-142359, JP-A-60-158463, JP-A-62-239169, JP-A-62-228802, JP-A-63-267667, JP-A-2-276661, It is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 8-319054 and 5-41991.
[0006]
A bookbinding apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-183459 includes a cover sheet supply device, and performs bookbinding finishing operations such as punching or stapling after the copy paper group and the cover sheet are overlapped.
[0007]
JP-A-6-72064, JP-A-7-187479, and JP-A-8-192951 are sheet post-processing apparatuses having a saddle stitching processing function.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
(1) In the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus, the width aligning unit that aligns the sheet width direction in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction is disposed only on the upstream side of the staple unit in the sheet conveying direction. There is no problem when the end binding process is performed because the width aligning unit is in the vicinity of the upstream side of the stapling unit. However, when performing the saddle stitching process, the leading end of the sheet bundle is arranged farther downstream than the width aligning unit. The positioning is performed by the positioning stopper. In the vicinity of the positioning stopper, there is no restriction in the sheet width direction, and the width direction of the sheet bundle becomes uneven. When the saddle stitching process and the center folding process are performed on the uneven sheet bundle, the appearance quality of the finished booklet is deteriorated.
[0009]
(2) The positioning means (sheet size stopper) for aligning the leading ends in the sheet conveying direction is formed relatively small, but the width aligning means (side guide) for regulating the sheet width in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction is In order to prevent the skew of the sheet, it is necessary to have a large area in the conveying direction and a complicated driving means. If this width aligning means is arranged on the upper side of the sheet conveyance surface, the gap above the sheet placement portion is small, and when a sheet conveyance failure (jam) occurs in the vicinity of the sheet placement portion, it is difficult to visually recognize and take out the conveyance failure paper. It is.
[0010]
(3) In the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus, a sheet placing table, a stapling unit, a sheet width aligning unit, a sheet leading end positioning unit, and the like for executing the edge binding process and the saddle stitching process are provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus main body. It was installed directly. For this reason, when a sheet conveyance failure, a component failure, a staple failure, or the like occurs in the sheet post-processing apparatus, or when replenishing or maintaining a staple, etc., operation, adjustment, etc. are performed in the sheet post-processing apparatus. The workability was poor.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems in edge-stitching and saddle-stitching, and provides a sheet post-processing apparatus having the following means.
[0012]
(1) A sheet path that enables both an end binding process for binding one end of a sheet and a saddle stitching process for binding a central portion in the sheet conveyance direction, and allows the sheet to pass during the saddle stitching process. In the sheet post-processing apparatus having the staple unit divided and configured, the sheet width direction in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction is aligned with the upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the staple unit.Having driving means to driveArrangement of upstream width alignment means and downstream width alignment meansAnd
During the edge binding process, the upstream side width matching means is driven,
At the time of the saddle stitching process, the upstream width aligning means and the downstream width aligning means are driven, and the downstream width aligning means is driven later than the upstream width aligning means.Sheet post-processing equipment characterized byPlace.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus A including a sheet post-processing device (finisher) FS and an automatic document feeder DF.
[0017]
The illustrated image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit 1, an image processing unit 2, an image writing unit 3, an image forming unit 4, a cassette paper feeding unit 5, a large capacity paper feeding unit (LCT) 6, a fixing device 7, and a paper discharge. A unit 8 and an automatic duplex copy feeding unit (ADU) 9 are provided.
[0018]
An automatic document feeder DF is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus A. A sheet post-processing device (finisher) FS is connected to the left side of the image forming apparatus A shown in the drawing on the paper discharge unit 8 side.
[0019]
The document d placed on the document table of the automatic document feeder DF is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and an image on one or both sides of the document is read by the optical system of the image reading unit (scanning exposure device) 1, and a CCD image sensor. 1A is read.
[0020]
The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor 1 </ b> A is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing unit 2, and then sent to the image writing unit 3.
[0021]
In the image writing unit 3, output light from the semiconductor laser is applied to the photosensitive drum of the image forming unit 4 to form a latent image. In the image forming unit 4, processing such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning is performed, and an image is recorded on the recording sheet (recording paper) S conveyed from the cassette sheet feeding unit 5 or the large capacity sheet feeding unit 6. Is transcribed. The recording paper S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7 and sent from the paper discharge unit 8 to the sheet post-processing device FS. Alternatively, the recording sheet S that has undergone single-sided image processing sent to the automatic double-sided copy paper feeding unit 9 by the conveyance path switching plate 8A is again processed by the image forming unit 4 from the paper discharge unit 8 to the sheet post-processing device FS. It is sent.
[0022]
The sheet post-processing apparatus FS includes a fixed paper discharge tray 10, a cover sheet feeding unit (cover sheet feeding unit) 40, a shift processing conveyance unit (large-capacity sheet conveyance unit) 20, and an intermediate loading unit from the top in the figure. 30, the stapling means 50 and the folding means 60 are arranged in tandem in a substantially vertical direction.
[0023]
An entrance conveyance unit 70 is disposed on the upper right side of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS. Further, on the left side of the sheet post-processing device FS in the figure, there are a movable paper discharge tray 81 for stacking sheets that have undergone end binding and shift processing, and a fixed paper discharge tray 82 for stacking sheets that have undergone saddle stitching and folding processing. Has been placed.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet conveyance path of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an upper mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS.
[0025]
The sheet post-processing device FS is installed with its position and height adjusted so that the receiving portion 71 of the recording paper S carried out from the image forming device A matches the paper discharge portion 8 of the image forming device A.
[0026]
The conveyance path of the recording sheet S connected downstream of the sheet conveyance of the inlet roller pair 72 of the receiving section 71 is the upper first conveyance path (1), the middle second conveyance path (2), and the lower third conveyance path. Branching into three systems {circle around (3)}, the recording paper S is fed to one of the transport paths by selecting the angle occupied by the switching gates G1 and G2.
[0027]
(1) First transport path {circle around (1)} (non-staple, non-sort mode, discharged to the fixed discharge tray 10 at the top of the apparatus)
The image-formed recording sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus A is introduced into the receiving portion 71, conveyed by the inlet roller pair 72, and passes through the right passage 73 of the upper first switching gate G1. Then, it is nipped and conveyed by the upper conveying roller pair 74 (drive roller 74A, driven roller 74B) and conveying roller pair 75, and is further nipped by the discharge roller pair 76 to be fixedly discharged at the upper part outside the apparatus. It is discharged onto the tray 10 and stacked sequentially.
[0028]
In this sheet conveyance process, the switching gate G1 is swung by the drive of the solenoid SD1 to close the passage 77 and open the passage 73 to allow the recording paper S to pass through the fixed paper discharge tray 10.
[0029]
The fixed paper discharge tray 10 can accommodate a maximum of about 200 recording sheets S and can be easily taken out from the upper part of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS.
[0030]
(2) Second transport path {circle around (2)} (offset mode or non-sort mode, discharged to the movable discharge tray 81)
When this transport mode is set, the switching gate G1 closes the passage 73 and keeps the passage 77 open while the solenoid SD1 is off, allowing the recording paper S to pass through the passage 77.
[0031]
The image-formed recording sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus A passes through the receiving portion 71 and the entrance roller pair 72, passes through the passage 77 formed in an open state below the switching gate G1, and is conveyed. Passed by the pair of rollers 78, passes through the passage 21 above the second switching gate G2 that is obliquely below the second transport path (2), is sandwiched by the pair of transport rollers 22, and passes through the passage 23 to be transported. The sheet is sandwiched between a roller pair (shift roller pair) 24, passes through a passage 25, and is discharged and placed on a movable discharge tray 81 outside the apparatus by a discharge roller pair 26 (upper roller 26 </ b> A and lower roller 26 </ b> B). Reference numeral 27 denotes a swinging means for swinging the upper roller 26A so as to be able to press and separate from the lower roller 26B.
[0032]
The movable sheet discharge tray 81 can accommodate up to about 3000 sheets (A4, B5) of recording sheets S.
[0033]
(3) Third conveyance path {circle around (3)} (edge binding mode, paper discharged to the movable paper discharge tray 81)
The image-formed recording sheet S that has been subjected to image formation processing in the image forming apparatus A and sent to the receiving section 71 of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS is a path below the inlet roller pair 72 and the first switching gate G1. Passing through 77, sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 78 and transported to the third transport path (3).
[0034]
When the large recording paper S larger than A4 and B5 size is transported in the third transport path (3), the solenoid SD2 is driven, and the recording paper S passes through the passage 31A below the switching gate G2. The paper is sandwiched and transported by the downstream transport roller pair 32. The recording paper S is further sandwiched and fed out by a pair of downstream conveying rollers 34 (drive roller 34A, driven roller 34B), and is discharged into an upper space of the intermediate stacker 35 that is inclined, and the intermediate stacker 35 or the intermediate stacker 35 is discharged. After touching the upper surface of the recording paper S stacked thereon and sliding up, the trailing end of the recording paper S in the advancing direction is discharged from the conveying roller pair 34. The end of the recording sheet S is slid down on the inclined surface of the intermediate stacker 35 and the sheet abutting surface of a movable stopper member (hereinafter referred to as an end binding stopper) 51 near the stapling means (binding means) 50. Stops in contact.
[0035]
In the third transport path (3), in order to improve the copy productivity by transporting a small-sized recording paper S such as A4, B5 size, etc. continuously and efficiently, the passage 31A below the switching gate G2 is provided. Parallel passage 31B and switching gate G3 were provided.
[0036]
When the solenoid SD2 for the switching gate G2 and the solenoid SD3 for the switching gate G3 are driven together, the leading ends of the switching gates G2 and G3 both swing counterclockwise as shown in the figure, and the passages 21 and 31A are closed. Open the passage 31B. . The leading end portion of the first recording sheet S sent out from the conveyance roller pair 78 passes through the passage 31B and comes into contact with the circumferential surface of the conveyance roller pair 34 in the rotation stopped state to stop.
[0037]
Next, the energization of the solenoid SD3 is turned off, the tip of the switching gate G3 is swung clockwise, the passage 31B is closed, and the passage 31A is opened. The leading edge of the second recording sheet S sent out from the conveying roller pair 78 passes through the passage 31A and comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the conveying roller pair 34 in the rotation stopped state to stop.
[0038]
At a predetermined timing, the conveying roller pair 34 is driven and rotated, and the two recording sheets S are nipped and simultaneously conveyed, and discharged onto the intermediate stacker 35. The third and subsequent sheets are discharged one by one.
[0039]
Reference numeral 36 denotes a pair of width aligning means movably provided on both side surfaces of the intermediate stacker 35. The width aligning means 36 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper transport direction. When the recording paper S is received on the intermediate stacker 35, the width aligning means 36 is opened wider than the recording paper width and slides down on the intermediate stacker 35. Thus, when stopping by contacting the edge binding stopper 51, the side edges of the recording paper S in the width direction are tapped to perform width alignment (width alignment) of the recording paper bundle. When a predetermined number of recording sheets S are stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker 35 at this stop position, the stapling means 50 performs a binding process, and the recording sheet bundle is bound.
[0040]
A cutout portion is formed in a part of the recording paper stacking surface of the intermediate stacker 35, and a plurality of discharge belts 38 wound around a drive pulley 37A and a driven pulley 37B are driven to be rotatable. A discharge claw 38 a is integrally formed on a part of the discharge belt 38, and the tip of the discharge belt 38 draws an elliptical locus as shown by a one-dot chain line in the drawing. The stapled recording paper bundle is held on the rear end portion of the recording paper S by the discharge claw 38a of the discharge belt 38, is placed on the discharge belt 38, and slides obliquely on the placement surface of the intermediate stacker 35. It is pushed upward and proceeds to the nip position of the discharge roller pair 26. The bundle of recording papers sandwiched between the rotating discharge roller pair 26 is discharged and stacked on the movable discharge tray 81.
[0041]
(4) Fourth transport path (4) (cover paper feed mode)
The cover sheet feeding means 40 is composed of a cover sheet placing portion comprising a sheet feeding tray 41, a movable bottom plate 42, and a push-up lever 43, and a cover sheet feeding means comprising a pickup roller 44, a feed roller 45, a separating roller 46, and the like. Yes.
[0042]
One cover sheet (cover sheet) K fed from the cover sheet feeding means 40 passes through the passage 47, passes through the nip position between the driving roller 74 </ b> A and the driven roller 74 </ b> C of the conveyance roller pair 74, and passes through the passage 79. Then, after passing through the transport roller pair 78, it reaches the intermediate stacker 35 through the transport roller pair 32, the passage 33, and the transport roller pair 34 in the third path (3).
[0043]
The conveying roller pair 74 includes a central driving roller 74A and two driven rollers 74B and 74C that are in pressure contact with the driving roller 74A. When the driving roller 74A is driven to rotate counterclockwise, the driven roller 74B rotates to the right and conveys the recording sheet S conveyed from the passage 73 upward. At the same time, the driven roller 74 </ b> C also rotates to the right to convey the cover sheet K conveyed from the passage 47 to the lower passage 79. Accordingly, it is possible to simultaneously convey the recording sheet S in the first conveyance path {circle around (1)} and the cover sheet K in the fourth conveyance path {circle around (4)} by the driving rotation of the drive roller 74A.
[0044]
(5) Fifth transport path <5> (saddle stitching mode)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the staple processing unit and the two-fold processing unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS.
[0045]
A stapling unit 50, an end binding stopper 51, and a saddle stitching movable stopper member (hereinafter referred to as a saddle stitching stopper) 53 are formed in the binding unit U and are guided by guide rails R1 and R2 to be a sheet post-processing device FS. It can be pulled out to the front side.
[0046]
The stapling means 50 is configured in a two-part structure of an upper mechanism and a lower mechanism, and a passage 52 through which the recording paper S can pass is formed in the middle.
[0047]
When the saddle stitching mode is set, the end stitching stopper 51 in the vicinity of the staple processing position of the stapling means 50 is retracted from the transport path, and at the same time, the saddle stitching stopper 53 downstream thereof is activated to block the passage 52.
[0048]
The saddle stitching stopper 53 moves to a predetermined position and stops when the size of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S (length in the transport direction) is set or detected.
[0049]
After the cover sheet K is placed at a predetermined position on the intermediate stacker 35, the recording sheet S carried out from the image forming apparatus A passes through the third conveyance path (3) from the inlet conveyance section 70 of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS. Then, the sheets are sequentially stacked on the upper surface of the cover sheet K placed on the intermediate stacker 35, and the end portion of the recording sheet S abuts against the saddle stitching stopper 53 and is positioned. Reference numeral 56 denotes a downstream side width aligning unit that regulates the width direction of the recording sheet during saddle stitching processing. Like the upstream side width aligning member 36, each time a recording sheet is loaded, the width direction of the recording sheet is changed. Width alignment is performed by hitting the side edge.
[0050]
The upstream side width aligning unit 36 and the downstream side width aligning unit 56 selectively perform width aligning driving according to the setting of the end binding process or the saddle stitching process. That is, only the upstream width aligning means 36 is driven during the end binding process, and the downstream width aligning means 56 is not driven. Thereby, noise reduction and power saving are achieved.
[0051]
During the saddle stitching process, the upstream side width matching unit 36 and the downstream side width matching unit 56 are driven. During the saddle stitching process, the downstream side width aligning unit 56 is driven later than the upstream side width aligning unit 36. This avoids duplication of peak power when the drive system is started.
[0052]
In addition, during the saddle stitching process, the upstream side width aligning unit 36 first performs width alignment on the recording sheet S that slides down on the intermediate stacker 35 and proceeds upstream of the stapling unit 50, and then aligns the sheet. Further, the recording sheet S that has passed through the stapling means 50 and proceeds toward the saddle stitching stopper 53 is subjected to width alignment by the downstream width alignment means 56 to align the sheets. In this way, the recording sheet S and the cover sheet K that travel on the intermediate stacker 35 and extend over the upstream side and the downstream side with the stapling means 50 as the center are connected to the width alignment means 36 on the upstream side. By the downstream side width aligning means 56, the width is accurately aligned over the entire length of the sheet.
[0053]
After the final recording sheet S is positioned and placed on the intermediate stacker 35, the sheet binding composed of the cover sheet K and all the pages of the recording sheet S is subjected to the saddle stitching process by the stapling means 50. As a result of the saddle stitching process, the staple needle SP is driven into the central portion in the transport direction of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S. The staple needle SP is driven from the lower mechanism 50B having the staple needle driving drive side toward the upper mechanism 50A having the staple needle clinching side.
[0054]
(6) Sixth transport path {circle around (6)} (bi-fold processing mode)
After the saddle stitching process, the saddle stitch stopper 53 swings to open the passage downstream of the passage 52. The sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S subjected to the saddle stitching process is conveyed by being guided by the guide plate 63 on the conveyance belt 62 obliquely below through the curved path 61 and further on the guide plate 64. As a result of the conveyance, the end portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle comes into contact with a folding portion movable stopper member (hereinafter referred to as a folding portion stopper) 65 and stops at a predetermined position. The folding portion stopper 65 can be moved to a predetermined position by setting the sheet size or the detection result and the driving means.
[0055]
A protruding unit 66 is installed at the center in the conveyance direction of the stopped sheet bundle, that is, obliquely below the saddle stitching position. A folding roller pair 67 and a two-fold sheet conveying means 68 are installed obliquely above the saddle stitching position.
[0056]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the folding means 60 including the ejection unit 66, the folding roller pair 67, the folded sheet conveying means 68, and the like.
[0057]
The movable holding member 662 moves straight along the guide bar 663 fixedly arranged in response to the folding start signal, and the protruding plate 661 fixed to the movable holding member 662 protrudes upward from the sheet placement surface. The protruding plate 661 has a thin knife shape, and its tip portion forms an acute angle.
[0058]
The leading end of the protruding plate 661 that protrudes straightly upward in the figure pushes up the central portion of the sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S, and pushes the nip portion of the folding roller pair 67 through the sheet bundle. Swing and separate.
[0059]
After the leading end of the protruding plate 661 passes through the nip portion, the protruding plate 661 moves backward, and the central portion of the sheet bundle is pinched by the folding roller pair 67 to form a fold. This fold line substantially coincides with the staple needle driving position on the sheet bundle by the saddle stitching process.
[0060]
One pressing means 67A of the pair of folding rollers 67 supports a first pressing roller 671A that is driven by being connected to a driving source, and the first pressing roller 671A so as to be rotatable, with the support shaft 673A as a center. Connected to the drive source and driven by a foldable arm 672A and a front folding portion that is locked to one end of the arm 672A and biases the first pressing roller 671A toward the nip position, and a drive source The second pressing roller 676A, and the first folding roller 671A, a pulley 675A coaxial with the second pressing roller 676A, and a folding portion at the rear stage composed of a conveyor belt 677A wound around the second pressing roller 676A. Has been.
[0061]
The other pressing means 67B has the same configuration and includes a first pressing roller 671B, an arm 672B, a support shaft 673B, a spring 674B, a pulley 675B, a second pressing roller 676B, and a conveying belt 677B. The second pressing rollers 676A and 676B are supported to be swingable by an arm, a support shaft, and a spring (not shown) similar to the first pressing rollers 671A and 671B.
[0062]
The central portion of the sheet bundle formed with a fold by being pressed by the rotating first pressure rollers 671A and 671B is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance belts 677A and 677B, and the nip position between the second pressure rollers 676A and 676B. In this position, the crease is further tightened and fed into the folded sheet conveying means 68.
[0063]
The double-folded sheet conveying unit 68 includes a lower conveying belt 681 and an upper conveying belt 682 that convey the sheet bundle while sandwiching the sheet bundle. The lower conveyor belt 681 is stretched between the driving roller 683 and the driven roller 685 and is rotatable. The upper conveying belt 682 is stretched between the driving roller 684 and the driven roller 686 and is rotatable.
[0064]
The sheet bundle fed into the folded sheet conveying means 68 is nipped between the lower conveying belt 681 and the upper conveying belt 682 and conveyed, and is discharged onto a fixed paper discharge tray 82 outside the apparatus.
[0065]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the conveyance path of the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S, the saddle stitching and folding process of the sheet bundle, and FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the booklet that has been subjected to the saddle stitching and folding process. FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a state in which the post-processed booklet is double-opened.
[0066]
On the sheet feeding tray 41 of the cover sheet feeding means 40, the cover sheet K is placed with the first side (first page p1 and eighth page p8) facing upward. The cover sheet K fed from the sheet feeding tray 41 by the sheet feeding means is transported through the fourth transport path (4) and the third transport path (3), and on the intermediate stacker 35, the first surface. Mounted with (p1, p8) on the bottom.
[0067]
Next, the image-formed recording sheet S carried out from the image forming apparatus A is introduced into the sheet post-processing apparatus FS with the first side (the third page p3 and the sixth page p6) facing down. The recording sheet S is transported from the entrance transport unit 70 to the third transport path (3), and is placed on the cover sheet K placed on the intermediate stacker 35 with the first surface facing down.
[0068]
The cover sheet K and the recording sheet S are aligned on the intermediate stacker 35, and the staple needle SP is driven by the stapling means 50 to perform saddle stitching.
[0069]
The sheet bundle subjected to the saddle stitching process passes through the fifth conveyance path (5), is placed at a predetermined position on the guide plate 64 and the conveyance belt 62, and stops. At this time, the sheet bundle is placed with the recording paper S on the first side (p3, p6) on the upper side and the cover sheet K on the recording paper S on the first side (p1, p8) on the upper side.
[0070]
Next, the folding operation is performed by the push-up operation of the ejection unit 66 and the driving rotation of the folding roller pair 67, and then the folding unit 66 is sandwiched and conveyed by the folded sheet conveying means 68, and is fixed outside the machine. 82 is discharged.
[0071]
The booklet created by the saddle stitching process and the half-folding process has the first side (p1, p8) of the cover K facing outward, the second side (p2, p7) on the back side, and the contents inside the booklet. The first side (p3, p6) of the recording paper S and the second side (p4, p5) of the recording paper S are arranged on the inside thereof, and the page alignment of the booklet consisting of 8 pages (p1 to p8) as shown in the figure. it can.
[0072]
When the booklet creation auto mode is selected and set in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus A, the cover K is loaded on the paper feed tray 41, and printing is started, the image process is performed by the control unit of the image forming apparatus A. The recording paper S that has been executed and carries the image is subjected to saddle stitching processing and bi-folding processing by the sheet post-processing device FS, and a booklet is continuously generated and discharged.
[0073]
In the operation section of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, the booklet creation manual mode is selected and set, the cover sheet K and the recording sheet S on which one image has been formed are stacked on the sheet feeding tray 41, and the feeding operation is started. Then, the control unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS performs the saddle stitching process and the half-folding process on the cover sheet K and the recording paper S by the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, and a booklet for one book is created and discharged. .
[0074]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the staple processing unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the staple processing unit in FIG.
[0075]
The staple processing unit includes a staple unit 50 that is divided into an upper mechanism 50A and a lower mechanism 50B, and a drive unit that drives an end binding stopper 51 and a saddle stitch stopper 53.
[0076]
Two sets of stapling means 50 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by a driving means (not shown). By this stapling means 50, the staple needle SP is hit at two centrally distributed positions in the sheet width direction or at one corner corresponding to the sheet size.
[0077]
The end binding stopper 51 is supported by the upper mechanism 50A of the stapling means 50 and moves integrally in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.
[0078]
One end portion of the end binding stopper 51 is a sheet front end abutting surface 51A in the sheet conveying direction, and the other end portion is fitted to a support shaft 501 supported by the upper mechanism 50A of the stapling means 50 and swings. Supported as possible.
[0079]
A torsion spring 502 is wound around the support shaft 501, and the sheet leading end abutting surface 51A side of the end binding stopper 51 is spring-biased toward the passage 52, and is stopped at the sheet stop position during the end binding process.
[0080]
A support plate 503 fixed to the frame of the binding unit U is disposed at an intermediate position between the two sets of stapling means 50. A release lever 54 is swingably supported on a support shaft 504 supported on one end of the support plate 503.
[0081]
A pressing shaft body 552 of a saddle stitching stopper unit 55 described later comes into contact with one lever portion 54A of the release lever 54 so as to be able to contact and separate. The other lever portion 54B of the release lever 54 presses the base portion of the sheet leading end abutting surface 51A of the end binding stopper 51 to lower it to a predetermined stop position.
[0082]
The torsion spring 505 wound around the support shaft 504 urges and swings the release lever 54 and stops it at the upper retracted stop position.
[0083]
Two guide bars 506 supported at both ends by the support plate 503 fixed above the passage 52 move the saddle stitch stopper unit 55 linearly.
[0084]
The frame body 551 of the saddle stitching stopper unit 55 includes a bearing portion that slides on the two guide bars 506 and a detection portion 556 that projects from one end of the frame body 551.
[0085]
A pressing shaft body 552 is fixed in the vicinity of one end portion of the frame body 551, and a support shaft 553 is fixed to the other end portion. The saddle stitching stopper 53 is fitted to the support shaft 553 and swings. A torsion spring 531 is wound around the support shaft 553 to urge the saddle stitch stopper 53 in a direction to retract upward from the passage 52.
[0086]
A lower end portion of the saddle stitching stopper 53 is a stopper surface portion 53A that contacts the leading end portion of the sheet and performs positioning of the sheet bundle during the saddle stitching process. The upper end portion of the saddle stitching stopper 53 is a cam follower surface portion that comes into contact with a cam surface of an eccentric cam 555 described later. The torsion spring 531 wound around the support shaft 553 presses and urges the saddle stitch stopper 53 against the cam surface of the eccentric cam 555.
[0087]
10A is a plan view showing a drive system of the saddle stitching stopper unit 55, and FIG. 10B is a front view of the drive system of the saddle stitching stopper unit 55. As shown in FIG.
[0088]
The gear G1 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor M1 fixed to the frame body 551 meshes with the gear G2 fixed to one end of the cam shaft 554 that is rotatably supported by the frame body 551. An eccentric cam 555 and a home position detector 556 are integrally formed and fixed to the other end of the cam shaft 554.
[0089]
The home position detection unit 556 has a shape in which a notch is provided in a part of the hollow cylindrical surface, and corrects the home position of the saddle stitching stopper 53 by detecting the notch by the photosensor PS3.
[0090]
A timing belt 557 is locked to a side surface of the frame body 551 by a locking member (not shown). A timing pulley 558 around which the timing belt 557 is wound is rotated from a motor M2 as a drive source via a drive transmission system such as a gear train.
[0091]
FIGS. 11A and 11B are front views showing an interlocking mechanism between the end stitching stopper 51 and the saddle stitching stopper 53.
[0092]
FIG. 11A is a front view showing the saddle stitching process. During the saddle stitching process, the saddle stitch stopper unit 55 is moved to a predetermined position in the sheet conveyance direction corresponding to the sheet size and stopped by a driving mechanism including the driving source (not shown), the timing pulley 558, the timing belt 557, and the like. .
[0093]
At this stop position, the saddle stitch stopper 53 is driven by the motor M1 and swings, and is held in the illustrated stop state, thereby enabling the leading edge of the sheet to be aligned. After the saddle stitching process, the saddle stitch stopper 53 is swung by the reverse drive of the motor M1 and retracts to the illustrated wavy line position.
[0094]
In the saddle stitching processing stop position, the end binding stopper 51 is urged by the torsion spring 502 and urged counterclockwise around the support shaft 501. By the release lever 54 biased by the torsion spring 505 having a biasing force stronger than the biasing force, the other lever portion 54B presses the locking portion 51B to swing the end binding stopper 51 to a predetermined retracted position. Stop. Note that the release lever 54 is urged by the torsion spring 505 and is swung clockwise around the support shaft 504 so as to come into pressure contact with the locking portion 51B of the end binding stopper 51.
[0095]
FIG. 11B shows the end binding process. During the end binding process, the saddle stitch stopper unit 55 moves along the guide bar 506 by the drive mechanism and stops. That is, when the home position detection unit 556 of the moving saddle stitch stopper unit 55 approaches the detection position of the photosensor PS2, the pressing shaft body 552 comes into contact with one lever portion 54A of the release lever 54.
[0096]
When the saddle stitching stopper unit 55 overcomes the torque of the torsion spring 505 and further advances and continues to push and swing the lever portion 54A, the other lever portion 54B also swings in the same manner, and the end binding stopper 51 Press down on the top edge. By this depressing operation, the end binding stopper 51 located at the upper retracted position is swung in the illustrated counterclockwise direction around the support shaft 501, and the sheet front end abutting surface 51 </ b> A is a sheet alignment for a predetermined end binding process. Stop in position. The saddle stitching stopper unit 55 stops when the home position detection unit 556 reaches the photosensor PS2. At this time, the setting of the end binding stopper 51 is completed.
[0097]
Since the torque of the torsion spring 505 of the release lever 54 is set to be larger than the torque of the torsion spring 502 of the end binding stopper 51, the torsion spring 505 of the release lever 54 overcomes the urging force of the torsion spring 502 and ends. The binding stopper 51 is lifted to the upper retracted position.
[0098]
As described above, by selecting the sheet stop for the saddle stitching process and the sheet stop for the end stitching process according to the moving direction of the saddle stitching stopper unit 55, the driving mechanism becomes simple and reliable.
[0099]
FIG. 11C is a plan view showing an end binding process in which staple needles SP are hit at two centrally distributed locations in the vicinity of the end surface of the recording paper S. FIG.
[0100]
FIG. 11D is a plan view showing an end binding process in which the staple needle SP is hit at one place in the vicinity of the corner portion of the recording paper S. FIG.
[0101]
FIG. 11E is a plan view showing a saddle stitching process in which staple needles SP are hit at two centrally distributed locations along the fold line of the recording paper S. FIG.
[0102]
12 is a front view of the binding unit U, and FIG. 13 is a plan view of the binding unit U.
[0103]
The binding unit U includes at least one set of stapling means 50 composed of an upper mechanism and a lower mechanism that are separated vertically through a passage 52 that allows the recording paper S and the cover K to pass through during saddle stitching, and a sheet. An upstream side width aligning unit 36 and a downstream side width aligning unit 56 that align the sheet width direction in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and an end binding stopper 51 and a saddle stitch stopper 53 that regulate the sheet end in the sheet transport direction. The sheet end portion positioning unit and the intermediate stacker 35 on which the sheet bundle to be subjected to the end binding process and the saddle stitching process are placed are configured in a unit.
[0104]
The binding unit U can be pulled out from the sheet post-processing apparatus main body in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. That is, the sheet is guided by the guide rails R1 and R2 and can be pulled out to the front side of the sheet post-processing apparatus FS. In the sheet post-processing apparatus FS, when a sheet conveyance failure, a component failure, a staple failure, or the like occurs, or when staple staple replenishment or maintenance is performed, the binding unit U is brought into this pulled-out state. Since it can work easily, safety and workability are improved.
[0105]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, a driving unit for the edge-binding stopper 51 that restricts the sheet edge in the sheet conveyance direction during the edge-binding process and a saddle-stitching stopper 53 that regulates the sheet edge in the sheet-conveying direction during the saddle-binding process. The driving means is disposed on the upper side of the sheet conveying surface.
[0106]
A drive transmission unit including a motor M5 and a timing belt 361 for driving the upstream side width aligning unit 36 that regulates the sheet width in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction is disposed below the sheet conveyance surface.
[0107]
In addition, a drive transmission unit including a motor M6 for driving the downstream side width matching unit 56, a timing belt 561, and the like is also arranged below the sheet conveying surface.
[0108]
By disposing the drive unit of these width alignment members below the sheet conveyance surface, the space above the sheet placement unit is widely opened, and sheet conveyance failure (jam) occurs in the vicinity of the sheet placement unit. At this time, it becomes easy to visually recognize and take out the poorly transported paper, and the safety and workability are improved.
[0109]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus connected to the copying machine is shown. However, the sheet post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile or a light printing machine is also applicable. Is possible.
[0110]
【The invention's effect】
According to claims 1 to 4 of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, by providing the downstream width aligning means in addition to the upstream width aligning means, the unevenness in the width direction of the sheet bundle on the sheet placing portion is eliminated. In addition, when the saddle stitching process and the center folding process are performed on the sheet bundle with improved sheet alignment, the appearance quality of the finished booklet is improved.
[0111]
According to the fifth to sixth aspects, by disposing the drive unit of the upstream side width aligning unit and the drive unit of the downstream side width aligning unit below the sheet conveying surface, the space above the sheet placing unit is widely opened. When a sheet conveyance failure (jam) occurs in the vicinity of the sheet placement portion, it becomes easy to visually recognize and take out the conveyance failure paper, and safety and workability are improved.
[0112]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the stapling unit, the width aligning unit, the sheet end positioning unit, and the sheet placing unit are unitized to form a binding unit and can be pulled out from the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus. Work easily by pulling out the binding unit when sheet conveyance failure, component failure, staple failure, etc. occur in the apparatus, or when staples are replenished or maintained. Can improve safety and workability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing apparatus and an automatic document feeder.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet conveyance path of a sheet post-processing apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper mechanism of a sheet post-processing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a lower mechanism of a sheet post-processing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a protrusion unit, a pair of folding rollers, and a folded sheet conveying unit.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cover sheet and recording sheet conveyance path, and a sheet bundle saddle stitching and folding process.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are a perspective view of a booklet that has been subjected to post-processing of saddle stitching and bi-folding, and a perspective view illustrating a state in which the post-processed booklet is double-opened.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a staple processing unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus.
9 is a plan view of the staple processing unit in FIG.
10A and 10B are a plan view and a front view showing a drive system of the saddle stitching stopper unit.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing an interlocking mechanism between an end binding stopper and a saddle stitch stopper, and a plan view showing a staple processing position and a stopper position of a sheet.
FIG. 12 is a front view of the binding unit.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the binding unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Fixed paper tray
20 Shift processing transport section (large capacity discharge transport path)
30 Intermediate mounting means
35 Intermediate stacker
36 Width matching means (Upstream width matching means)
40 Cover sheet feeding means (cover sheet feeding means)
50 Staple means (binding means)
51 Movable stopper member for end binding (end binding stopper)
53 Movable stopper member for saddle stitching (saddle stitching stopper)
54 Release lever
55 Saddle Stitch Stopper Unit
56 Width alignment member (downstream width alignment means)
60 folding means
70 Inlet transport section (transport means)
81 Movable output tray
82 Fixed output tray (output tray)
90 Control means
FS sheet post-processing equipment (finisher)
K cover (cover sheet)
M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6 Motor (Stepping motor)
PS1 Sheet passing sensor
PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5 Photo sensor
R1, R2 guide rail
S Recording sheet (recording paper)
U binding unit

Claims (1)

Splitting is performed via a sheet path that allows both end-stitching processing for binding one end of the sheet and saddle-stitching processing for binding the center in the sheet conveyance direction, and allows the sheet to pass during the saddle-stitching processing. In the sheet post-processing apparatus having the configured stapling means,
An upstream side width aligning unit and a downstream side width aligning unit having a driving unit that drives the stapling unit to align the sheet width direction in the direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction on each of the upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet transport direction. Place and
During the edge binding process, the upstream side width matching means is driven,
In the saddle stitching process, the upstream side width aligning unit and the downstream side width aligning unit are driven, and the downstream side width aligning unit is driven later than the upstream side width aligning unit. Sheet post-processing device.

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