JP3918823B2 - Image forming apparatus and post-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, performs a binding process or a punching process on the image-formed sheet, and a post-processing apparatus incorporated in the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a post-processing technique in a multifunction machine having a function.

  Along with the widespread use of the multifunction peripheral, a plurality of trays are prepared as discharge destinations of the paper on which the image is formed, and a mail bin that discharges by selecting a discharge tray for each client or dividing a client into a plurality of sections. 2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus including a so-called paper discharge device has been developed (see Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, a plurality of mail bins and stackers are provided, and the paper discharged from the paper discharge port is transferred to each bin or stacker by a switching operation of a guide member (flapper) provided in each bin and stacker. Paper processing apparatus for discharging processed paper to each bin or stacker by moving a processing station having a paper processing apparatus for discharging the paper and a binding station along a mail bin and a stacker arranged above and below Is described.
JP 2000-7208 A

  In one of the documents described in Patent Document 1, the paper discharge destination is switched by the switching operation of the guide member. However, in such a paper discharge mechanism, the paper discharge is not performed smoothly, and a failure such as a paper jam occurs. There is a problem that it is easy to do.

  In particular, when a bundle of sheets bundled by the binding process is discharged, it is difficult to guide the sheet as compared with a case where a single sheet is discharged. For example, dozens of sheets are bound. In the case of paper discharge, smooth discharge becomes difficult if the paper discharge mechanism becomes complicated, such as a switching mechanism interposed.

  In addition, in the other one described in Patent Document 1, since the processing station is a mechanism that moves up and down, the space for the processing station becomes large, the apparatus becomes large, and processing units other than the binding processing There is a problem that it is difficult to incorporate.

  In consideration of the fact that the binding process is frequently used in image formation, the present invention is capable of smoothly discharging a bundle of sheets that have been subjected to the binding process, and is equipped with a mail bin equipment that can be downsized. It is an object to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the post-processing apparatus.

The object is achieved by the following invention.
1. An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
A binding processing device that binds a plurality of sheets on which images are formed in the image forming unit into a sheet bundle;
A mail bin apparatus having a plurality of mail bins for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
At least one paper discharge tray for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
A discharge outlet for discharging the plurality of mail bins or the discharge tray in common;
Mail bin driving means for driving the mail bin device and moving the mail bin to a sheet receiving position and a retracted position for receiving a bundle of sheets discharged from the discharge port;
A paper discharge tray driving means for driving the paper discharge tray to move the paper discharge tray to a retreat position and a position for receiving a bundle of paper discharged from the discharge port;
Control means for controlling the mail bin driving means and the paper discharge tray driving means so as to set any one of the plurality of mail bins or the paper discharge tray to the paper receiving position for each job. ,
Paper that is not subjected to post-processing including at least binding processing, and a sub-tray that discharges paper remaining in the apparatus when a jam occurs,
An image forming apparatus comprising:
2. The control unit sets the discharge tray to the paper receiving position in a copy job, and sets one of the mail bins to the paper receiving position in a print job. The image forming apparatus described.
3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a paper discharge path through which paper is conveyed toward the sub-tray; and a sub-tray discharge port for discharging paper from the paper discharge path to the sub-tray. apparatus.
4). Wherein one of the mail bin is positioned at a position corresponding to the discharge port for the sub-tray, the image forming apparatus according to one of the mail bin to said 3, characterized in that used as said sub-tray.
5. A binding processing device that binds a plurality of sheets on which images are formed into a sheet bundle;
A mail bin apparatus having a plurality of mail bins for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
At least one paper discharge tray for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
A discharge outlet for discharging the plurality of mail bins or the discharge tray in common;
Mail bin driving means for driving the mail bin device and moving the mail bin to a sheet receiving position and a retracted position for receiving a bundle of sheets discharged from the discharge port;
A paper discharge tray driving means for driving the paper discharge tray to move the paper discharge tray to a retreat position and a position for receiving a bundle of paper discharged from the discharge port;
Based on the transmitted post-processing command, the mail bin driving means and the mail bin driving means and the paper bin drive unit and the paper discharge tray are moved and set to the paper receiving position for each job. Post-processing device control means for controlling the discharge tray driving means;
Paper that is not subjected to post-processing including at least binding processing, and a sub-tray that discharges paper remaining in the apparatus when a jam occurs,
A post-processing apparatus comprising:

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus are realized in which a bundle of bound sheets is smoothly discharged to a discharge tray or a mail bin, and discharge failure such as paper jam is extremely small. The

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the mail bin corresponds to each external device that issues an image formation command, documents of a plurality of clients are not mixedly loaded in one tray, and document handling efficiency is improved. User services for each mail bin are possible, such as a mail bin full warning for each client.

  According to the third or fourth aspect of the invention, since the sub-tray that discharges paper without post-processing is provided, the first copy time in a small number of copies, etc. is shortened, and the efficiency of the small number copies is improved. The remaining paper can be quickly discharged, the efficiency of the image forming operation as a whole is improved, and an easy-to-use image forming apparatus is realized.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising an image forming unit A, an image reading apparatus B, and a post-processing apparatus C, and FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the post-processing apparatus which concerns on the form.

  The image forming unit A includes a rotating photosensitive drum 1, a charging device 2, an image exposure device (writing device) 3, a developing device 4, a transfer device 5A, a separating device 5B, and a cleaning device 6. After the charging device 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, exposure scanning based on image data read from the document is performed by the laser beam of the image exposure device 3 to form a latent image, and the latent image is formed. Is reversely developed by the developing device 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

  On the other hand, the paper P fed from the paper storage unit 7A is sent to the transfer position. The toner image is transferred onto the paper P by the transfer device 5A at the transfer position. Thereafter, the sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 by the separation device 5B, conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 7B, continuously heated and fixed by the fixing device 8, and sent from the paper discharge unit 7C to the post-processing device C.

  In the face-up discharge mode with the image side up, the paper P moves straight and is sent to the post-processing apparatus C. In the face-down mode with the image side turned up, the paper P is moved downward by the switching guide member 7D. After being transported, it is switched back and raised, and sent from the paper discharge unit 7C to the post-processing apparatus C.

  When image formation is performed on both sides of the paper P, the paper P that has been heat-fixed by the fixing device 8 is branched from the normal paper discharge path by the switching guide member 7D, and is switched back in the reverse conveyance section 7E. After the reversal, the paper passes through the transfer position again, forms an image on the back surface of the paper P, and is discharged from the paper discharge unit 7C to the outside through the fixing device 8. The paper P discharged from the paper discharge unit 7C is sent to the introduction port of the post-processing apparatus C.

  On the other hand, the developer remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after image processing is removed by the cleaning device 6.

  On the upper part of the image forming unit A, an image reading device B provided with an automatic document feeder of a document moving type reading system is installed.

  D is an interface for generating image data by communicating with an external device such as a personal computer that issues a print command. The image exposure device 3 is a document written by image data obtained by reading by the image reading device B as described above. Or writing based on image data from the interface D.

  The post-processing device C performs punching processing at a predetermined position on the paper P, a punching device 10 that performs punching processing at a predetermined position on the paper P, a shift processing device 11 that changes the position in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and paper binding at a predetermined position on the paper P. A paper discharge port or paper discharge path H3 formed by the paper discharge rollers 14A and 14B after passing the processing devices 10 to 12 by the transport roller R and the switching guides 18 and 19 is provided. The paper is then discharged.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes an intermediate stacker. In the intermediate stacker 13, the number of sheets P set in each image forming job is accumulated, aligned, and bound by the binding processing device 12.

  The paper discharge roller 14A is composed of a pair of rollers 14A1 and 14A2 connected by a belt, and the roller 14A2 can move up and down as shown in FIG. 2 and moves up and down depending on the thickness of the paper passing therethrough. The paper discharge roller 14B is a driving roller and discharges the paper conveyed from the shift device 11 or the intermediate stacker 13.

  The lifting support frame 15B and the paper discharge tray 16 are supported by the fixed support frame 15A.

  The elevating support frame 15B is provided with four mail bins 17A to 17D to constitute a mail bin apparatus. As described above, the elevating support frame 15B and the paper discharge tray 16 move up and down, and the paper discharge tray 16 and the mail bins 17A to 17D are discharged from the paper discharge port provided with the paper discharge rollers 14A and 14B, respectively. It is possible to set the position to receive the paper P to be received.

  In addition, as a mail bin apparatus, what each mail bin can move independently can also be used.

  That is, in FIG. 1, the mail bin 17B is set at the paper receiving position, but in FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray 16 is set at the paper receiving position.

  A plurality of paper discharge trays 16 can be provided.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lowermost mail bin 17D is used as a sub-tray. The paper P is discharged to the sub-tray 17D through the paper discharge path H3.

  The paper P is discharged to the sub-tray 17D when the paper is discharged without post-processing such as shift processing and binding processing in the copy mode. In the case of no post-processing and the case of punching processing, the paper is discharged to the sub-tray 17D. Even when there is no post-processing, when a large amount of copying is performed, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 16.

  When a jam occurs and the apparatus stops, even if the jam is released, paper remains in the apparatus in many cases. However, such residual paper passes through the shift device 11 and the intermediate stacker 13. Instead, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge path H3 to the sub-tray, so that the recovery process is quickly performed when a jam occurs.

  Mail bins 17A to 17D are used as sub-trays when a jam occurs.

  A jam occurs in various states of the apparatus. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when a jam occurs when the mail bin 17A is at a paper receiving position from the paper discharge port from the paper discharge path H3, In this state, the apparatus is stopped, and the paper remaining in the image forming apparatus is discharged to the mail bin 17A as a sub-tray, and the mail bin 17D is discharged from the discharge path H3 as shown in FIG. When jamming occurs when the paper from the mouth is in the receiving position and the paper stops, the residual paper is discharged to the mail bin 17D as a sub-tray.

  As described above, when the jam stops, the mail bin corresponding to the paper discharge port from the paper discharge path H3 is used as the sub-tray.

  In order to arbitrarily select any of the mail bins 17A to 17D and use it as a sub-tray, for example, the mail bin 17C is in a state in which the mail bin 17D corresponds to the discharge port from the discharge paths H1 and H2. Mail bins so that the upper and lower mail bins correspond to the paper discharge ports from the paper discharge route H3 and the paper discharge ports from the paper discharge routes H1 and H2 so as to correspond to the paper discharge ports from the paper discharge route H3. 17A to 17D are arranged.

  The selection of the paper discharge path H1 for performing the binding process, the paper discharge path H2 for performing the shift process or in the case of mass copying, or the paper discharge path H3 using the sub-tray is performed by operating the switching guide members 18 and 19.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image forming system including the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  The control means includes a main body control means CR1 and a post-processing apparatus control means CR2 that constitute the main control section of the image forming apparatus.

  The main body control unit CR1 specifies post-processing mode designation information such as punching processing, shift processing, and binding processing, and information for designating a paper discharge destination for each image forming job based on the image forming conditions input from the operation unit OP. Then, a post-processing command accompanied by information specifying the number of sheets to be bound in the binding process is transmitted to the post-processing device control means CR2.

  In addition, when receiving an image formation command from an external device via the interface D, the control unit CR1 transmits the various post-processing commands to the post-processing device control unit CR2 based on the received image formation command.

  The post-processing device control means CR2 drives the motors M1, M2, solenoids SL1, SL2, etc. based on a post-processing command from the main body control means CR1.

  The motor M1 as the mail bin driving means moves the elevating support frame 15B up and down by, for example, a wire driving mechanism, and sets one of the mail bins 17A to 17D as the paper receiving position.

  For example, the motor M2 serving as the paper discharge tray driving unit raises and lowers the paper discharge tray 16 by a wire drive mechanism, and sets the paper discharge tray 16 to the paper receiving position.

  The position of the paper discharge tray 16 is set as follows based on the signals of the sensors S1 and S2.

  The sensor S1 detects the upper surface of the paper P on the paper discharge tray 16, and when the output of the sensor S1 is ON, the motor M2 is activated to lower the paper discharge tray 16. The motor M2 stops when the sensor S1 is turned off. In this way, the upper surface of the paper P deposited on the paper discharge tray 16 is always kept constant.

  As a result of this control, when the accumulated amount of the paper P reaches the capacity of the paper discharge tray 16, the sensor S2 is turned on to warn that the paper discharge tray 16 is full. This warning is given by a sound such as a buzzer or by an optical signal. Further, the image formation may be stopped.

  S3 to S6 are sensors for detecting the fullness of the paper P in the mail bins 17A to 17D, and the control means CR2 receives ON of the sensor S3 or 1S6 and outputs a warning signal indicating that the mail bins 17A to 17B are full.

  The control means CR2 also drives the solenoids SL1 and SL2 to operate the switching guide members 18 and 19 to select the paper discharge path H1, H2 or H3.

  Examples of selection of the paper discharge paths H1, H2, and H3 are as follows.

Copy mode (binding processing) ... discharge path H1
Copy mode (shift processing) ... discharge path H2
Copy mode (no post-processing) ... paper discharge path H3
Copy mode (no post-processing, 101 sheets or more) ... discharge path H2
Facsimile mode: Paper discharge path H3
Print mode (no post-processing) ... paper discharge path H2
Print mode (binding process): paper discharge path H1
In the print mode, the basic principle of selecting the paper discharge path H1 or H2 and discharging the paper through the paper discharge port formed by the paper discharge rollers 14A and 14B is not changed. It is preferable that the user can change the setting for selecting a route.

  The operation of the control system shown in FIG. 3 in the copy mode and the print mode is as follows.

In the standby state, the apparatus is in the state shown in FIG. 2 , the sub-tray 17D is set to a position for receiving the paper discharged from the paper discharge path H3, and the switching guide member 19 selects the paper discharge path H3.

In the print mode, when the binding process is not performed, the paper discharge path H2 is selected by the switching guide members 18 and 19, and when the binding process is performed, the paper discharge path H1 is selected and the motor CR2 controls the motor. By driving M1, one of the mail bins 17A to 17D receives a sheet discharged from the discharge paths H1 and H2 in accordance with any of the external devices PC1 to PC4 that have transmitted the image formation command. Set to

  When a large number of external devices and image forming apparatuses are connected, the mail bins 17A to 17D can be associated with each group of external devices. For example, grouping such as each room and each floor is possible.

Thus, since the external device and the mail bin 17A～17 D corresponds to an individual, each client can occupy the mail bin. Therefore, to each of the mail bin 17A～17 D can be so third party can not be opened, also when the full is detected in the sensor S3 to S6, a warning signal to a corresponding external device Can also be sent.

  Further, in the facsimile mode, the mail bins 17A to 17D can be used for paper discharge, and mail bins can be associated with each communication partner or each group of communication partners.

  The discharge control according to the settings of the mail bins 17A to 17D is performed for each image forming job.

  For example, discharge control as shown in Table 1 is performed.

  As shown in Table 1, even in the case of paper discharge accompanied by binding processing, the paper is discharged to the mail bins 17A to 17D. However, even in this case, paper discharge is performed smoothly, and there is a failure such as a paper discharge jam. Very few.

  FIG. 4 is an example in which the sub-tray 20 is provided.

  The sub-tray 20 discharges the paper P when there is no post-processing, and the paper P is discharged to the sub-tray 20 through the paper discharge path H3.

  The example shown in FIG. 4 operates as described above by the control system shown in FIG.

1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the post-processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the post-processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

C Post-processing device 12 Binding processing device 16 Paper discharge tray 17A, 17B, 17C, 17C Mail bin CR1 Main body control means CR2 Post-processing device control means

Claims (5)

An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
A binding processing device that binds a plurality of sheets on which images are formed in the image forming unit into a sheet bundle;
A mail bin apparatus having a plurality of mail bins for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
At least one paper discharge tray for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
A discharge outlet for discharging the plurality of mail bins or the discharge tray in common;
Mail bin driving means for driving the mail bin device and moving the mail bin to a sheet receiving position and a retracted position for receiving a bundle of sheets discharged from the discharge port;
A paper discharge tray driving means for driving the paper discharge tray to move the paper discharge tray to a retreat position and a position for receiving a bundle of paper discharged from the discharge port;
Control means for controlling the mail bin driving means and the paper discharge tray driving means so as to set any one of the plurality of mail bins or the paper discharge tray to the paper receiving position for each job. ,
Paper that is not subjected to post-processing including at least binding processing, and a sub-tray that discharges paper remaining in the apparatus when a jam occurs,
An image forming apparatus comprising: The control means sets the paper discharge tray to the paper receiving position in a copy job, and sets one of the mail bins to the paper receiving position in a print job. The image forming apparatus described in 1. The discharge port for discharging a sheet from the discharge route to the sub-tray, and a discharge port for the sub-tray for discharging the sheet from the discharge route to the sub-tray . Image forming apparatus. Wherein one of the mail bin is positioned at a position corresponding to the discharge port for the sub-tray, the image forming apparatus according to one of the mail bin to claim 3, characterized in that used as said sub-tray. A binding processing device that binds a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed, into a sheet bundle;
A mail bin apparatus having a plurality of mail bins for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
At least one paper discharge tray for stacking the discharged paper bundle;
A discharge outlet for discharging the plurality of mail bins or the discharge tray in common;
Mail bin driving means for driving the mail bin device and moving the mail bin to a sheet receiving position and a retracted position for receiving a bundle of sheets discharged from the discharge port;
A paper discharge tray driving means for driving the paper discharge tray to move the paper discharge tray to a retreat position and a position for receiving a bundle of paper discharged from the discharge port;
Based on the transmitted post-processing command, the mail bin driving means and the mail bin driving means and the paper bin drive unit and the paper discharge tray are moved and set to the paper receiving position for each job. Post-processing device control means for controlling the discharge tray driving means;
Paper that is not subjected to post-processing including at least binding processing, and a sub-tray that discharges paper remaining in the apparatus when a jam occurs,
A post-processing apparatus comprising:

Images