JP4003394B2 - Perforation processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a punching processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, for example, binding a file on a sheet on which an image is recorded and discharged by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine thereof BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a perforation processing apparatus that perforates and forms a punch hole and an image forming apparatus including the perforation processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these, it is possible to improve work efficiency by combining a punching processing apparatus for punching holes for binding into a file with an image forming apparatus. It has been done.
[0003]
It is important that the punching process is always performed at the same position with respect to each sheet so that the positions of the punch holes are not biased and the alignment is good when the sheets are filing. However, the position of the punch hole does not change even if the edges of the punched paper are aligned because the punching position differs slightly from one paper to another due to bending or misalignment during transport for each paper. Are irregular and cannot be filed at one time, or even if a file is created, the edges of the paper are irregular and the appearance is poor.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, a line sensor is disposed at a position corresponding to the paper width of the paper introduced into the punching means, the position of the side end parallel to the paper transport direction is detected by the sensor, and the punching means is based on the detection result. A technique has been proposed in which the sheet itself is moved in the sheet width direction and can be punched in the center of the sheet width direction (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-92299).
[0005]
However, it is necessary to provide the line sensor corresponding to the paper size, and the size of the line sensor is necessarily increased.
[0006]
On the other hand, the detection means for detecting the side edge position parallel to the paper transport direction is moved in the paper width direction independently of the punching means in accordance with the paper width introduced into the punching means. A technique has also been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-279170).
[0007]
According to this, since the necessity of using a line sensor is eliminated, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. However, since a dedicated moving mechanism and a driving unit for moving the detecting unit are necessary, the apparatus is increased in size and cost. High problems are inevitable.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of such conventional circumstances, and provides a perforation processing apparatus that can accurately perform perforation processing at the center position in the width direction of a sheet and can be configured simply, with a small size, and at low cost. This is the issue.
[0009]
Another object is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a punching processing device that can accurately perform punching processing at the center position in the width direction of the sheet and that can be configured simply, in a small size, and at low cost. And
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem, the punching means that can move along a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and the paper side edge that detects the position of the side edge parallel to the paper transport direction. A perforation processing apparatus that moves the perforation means to the center of the paper and performs perforation processing based on the position information of the paper detected by the paper side edge detection means. A plurality of paper side edge detecting means are provided corresponding to the paper width to be punched, and are provided so as to be movable together with the punching means. The punching apparatus is characterized in that the detection means close to the center also serves as means for detecting the leading edge of the paper .
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a punching means movable along a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction and a paper side edge detection means for detecting a side edge position parallel to the paper transport direction. In the punching processing apparatus, wherein the punching process is performed by moving the punching unit to the center of the sheet based on the position information of the sheet detected by the sheet-side edge detection unit. A plurality of means are provided corresponding to the width of the paper to be punched, and are movably provided together with the punching means. Further, the detecting means closest to the center of the paper among the plurality of detecting means. Serves as means for detecting the trailing edge of the paper .
[0018]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording means for recording and forming an image on paper, and a discharge means for discharging the paper on which the image is recorded and formed from the image recording means, and the paper discharged by the discharge means respect, an image forming apparatus and performing punching process by the punching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in which A is an image forming apparatus body, B is an image reading apparatus, and C is a punching processing apparatus.
[0021]
The image forming apparatus main body A has a charging unit 2, an image exposure unit (writing unit) 3, a developing unit 4, a transfer unit 5A, a charge removing unit 5B, a separation claw 5C, around a photosensitive member 1 as a rotating image carrier. And the cleaning means 6 are arranged, and the surface of the photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged by the charging means 2, and then laser beam scanning based on image data read from the document by the laser beam of the image exposure means 3 is performed. A latent image is formed, and the latent image is reversely developed by the developing unit 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 1.
[0022]
On the other hand, the sheet S, which is a transfer sheet fed from the sheet storage means 7A, is sent to the transfer position. The toner image is transferred onto the paper S by the transfer means 5A at the transfer position. Thereafter, the charge on the back surface of the sheet S is erased by the charge removing unit 5B, separated from the photosensitive member 1 by the separation claw 5C, conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 7B, and subsequently heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, and then by the sheet discharge roller 7C. Discharged.
[0023]
When image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet S, the sheet S heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8 is branched from the normal sheet discharge path by the conveyance path switching guide member 7D, and is switched back in the reverse conveyance 7E. After being reversed, the sheet is conveyed to a transfer position, and after being transferred, separated and fixed in the same manner as the surface, is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 7C. The paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A by the paper discharge roller 7C is sent to a punching processing apparatus C disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body A.
[0024]
On the other hand, the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after the image processing is removed downstream of the separation claw 5C by the cleaning unit 6 to prepare for the next image formation.
[0025]
On the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body A, an image reading apparatus B provided with an automatic document feeder of a document moving exposure reading type is installed.
[0026]
The punching device C receives punched paper from the paper discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A, and punches 10 for punching a punch hole for binding to a file on the rear end side in the transport direction. The first transport path 20 that transports and discharges the paper having punch holes formed by the punching means 10 at a short distance and the second transport path 30 that transports and discharges the paper at a long distance. The path 20 and the second transport path 30 are selectively switched by operating the switching guide member 40.
[0027]
A punch waste receptacle 50 for receiving punch waste is disposed below the punching means 10.
[0028]
Details of the punching means 10 are shown in FIGS. 2 is a plan view of the punching means 10, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.
[0029]
The punching means 10 is disposed along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper S, and each of the punching blades 11 (two in the illustrated example) is movable in the vertical direction (indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3). And a die 12 disposed below the punch blade 11 so as to face each other with the conveyance path P of the paper S interposed therebetween.
[0030]
Above the punch blade 11, a rotary shaft 13 that is rotated by a driving force of a driving means (not shown) is horizontally mounted along the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper S, and the rotary shaft 13. Is provided with a cam 13 a so as to contact the upper end of the punch blade 11. The punch blade 11 is urged by an urging means (not shown) so that the upper end of the punch blade 11 comes into contact with the cam 13a. As a result of the rotation of the rotating shaft 13, the cam surface of the cam 13a slides on the upper end of the punch blade 11, and the cam blade 13 is simultaneously pressed and moved downward toward the die 12 by the action of the cam 13a. When the paper S received in the transport path P of the punching processing apparatus C is temporarily stopped by the paper discharge roller 7C of the apparatus main body A, punch holes are formed on the rear end side in the transport direction.
[0031]
Below the punch blade 11, an upper guide plate 15a is provided along the upper side of the transport path P of the paper S, and a lower guide plate 15b is provided on the die 12 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper S. Since the upper guide plate 15a and the lower guide plate 15b are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the conveyance path P from above and below, the sheet S conveyed by the discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A is conveyed to the conveyance path P. Guide smoothly.
[0032]
In this punching means 10, the punch blade 11, the die 12, the rotary shaft 13, and the guide plates 15 a and 15 b are integrally configured in the same casing 14, and a rack gear 14 a is attached to one end of the casing 14. . The rack gear 14a meshes with a pinion gear 16a provided on the drive motor 16, and when the drive motor 16 is driven to rotate in forward and reverse directions, the driving force is transmitted to the housing 14 via the pinion gear 16a and the rack gear 14a. Thus, the entire punching means 10 can be moved in a direction (arrow direction shown in FIG. 2) perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper S.
[0033]
Reference numeral 17 denotes a sheet side edge detection unit for detecting a side edge position parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheet S. The sheet-side edge detection means 17 includes reflection type optical sensors S1 to S5, and a plurality of sheets are provided along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet S so as to correspond to the sheet widths of various sizes to be punched. (5 in the illustrated example) are attached to the upper guide plate 15a. Therefore, when the entire punching means 10 is moved for detection of the sheet side edge, which will be described later, the amount of movement can be reduced, and the efficiency of the punching process is improved.
[0034]
The sheet side edge detection means 17 can be moved together with the punching means 10 by driving of the drive motor 16. Thereby, even if the paper size (length in the width direction) changes, the punch blade 11 is arranged at the center position of the paper width. In the present embodiment, the sensors S1 to S5 are set so as to be positioned at an ideal position of the paper S of various sizes, that is, at a position 5 mm inside the one side end portion at a position not displaced. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to be disposed at a position near the inside or a position near the outside of the one side end of each paper size. In addition, the number of sensors does not necessarily need to correspond to all paper sizes that can be processed by the apparatus, and can be smaller than that, and at least one sensor can function.
[0035]
The upper guide plate 15a has openings 15c corresponding to the sensors S1 to S5. The sensors S1 to S5 project light onto the lower guide plate 15b through the openings 15c, and the sheet S is formed by the intensity of the reflected light. Detecting the side edge of the. That is, when the punching means 10 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, the sheet side edge detection means 17 (any one of the sensors S1 to S5) corresponding to the size of the sheet S provided on the upper guide plate 15a is One side edge of the paper S is traversed from the inside to the outside (or from the outside to the inside), and the position of the side edge of the paper S can be detected by the intensity of the reflected light.
[0036]
In this way, the sheet side edge detection means 17 fixes the direction crossing one side edge of the sheet S from the inner side to the outer side (or from the outer side to the inner side), so that there is an advantage that detection errors can be reduced. . In other words, when detecting the side edge position with the same detection means, if there is a mixture of cases of crossing from the inside to the outside and cases of crossing from the outside to the inside, there will be a difference in the detection position. Although there is a problem that it is easy, in this embodiment, this problem can be solved.
[0037]
Further, the sheet side edge detection means 17 can detect the trailing edge of the sheet S by detecting the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet S conveyed on the conveying path P. The detection of the rear end of the sheet S is preferably performed using the innermost sensor S5 among the plurality of sensors S1 to S5. Since the innermost sensor S5 is close to the central portion of the paper S, when the paper S is bent, there is an advantage that the punch hole position deviation from the rear end of the paper S with respect to the transport direction of the paper S can be suppressed small. Further, it is possible to detect the trailing edge in common for all paper sizes.
[0038]
Further, it is also possible to detect the leading edge of the sheet S by detecting the passage of the leading edge of the sheet S conveyed on the conveying path P by the sheet side edge detecting means 17. As the paper leading edge detecting means of the present invention, a separate sensor may be provided, but it is preferable to use the sensor S5 in combination because the cost is reduced.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, a registration roller pair 60 is disposed on the downstream side of the punching means 10. The registration roller pair 60 is disposed on the entrance side of the registration roller pair 60 with the leading edge of the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A and passing through the conveying path P of the punching unit 10 abutting therebetween. A deflection of the sheet S is formed between the upper guide plate 61a and the lower guide plate 61b by the transport force of the paper discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the transport curve is corrected. The registration roller pair 60 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), but at least when the paper S is conveyed to the punching means 10, it is stopped by stopping the drive motor. It comes to hit. When the leading edge of the paper S abuts, the conveyance curve of the paper S is corrected.
[0040]
The switching guide member 40 is disposed on the downstream side of the registration roller pair 60. The bending of the registration roller pair 60 is corrected, and the sheet S conveyed by the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 is changed according to its size. It functions to switch the transport path to the first transport path 20 that transports and discharges at a short distance by the operation of a solenoid (not shown) or the second transport path 30 that transports and discharges at a long distance. When the punching process is not performed on the paper S, the paper S is quickly discharged through the first transport path 20.
[0041]
Next, a punching operation of the punching processing apparatus C will be described.
[0042]
When the sheet S on which a predetermined image is recorded and formed in the image forming apparatus main body A is carried into the punching processing apparatus C by the discharge roller 7C, the leading end of the sheet S is located between the upper guide plate 15a and the lower guide plate 15b. Then, it is guided to the conveyance path P of the punching means 10 that is located at a predetermined reference position and stands by. The sheet S guided to the conveyance path P abuts between the stopped registration roller pair 60 arranged on the downstream side of the punching means 10, and after the conveyance curve is corrected, the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 starts. It is transported to the first transport path 20 or the second transport path 30.
[0043]
On the other hand, when the passage of the leading edge of the sheet S guided to the conveyance path P is detected by the innermost sensor S5 of the sheet side edge detection means 17 (FIG. 5), after a predetermined time (after the conveyance curve correction). In the process in which the sheet S is conveyed by the registration roller pair 60, the drive motor 16 is driven, and a sensor corresponding to the size of the sheet S (here, as an example in the case where the size of the sheet S is A3 size, an end portion on the sheet side) The entire punching means 10 is moved so that the sensor S1 moves from the inside to the outside of the paper S until the outermost sensor S1) of the detection means 17 detects the side edge of the paper S (FIG. 6). Note that the sensor S5 functioning as the paper leading edge detecting means in FIG. 5 switches the algorithm for detecting the paper before the movement of the entire punching means 10 is started. Prepare for detection.
[0044]
When the side edge of the paper S is detected by a sensor corresponding to the size of the paper S (here, sensor S1), the drive motor 16 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the sensor S1 detects the side edge of the paper S again. The entire punching means 10 is moved so that the sensor S1 moves from the outside to the inside of the sheet S (FIG. 7). As a result, the position of the side edge of the sheet S is detected.
[0045]
After the detection of the side edge portion position of the paper S, the amount of movement from the side edge portion position so that the center of the punching blade 11 of the punching means 10 comes to the center of the paper S is calculated by a CPU (not shown). Then, the punching means 10 is moved by controlling the drive motor 16 and positioned so that the center of the punching blade 11 comes to the center of the sheet S (FIG. 8).
[0046]
Next, after the sensor S5 provided for detecting the trailing edge of the sheet S detects the trailing edge of the sheet S, after the sheet S is conveyed for a predetermined distance, the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 is stopped to convey the sheet S. The punching blade 11 is moved downward at a predetermined timing, and punching is performed at a predetermined position on the paper S (FIG. 9). As a result, the punch hole can be accurately formed at the center position of the sheet S.
[0047]
The sheet S on which the punch holes are formed is conveyed again by the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 and is discharged from the punching processing apparatus C.
[0048]
Thereafter, the above operation is repeated for each sheet S.
[0049]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0050]
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the punching means 10 in the second embodiment. Here, the punching means 10 is configured to detect side edges of a plurality of paper sizes with one sensor, and as an example, the sensor S1 is it is possible to detect a side edge position of the sheet S _L of the sheet S _a and letter size of A3 size. Other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment. In addition, the unit which is not described in the numerical value shown in FIG. 10 is mm.
[0051]
A punching operation of the punching processing apparatus C will be described.
[0052]
First, the case of the A3 size paper S _A will be described. The punching means 10 stands by at the same punch center position as the ideal center of the paper S _A by a reference position sensor (not shown). At this time, the sensor S1 is 5 mm inside from the ideal side end position of the sheet S _A. The fact that the paper size is A3 is notified to the punching processing device C when the image forming apparatus main body A starts printing.
[0053]
When the sheet S _A is guided to the conveyance path P of the punching means P and the leading edge is detected by the sensor S1, the driving motor 16 is in the process of conveying the sheet S _A after a predetermined time (after correcting the conveyance curve). When driven, the entire punching means 10 moves in the right direction in the figure, and stops moving when the sensor S1 detects the side edge of the sheet S _A.
[0054]
The punching means 10 moves to the left in the figure by 5 mm by rotating the drive motor 16 in the reverse direction and stops.
[0055]
After the trailing edge of the sheet S _A is detected by the sensor S1, the sheet S _A is conveyed a predetermined distance, and the conveyance is temporarily stopped. This operation is performed in parallel with the above operation of the punching means 10.
[0056]
After the transport stopped, it is moved downward to punch blades 11 at a predetermined timing, perforating the predetermined position of the sheet S _A. As a result, the punch hole can be accurately formed at the center position of the sheet S _A.
[0057]
After completion of punching, the sheet S _A is conveyed and the punching means 10 returns to the reference position.
[0058]
Next, the case of letter-size paper S _L will be described. The punching means 10 moves from a reference position (not shown) to the left in the figure (8.8 mm) and stands by. That is, the position of the sensor S1 to 5mm inside from the ideal end of letter sheet S _L. Note that the letter size is informed to the punching processing device C when the image forming apparatus main body A starts printing.
[0059]
When the sheet S _L is guided to the conveyance path P of the punching means P and the leading edge is detected by the sensor S1, the driving motor 16 is in the process of conveying the sheet S _L after a predetermined time (after correcting the conveyance curve). By driving, the entire punching means 10 moves to the right in the figure.
[0060]
When the sensor S1 detects the side edge of the sheet S _L, the sensor S1 further moves 3.8 mm to the right in the figure and stops.
[0061]
After the trailing edge of the sheet S _L is detected by the sensor S1, the sheet S _L is conveyed by a predetermined distance, and the conveyance is temporarily stopped. This operation is performed in parallel with the above operation of the punching means 10.
[0062]
After the transport stopped, it is moved downward to punch blades 11 at a predetermined timing, perforating the predetermined position of the sheet S _L. As a result, the punch hole can be accurately formed at the center position of the sheet S _L.
[0063]
After completion of punching, the sheet S _L is conveyed and the punching means 10 returns to the reference position.
[0064]
In this way, the punching processing apparatus C is provided with the sheet side edge detecting means 17 for detecting the position of the side edge of the sheet S so as to be movable together with the punching means 10. A dedicated moving mechanism and driving means are not required, and the moving mechanism and driving means of the punching means 10 can be used together, thereby simplifying the apparatus. In addition, since the paper side edge detection means 17 is movable, it is not necessary to use a large sensor such as a line sensor, and a small sensor can be used for detecting the side edge position of the paper S. Therefore, it is possible to easily reduce the size and cost of the apparatus.
[0065]
In the above description, an example in which a reflection-type optical sensor is used as the paper-side edge detection unit 17 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light receiving unit is disposed on the lower guide plate 15b, and light from the light projecting unit disposed on the upper guide plate 15a is received by the light receiving unit of the lower guide plate 15b across the conveyance path P. It may be a transmissive optical sensor that detects the position of the side end.
[0066]
In addition, the image forming apparatus may include a post-processing device for further performing post-processing such as stapling and sorting on the paper S discharged from the punching processing device C.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a perforation processing apparatus that can accurately perform perforation processing at the center position in the width direction of the paper, and that can be configured with a simple structure, in a small size, and at low cost.
[0068]
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a punching processing apparatus that can accurately punch a sheet at the center position in the width direction of the sheet and that can be configured simply, with a small size, and at a low cost. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a punching means. FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a punching means. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the punching operation by the punching means. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the punching operation by the punching means in the second embodiment.
A: Image forming apparatus main body B: Image reading apparatus C: Punching processing apparatus 10: Punching means 11: Punch blade 12: Die 13: Rotating shaft 13a: Cam 14: Housing 15a: Upper guide plate 15b: Lower guide plate 16: Drive Motor 16a: Pinion gear 17: Side end position detecting means 20: First transport path 30: Second transport path 40: Switching guide member 50: Punch waste receptacle 60: Registration roller pair

Claims (3)

A perforating means movable along a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and a paper side edge detecting means for detecting a side edge position parallel to the paper transport direction. In the perforation processing device configured to perforate by moving the perforation means to the center of the paper based on the position information of the paper detected by the detection means,
A plurality of the paper side edge detection means are provided corresponding to the width of the paper to be punched, and are movably provided together with the punching means. A punching apparatus characterized in that the detection means close to the center of the paper also serves as means for detecting the leading edge of the paper . A perforating means movable along a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and a paper side edge detecting means for detecting a side edge position parallel to the paper transport direction. In the perforation processing device configured to perforate by moving the perforation means to the center of the paper based on the position information of the paper detected by the detection means,
A plurality of the paper side edge detection means are provided corresponding to the width of the paper to be punched, and are provided so as to be movable together with the punching means. A punching apparatus characterized in that the detecting means near the center of the paper also serves as means for detecting the trailing edge of the paper. An image recording means for recording forms an image on a sheet, a sheet on which an image is recorded and formed and having a discharge means for discharging from said image recording means, with respect to the discharged sheets by said discharge means, according to claim 1 or An image forming apparatus, wherein the perforation processing apparatus according to 2 is performed.

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