JP4179524B2 - Recording paper transport device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to, for example, a sorter, a finisher, or a mail box device that performs sorting and stacking in a recording paper post-processing device attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a combination machine thereof. The present invention relates to a recording paper conveyance device used in the apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recording paper post-processing that allows a plurality of recording sheets on which images have been recorded by the image forming apparatus to be aligned and aligned on an alignment tray, and that post-processing such as binding processing can be performed on the aligned recording sheets by a stapler Various devices have been proposed and developed.
[0003]
In this recording paper post-processing apparatus, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-255220, recording paper for selectively transporting recording paper to a sorter, a mail box device or the like to sort recording paper bundles, etc. The thing of the structure which installed the conveying apparatus is proposed and developed.
[0004]
This recording paper transport device includes a chuck mechanism for gripping and releasing the side portion of the recording paper bundle, and transport rollers composed of upper and lower ones. Among these, in particular, the upper conveying roller is provided so as to be able to contact and separate from the lower conveying roller by a solenoid.
[0005]
Accordingly, when the recording sheet bundle sandwiched by the chuck mechanism is carried between the pair of upper and lower transport rollers, the upper transport roller is separated from the lower transport roller, and these transport rollers opened. In the meantime, accept the paper stack. Thereafter, the upper transport roller is moved toward the lower transport roller by a solenoid, and a recording paper bundle is sandwiched between the both transport rollers and transported to a desired place.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in this recording paper conveying apparatus, a solenoid is used to separate the upper conveying roller from the lower conveying roller. Therefore, a circuit for controlling the solenoid and various other mechanical devices are used. A mechanism is required, which increases costs and is structurally complicated.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper transport device that does not require a complicated mechanism and can be easily downsized at low cost.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Therefore, the invention described in claim 1 includes a transport roller that transports the aligned recording paper bundle, a driven roller that is in pressure contact with the transport roller, a transport roller that transports the recording paper bundle, and a transport roller and a driven roller. To the nip betweenTheA recording paper transport device comprising a chuck mechanism for passing,
  A pressure contact mechanism that includes a support member that rotatably attaches the driven roller about a rotation fulcrum, and an elastic body that applies an elastic force that presses the driven roller toward the conveyance roller;
  The chuck mechanism receives the recording paper bundle into the nip portion.TheWhen handing, a part of the chuck mechanism abuts on the support member side, displace the driven roller, while temporarily releasing the pressure contact state of the driven roller, or a release mechanism that reduces the pressure contact force,
  After the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, the driven roller and the transport roller are configured to return to the original pressure contact state.And
The chuck mechanism includes a chuck arm pair that releases a recording paper bundle that has been clamped by an open gripping portion by moving at least one relative to the other by a rotation operation about a rotation axis, and
The release mechanism includes an engaging portion that is provided on one of the pair of chuck arms and contacts the contact portion on the support member side during the rotation operation to rotate the support member.
When the recording paper bundle is transferred to the nip portion, the engagement operation between the engagement portion on the chuck arm opposite side and the contact portion on the support member side is released, and the elastic force acts on the driven roller. And the recording paper bundle is gripped between the transport roller and the driven roller,
A configuration in which the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair is opened to release the recording paper bundle.It is what.
[0010]
  Claim2The invention described in claim1In the invention described in (2), the chuck arm pair is composed of a fixed chuck arm that does not move in its length direction and a movable chuck arm that can move in its length direction,
  The release mechanism includes a convex portion that constitutes an engaging portion provided on the fixed chuck arm, a rotatable rotation member provided in the support member, and a stopper member that limits a rotation range of the rotation member. And an elastic body that abuts the rotating member on the stopper member,
  When the convex portion comes into contact with the rotating member, the rotating member is pushed and the driven roller is displaced to temporarily release the pressing state of the nip portion or reduce the pressing force.
  When the convex portion is separated from the rotation member, the driven roller is pressed against the conveyance roller and the recording paper bundle is gripped between them,
  At almost the same time, the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair is opened to release the recording paper bundle.
[0011]
  Claim3The invention described in claim 1Or 2The part of the chuck mechanism that contacts the contact part on the support member side is displaced according to the number of recording paper bundles gripped by the chuck mechanism, and the contact on the support member side that contacts this part. The portion is also changed, and the driven roller is displaced in proportion to the number of recording paper bundles.
[0012]
  Claim4The invention described in claim1In the described invention,
  After the end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip,As the convex portion constituting the engaging portion on the opposite side of the chuck arm moves along the tapered surface of the contact portion on the support member side, the driven roller is directed toward the transport roller by the elastic force of the elastic body. The pressure roller is gradually pressed, and the driven roller and the transport roller return to the original pressure contact state.It is comprised as follows.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a recording paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 in the figure denotes an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, or a complex machine thereof. A recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 according to the present invention is installed adjacent to the side of the image forming apparatus 1.
[0014]
The recording paper post-processing device 2 mainly includes a punch unit 3 that performs punch processing on an image-recorded recording paper discharged from the image forming device 1, and a proof that stacks fax paper and interrupt paper separately from the recording paper. A tray 4, an alignment tray 5 for temporarily stacking recording paper, a stapler 6 as post-processing means for recording paper, a mass tray 7 for stacking recording paper, and a plurality of recording paper for sorting and stacking A multi-stage mailbox tray 8 and a recording paper transport device 9 that delivers a bundle of recording paper from the stapler 6 to the mailbox tray 8 are configured.
[0015]
The image-recorded recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is conveyed in the horizontal direction by the entrance roller 10 and sent to the punch unit 3. The punch unit 3 is a rotary punch that is synchronized with the conveyance of the recording paper. The punch unit 3 may or may not perforate the recording paper when selected by an operation panel (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1. Even in this case, the recording paper does not stop.
[0016]
The recording paper that has passed through the punch unit 3 is conveyed by a conveyance roller, and reaches a branch path where the branch claw 11 is located. The branching claw 11 is operated by a solenoid (not shown) according to the recording paper processing mode condition to switch the conveyance path between two directions A and B.
[0017]
For example, in the printer mode, the recording paper is not stapled in the printer mode, and the recording paper is immediately guided to the transportation path F (to be described later) without passing through the alignment tray 5, and is distributed and discharged to the multistage mailbox tray 8. Use when you want. The conveyance path A is used when the recording paper is discharged to the proof tray 4, when discharged to the large-volume discharge tray 7, and when the recording paper is stippled.
[0018]
The recording paper that has advanced to the conveyance path A reaches the branch path with the branch claw 12, and the branch claw 12 uses the conveyance path C toward the proof tray 4 and the conveyance path D toward the alignment tray 5 and the mass tray 7. Switch to direction.
[0019]
The recording paper passing through the conveyance path C is stacked on the proof tray 4 by the conveyance rollers 13. The recording paper passing through the conveyance path D is conveyed differently in the stipple mode and in the non-stipple mode.
[0020]
In the non-stipple mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide plate 14 stands by with the fulcrum position 14a lowered, and the recording paper advances to the conveyance path E and is driven by the driving roller 15. A large amount of paper is discharged to the tray 7 by the rollers 16.
[0021]
In the case of the stipple mode, the guide plate 14 stands by with the fulcrum 14a raised upward (position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1), and the recording paper passes under the guide plate 14. , Temporarily stacked on the alignment tray 5.
[0022]
In order to reduce the length of the alignment tray 5, an extendable tray 17 is provided as shown in FIG. The telescopic tray 17 is provided at the center of the alignment tray 5 in the depth direction. This is to prevent interference with the jogger fence 36 that aligns the recording paper bundle in the width direction.
[0023]
The telescopic tray 17 completes the operation of extending a predetermined time after the sensor 31 shown in FIG. 1 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, and waits for the recording paper to be stacked. At this time, the extending length of the telescopic tray 17 is adjusted according to the length of the recording paper conveyed. For example, if the A4 vertical size is passed, the front end position of the extendable tray 17 extends to the A4 vertical front end position. If the A3 vertical size is passed, the leading end position of the extendable tray 17 extends to the stacked A3 vertical leading end position.
[0024]
The extendable tray 17 is configured to extend in two stages in order to reduce the length. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rod 18 of the spring 20 is extended from the alignment tray 5 and the guide guide 19a of the spring 20 is provided inside the first-stage extendable tray 19, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the spring 20 is set on the guide rod 18, and the first expansion / contraction tray 19 is set on the alignment tray 5.
[0025]
As a result, the spring 20 is compressed by the base portion of the guide rod 18 and the back wall of the guide guide 19a, and the first-stage telescopic tray 19 is constantly applied with a force that pops out of the alignment tray 5. The telescopic tray 19 can be extended from the alignment tray 5.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, the second-stage extendable tray 21 is also configured in the same manner as the first-stage extendable tray 19, and a force that always pops out from the first-stage extendable tray 19 is applied. The telescopic tray 21 can be extended from the first-stage telescopic tray 19.
[0027]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the string-like member 22 is locked to the base of the second-stage telescopic tray 21, and the angle is changed via a pulley 23 that is pivotally supported by the alignment tray 5, and the take-up pulley It is wound around 24. A wheel gear 25 is provided coaxially with the take-up pulley 24, and a worm gear 26 of a drive motor 27 is engaged with the wheel gear 25. In addition, a detection filler 28 is provided in the second extension tray 21, and a sensor 29 is provided in the alignment tray 5.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 5, both the first and second expansion and contraction trays 19 and 21 are provided with rollers 30 to smooth the expansion and contraction operation. As a result, when the drive motor 27 is rotated forward from the retracted state of the telescopic trays 19 and 21 (home position), the string-like member 22 is unwound from the take-up pulley 24 and the telescopic trays 19 and 21 are extended. At that time, the telescopic trays 19 and 21 are stopped at predetermined positions by pulse control of the drive motor 27.
[0029]
When the telescopic trays 19 and 21 are contracted, the drive motor 27 is reversed and the string-like member 22 is wound up. The stop position at that time is set to stop at a predetermined position when the sensor 29 detects the detection filler 28.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper temporarily stacked on the alignment tray 5 is abutted against the stop member 35 by the brush roller 33 disposed on the same axis as the paper discharge roller 32 and the tapping roller 34. The conveying direction is aligned, the jogger fence 36 performs a horizontal alignment operation, and the stapler 6 performs a stipple operation. In that case, the stapler 6 can be slid by the drive unit 361 and stippled to the instructed position.
[0031]
In the copy mode, the telescopic tray 17 is then stored in the alignment tray 5 by the above-described mechanism. Thereafter, the guide plate 14 is lowered, the driven roller 16 attached to the guide plate 14 pressurizes the recording paper, and is conveyed to the mass tray 7 by the rotation of the driving roller 15.
[0032]
A predetermined number of sheets of recording paper are successively discharged to a large number of trays 7, and as shown in FIG. 13, the upper surface of the recording paper is detected by the sensor 40 so that the stacked recording sheets are always at a fixed position. Loaded. When the transfer paper is full on the large-volume tray 7, it is detected by the lower limit sensor 41.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 13, the mass tray 7 is hung on the vertical lift belt 42. The vertical lift belt 42 is driven by a lifting motor 43 via a gear train and a timing belt, and moves up and down by forward or reverse rotation of the lifting motor 43. If necessary, the mass tray 7 performs a shift operation in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper discharge direction to sort the recording paper.
[0034]
The conveyance path F is composed of a fixed guide plate 60 on the drive roller 50 side and a movable guide member that is movable on the driven roller 51 side. On the driven roller 51 side of the conveyance path F, as shown in FIG. 14A, a movable guide member that can move the position for guiding the recording paper is constituted by a wire 61. The tip of the wire 61 is locked to a pulley 65 that is attached to the shaft 62 so as to idle. A plurality of arms 64 are provided in parallel in the vertical direction, and the tip of the arm 64 is provided. It is stretched by a pulley 63 attached to the section. The proximal end of the wire 61 is locked to the pulley 63 of the lowermost arm 64 and hooked at a position where it does not interfere with conveyance via a spring (not shown).
[0035]
The driven rollers 51 are provided alongside the pulley 63 at the tip of the arm 64, and are arranged in the vertical direction as many as the number of mailbox boxes 8 together with the arm 64. At that time, the driven roller 51 protrudes toward the driving roller 50 by 1 to 2 mm from the wire 61.
[0036]
The discharge claw 53 for conveying the recording paper bundle to the mailbox tray 8 is fixed to a belt 76 that is stretched around a pulley 66 and a pulley 67 and is rotated together with the belt 76 by being rotated by a drive motor 68.
[0037]
The arm 64 is pivotally supported on a side plate (not shown) of the recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 by a fulcrum 64a so as to be rotatable, and is connected to a lever 69 by a rear end portion 64b. The lever 69 is pulled downward by a tension spring 70, whereby the driven roller 51, the pulley 63, and the wire 61 are urged toward the drive roller 50, and can swing at a position where the drive roller 50 abuts the driven roller 51. Is stationary. In the swinging operation, the lever 69 is connected to each arm 64, so that the upstream side and the downstream side of the wire 61 operate simultaneously and in parallel with the transport path F. In this embodiment, the lever 69 is only on one side.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 1, the drive roller side of the conveyance path F includes a drive roller 50, a branching claw 52, and the fixed guide plate 60 described above. The driving roller 50 protrudes from the fixed guide plate 60 and the branch claw 52 by 1 to 2 mm. Therefore, the distance between the longitudinal running roller 51 side and the driving roller 50 side of the conveyance path F is normally set to about 2 to 4 mm.
[0039]
When a recording paper bundle thinner than the width of the conveyance path (less than 2 to 4 mm) enters the conveyance path F, the recording paper bundle is conveyed without the wire 61 being displaced. When a recording paper bundle that is thicker (2 to 4 mm or more) than the width of the conveyance path F enters, the recording paper bundle spreads the wire 61 and the recording paper bundle is conveyed. When a recording paper jam occurs, the recording paper can be removed from between the wires 61 by releasing the pressure of the driven roller 51.
[0040]
As shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the movable guide member (wire 61) on the driven roller 51 side of the conveyance path F includes a motor 81 as a drive source and an eccentric cam 82 to which the rotational drive is transmitted. Therefore, the arm 64 may be displaced by swinging. The displacement size can be changed according to the thickness (number of sheets) of the recording paper bundle. The number of recording paper bundles can be counted by a signal or sensor from the image forming apparatus, and the magnitude of the displacement can be controlled by the rotation angle of the motor 81.
[0041]
The recording paper bundle that has advanced to the conveyance path F is conveyed downward by the driving roller 50 and the driven roller 51 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, conveyance of the recording paper bundle is stopped when the leading end side (upper side) comes slightly below the branching claw 52 of the mail box tray 8 to be discharged. At that time, if the recording paper is a large size or the mail box tray 8 to be discharged is on the lower side, the recording paper bundle is turned by the turn portion 56 and conveyed upward.
[0042]
When the recording paper bundle is stopped, the pressure of the driving roller 50 and the driven roller 51 is released by operating the lever 57 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the recording paper bundle is conveyed (switched back) in the reverse direction by pushing out the recording paper bundle by the discharge claw 53. The recording sheet bundle is switched back when the post-processed recording sheet bundle is directly conveyed from the chuck arm 37 to the mail box 8 via the conveyance path F, and the curve becomes tight and the recording sheet bundle becomes the previous recording sheet. This is because there is a possibility of being caught by the staple of the bundle of paper.
[0043]
When the branch claw 52 of the mail box tray 8 that discharges the recording paper bundle is switched, the discharge claw 53 stops before the branch claw 52, and thereafter is conveyed by the paper discharge roller 77 and the driving roller 78 to be recorded paper. The bundle is discharged to the mail box tray 8.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 10, the recording paper heading toward the conveyance path B is discharged from the leading end side of the recording paper when the branching claw 52 of the mail box tray 8 entering and discharging the conveyance path F is switched. In this case, unlike the case of the stapling recording paper bundle described above, the switchback operation is not performed.
[0045]
Since the branching claw 52 has to deflect the recording paper or recording paper bundle conveyed from the upper and lower directions to the mail box tray 8, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. The configuration is divided into two. The two are engaged with each other by the gear portion 52a, and if one of them is deflected, the other can also be deflected. In the state of FIG. 11, the tips of the two claws intersect, but the two claws are comb-like to avoid interference.
[0046]
When the recording paper is discharged to the mailbox tray 8, the paper detection sensor 54 shown in FIG. 1 notifies the user of the presence or absence of mail on the personal computer, and the discharged recording paper is allowed in the mailbox tray 8. When the capacity is exceeded, the full detection sensor 55 notifies the printout user and the image forming apparatus 1 of the fact.
[0047]
The recording paper transport device 9 transports the recording paper bundle bound by the stapler 6 to a mail box tray 8 that sorts the recording paper bundle, and includes a chuck arm pair 37, a cam 38, and a frame 39 that constitute a chuck mechanism. A conveying roller 406 and a driven roller 407 provided with a pressure contact mechanism.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 15, the chuck arm pair 37 includes an upper chuck arm 371 that constitutes a fixed chuck arm that is rotatably attached to a rotating shaft 370 (which corresponds to the rotation fulcrum 37a shown in FIG. 1). A lower chuck arm 372 constituting a moving side chuck arm is provided, and a grip portion for gripping the recording paper bundle up and down is formed on each upper portion.
[0049]
The upper chuck arm 371 is provided with guide grooves 371a and 371b along the length direction. Protrusions 372a and 372b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 are fitted in the guide grooves 371a and 371b of the upper chuck arm 371, respectively, so that the lower chuck arm 372 can be slidably moved.
[0050]
The lower chuck arm 372 has a convex portion 37b formed immediately above the convex portion 372a, and engages with a protrusion 409a of a support member 408, which will be described later. The lower chuck arm 372 is always applied with a force that closes the gripping portion by a spring 373 that is stretched between the lower chuck arm 371 and the upper chuck arm 371.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 15, the chuck arm pair 37 has a cam 38 that is fixed to the recording paper post-processing apparatus 2 side in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 370. The cam 38 has a cam surface 38a formed in a unique curved shape. The convex surface 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is pressed against and engaged with the cam surface 38a by the elastic force of the spring 373 described above. Further, an opening / closing surface 38b is formed on a part of the cam surface 38a. The opening / closing surface 38b functions to gradually push the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 in accordance with the rotation of the chuck arm pair 37.
[0052]
A stopper 38c that can come into contact with the left side surface of the lower chuck arm 372 projects from the left end side of the cam 38, and the stopper 38 always keeps the gripping position of the gripping portion constant. Furthermore, a piece 39 is attached to the cam 38, one end of which is rotatably fixed at the same position as the cam 38, and forcibly rotated by a driving means (not shown) to rotate the chuck arm pair 37.
[0053]
The piece 39 is provided with a guide groove 39a for moving the lower chuck arm 372 in the length direction, and a grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is closed in a part of the guide groove 39a. A lock surface 39b is formed so as to be locked.
[0054]
The driven roller 407 is provided in a pressed state at a position facing the conveying roller 406 that conveys the aligned recording paper bundle, and is rotatably mounted on a support member 408 as shown in FIG.
[0055]
The support member 408 constitutes a release mechanism that reduces or cancels the pressure contact force of the driven roller 407 together with the projection 37b described above, and is attached to the housing side of the recording paper post-processing device 2 or the recording paper transport device 9. The rotary fulcrum 408a is pivotally installed. The support member 408 is always given a counterclockwise spring force by a spring 410, which is an elastic body, so that the driven roller 407 is pressed against the conveying roller 406. The member 408 constitutes a pressure contact mechanism.
[0056]
  As shown in FIG. 16, the support member 408 has a protrusion 409 formed along the right edge, and the protrusion 37 b of the lower chuck arm 372 contacts the protrusion 409.ObedienceMotion roller407 andThe pressure contact operation with the conveying roller 406 is released.
[0057]
  The protrusion 409 constitutes a release means with the support member 408 and the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 and the like. The protrusion 409 of this embodiment is formed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper bundle (projecting toward the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 16), and the right wall surface of the protrusion 409 is the lower chuck arm. A contact surface 409a is configured to move while contacting the convex portion 37b of the 372. Further, the wall surface of the lower right portion of the protrusion 409 forms a tapered surface 409e, and the pressing force of the conveying roller 406 by the driven roller 407 as the convex portion 37b moves downward along the tapered surface 409e. GraduallyGet higherIt is like that.
[0058]
In other words, this pressure contact force is configured to act when the number of recording paper bundles is large, and is weak when the number of recording paper bundles is small, so that the number of recording paper bundles gripped by the nip portion α is reduced. Accordingly, the nip pressure is automatically adjusted.
[0059]
When the chuck arm pair 37 grips two recording sheets, the locus drawn by the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 is larger than that in the state of gripping 50 sheets in FIG. Thus, a circular orbit passing through the apex 409c of the contact surface 409a, that is, a curve indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. On the other hand, when the chuck arm pair 37 is gripping 50 recording paper bundles, the locus drawn by the convex portion 37b is a circular trajectory having a smaller radius than when gripping two recording papers.
[0060]
Note that the shape of the contact surface 409a and the tapered surface 409e of the protrusion 409 is the number of recording paper bundles (in this embodiment, a configuration in which recording paper is stacked and bundled in the range of about 2 to 50 sheets). However, it is formed so that the convex part 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 can come into contact.
[0061]
Next, the mutual relationship between the lower chuck arm 372, the cam 38, and the piece 39 will be described.
When the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves together with the lock surface 39b of the piece 39 until it hits the stopper 38c. For this reason, the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 moves to a position where the alignment tray 5 is located with the gripping portion of the upper chuck arm 371 being open.
[0062]
The lower chuck arm 372 comes into contact with the stopper 38c of the cam 38, whereby the convex portion 372b is detached from the lock surface 39b of the piece 39, and the locked state is released. When the locked state is released, the elastic force of the spring 373 moves the lock surface 39b of the piece 39 to the cam surface 38a of the cam 38. That is, the lower chuck arm 372 slides relative to the upper chuck arm 371, and the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair 37 is closed.
[0063]
After the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is locked to the cam surface 38a, when the chuck arm pair 37 rotates clockwise, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves along the cam surface 38a. . At this time, the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 rotates with the space between the grip portion of the upper chuck arm 271 closed.
[0064]
Note that after the recording paper bundle is caught in the nip portion between the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407, the lower chuck arm 372 has the convex portion 372b pushed out to the opening / closing surface 38b of the cam 38, so that the chuck The gripping part of the arm pair is gradually released.
[0065]
Next, the operation of the entire recording paper transport apparatus will be described.
(1) When the stapled recording paper is discharged to the mail box tray 8 in the printer mode, the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation fulcrum 37a as shown in FIG. Then, the recording paper bundle on the staple tray 5 is sandwiched. Thereafter, the stop member 35 and the stapler 6 are slid outwardly from the side of the recording paper bundle that is closer to the near side or the back side and retracted. At that time, the stop member 35 moves by engaging a part of the stapler 6 and following the slide operation.
[0066]
  (2) Next, the chuck arm pair 37 sandwiching the recording paper bundle shown in FIG. 15 rotates clockwise about the rotation fulcrum 37a, and the protrusion 37b provided on the chuck arm pair 37 in FIG. , A support member supporting the driven roller 407408Protrusion 409Then, the driven roller 407 is displaced, and the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion α with the conveying roller 406.
[0067]
  (3) When the chuck arm pair 37 reaches the one-dot chain line position in FIG. 1 (that is, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is the opening / closing surface 38b of the cam 38), the gripping portion is opened by the operation of the cam 38, The recording paper bundle is conveyed between the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407.NipRelease into part α. Thereafter, the chuck arm pair 37 moves downward while accelerating the rotation so that the gripping portion does not interfere with the transport roller 406 and the driven roller 407. Since the stapler 6 slides to staple at the instructed position, a conveyance guide that communicates from the staple tray 5 to the conveyance path F cannot be provided, and therefore, a chuck arm pair 37 is provided. .
[0068]
Next, the operation of the chuck arm pair 37 will be described.
(1) The recording sheets aligned on the alignment tray 5 are bound by the stapler 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the chuck arm pair 37 is retracted to a position that does not interfere with the movement operation of the stapler 6. This position is referred to as a home position (hereinafter abbreviated as HP). At this time, in the HP indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 15, the convex portion 372 b of the lower chuck arm 372 is on the lock surface 39 b of the piece 39, so that the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is in an open state.
[0069]
(2) After the movement operation of the stapler 6 is completed, the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise toward a grip standby position (hereinafter abbreviated as GP) indicated by a solid line in FIG. At this time, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves together with the lock surface 39b of the piece 39, so that the grip portion of the lower chuck arm 372 is opened and moved to the standby position. In this embodiment, the operation time is shortened by performing the binding operation of the stapler 6 while the chuck arm pair 37 is moving from HP to GP.
[0070]
(3) When the chuck arm pair 37 reaches GP from HP, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 comes into contact with the stopper 38c which is a part of the cam 38 and stops. At that time, since the piece 39 is still rotating around the rotation shaft 370, the convex portion 372b of the lower chuck arm 372 is disengaged from the lock surface 39b of the piece 39 and moves along the guide groove 39a. The cam surface 38a of the cam 38 is reached. At that time, the lower chuck arm 372 closes the grip portion by the elastic force of the spring 373 and grips the stapled bundle of recording paper. Thereafter, the stapler 6 and the stop member 35 move outside the recording paper width.
[0071]
(4) Next, the chuck arm pair 37 is rotated clockwise from the GP toward the nip portion α which is the delivery position of the recording paper bundle. At this time, in the lower chuck arm 372, the convex portion 372b moves to the opening / closing surface 38b along the cam surface 38a of the cam 38, so that the lower chuck arm 372 moves from the closed state to the opened state. And gradually change. At this recording paper delivery position, the recording paper bundle is gripped between the conveyance roller 406 and the driven roller 07, and the recording paper bundle is delivered from the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair 37 to the conveyance roller 406 side.
[0072]
(5) Thereafter, the chuck arm pair 37 is rotated clockwise to the home position so as not to disturb the conveyance of the recording paper bundle.
[0073]
Next, the interaction between the convex portion 37b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 and the driven roller 407, that is, the recording paper bundle transfer operation by the operation of changing the driven roller pressure will be described.
[0074]
(1) As indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 15, when the chuck arm pair 37 is initially waiting for HP, the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair 37 is in an open state.
[0075]
(2) Next, when the chuck arm pair 37 rotates counterclockwise to GP indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 15, the rotation locus of the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 is as shown in FIG. It rotates counterclockwise on a small circular orbit indicated by a two-dot chain line. At this time, the convex portion 37 b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves without contacting the protrusion 409 of the support member 408 that supports the driven roller 407.
[0076]
(3) Now, when the chuck arm pair 37 grips the recording paper bundle with GP, the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 moves from GP to the start position (hereinafter abbreviated as SP) in FIG. After that, the chuck arm pair 37 that holds the recording paper bundle rotates clockwise toward the nip portion α that is the delivery position of the recording paper bundle. The rotation trajectory at this time is a great circular trajectory indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.
[0077]
(4) Next, when the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 contacts the contact surface 409a of the projection 409 of the support member 408, the projection 409 is pushed out to the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372, and the chuck arm The gripping part of the pair 37 is expanded. Here, when the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 comes into contact with the contact surface 409a of the protrusion 409, the convex portion 37b of the lower chuck arm 372 is more than the tip of the recording paper bundle with respect to the nip portion α. Since it is positioned first, the leading end of the recording paper bundle has not yet reached the nip portion α.
[0078]
(5) As shown in FIG. 17, when the convex portion 37b abuts on the apex 409c of the contact surface 409a and the nip portion α is opened with the maximum opening amount, the leading end portion of the recording paper bundle is the nip portion α. Enter.
[0079]
(6) When the convex portion 37b passes the apex 409c, the driven roller 407, which has been opened to the maximum, gradually narrows the distance from the conveying roller 406, and the convex portion 37b is separated from and separated from the protrusion 409. .
[0080]
(7) When the convex portion 37 b is detached from the protrusion 409 in this manner, the driven roller 407 simultaneously grips the recording paper bundle at the nip portion α between the roller 410 and the conveying roller 406 by the elastic force of the spring 410. After the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion α, the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair 37 is opened, and the recording paper bundle is rotated clockwise to HP that does not interfere with the conveyance of the recording paper bundle.
[0081]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, the convex portion 37b provided on the lower chuck arm 372 in the configuration of the first embodiment is provided on the upper chuck arm 371, and the stopper 411 is further provided on the support member 408. The protrusion 409 is fixedly attached to the support member 408 so as to be rotatable, and a spring 413 for pressing the protrusion 409 against the stopper 411 is added.
[0082]
  Even in this embodiment, the lower chuck arm 372 moves in the length direction, and the upper chuck arm 371 does not move in the length direction. The convex portion 37b provided on the upper chuck arm 371 is a protrusion.409It is installed at a position that does not hinder the rotation of
[0083]
The protrusion 409 of this embodiment is provided with a rotating shaft 409d in the vicinity of the apex 409c, and is rotatable about the rotating shaft 409d. Note that a wall surface on the left side of the protrusion 409 constitutes a contact surface 409b opposite to the contact surface 409a of the protrusion 409.
[0084]
The stopper 411 is for limiting the range in which the rotatable protrusion 409 can rotate. A torsion spring is used as the spring 413, one end is fixed to the support member 408, and the other end is provided so as to contact the protrusion 409. The stopper 411 is formed so as not to contact the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371.
[0085]
Next, in this embodiment, an explanation will be given of the interaction between the convex portion 37b provided on the upper chuck arm 371 and the driven roller 407, that is, the recording paper bundle delivery operation by the operation of changing the driven roller pressure.
[0086]
(1) As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 or FIG. 15, when the chuck arm pair 37 is waiting at the home position HP, the convex portion 37b provided on the upper chuck arm 371 is HP in FIG. Waiting at the indicated position.
[0087]
(2) When the chuck arm pair 37 rotates and moves to the GP, the upper chuck arm 371 rotates counterclockwise (forward operation) on a circular orbit indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. At this time, since the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 contacts the contact surface 409b of the protrusion 409, only the protrusion 409 rotates alone with the rotation shaft 409d as a rotation fulcrum as shown in FIG. Is done. As a result, the protrusion 409 allows the protrusion 37b to pass so as to escape the protrusion 37b.
[0088]
(3) In this way, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 moves along the one-dot chain line shown in FIG. 19 while contacting the contact surface 409b of the rotatable protrusion 409. When the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 is detached from the contact surface 409b, the rotatable protrusion 409 is pressed against the stopper 411 by the elastic force of the spring 413 and returns to the state of FIG.
[0089]
(4) When the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 reaches GP, the recording paper bundle is gripped, and the recording paper is moved along the same circular orbit as the forward movement as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Is rotated clockwise (reverse operation) toward the nip portion α, which is the delivery position of.
[0090]
(5) In the backward operation of the upper chuck arm 371, the convex portion 37b contacts the contact surface 409a opposite to the contact surface 409b of the rotatable protrusion 409 while moving along the one-dot chain line. By the contact operation of the convex portion 37 b, the protrusion 409 is integrated with the support member 408 and rotates around the rotation fulcrum 408 a, and the driven roller 07 is released by releasing the pressure contact operation with the conveying roller 406. To go. Since the protrusion 409 is pressed against the stopper 411, the protrusion 409 does not rotate independently about the rotation shaft 409d.
[0091]
(6) When the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 comes into contact with the contact surface 409a of the rotatable protrusion 409, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 is at the tip of the recording paper bundle with respect to the nip portion α. Since it is positioned before the portion, the leading end of the recording paper bundle has not yet entered the nip portion α.
[0092]
(7) Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 17, when the convex portion 37b is in contact with the apex 409c of the contact surface 409, the driven roller 407 is maximally expanded, and at this time the recording paper bundle The tip of enters the nip portion α. After the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion α, when the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 passes through the apex 409c of the contact surface 409a and reaches the tapered surface 409e, the driven roller 407 that has been maximally expanded is gradually As the distance from the conveying roller 406 is reduced, the convex portion 37b of the upper chuck arm 371 is separated from the contact surface 409a of the rotatable protrusion 409.
[0093]
(8) Similarly to the separation operation, the driven roller 407 grips the recording paper bundle by the elastic force of the spring 410. After the recording paper bundle is transferred to the nip portion α, the gripping portion of the lower chuck arm 372 It opens and rotates clockwise to the home position HP so as not to obstruct the conveyance of the recording paper bundle.
[0094]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the rotating operation of the chuck mechanism is used to reduce / release the driven roller pressure, a driving unit such as a solenoid is not required. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive and suitable device for downsizing.
[0095]
  further, EasySince the driven roller pressure can be reduced and released by using a chuck mechanism that can be easily configured, it is possible to provide a low-cost device that is suitable for further downsizing.
[0096]
  And claims2According to the invention, the chuck arm pair includes the fixed-side chuck arm that does not move in its length direction and the movable-side chuck arm that can move in its length direction, and the release mechanism includes the fixed-side chuck. A convex portion constituting an engaging portion provided on the arm, a rotatable turning member provided in the support member, a stopper member for limiting a turning range of the turning member, and a turning member on the stopper member. Since it is constituted by the elastic body to be contacted, a simpler structure is possible as the chuck mechanism and the release mechanism, and it is possible to provide an apparatus that is suitable for further miniaturization and is low in cost.
[0097]
  And claims3According to the invention, a part of the chuck mechanism that comes into contact with the contact portion on the support member side is displaced according to the number of recording paper bundles gripped by the chuck mechanism, and the contact on the support member side that comes into contact therewith. Since the contact portion also fluctuates and the driven roller is displaced in proportion to the number of recording paper bundles, the recording paper surface of the recording paper is damaged even when the number of recording papers constituting the recording paper bundle is small. The driven roller pressure can be reduced / released without bringing about high quality.
[0098]
  And claims4According to the invention according to the above, after the front end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion,As the convex part constituting the engaging part on the opposite side of the chuck arm moves along the taper surface of the contact part on the support member side, the driven roller is gradually pressed toward the conveying roller by the elastic force of the elastic body, The driven roller and transport roller return to the original pressure contact state.With this configuration, when the recording paper bundle is delivered to the nip portion, it is possible to provide a high-quality one that does not cause a large damage to the paper surface of the recording paper.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a recording paper post-processing apparatus of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the alignment tray together with an extendable tray.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first-stage telescopic tray portion.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view after the assembly.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the first and second stage extendable tray portions.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an alignment tray.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a recording sheet is guided to a conveyance path.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the recording paper is fed into a turn portion.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the recording paper is switched back and discharged to a designated mail box tray.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is immediately guided to the mail box tray without passing through the alignment tray.
FIG. 11 is a mechanism diagram showing a branching claw for guiding a recording sheet to the mailbox tray.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the state of the branching claw when the recording paper is switched to the conveyance direction and the recording paper is discharged to the mail box tray.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a partial schematic configuration of the recording paper post-processing apparatus.
14A is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recording paper conveyance path on the conveyance driven roller side, and FIGS. 14B and 14C are explanatory diagrams showing the displacement state of the wires.
FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a recording paper conveyance device.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an action during a backward operation of a convex portion provided on the lower chuck arm of the apparatus.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the driven roller is released from pressure contact during the convex returning operation.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an operation of a convex portion provided on an upper chuck arm according to another embodiment of the apparatus.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the rotation state of the protrusion during the forward movement of the convex portion.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming device
2 Recording paper post-processing device
3 Punch unit
37 Chuck arm pair
37a Rotating fulcrum
37b Convex part
371 Upper chuck arm
371a Guide groove
371b Guide groove
372 Lower chuck arm
372a Convex part
372b Convex part
38 cams
38a Cam surface
38b Open / close surface
38c stopper
39 pieces
39a Guide groove
39b Lock surface
4 Proof tray
406 Conveying roller
407 Followed roller
408 Support member
409 protrusion
409a Contact surface
409b Contact surface
409c vertex
409d Rotating shaft
410 Tension spring
411 stopper
5 alignment tray
6 Stapler
7 Large trays
8 Mailbox tray
9 Recording paper transport device
GP grip standby position
HP home position
SP start position
α Nip part

Claims (4)

A conveying roller for conveying the aligned paper bundle, and the driven roller in pressure contact to the conveying roller, the conveying across the recording sheet bundle to pass accepted into the nip portion between the conveying roller and the driven roller A recording paper transport device comprising a chuck mechanism,
A support member for rotation about a rotatably mounted pivot point of the driven roller provided with a pressing mechanism having an elastic member for imparting an elastic force for pressing towards the driven roller to the conveyance roller,
When the chuck mechanism passes accept the recording sheet bundle to the nip portion, releasing the pressure contact state of temporarily said driven roller while partially displaces the contact the driven roller to the support member side of the chuck mechanism Equipped with a release mechanism to reduce pressure contact force
The driven roller recording paper bundle tip after enters the nip portion between the conveying roller configured to return to the original pressure contact state,
The chuck mechanism includes a chuck arm pair that releases a recording paper bundle that has been clamped by an open gripping portion by moving at least one relative to the other by a rotation operation about a rotation axis, and
The release mechanism includes an engaging portion that is provided on one of the pair of chuck arms and contacts the contact portion on the support member side during the rotation operation to rotate the support member.
When the recording paper bundle is transferred to the nip portion, the engagement operation between the engagement portion on the chuck arm opposite side and the contact portion on the support member side is released, and the elastic force acts on the driven roller. And the recording paper bundle is gripped between the transport roller and the driven roller,
A recording paper transporting apparatus, wherein the gripping portion of the chuck arm pair is opened to release the recording paper bundle . The chuck arm pair is composed of a fixed chuck arm that does not move in its length direction and a movable chuck arm that can move in its length direction,
The release mechanism includes a convex portion that constitutes an engaging portion provided on the fixed chuck arm, a rotatable rotation member provided in the support member, and a stopper member that limits a rotation range of the rotation member. If, constituted by an elastic body to abut said pivot member to the stopper member,
By the convex portion comes into contact with the rotating member, the rotating member is pushed the driven roller is displaced pressed state releasing or pressing force temporarily the nip portion can be reduced,
By the convex portion is separated from the rotating member, the recording sheet bundle between them and the driven roller is pressed against the conveyor roller is grasped,
2. The recording paper transporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping portion of the pair of chuck arms is opened substantially at the same time to release the recording paper bundle. The portion of the abutment part that abuts chuck mechanism of the support member side is displaced in accordance with the number of recording sheets bundle the chuck mechanism for gripping, also vary the contact portion of the support member side of this abutment Te, the recording paper conveying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in proportion to the number of recording sheets bundle, characterized by being configured so as to displace the driven roller. After the leading end of the recording paper bundle enters the nip portion, the elastic force of the elastic body moves as the convex portion constituting the engaging portion on the opposite side of the chuck arm moves along the tapered surface of the abutting portion on the support member side. in said driven roller toward the conveying roller is gradually pressed, the recording paper conveying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driven roller and the conveyance roller is characterized by being configured so as to return to the original pressure contact state.

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