JP4323692B2 - Sheet conveying apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and in particular, a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet provided in these apparatuses, The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus capable of post-processing such as binding a plurality of sheets.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus, it is possible to bind a sheet processing apparatus and bind a plurality of sheets, or bind a plurality of sheets and then fold it in half to enable binding. There is something that is.
[0003]
Such a sheet processing apparatus capable of bookbinding sequentially takes in sheets formed by the image forming apparatus main body and drives the stapler unit to perform binding.
[0004]
Among such sheet processing apparatuses, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-322177, there is one in which a binding unit is provided in the middle of a sheet conveyance path and sheets are stacked in the sheet conveyance path.
[0005]
In the case of such a sheet processing apparatus, when the sheet P is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path, the sheet P is conveyed by the driving roller while the sheet P is rubbed against the already stacked sheets.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the prior art as described above, the following problems have occurred.
[0007]
In order to convey the sheet P, the sheet P is pressed against the drive roller by the substantially cylindrical roller via the already loaded sheet, so that the pressing force by the roller is concentrated and the sheets come into contact with each other at a high pressure. For this reason, the image formed on the already stacked sheet or the sheet P has a defect such that the image is transferred to the opposing sheet at the sliding portion and the image surface is stained.
[0008]
On the other hand, if the pressing force is reduced so that the image surface is not smudged, the conveyance force may be insufficient and a conveyance failure may occur.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus, and a sheet conveying apparatus capable of performing stable conveyance without soiling the image surface. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus using the same.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above objective,ClearlyIn that case
  Transport the image-formed sheetA sheet conveying rotation member;
  In contact with the sheetAboveSheet to sheet transport rotating memberTowardsPressPressing means;
  The sheet conveying rotation member and the pressing meansAccordingRippedHoldingThe sheet is rotated by the sheet transport rotating member.Conveys along the sheet conveyance pathMakeSheet transport deviceIn
  The pressing means is
It is composed of a porous member, and the pressing means presses against the sheet conveying rotation member.
A more deformable elastic member;
A slidable member that is in contact with the sheet, provided to cover the elastic member at a contact portion with the sheet, and a slidable member having high slidability with respect to the sheet;
  Characterized by comprising.
[0012]
  The pressing means isA pressing arm that holds the slidable member and the elastic member;In a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet surface of the sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance pathThe pressing armIt is also preferable to provide a swinging means that can swing freely.
[0013]
  The swinging means isProvided to be rotatable with respect to a shaft portion substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the sheet conveying rotation member;The slidable member and the elastic memberBut,To be swingable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet surface of the conveyed sheetAboveArm support for supporting the pressing armIsIt is also suitable.
[0014]
  The pressing arm isSaidElasticityHolding the slidable member through the memberRukoBoth are also suitable.It is also preferable that the slidable member includes a flexible portion that bends as the elastic member is deformed.
[0015]
  SaidOf slidable membersOf the contact part that contacts the sheetThe sheet conveyance pathThe shape on the upstream side is that the sheet to be conveyed is the sheet conveying rotation member.AboveIt is also preferable that the cross section is substantially arched leading to the pressing means.
[0016]
  Of the slidable membersIt is also preferable to include separation means for separating the contact portion with the sheet from the sheet conveyance path.
[0017]
  A sheet detecting means for detecting the leading edge of the conveyed sheet;
  The spacing means is
When the sheet detection means does not detect the sheet, the contact portion is separated from the sheet conveyance path,
When the sheet detection means detects the conveyance of the sheet, the contact portionIsIt is also preferable to release the separated state so as to come into contact with the seat.
[0018]
  In the sheet processing apparatus, the sheet conveying apparatus described above,
  Of the sheet conveying rotating memberThe sheet conveyance pathIt is provided on the downstream side and abuts against the leading edge of the sheet conveyed along the sheet conveying path.TSheet regulating means for regulating sheet conveyance.
[0019]
  The sheet conveyance rotating member holds the second sheet conveyed while sandwiching the first sheet, the conveyance of which is restricted by the sheet restriction means, with the pressing means.AboveIt is also preferable to convey the first sheet while sliding it.
[0020]
  Of the sheet conveying rotating memberThe sheet conveyance pathA sheet binding unit that is provided on the upstream side and binds a plurality of sheets whose conveyance is restricted by the sheet regulation unit;
  in frontPressIt is also preferable that the pressure unit is disposed on the needle foot side of the binding needle that is binding the sheet by the sheet binding unit.
[0021]
  In the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet;
  Conveys the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unitSheet conveying apparatus as described aboveAnd,
  It is characterized by providing.
  In the image forming apparatus,
  Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
  The sheet processing apparatus as described above for processing a sheet image-formed by the image forming unit;
  It is characterized by providing.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the internal configuration of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This copying machine is configured by coupling a sheet processing apparatus B to an image forming apparatus main body A. The sheet processing apparatus B includes a finisher unit C capable of sorting the sheets of images recorded by the image forming apparatus main body A for each number of copies, and a stitcher unit D capable of binding and binding a plurality of sheets.
[0024]
Here, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be briefly described first, and then the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus B will be described in detail for the finisher unit C and the stitcher unit D.
[0025]
[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus main body A optically reads a document automatically fed from the document feeding device 1 mounted on the upper portion of the apparatus by the optical means 2 and transmits the information to the image forming means 3 as a digital signal to send a plain paper or the like. Recording is performed on a recording sheet such as an OHP sheet.
[0026]
A plurality of sheet cassettes 4 storing sheets of various sizes are mounted on the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the sheets conveyed from the sheet cassette 4 by the conveying roller 5 are electrophotographic in the image forming means 3. Record an image. That is, based on the information read by the optical means 2, a laser beam is irradiated from the light irradiation means 3a onto the photosensitive drum 3b to form a latent image, which is developed with toner and transferred to a sheet, and this is fixed to the fixing means 6 And is permanently fixed by applying heat and pressure.
[0027]
The sheet is fed to the sheet processing apparatus B in the single-sided recording mode, and conveyed to the retransmission path 7 by switchback in the double-sided recording mode, and the sheet recorded on one side is conveyed again to the image forming unit 3. Then, after the image is formed on the other side, it is sent to the sheet processing apparatus B.
[0028]
The sheet can be fed not only from the sheet cassette 4 but also from the multi-tray 8.
[0029]
The finisher unit C in the sheet processing apparatus B is configured as shown in FIG. 2, and when discharging a sheet, in addition to the normal discharge mode, discharge processing corresponding to each mode such as an offset mode and a staple mode is performed. It is possible.
[0030]
Here, in the offset mode, when the sheets are sorted and ejected for each number of copies, the side guide 11 is moved when the first sheet of each portion is ejected to move a predetermined amount in the sheet width direction (the sheet conveying direction). This is an operation mode in which the second and subsequent sheets of each part are discharged normally so that the boundary of each part can be understood by discharging them.
[0031]
Further, the staple mode is an operation mode in which, when sorting and discharging for each number of copies, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the staple tray 12, stapled by the stapler 13, and bound and discharged for each number of copies.
[0032]
Note that when discharging the sheets, in addition to the normal discharge control for discharging the sheets one by one, two-sheet discharge control capable of discharging two sheets at the same time is possible. In the two-sheet discharge control, the sheet sent from the image forming apparatus main body A to the sheet processing apparatus B stays in the buffer path 14 provided in the finisher unit C, and is overlapped with the next discharged sheet. It is the operation control that discharges at the same time.
[0033]
On the other hand, the stitcher unit D in the sheet processing apparatus B is configured as shown in FIG. 3, aligns sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A in units of copies, and staples them with a staple unit 61. The book is folded in half. In brief, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A is conveyed to the vertical path 60 of the stitcher unit D, and stacked and aligned in units of copies so that the lower end of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper 62 as the sheet regulating means. This is stapled by two staples at the center position in the sheet length direction (sheet conveying direction) by the staple unit 61.
[0034]
Next, the stopper 62 is moved downward to move the sheet bundle so that the binding position reaches the nip position of the folding roller 78. The pushing plate 79 projects the binding position, and the sheet bundle is folded in two at the binding position. In this way, the nip is conveyed by the folding roller 78. As a result, the sheet bundle that is bound at the center in the sheet length direction and folded in two and bound is discharged to the stacking tray 106.
[0035]
[Finisher unit]
Next, the configuration of each part of the finisher unit C in the sheet processing apparatus B will be described.
[0036]
In the normal mode, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A according to the present embodiment A to the finisher unit C is transported by the transport roller 15 and also by the upstream discharge roller pair 16 and the downstream discharge roller pair 17. It is discharged to the stack tray 18. A plurality of stack trays 18 are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and are moved in the vertical direction by a drive source built in a lower portion thereof.
[0037]
In the case of the sort discharge, the plurality of stack trays 18 are sequentially moved to the discharge port, whereby the sheets P can be discharged in a state of being sorted for each number of copies. In the offset mode and the staple mode, it is possible to perform an offset process or a staple process on a single stack tray 18 and eject the sheets in a sorted state. Further, in the interrupt mode, the paper can be discharged to the upper tray 19 without being discharged to the stack tray 18.
[0038]
{Offset discharge processing}
As described above, the finisher unit C according to the present embodiment can perform the sorting process in the offset mode, and in this mode, as shown in FIG. When the sheets are discharged and discharged in units of copies, the boundary of each part is clarified by shifting the first sheet P1 of each part in the sheet width direction from the second and subsequent sheets P.
[0039]
{Loading on staple tray}
In the staple mode, as shown in FIG. 5, after the swing guide 20 is opened and the sheet P is discharged to the staple tray 12 by the upstream discharge roller pair 16, the paddle 31 provided in the swing guide 20 is provided. Then, the knurled belt 32 that rotates by driving the upstream discharge roller pair 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to return the sheet P to the position where the trailing edge of the sheet P contacts the trailing edge stopper 33. Then, the sheet P is pushed into one side by the side guide 11 and aligned, and then stapled by the stapler 13.
[0040]
[Stitcher unit]
Next, the configuration of each part of the stitcher unit D in the sheet processing apparatus B will be described. As described above, the stitcher unit D shown in FIG. 3 conveys the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A into the vertical path 60 including the path guides 60a and 60b, and binds the center of the sheet by the stapler unit 61. After that, a folding process is performed and discharged.
[0041]
The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A is fed to the vertical path 60 of the stitcher unit D by the action of the first flapper 21 and is stacked and aligned with the lower end in contact with the stopper 62. An upper roller pair 63 as a conveying means is provided at the upper part of the vertical path 60, and a plurality of flappers 64 are provided downstream thereof. In the present embodiment, the flapper 64 includes two first flappers 64a and a second flapper 64b, and the conveyance path can be selectively switched according to the size of the sheet P.
[0042]
A movable guide 65 is provided in the vicinity of the flapper 64, and is urged toward the flapper 64 by the urging means 65a to constitute a part of the conveying path of the vertical path 60. The movable guide 65 can expose the inside of the vertical path 60 in the vicinity of the flapper 64 by gripping and rotating the handle 65b, and can handle a jammed sheet.
[0043]
A plurality of sheet sensors 66 as sheet detecting means are provided at positions facing the flapper 64 through the vertical path 60, and the first upper sensor 66a and the first flap sensor 64a are provided between the upper roller pair 63 and the first flapper 64a. A second upper sensor 66b is disposed at a position facing the flapper 64a, and a third upper sensor 66c is disposed at a position facing the second flapper 64b. These sheet sensors 66 can detect the presence or absence of the passing sheet P, or the leading edge or the trailing edge.
[0044]
{Lower roller}
A stapler unit 61, which will be described later, is provided substantially at the center of the vertical path 60, and an anvil 61d is disposed at a position facing the stapler unit 61 via the vertical path 60. A lower roller portion 67 serving as a conveying unit is provided downstream of the stapler unit 61, and a driving roller 68 as a sheet conveying rotating member to which a driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown), and a sheet to the driving roller 68. It is comprised from the press means 69 to press.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing portion 69i is attached to one end of the pressing arm 69a, and the other end of the pressing arm 69a is rotatably supported by the path guide 60b of the vertical path 60 by a rotating shaft 69b. . Further, a spring 69 c is attached to a substantially central portion of the pressing arm 69 a to urge the pressing means 69 against the driving roller 68. On the other hand, the pressing arm 69a is provided with a pressing release arm 70 as a separating means that can be driven by a solenoid (not shown) so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 70a. The pressing means 69 is rotated by the rotation of the pressing release arm 70. Can be separated from the drive roller 68. In this way, the pressing means 69 can be displaced between a pressing position for pressing the sheet against the driving roller 68 and a separating position away from the driving roller 68.
[0046]
{Pressing of pressing member}
When the sheet P is conveyed by the lower roller portion 67, first, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), after the front end of the sheet P has passed the position of the pressing means 69, the pressing means 69 is pressed against the sheet P. After the sheet sensor 66 detects the sheet P, the pressing means 69 located at the separated position is displaced to the pressing position by the pressing release arm 70, and the leading end of the sheet P is stopped by the pressing means 69 and the driving roller 68. It is nipped and conveyed until it comes into contact. The sheet P sent after this enters the drive roller 68 side of the already stacked sheet, is pressed by the drive roller 68 through the already stacked sheet pressed by the pressing means 69, and the leading end comes into contact with the stopper 62. It is conveyed to. That is, the conveyed sheet P is conveyed while sliding on the already stacked sheets.
[0047]
Here, if the pressing force of the sheet is small, it may cause a conveyance failure or the like, and if the force pressing the sheet is too strong, when the sheets are rubbed, the image formed on the sheet is transferred to the opposite sheet. Will appear as dirt. Furthermore, since the sheet is transported when the slidability of the pressing unit with the surface in contact with the sheet is low, the sheet must be pressed with a stronger force, and contamination due to image transfer is likely to occur. Moreover, when the force to press is not uniform, it will become easy to generate | occur | produce dirt in the part pressed with strong force.
[0048]
Therefore, the pressing portion 69i of the pressing means 69 in the present embodiment is formed by a sheet material 69e as a slidable member such as PET or high density polyethylene having a relatively high slidability on the surface that slides on the sheet, The contact portion of the sheet material 69e with the sheet is attached to the pressing arm 69a via an elastic member 69f such as a sponge which is a porous member such as a foam.
[0049]
When the sheet P is pressed by the pressing means 69, the elastic member 69f is deformed by the pressing force, so that the pressing force is dispersed and reduced, and a force is uniformly applied to the sheet P. As a result, contamination due to image transfer does not occur, and the contact area between the driving roller 68 and the sheet P increases, so that a stable conveying force can be obtained. Further, by using a sheet material 69e having a high slidability with respect to the sheet P as a contact portion with the sheet P, the transportability of the sheet P can be improved. Further, the pressing means 69 can be brought into contact with or separated from the sheet P by the pressing release arm 70, so that the pressing means 69 is brought into contact with the sheet P only when necessary for conveyance, so that an image surface by transfer or the like can be obtained. Can prevent dirt.
[0050]
Here, the sponge, which is the elastic member 69f, is difficult to adhere and is easily peeled off. Therefore, the sheet material 69e is bonded to the pressing arm 69a at a portion that is not bonded to the elastic member 69f, and covers the elastic member.
[0051]
On the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, the sheet material 69e forms a hollow arc portion 69d having a substantially arched cross section as shown in FIG. 6, so that the conveyed sheet P is not caught, and the sheet material 69e When pressed, the rigidity of the sheet material 69e absorbs the force so that the pressing force of the pressing means 69 on the sheet P does not become uneven, and the sheet material 69e is easily deformed.
[0052]
On the other hand, the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic arrow view from the X direction of FIG. At the downstream end of the sheet material 69e, a constricted portion 69g as a flexible portion that is easily deformed is provided between an adhesive portion 69j with the elastic member 69f and an adhesive portion 69k with the pressing arm 69a. When the elastic member 69f is deformed by the pressing of the pressing means 69, the contact portion of the sheet material 69e with the sheet P moves to the pressing arm 69a side with the deformation of the elastic member 69f. At this time, the constricted portion 69g By deforming and bending, even if the sheet material 69e has rigidity, the force due to the rigidity can be absorbed, and the pressing means 69 uniformly applies force to the sheet P. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the transition portion from the sheet material 69e main body to the constricted portion 69g is provided with a notch, whereby the constricted portion 69g can be easily deformed and bent.
[0053]
Further, the pressing unit 69 is capable of swinging a contact portion with the sheet P in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet surface of the sheet P conveyed by the swinging unit. In other words, a support portion 69h as a narrow arm support portion provided at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 69b, and is conveyed at both ends sandwiching the support portion 69h. An elongated hole having a long axis in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet surface of the sheet P is provided and can be easily tilted. That is, even if the pressing means 69 is not parallel to the shaft of the driving roller 68 due to the accuracy of the components, the shaft of the driving roller 68 is swung by being pressed by the driving roller 68 via the sheet P. Therefore, it is possible to apply a force uniformly to the sheet P. This also equalizes the uneven pressing force on the sheet P that could not be absorbed by the elastic member 69f.
[0054]
As described above, when the pressing arm 69a is driven, the already stacked sheets are pressed against the sheet P via the elastic member 69f and the sheet material 69e. The pressing force by 69a is evenly distributed and the conveying force is not reduced, but the force applied to one point is reduced. For this reason, image transfer due to rubbing between sheets is eliminated.
[0055]
{Separation of pressing member}
Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the pressing means 69 is separated at a position where the leading end of the sheet P approaches the stopper 62 by a predetermined distance. After the pressing means 69 is separated, the sheet P is conveyed to the stopper 62 due to the inertia and the weight of the movement so far. Note that the position of the leading edge of the sheet P is recognized by the distance conveyed after the leading edge of the sheet passes through the sheet sensor 66.
[0056]
If the pressing means 69 is kept pressed against the driving roller 68 even after the sheet P reaches the stopper 62, a conveying force is applied to the sheet P that has already reached the stopper 62 and is stacked. There is a case where buckling occurs in P or rebound occurs when the pressing means 69 is separated, and the alignment is disturbed. Therefore, when the sheet P comes into contact with the stopper 62, the sheet P is not excessively conveyed by separating the pressing means 69, and the above problem can be avoided.
[0057]
{Driving roller when pressing member is separated}
If the pressing means 69 is separated before the sheet P is stacked on the stopper 62, if the number of stacked sheets is still small, the sheet P may move forward in the vertical path 60 and rebound to disturb alignment. Further, when the number of stacked sheets increases, the friction for passing through the vertical path 60 becomes narrower and may not reach the stopper 62.
[0058]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the driving rotation of the driving roller 68 is maintained even after the pressing means 69 is separated. Since the sheet P being conveyed at this time is not in pressure contact with the driving roller 68, a weak conveying force is applied only by the contact pressure. As a result, the sheet P is reliably conveyed to the stopper 62 and pressed, so that it can be reliably aligned.
[0059]
{Vertical path shape}
The sheets P stacked against the stopper 62 are aligned in the width direction by the alignment member 71. At this time, since the sheet P is in an upright state, if the sheet P does not have a waist, buckling occurs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the path guide 60a is provided with a raised portion 60c protruding into the conveying path of the vertical path 60, and the vertical path 60 is bent in the horizontal direction. As a result, the stacked sheets P are also bent in the horizontal direction, that is, the vertical waist is generated. Accordingly, the sheets P can be stacked without causing buckling.
[0060]
On the other hand, if the sheet P is bent in the lateral direction, it is not preferable when the stapler unit 61 performs the binding process. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the vertical path 60 is refracted between the upper portion and the lower portion of the stapler unit 61 so that the sheet P is bent in the vertical direction substantially at the center. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the sheets P are stacked with the lower portion bent in the lateral direction and the substantially central portion bent in the vertical direction. As a result, the stacking can be performed without buckling, and the binding position can be flattened.
[0061]
{Stopper mechanism}
The drive mechanism of the stopper 62 will be described with reference to FIG. Slide members 62 a are attached to both ends of the stopper 62 and are slidably supported along the stopper frame 72. Further, the stopper drive belt 73 stretched around the drive pulley 73a and the idler pulley 73b is fixed to the stopper 62. A drive gear 73d is fixed to the rotating shaft 73c of the drive pulley 73a, and a stopper drive motor 74 is connected thereto. That is, when the stopper driving motor 74 rotates, the driving force is transmitted to rotate the stopper driving belt 73, and the stopper 62 can be driven up and down.
[0062]
A stopper sensor 75 is provided on the sheet stacking surface of the stopper 62, and it can be detected that the leading edge of the sheet P is in contact with the stopper 62. A flag 62b is formed below the stopper 62 so that the stopper home sensor 76 detects when the stopper 62 reaches the home position.
[0063]
{Stapler unit}
Next, a mechanism of the stapler unit as a sheet binding unit that binds the sheet bundle will be described.
[0064]
As shown in FIG. 12, the stapler unit 61 has two symmetrical positions with respect to the center in the sheet width direction at the center position in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle aligned with the vertical path 60 by the support plate 77 fixed to the frame. Are arranged.
[0065]
In FIG. 12, the stapler unit 61 includes a forming unit 61b as an upper needle driving means supported so as to be swingable about a rotation shaft 61a, a drive unit 61c, and an anvil 61d.
[0066]
A vertical path 60 is formed below the stapler unit 61 for guiding the sheet bundle by path guides 60a and 60b and an anvil 61d. The vertical path 60 is configured such that the guide surface 60b1 of the path guide 60b that guides the sheet bundle and the binding surface 61d1 of the anvil 61d that staples the guided sheet bundle have an angle α. A notch hole 60a1 having a size that does not interfere with the forming portion 61b of the stapler unit 61 is notched in the upper surface side path guide 60a that forms the vertical path with the angle α.
[0067]
A needle cartridge 61e is detachably attached to the forming portion 61b, and about 2000 to 5000 binding needles 61f connected in a plate shape are loaded in the needle cartridge 61e. The plate-like binding needle 61f loaded in the needle cartridge 61e is urged downward by a spring 61g provided on the uppermost side of the needle cartridge 61e, and is conveyed to the needle feed roller 61h disposed on the lowermost side. It is configured to give power.
[0068]
The binding needles 61f fed by the needle feed roller 61h are moved one by one by swinging the forming portion 61b about the rotation shaft 61a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12). It is formed in a letter shape. That is, when the stapler motor 61i is activated, the eccentric cam gear 61k rotates via the gear train 61j, and the forming portion 61b is moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 by the action of the eccentric cam attached integrally with the eccentric cam gear 61k. The sheet bundle is stapled by swinging toward the anvil 61d side) and performing a needle driving operation (clinch operation), and bending the driven binding needle 61f with the anvil 61d on the lower surface of the sheet bundle.
[0069]
Further, a flag (not shown) is arranged coaxially with the eccentric cam gear 61k. By detecting this flag by a stapler sensor (not shown), whether the stapler unit 61 is clinching, or clinching has been completed (or clinching). Before the start).
[0070]
{Loading the binding needle}
In the case of the above-described binding processing, when the binding needle is removed from the needle cartridge 61e as the needle loading unit, it is necessary to replace it. Here, loading of the binding needle into the stapler unit 61 will be described.
[0071]
As shown in FIG. 13, the stapler unit 61 according to the present embodiment has two needle cartridges 61e attached to bind two places in the sheet width direction. When there is no binding needle from 61e, the absence of the needle is detected.
[0072]
{Stapling post-processing}
After the stapler unit 61 is driven and bound at the center in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the sheet bundle P conveyed and aligned in the vertical path 60 as described above, the stopper 62 is moved downward to move the sheet bundle to the folding position. Transport. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, if the staple needle 61f after stapling is fitted in the groove 61d2 of the anvil 61d, the binding needle 61f is caught in the groove 61d2 even if the stopper 62 is moved downward, and the sheet 61 The bundle P may cause a conveyance failure.
[0073]
Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, before the stapled sheet bundle P is conveyed downward, the pressing means 69 of the lower roller portion 67 is swung once in the direction of the arrow in FIG. It is configured to make it. Thereby, the sheet bundle P is pressed toward the path guide 60a by the pressing means 69 as the displacing means, and the binding needle 61f fitted in the groove 61d2 of the anvil 61d is surely pulled out from the groove 61d2. Accordingly, the stopper 62 does not move downward in a state where the binding needle 61f is fitted in the groove 61d2, and it is possible to reliably prevent sheet conveyance failure.
[0074]
Here, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the sheet is displaced by swinging the pressing unit 69 so that the binding needle 61f is removed from the groove portion 61d2, but the binding needle is not the pressing unit 69. A dedicated member may be provided as a displacing means for displacing the sheet so that 61f comes out of the groove 61d2, and the member may be operated.
[0075]
When the stopper 62 is lowered and the sheet bundle is lowered and conveyed, the pressing means 69 is driven, and the bound sheet bundle is pressed against the driving roller 68 to obtain a conveyance force, thereby achieving more stable bundle conveyance. It becomes possible.
[0076]
Here, since the pressing member 69 in the present embodiment has the elastic member 69f disposed on the side of the needle foot having a large protruding amount, even when the binding needle 61f passes between the driving roller 68 and the pressing unit 69, The protruding portion (needle foot) is absorbed by the elastic member 69f and does not hinder bundle conveyance.
[0077]
As a result, it is possible to reliably follow the descending stopper 62 and to ensure the accuracy of the folding position.
[0078]
{Fine adjustment of binding position and folding position}
Here, in order to accurately bind the center (center) of the sheet bundle in the conveyance direction and to perform folding processing described later, the stopper 62 is moved so that the center of the sheet bundle is accurately positioned at the binding position and the folding position. There is a need. However, the length of the sheet may not be constant due to an error at the time of cutting or expansion / contraction due to humidity, and the binding position or the folding position may not be the center of the sheet bundle P. In this case, the lower end of the sheet is supported. It is necessary to finely adjust the position of the stopper 62 as the supporting means.
[0079]
Conventionally, the stopper is screwed into a long hole provided in the frame that supports it, and the position of the stopper can be finely adjusted within the range of this long hole, and the binding position and folding position of the above-mentioned sheet bundle are finely adjusted. Like to do.
[0080]
However, in order to make the fine adjustment as described above, it is necessary to loosen the screw and stop the screw after making the fine adjustment, which requires a lot of work for adjustment and makes it difficult to accurately perform the fine adjustment. Further, this adjustment work can only be performed by a service person.
[0081]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the amount of movement of the stopper 62 by the drive mechanism (see FIG. 11) described above is finely adjusted according to an instruction from an input unit such as an operation panel provided in the image forming apparatus main body A or the sheet processing apparatus B. It is configured as possible.
[0082]
Specifically, the amount of movement (amount of increase) when the stopper 62 is moved from the home position to the lower end stop position (binding stop position), which is the stop position of the binding process according to the sheet size, before stapling is determined. A fine adjustment is possible according to an instruction from an operation panel (not shown) provided in the main body A. For example, the amount of movement from the home position to the lower end position of each size sheet is usually constant for each sheet size, but this amount of movement is increased or decreased by an amount according to an instruction from the operation panel as input means, The amount of movement of the stopper 62 when it is raised is finely adjusted, and the stop position is changed by the amount of fine adjustment.
[0083]
Alternatively, after the stapling, the movement amount (lowering amount) when the stopper 62 is moved from the lower end stop position (binding stop position) according to the sheet size to the lower end stop position (folding stop position) at the time of folding processing is set as the sheet processing apparatus B. It can be finely adjusted by means of a dip switch (not shown) or an operation panel of the electrical board provided in the circuit board. The amount of movement of the stopper 62 from the lower end stop position at the time of binding processing to the lower end stop position at the time of folding processing is constant regardless of the sheet size, but this amount of movement is an amount corresponding to the dip switch of the electrical board. The amount of movement when the stopper 62 is lowered is finely adjusted, and the stop position is changed by the amount of fine adjustment.
[0084]
With this configuration, fine adjustment of the stopper 62 that receives the lower end of the sheet can be performed accurately and easily.
[0085]
In addition, the sheet may be stretched with a minute length due to roller pressure, temperature, humidity, or the like during conveyance. For this reason, the length of the sheet may be detected by the sheet length detection means during sheet conveyance, and the stop position of the stopper 62 may be automatically adjusted according to the detection result.
[0086]
If the amount of movement of the stopper is automatically fine-tuned according to the sheet length detected during conveyance, the user does not need to make fine adjustment settings, and the sheet is stopped at the binding position and folding position more accurately and easily. It becomes possible to make it.
[0087]
{Folding the sheet bundle}
As described above, the binding position is conveyed to the position of the folding roller 78 disposed below the stapler unit 61 by the downward movement of the stopper 62, where the binding position is projected by the thrust plate 79a and the folding roller. The nip is conveyed in a folded state to 78 and folded in half. Next, the sheet folding configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0088]
As shown in FIG. 15, the folding roller 78 is rotatable to a fixed roller 78a that can be rotated about a fixed rotation shaft 78c and a support arm 80 that can be rotated about a fulcrum 80a to the apparatus frame. The movable roller 78b is attached, and the rollers 78a and 78b are pressed against each other by a spring 81 locked to one end of the support arm 80. With this configuration, the pitch between the folding rollers 78 is corrected according to the thickness of the sheet bundle P to be nipped.
[0089]
In the configuration for driving the folding roller 78, a motor pulley 83 is fixed on the output shaft 82a of the folding motor 82, as shown in FIGS. The driving force of the motor pulley 83 is transmitted to the pulley portion of the idler gear pulley 85 through the timing belt 84. The idler gear pulley 85 has the pulley portion and the gear portion formed on the same axis.
[0090]
Further, folding gears 86 and 87 are fixed to the shaft of the folding roller 78 described above, and both the gears 86 and 87 mesh with each other. One end of the folding gear 86 meshes with the gear portion of the idler gear pulley 85. Further, the folding gear 86 meshes with the idler gear 88.
[0091]
The rotational force of the folding motor 82 is transmitted from the motor pulley 83 to the idler gear pulley 85 via the timing belt 84. The rotation of the idler gear pulley 85 is transmitted from the folding gear 86 to the folding gear 87, and the folding roller 78 is driven. At the same time, the rotational force is transmitted to the idler gear 88 that meshes with the folding gear 86. The idler gear 88 transmits a rotational force to a discharge roller described later.
[0092]
In FIG. 16, reference numeral 79 denotes a protrusion unit as a protrusion means, which includes a protrusion plate 79a, holders 79b and 79d, shafts 79c and 79e, and the like. The thrust plate 79a is held by holders 79b and 79d, and shafts 79c and 79e are fixed to the holder 79b. A roller (not shown) is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the shafts 79c and 79e, and the roller slides in a groove 89 formed in the main body frame.
[0093]
Reference numeral 90 denotes a protrusion motor, and a motor pulley 90a is fixed on the output shaft thereof. Reference numeral 91 denotes an idler gear pulley, and a pulley portion and a gear portion are formed on the same axis. A timing belt 92 is wound between the pulley portion of the idler gear pulley 91 and the motor pulley 90a. The gear portion of the idler gear pulley 91 is meshed with a gear 94 having a shaft 93 in part. As shown in FIG. 17, flags 95a and 95b are fixed on the rotating shaft 94a of the gear 94, and the flags 95a and 95b have notches in part. A protruding home sensor 96a and a protruding position sensor 96b are disposed at positions where the notches of the flags 95a and 95b are detected. The protruding home sensor 96a is disposed so as to detect the protruding plate 79a at a position where the protruding plate 79a is retracted from the sheet conveying surface constituted by the path guides 60a and 60b. The protruding position sensor 96b is protruded by the protruding plate 79a. It is arranged to detect at the position.
[0094]
Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a rotating plate 97 having a shaft 97a is fixed to the other end of the gear 94 on the rotating shaft 94a so as to rotate in synchronization with the gear 94. It is configured.
[0095]
The rotational force of the ejection motor 90 is transmitted from the motor pulley 90a to the idler gear pulley 91 via the timing belt 92. As the idler gear pulley 91 rotates, the gear 94 rotates and the shaft 93 moves circularly. One end of a link 98 is fitted to the shaft 93, and the other end of the link 98 is fitted to a shaft 79 c of the protruding unit 79. Similarly, one end of the link 98 is fitted to the shaft 97 a on the rotating plate 97, and the other end of the link 98 is fitted to the shaft 79 c of the protruding unit 79. Thereby, the circular motion of the shaft 93 is transmitted to the shaft 79c of the protruding unit 79 through the link 98, and this shaft 79c is fitted along the groove portion 89 of the frame fitted through the roller (not shown) together with the shaft 79c. Perform a linear motion.
[0096]
Similarly, the other end of the protruding unit converts the rotational movement of the rotating plate 97 and the shaft 97a on the rotating plate 97 into a linear movement of the protruding unit via a link. Thus, the protrusion unit 79 receives driving at both ends thereof, and always slides in parallel with the folding roller 78 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
[0097]
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, stopper shafts 97b and 97c are provided on the surface of the rotating plate 97 opposite to the shaft 97a, and the stopper member 99 is centered on the shaft 99a on the main body frame. And is urged toward the rotating shaft 94 a by the tension spring 100. As described above, the protrusion unit 79 slides due to the rotation of the rotation plate 97, but the rotation plate 97 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. When the position 96b reaches the detected position (the leftmost position in FIG. 16), the stopper shaft 97c and the stopper member 99 are fitted so that the rotating plate 97 does not rotate any further. For this reason, it fixes in the position where the protrusion unit 79 protruded.
[0098]
Further, when the protrusion unit 79 is returned to the home position, the stopper member 99 and the stopper shaft 97c are disengaged by rotating the protrusion motor 90 in the opposite direction to the protrusion. Then, the protruding unit returns to the home position, and at the position detected by the home sensor 96a (the rightmost position in FIG. 16), as shown in FIG. 18 (a), the stopper shaft 97b and the stopper member 99 are fitted, The rotating plate 97 is prevented from further rotating.
[0099]
As described above, the protrusion unit 79 is configured to move left and right by forward and reverse rotation of the protrusion motor 90.
[0100]
{Distance between nip of folding roller and alignment of veneer}
As described above, the folding roller 78 moves the movable roller 78b upward in accordance with the thickness of the sheet bundle P. That is, the distance between the nips of the folding roller 78 is changed. On the other hand, if the thrusting position by the thrusting plate 79a is always constant, the thrusting plate 79a does not necessarily project at the center between the nips of the folding rollers 78, and the sheet bundle P may not be folded at the binding position.
[0101]
Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the distance between the nips of the folding roller 78 is changed by the cam member, the thrust plate 79a always projects in the center between the nips. The configuration for this will be described specifically with reference to FIG.
[0102]
As shown in FIG. 19, the protruding unit 79 is configured to be rotatable about a sliding roller 79g (the outer diameter of the sliding roller 79f is smaller than the width of the groove 89). A cam member 101 is attached to 78c and 78d. The cam member 101 has a cam groove 101a that can be engaged with the movable roller shaft 78d and a guide portion 101b of the protrusion unit 79. The protrusion unit 79 slides on the guide portion 101b, and a spring 102 is provided. Is biased downward.
[0103]
The cam member 101 is rotatably mounted with the shaft 78c of the fixed roller 78a as a fulcrum. When the movable roller 78b rotates around the fulcrum 80a (see FIG. 15), the movable roller 78b moves upward. The shaft 78d of the movable roller 78b pushes up the cam groove 101a. As a result, the cam member 101 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 19 and the guide portion 101b lifts the protruding unit 79 as shown in FIG. 19B. The cam groove 101a and the guide portion 101b are configured so that the thrust plate 79a always projects the center of the nip distance of the folding roller 78.
[0104]
By providing the cam member 101 as described above, even if the distance between the nips of the folding roller 78 changes due to the change in the sheet bundle thickness, the position where the abutting plate 79a is aligned is always aligned and the center of the distance between the nips is projected. As a result, the sheet bundle P is reliably folded at the binding position. Further, since the alignment of the thrust plate 79a can be performed only by attaching the cam member 101 as described above, the structure is not complicated.
[0105]
The sheet bundle P is bent by the protrusion plate 79a and is nipped by the folding roller 78. Even after the folding roller 78 nips the sheet bundle P, the protrusion plate 79a is in the position where the protrusion unit 79 protrudes. Then, wrinkles may occur on the inner sheet due to the frictional force between the folded sheet and the thrust plate 79a.
[0106]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, after the sheet bundle P is nipped by the folding roller 78, the thrust plate 79a is pulled back to the home position. If the timing of pulling back the thrust plate 79a is too early, the thrust plate 79a returns before the folding roller 78 nips the sheet bundle P. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to fold the sheet bundle P, the pushing plate 79a is pulled back when the folding roller 78 rotates by a predetermined amount.
[0107]
As a result, when the sheet bundle P is nipped and conveyed to the folding roller 78, the pushing plate 79a is retracted to the home position, so the folded sheet bundle P does not rub against the pushing plate 79a, so Occurrence is prevented.
[0108]
{Folding action}
As described above, the center of the sheet bundle P subjected to the binding process is pushed by the pushing plate 79a, and the center portion of the sheet bundle P pushed by the pushing plate 79a is conveyed while being pinched by the folding roller 78. The bundle P is folded.
[0109]
On each sheet forming the sheet bundle, an image is recorded on the upstream half surface and the downstream half surface in the transport direction with reference to the center of the sheet. Similarly, the image recording as described above is performed on both surfaces of the sheet, and the image recording is performed. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding and folding processing is performed in the page order.
[0110]
When the sheet bundle is pulled by the folding roller as described above, if an image is recorded at the center portion of the sheet bundle, the sheet friction coefficient is lowered by the image (toner), so that the folding roller pulls the sheet bundle. There is a risk that sheet wrinkling and tearing may occur.
[0111]
Here, the mechanism of sheet breakage and wrinkle generation during the folding process will be briefly described with reference to FIG. Here, a sheet bundle made up of two sheets P11 and P12 will be described as an example.
[0112]
The frictional force between the folding roller 503 and the first sheet P11 is F1, the frictional force between the first sheet P11 and the second sheet P12 is F2, and the binding needle that binds the bundle of sheets Assuming that the restraining force is F3, a normal folding process is normally performed when the equation F1 = F2 + F3 is established. However, in order to establish the above formula when the frictional force F2 between the sheets P11 and P12 becomes small, the binding force F3 of the binding needle needs to be larger. At this time, even if the sheet strength can withstand the binding force F3 of the binding needle, the second sheet P12 is pulled by the binding needle, causing a shift as shown in FIG. Bending as shown in b) occurs. And if it passes the folding roller 503 in this state, a wrinkle as shown in FIG.21 (c) will arise. Furthermore, if the sheet strength cannot withstand the binding force F3 of the binding needle, a tear as shown in FIG.
[0113]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, a certain margin (folding allowance t) is provided in the center portion of the sheet P (sheet bundle) serving as the folding portion. Specifically, the image recording on the sheet P to be processed by the stitcher unit D is performed in advance when the image recording in the image forming apparatus main body A is performed with a folding center t (in the present embodiment, t = about 5 mm to 8 mm). The margin is set so that the width of the margin is about 2t = 10 mm to 16 mm).
[0114]
In the drawing, Ps is the center (the center in the transport direction) of the sheet P, and Pg is the image recording portion of the sheet P.
[0115]
With this configuration, when the sheet bundle is drawn by the folding roller 78, the frictional force between the sheet P and the folding roller 78 is increased by the blank portion (folding allowance t) provided in advance in the sheet P. The sheet bundle P is reliably pulled in without causing such wrinkles and tears.
[0116]
Here, if the width of the margin portion is narrower than about 10 mm, sufficient frictional force cannot be obtained when the sheet bundle is drawn, and if the margin width exceeds about 16 mm, the image forming area is reduced. For this reason, it is desirable to set the margin width to about 10 mm to 16 mm.
[0117]
In the present embodiment, the sheet to be folded is set so as to form an image with a margin of a predetermined width as described above, but the image forming area needs to be widened. Alternatively, the margin setting may be releasable. In particular, when the number of folded sheets is small, since there is little possibility of tearing even if the margin part of the folding part is narrowed, the setting for providing the margin part of the predetermined width is canceled, and the normal margin width (for example, about 4 mm) is cancelled. ) To form an image. As a result, a wide image forming area can be obtained.
[0118]
Further, when the sheet bundle to be bound and folded as described above has a cover sheet (in the cover mode), image recording is also performed on the back surface of the cover sheet (hereinafter referred to as the cover sheet). When the toner image transferred to the back surface of the cover sheet is fixed by the fixing unit, silicon oil or the like adheres, and the coefficient of friction between the back surface of the cover sheet and the sheet in contact with the cover sheet decreases. In many cases, high-quality paper (and thick paper) is used as the cover sheet. However, when silicon oil adheres to the high-quality paper, the friction coefficient is further reduced as compared with other sheets (plain paper). When this cover sheet is sandwiched between folding rollers and bent and pulled, the friction coefficient between the cover sheet and the sheet in contact with the back surface of the cover sheet is small, so slip occurs between the sheets, and only the cover sheet is pulled There is a risk that.
[0119]
Therefore, in this embodiment, in the cover mode, recording is not performed on the back surface of the cover sheet. Specifically, during image recording in the image forming apparatus main body A, after recording an image on the surface of the cover sheet, the cover sheet is discharged as it is without passing through the retransmission path 7 (see FIG. 1), and the stitcher unit To D.
[0120]
In this embodiment, the cover sheet (quality paper, etc.) is fed from the multi-tray 8 (see FIG. 1), so that the last sheet fed to the stitcher unit D is fed from the multi-tray 8. In the case of paper, control is performed so that the paper is discharged without passing through the retransmission path 7.
[0121]
With this configuration, the back side of the cover sheet does not come into contact with the fixing means (the fixing roller on the image side), so that no silicone oil adheres to the back side of the cover sheet and the friction coefficient is reduced. A drop is prevented, and only the cover sheet is not drawn.
[0122]
{Detection of sheet bundle breakage}
Usually, when the sheet bundle is torn during the folding process as described above, a configuration in which the tear is detected by a detecting unit such as a sensor is conceivable. However, a detecting unit for detecting the torn is provided separately. As a result, the number of parts increases and the cost increases. In addition, when the tear is detected, the next sheet is conveyed, and the previous sheet is retained, so that there is a possibility that a more severe jam may occur.
[0123]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, the intermediate sensor 103 provided in the vicinity (upstream side) of the folding roller 78, the stopper sensor 75 provided in the stopper 62, and the discharge roller 104 are provided. When the discharge sensors 105 are used to detect the presence of sheets at the same time, it is detected that the sheets (or sheet bundles) are torn and the sheets (or sheet bundles) are staying in the stitcher unit D. It is configured to do.
[0124]
In the present embodiment, when the intermediate sensor 103, the stopper sensor 75, and the discharge sensor 105 detect the presence of a sheet at the same time, the occurrence of sheet breakage is detected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to detect the occurrence of sheet breakage when both the stopper sensor 75 and the discharge sensor 105 detect the presence of a sheet.
[0125]
By configuring in this way, it is not necessary to separately provide a detection means for detecting that a sheet (or sheet bundle) has been torn, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost. . In addition, since it is possible to detect sheet breakage at the time when the sheet is folded, it is possible to prevent the sheet from jamming by stopping conveyance of the next sheet at an early stage.
[0126]
{Discharge operation}
As described above, the folded sheet bundle is discharged onto the stacking tray 106 by the discharge roller 104 and stacked. As shown in FIG. 25, a sheet bundle pressing member 107 for pressing the sheet bundle P is provided on the upper portion of the discharge roller 104 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 107a. When the sheet bundle P that has been subjected to the folding process is discharged from the discharge port onto the stacking tray 106 by the pressing member 107, the end portion of the sheet bundle P can be pressed, thereby preventing folding. Even a sufficient sheet bundle P can be stacked so as not to open on the stacking tray 106.
[0127]
The pressing member 107 is restricted so that the rotating roller 107b provided at the tip thereof is not lower than a predetermined height h (a height that does not contact the stacking tray 106), while the rotating roller 107b is lifted up. Can move freely. For this reason, there is no discharge failure that occurs when the leading end of the sheet bundle P having a low waist is pressed by the pressing member 107, and the sheet can be reliably stacked on the stacking tray 106.
[0128]
As described above, when the folded sheet bundle P is discharged onto the stacking tray 106 by the discharge roller 104, the sheet bundle folding side (downstream in the discharge direction) swells as compared with the sheet bundle opening side, so that the stacking is performed as it is. In this case, only the sheet bundle folding side becomes high, and the stackability of the sheet bundle may be unstable. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24, an apparatus is proposed in which the sheet bundles P are sequentially displaced and stacked so that the sheet bundles P discharged by the discharge rollers 505 are stacked on the stacking tray 504. Has been.
[0129]
However, in the above-described configuration, when a large number of sheet bundles are discharged, it is necessary to enlarge the stacking tray, which increases the size of the apparatus and the installation space.
[0130]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, the portion near the discharge roller 104 of the stacking tray 106 is made higher than the stacking surface 106b (projecting portion 106a), and the folding side of the sheet bundle P is the leading end side of the stacking tray 106 The stacking surface 106b (downstream in the discharge direction) is configured to discharge so that the open side is placed on the protruding portion 106a. As a result, the folding side is lowered from the opening side, and even when the folding side is larger than the opening side, the height difference from the opening side can be reduced.
[0131]
Specifically, when the sheet bundle P is thick (that is, in the case of a sheet bundle in which the folding side particularly swells), the sheet bundle discharge speed by the discharge roller 104 is slowed so that the open side of the sheet bundle P rests on the protrusion 106a. Is discharged. Further, when the sheet bundle P is thin (that is, in the case of a sheet bundle where the folding side does not swell relatively), the sheet bundle discharge speed by the discharge roller 104 is increased so that the open side of the sheet bundle P does not rest on the protrusion 106a. In addition, the sheet is discharged onto the loading surface 106b.
[0132]
As a result, only one side (folding side) of the sheet bundle P discharged onto the stacking tray 106 is not raised, and the stackability of the sheet bundle P is stabilized. Further, since it is not necessary to stack the sheet bundle P, it is not necessary to enlarge the stacking tray 106.
[0133]
In the present embodiment, the protrusion is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an inclined portion is provided, or the stacking tray 106 is provided in an inclined shape. 106 may be configured to provide a protrusion that can be moved in and out from the bottom surface.
[0134]
{Description of control system}
Here, the configuration of the main part of the control system for controlling the driving of each member of the stitcher unit described above will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
[0135]
In FIG. 26, the MPU 200 as the control means detects the home position of the first upper sensor 66 a to the third upper sensor 66 c that detects the presence or absence of the sheet conveyed to the stitcher unit or the leading edge or the trailing edge, and the alignment member 71. The member home sensor 220, the stopper home sensor 76 for detecting the home position of the stopper 62, the stopper sensor 75 for detecting the sheet, the discharge sensor 105 provided in the vicinity of the discharge roller 104, and the thrust position of the thrust plate 79a A signal from each sensor such as a protrusion position sensor 96b for detecting the intermediate sensor 103 and an intermediate sensor 103 provided in the vicinity of the folding roller 78 is input.
[0136]
Based on the signals from the sensors and the image forming apparatus main body A, the MPU 200 drives the first flapper 21 for feeding the sheet to the vertical path of the stitcher unit via the drivers D20 to D28. The first flapper solenoid 201, the switching upper solenoid 221 for switching the first flapper 64a and the second flapper 64b on the vertical path path, the switching lower solenoid 222, the upper roller pair 63, and the lower roller portion 67 are driven to drive the sheet. A conveyance motor 223 for conveying, a stapler motor 61i for driving the stapler unit 61, a width adjusting motor 224 for operating the alignment member 71, a stopper driving motor 74 for moving the stopper 62, and a folding roller 78 are driven. For driving the folding motor 82 and the thrust plate 79a And it controls the motor 90 or the like, is intended to perform the operation as described above.
[0137]
As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is applied to the stitcher unit of the sheet processing apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet. As a result, the sheet to be conveyed can be pressed with a uniform force over a wide range, so that contamination due to image transfer does not occur on the surface of the sheet. Moreover, it is suitable also when conveying a weak material sheet.
[0138]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet abuts against the sheet and presses the sheet against the sheet conveyance rotating member, and is deformed by the pressing force that presses the sheet conveyance rotation member at the contact portion with the sheet. By conveying the sheet using a pressing means having an elastic member, the conveyed sheet can be pressed with a uniform force over a wide range, so that a stable conveying force can be obtained and contamination due to image transfer on the surface of the sheet Will not occur.
[0139]
Further, by providing a slidable member having a high slidability with respect to the sheet at the contact portion with the sheet, the sheet conveying property can be improved.
[0140]
Further, even if the axis of the sheet conveying rotation member and the pressing means are not parallel due to the accuracy of the parts, etc., the pressing means can follow the direction of the axis of the sheet conveying rotating member by the swinging means. Even when the pressing force is applied unevenly, the pressing force can be applied uniformly.
[0141]
Further, since the sheet can be conveyed by contacting the sheet only when necessary for conveyance by the separating means, it is possible to prevent the sheet surface from being soiled due to transfer or the like that occurs when the sheet is always in contact.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a finisher unit.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a stitcher unit.
FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view showing a state of a sheet discharged by an offset process.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state of a swing guide and a paddle when returning a sheet.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view for explaining the configuration of the pressing means.
FIG. 7 is a schematic arrow view of the pressing means in FIG. 6 (a) in the X direction.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a pressing unit.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a vertical path shape.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the shape of stacked sheets.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a stopper driving mechanism.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a stapler unit.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of loading a needle into a needle cartridge.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a needle fitted in a groove portion of an anvil is pulled out by a pressing means.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a moving configuration of a movable roller.
FIG. 16 is a side explanatory view of the driving configuration of the folding roller unit.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory plan view of the driving configuration of the folding roller unit.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a thrust stopper configuration.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a cam member that aligns a thrust plate.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the veneer is pulled back.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a generation mechanism of sheet tearing and wrinkling during folding processing.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an image recording portion and a folding margin portion on a sheet.
FIG. 23 is a layout diagram of an intermediate sensor, a stopper sensor, and a discharge sensor that detect sheet breakage.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a stacking state of sheet bundles on a stacking tray.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a stacking state of sheet bundles on a stacking tray.
FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system of the stitcher unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Document feeder
2 Optical means
3 Image forming means
3a Light irradiation means
3b Photosensitive drum
4 Sheet cassette
5 Transport roller
6 Fixing means
7 Retransmission path
8 Multi-tray
11 Side guide
12 Staple tray
13 Stapler
14 Buffer path
15 Transport roller
16 Upstream discharge roller pair
17 Downstream discharge roller pair
18 Stack tray
19 Upper tray
20 Swing guide
21 First flapper
31 paddle
32 knurled belt
33 Rear end stopper
37 Standard Guide
60 vertical pass
60a pass guide
60b pass guide
60c ridge
61 Stapler unit
61a Rotating shaft
61b Forming part
61c Drive unit
61d anvil
61d1 side
61d2 groove
61e Needle cartridge
61f Binding needle
61g spring
61h Needle feed roller
61i Stapler motor
61j Gear train
61k Eccentric cam gear
62 Stopper
62a Slide member
62b flag
63 Upper roller pair
64 Flapper
64a first flapper
64b second flapper
65 Movable guide
65a Energizing means
65b handle
66 Sheet sensor
66a First upper sensor
66b Second upper sensor
66c Third upper sensor
67 Lower roller
68 Drive roller
69 Pressing means
69a Pressing arm
69b Rotating shaft
69c spring
69d Arc part
69e sheet material
69f Elastic member
69g Constriction
69h Support part
69i pressing part
69j adhesive part
69k adhesive part
70 Press release arm
71 Alignment member
72 Stopper frame
73 Stopper drive belt
74 Stopper drive motor
75 Stopper sensor
76 Stopper home sensor
77 Support plate
78 Folding roller
78a fixed roller
78b Movable roller
78c axis
78d axis
79 Extrusion unit
79a Veneer
79b Holder
79c axis
79d holder
79e axis
79f sliding roller
79g sliding roller
80 Support arm
81 Spring
82 Folding motor
83 Motor pulley
84 Timing belt
85 idler pulley
86 Folding gear
87 Folding gear
88 idler gear
89 Groove
90 Extrusion motor
91 idler gear pulley
92 Timing belt
93 axes
94 Gear
95a, 95b Flag
96a Home sensor
96b Thrust position sensor
97 Rotating plate
97a shaft
97b, 97c Stopper shaft
98 links
99 Stopper member
100 Tension spring
101 Cam member
101a Cam groove
101b Guide
102 Spring
103 Intermediate sensor
104 Discharge roller
105 Discharge sensor
106 Loading tray
107 Holding member
200 MPU
201 First flapper solenoid
220 Alignment member home sensor
221 Switching upper solenoid
222 Solenoid under switching
223 Transport motor
224 Alignment motor
A Image forming device body
B Sheet processing device
C Finisher unit
D Stitcher unit
P sheet
Image recording part of Pg sheet
Center part of Ps sheet

Claims (13)

A sheet conveying rotating member for conveying an image-formed sheet ;
A pressing means for pressing the sheet to the sheet conveying rotary member in contact with the sheet,
Comprising a, the sheet conveying rotary member and the pressing Rikyo lifting sheets by the means, the sheet conveying apparatus causes conveyed along the sheet conveying path by the sheet conveying rotary member,
The pressing means is
An elastic member configured by a porous member and deformed by a pressing force by which the pressing means presses the sheet conveying rotation member;
A slidable member that is in contact with the sheet, provided to cover the elastic member at a contact portion with the sheet, and a slidable member having high slidability with respect to the sheet;
A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: The pressing means includes a pressing arm that holds the slidable member and the elastic member, and a rocking mechanism that allows the pressing arm to swing in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet surface of a sheet conveyed through the sheet conveying path. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a moving unit. Said rocking means is rotatably provided with respect to an axis substantially parallel portion to the rotation shaft of the sheet conveying rotary member, the sliding member and the elastic member, the sheet surface of the sheet conveyed to the sheet conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm support portion for supporting the pressing arm so as to be swingable in a substantially vertical direction Te. It said pressing arm has a sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the benzalkonium to hold the sliding member via the elastic member. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slidable member includes a flexible portion that bends as the elastic member is deformed. It said sheet transport path upstream shape of the abutting portion abutting on the seat of the sliding member is a cross section arcuate guiding between the sheet conveyed to the sheet conveying rotary member and the pressing means The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is a sheet conveying apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separating unit that separates a contact portion of the slidable member with the sheet from the sheet conveying path. A sheet detecting means for detecting the leading edge of the conveyed sheet;
The spacing means is
If the sheet detection means does not detect the sheet, the contact portion is separated from the sheet conveyance path,
It said sheet when the detecting means detects the conveyance of the sheet, the sheet conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that for releasing the separated state so as to contact the contact portion starvation over preparative. A sheet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Provided on the sheet conveying path downstream of the sheet conveying rotating member, that and a sheet regulating means for regulating the transport of sheet over preparative contact with the leading end of the sheet conveyed along the sheet conveying path A sheet processing apparatus. Said sheet conveying rotating member is in the first state sandwiching the sheet is restricted conveyed by said sheet regulating means between said pressing means, the second sheet being conveyed to said first sheet The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sheet processing apparatus conveys the sheet while sliding the sheet processing apparatus. A sheet binding unit that is provided on the upstream side of the sheet transport path of the sheet transport rotation member and that binds a plurality of sheets whose transport is regulated by the sheet regulation unit;
Before Ki押 pressure means, the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that arranged on the needle foot end of the staple that stop stapled sheets by the sheet binding unit. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet conveying equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 8 for conveying the sheet with an image formed by said image forming means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, which processes a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images