JP4333994B2 - Recording material processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as punching and stapling on a recording material that is arranged adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body and formed an image, and a copying machine, printer, facsimile, and the like equipped with the same The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a recording material processing apparatus that performs post-processing (punch processing, stapling processing, other bookbinding processing, etc.) on a recording material after image formation, for example, adjacent to an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer. Yes. In this recording material processing apparatus, the recording material discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus passes through the conveyance path and is stacked and bundled on the processing tray side, and then performs stapling processing (binding operation) and the like. As described above, when stapling a recording material bundle, end binding or saddle stitching is performed by the stapler. However, while the stapling process is performed on the processing tray side, the next recording material bundle cannot be taken into the processing tray. Therefore, it is necessary to leave an interval between the recording materials conveyed during the stapling process. However, this reduces productivity in the recording material processing apparatus.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, a retracting roller 100 for receiving a recording material during the stapling process, transport paths 101a and 101b provided along a substantially tangential direction of the retracting roller 100, and a retracting roller 100 are provided. The present applicant has proposed a post-processing device having an evacuation path 102 provided along the outer periphery of the image forming apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

  According to this post-processing device, while the recording material bundle is stapled by a staple unit (not shown), the retracting roller 100 rotates to receive the next recording material, and then after the staple processing is completed, The retracted recording material and the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus main body are simultaneously fed into the staple unit.

JP 2002-293466 A (3rd page, FIG. 3)

  However, according to the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, when the length in the conveyance direction of the recording material passing through the conveyance path 101a and the conveyance path 101b is taken into consideration, the recording material is conveyed to the lower part (conveyance path side) of the retracting roller 100. In the case of Patent Document 1, since the conveyance roller 103 is provided on the attachment shaft of the branch claw 104, a radial load or rotation is applied to the attachment shaft of the branch claw 104. It was the cause of malfunction.

  On the other hand, if the transport roller 103 is to be provided in the transport path 101 c on the downstream side in the transport direction from the branch claw 105, another transport roller needs to be provided on the shunt path 102 close to the branch claw 105. Further, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when the recording material is conveyed to the staple unit (not shown) side, since the conveyance roller 103 rotates in the reverse direction, when the leading end of the recording material comes into contact with the conveyance roller 103. There were problems such as the possibility of JAM.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a conveyance roller in the middle of the conveyance direction of the first and second branching claws so as to overlap in side view, and smoothly switches the conveyance direction by the first and second branching claws. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording material processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  The recording material processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes: (1) a conveyance path for conveying the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus main body; and (2) arranged so as to contact the conveyance path, and stapling the recording material bundle. A retreating roller that rotates during post-processing of the first bundle of recording materials and receives the next recording material in the winding direction when performing post-processing such as processing, and (3) a recording material disposed on the conveyance path, A first branching claw that switches the transporting direction between the transporting path side and the processing unit side that performs the post-processing; and (4) a recording material that is disposed on the transporting path after passing through the first branching claw. A second branching claw that switches the direction between the discharge tray side and the retracting roller side.

In the recording medium processing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, wherein the conveying direction intermediate the first branch claw and the second branch claw, is arranged a conveying roller for conveying the recording material in the conveyance path Yes. Further, the first branch claw and the second branch claw are formed with a notch for accommodating the transport roller. Then, the first branching claw is housed in the notch part of the first branching claw and the notch part of the second branching claw so that the feeding roller does not interfere with each other. The second branch claw overlaps with the roller in side view and overlaps with the transport roller in side view.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording material processing apparatus according to the first aspect, a plurality of the conveying rollers are provided on an outer peripheral portion of the retracting roller, and are rotated in a paired manner with the retracting roller. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on a recording material, and a stapling process or the like applied to the recording material that is installed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body and image-formed by the image forming apparatus main body. In an image forming apparatus comprising a recording material processing apparatus that performs post-processing,
The recording material processing apparatus is a recording material processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

  According to the present invention, the first branch claw that is arranged on the conveyance path and switches the recording material conveyance direction between the conveyance path side and the processing unit side, and the conveyance path after passing through the first branch claw is arranged. A second branching claw that switches the conveyance direction of the recording material between the discharge tray side and the retracting roller side, a conveyance roller is provided in the middle of the conveyance direction of the first and second branching claws, and the conveyance Since the first and second branching claws are notched so as not to interfere with the roller, and the conveying roller and the first and second branching claws are arranged so as to overlap each other in side view, The recording material conveyance direction can be smoothly switched by the first and second branching claws.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 11 and a recording material processing apparatus 12. The recording material processing apparatus 12 is installed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body 11.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 is an electrophotographic type, and the recording material processing apparatus 12 has a stapler. However, the image forming apparatus and the recording material processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. Is not limited to these.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus main body 11, and then the configuration and operation of the recording material processing apparatus 12 will be described.
(Configuration and operation of image forming apparatus main body)
An image forming apparatus main body 11 shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and includes an image forming unit 13, a recording material P feeding / conveying unit 14, and a fixing unit 15. As the recording material P, paper, plastic film, OHP sheet or the like is used.

  Among them, the image forming unit 13 includes a photosensitive drum 16 that is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a, and a primary charger 17, an exposure unit 18, a developing unit 20, and the like arranged around the photosensitive drum 16 in the rotation direction. A transfer charger 21 and a cleaning device 22 are provided. The photosensitive drum 16 is formed by providing, for example, an OPC (organic optical semiconductor) photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a drum-shaped conductive substrate, and a predetermined process speed (in the direction of arrow a) by a driving unit (not shown). (Circumferential speed).

  The primary charger 17 has a charging roller (not shown) disposed in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 and applies a charging bias to the charging roller so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 has a predetermined polarity and potential. And a charging bias applying power source (not shown) for charging in the same manner. The exposure device 18 exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 16 in accordance with image information, and removes the charge of the exposed portion to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure device 18 includes a laser scanner, a polygon mirror, It has a lens, a reflection mirror, and the like. The developing device 20 includes a developing container containing a developer (toner), a developing roller (not shown) that carries the toner in the developing container on the surface and transports it to the developing unit, and a developing bias applied to the developing roller. A developing bias applying power source (not shown) for applying the toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 16 to develop it as a toner image.

  The transfer charger 21 is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 16 and forms a transfer portion between the transfer charger 21 and the photosensitive drum 16. The recording material P supplied from the feeding / conveying unit 14 to the transfer unit is applied with a transfer bias to the transfer charger 21 by a developing bias application power source, whereby the toner image on the photosensitive drum 16 is electrostatically charged. It is supposed to be transferred to.

  The cleaning device 22 has a cleaning blade for removing toner (residual toner) that is not transferred to the recording material P during transfer and remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16.

  The feeding / conveying section 14 includes a paper feeding cassette 23, a paper feeding roller 24, a conveying roller pair 25, a registration roller pair 26, and a paper discharging roller pair 27 in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording material P. The paper feed cassette 23 stores a large number of recording materials P on which toner images are formed. The paper feed roller 24 feeds the recording material P in the paper feed cassette 23 one by one, and the transport roller pair 25 transports the fed recording material P toward the registration roller pair 26. To do. The registration roller pair 26 temporarily stops the recording material P conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 25, and then aligns the timing with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 16 so that the recording material P is transferred to the transfer portion. To supply. The paper discharge roller pair 27 is disposed on the upper side surface 11 a of the image forming apparatus main body 11. The recording material P having the toner image fixed on the surface thereof by the fixing unit 15 is disposed outside the image forming apparatus main body 11. To be discharged.

  The fixing unit 15 includes a fixing roller 30 having a heater built therein, and a pressure roller 28 that is pressed by the fixing roller 30 to form a fixing nip portion. In the image forming unit 13, the recording material P having the toner image transferred to the surface is heated while being nipped and conveyed by the fixing nip portion, and is pressed to be fused and fixed on the surface. Yes.

  In such an image forming apparatus main body 11, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 by primary charging, exposure, and development in the image forming unit 13. On the other hand, the recording material P is supplied from the paper feed cassette 23 to the transfer section in synchronization with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 16 by the paper feed roller 24, the transport roller pair 25 and the registration roller pair 26. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 16 is transferred to the supplied recording material P by the transfer charger 21. After the toner image is transferred, the toner image is fixed on the surface of the recording material P by the fixing unit 15, and then discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 11 by the paper discharge roller pair 27. Thereby, the image formation by the image forming apparatus main body 11 is completed.

The recording material P discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 11 by the paper discharge roller pair 27 is supplied to the recording material processing apparatus 12.
(Configuration and operation of recording material processing equipment)
The recording material processing device 12 performs post-processing such as punching or stapling on the recording material P, and performs these processing on the recording material P after an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 11. Is.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording material processing apparatus 12 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 33. In the upper portion of the right side wall of the housing 33, a recording material P carry-in port 34 is provided at a position corresponding to the paper discharge roller pair 27 on the image forming apparatus main body 11 side. A transport path 42 that transports the recording material P on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 11 is provided on the downstream side of the carry-in port 34. A punching device 35 for punching the recording material P is provided on the conveying path 42, and two pairs of curl rollers for correcting curling (curvature) of the recording material P are provided on the downstream side thereof. Pairs 36 and 37 are arranged. Further, the downstream side of the decurling roller pair 37 is branched into a conveyance path 42 ′ extending in the extending direction of the conveyance path 42 and a processing path 43 extending to the processing unit 40 below.

  A first branch claw 44 that is switched by a solenoid (not shown) is disposed on the conveyance path 42 ′ in the branch portion. The first branching claw 44 has a conveying direction of the recording material P corresponding to the solenoid on / off, a conveying path (thick arrow direction) 42 ′ extending in the extending direction of the conveying path 42, and a lower processing unit. It is possible to switch to the processing path (thick arrow direction) 43 extending to 40. The conveyance path 42 ′ is formed so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction so as to be in contact with a later-described retracting roller 41. Details will be described later.

  The processing path 43 extending to the processing unit 40 is extended so as to extend along the upper conveyance belt 70 and the lower conveyance belt 71 that branch downward from the branch portion of the conveyance path 42 described above and then extend obliquely downward. The upper transport belt 70 is provided with an upper moving plate 76 that can move integrally with the upper transport belt 70, and the lower transport belt 71 has a lower moving plate 77 that can move integrally with the lower transport belt 71. Is provided. A stapler driver 72 and a stapler clincher 73 are disposed in the middle of the lower conveyance belt 71 in the conveyance direction. Further, a feed roller 74 and a unit roller 75 are provided on the terminal side of the lower conveyance belt 71 in the conveyance direction.

  In the processing unit 40, the recording material P that has been carried in is subjected to width alignment, stapling, and the like, and the post-processed recording material bundle is conveyed to a main discharge tray 45, a half-fold tray not shown. At this time, when the post-processed recording material bundle is carried out to the main discharge tray 45 side, the upper conveying belt 70 and the lower conveying belt 71 are driven to move the upper moving plate 76 and the lower moving plate 77 upward. The recording material bundle is pushed up.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the above-described retracting roller 41 is arranged so as to contact the transport path 42 ′ on the extension of the transport path 42, and along the outer diameter of the retracting roller 41, A retreat path 51 for the recording material P is formed. On the retracting path 51, transport rollers 60 and 61 that are driven to rotate in a pair with the retracting roller 41 are provided, and on the transport path 42 ′ along the outer diameter of the retracting roller 41, a description will be given later. A conveying roller 53 is provided in a pair with the retracting roller 41. The outer diameter of the retracting roller 41 can be determined in relation to the maximum size of the recording material P to be withdrawn, and the recording material P that has been retracted on the retracting path 51 is then carried in next. It is necessary to set the recording material P so that the front end does not overlap.

  When the recording material bundle carried into the processing unit 40 is subjected to post-processing such as stapling processing, the escape path 51 rotates during the post-processing of the first recording material bundle and moves to the next recording material P in the winding direction. To accept and evacuate. Although not shown, a sensor for detecting the front end of the recording material P wound around the retracting roller 41 is provided in the vicinity of the transport roller 61 around the retracting roller 41.

  In addition, on the conveyance path 42 ′ after passing through the first branching claw 44, the recording material P is conveyed in the direction of the discharge conveyance path (thick arrow direction) 46 to the main discharge tray 45 and the retracting roller 41. A second branching claw 47 is provided to switch to the conveyance path (thick arrow direction) 42 ″ along. In the present embodiment, the conveyance path 42 ″ along the retraction roller 41 and the retraction path 51 are different from each other. The parts are overlapping.

  Further, on the downstream side of the transport path 42 ″, the transport direction of the recording material P after passing the second branch claw 47 along the transport path 42 ″ is set to the discharge transport path (thick arrow) to the sub discharge tray 48. Direction) and a third branch claw 52 that switches to the side of the retracting path 51 in the winding direction of the retracting roller 41.

  In the present embodiment, the above-described first branch claw 44 is integrally fixed to the shaft 54, and the second branch claw 47 is integrally fixed to the shaft 55, and further, the third branch claw 52 is integrally fixed to a shaft 67, and these first to third branching claws 44, 47, 52 are controlled to switch the transport direction by rotating the shafts 54, 55, 67 by a solenoid (not shown). Done. A driving roller 38 is provided on the processing path 43 below the first branching claw 44 to convey the recording material P taken into the processing path 43 side to the processing unit 40 side.

  Next, on the conveyance path 42 ′ in the conveyance direction between the first branch claw 44 and the second branch claw 47, as described above, the conveyance roller 53 that rotates following the pair of the retracting roller 41. Is provided. The transport roller 53 serves to transport the recording material P located in the transport paths 42, 42 ′, 42 ″ to the downstream side, but swings around the fulcrum shaft 66 with respect to the retracting roller 41. By doing so, it is arranged so as to be able to contact and separate from the retracting roller 41.

  In the present embodiment, the first branch claw 44 and the transport roller 53, and the transport roller 53 and the second branch claw 47 disposed on the transport path 42 ′ are disposed so as to overlap each other in a side view. ing.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second branch claws 44 and 47 are integrally fixed to the shafts 54 and 55, respectively, and the transport roller 53 is rotatably attached to the shaft 56. It is supported. The first branch claw 44 and the second branch claw 47 are formed with notches 57 and 58 so as not to interfere with the transport roller 53. Due to the notches 57 and 58, the first and second branch claws 44 and 47 rotate independently and smoothly without interfering with the transport roller 53 when rotating about the shafts 54 and 55, respectively. can do.

   On the discharge conveyance path 46 to the main discharge tray 45, a discharge roller pair 62 including a drive roller 63 and a driven roller 63 ′ that rotates in contact with the drive roller 63 is provided. On the discharge conveyance path 50, a discharge roller pair 64 including a driving roller 65 and a driven roller 65 ′ is provided.

In the present embodiment, the transport rollers 53, 60, 61 are provided on the outer periphery of the retracting roller 41 so as to be driven and rotated in pairs with the retracting roller 41. Instead of the retracting roller 41, driving rollers that rotate in pairs with the conveying rollers 53, 60, 61 may be provided separately.
(Operation of recording material processing equipment)
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mode of operation of the branch claws 44, 47, 52. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described based on this diagram.

  The recording material P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 11 is carried into the recording material processing apparatus 12 through the carry-in port 34 provided on the side surface of the housing 33, and post-processing such as stapling is not selected. The first branch claw 44 and the second branch claw 47 are switched to the broken line position in the figure. As a result, the recording material P passes from the conveyance path 42 through the conveyance path 42 ′, passes through the discharge conveyance path 46, is sent to the discharge roller pair 62, and is discharged to the main discharge tray 45.

  When the first branch claw 44 is switched to the broken line position in the figure, the second branch claw 47 is switched to the solid line position in the figure, and the third branch claw 52 is switched to the broken line position in the figure, the recording material P is From the conveyance path 42, the conveyance paths 42 ′ and 42 ″ are passed through the discharge conveyance path 50, sent to the discharge roller pair 64, and discharged to the sub discharge tray 48.

Further, when the first branch claw 44 is switched to the broken line position in the figure, the second branch claw 47 is switched to the solid line position in the figure, and the third branch claw 52 is further switched to the solid line position in the figure, the recording material P is From the conveyance path 42, the conveyance path 42 ′, 42 ″ is conveyed to the retraction path 51 in the winding direction of the retraction roller 41.
On the other hand, when post-processing such as stapling is selected, the first branching claw 44 is switched to the solid line position in the figure, conveyed downward by the driving roller 38, and sent to the processing unit 40.

  When there are a plurality of recording material bundles carried into the processing unit 40, if the first recording material bundle is carried into the processing unit 40 and subjected to stapling or the like, the first recording material of the next recording material bundle is used. P cannot be carried into the processing unit 40. Therefore, the first recording material P of the next recording material bundle is retracted in a retracting path 51 formed along the outer diameter of the retracting roller 41 that rotates in the clockwise direction. In this case, the first branch claw 44 is switched to the broken line position in the figure, and the second branch claw 47 and the third branch claw 52 are switched to the solid line position in the figure. The leading edge of the recording material P that has been retracted in the retreat path 51 is detected by a sensor (not shown) just past the transport roller 61 and stops at a predetermined position.

  Next, the second recording material P is carried into the recording material processing device 12 from the image forming apparatus main body 11, and the above-described first recording material bundle finishes the stapling process and reaches the discharge roller pair 62. When a sensor (not shown) is crossed, the first branch claw 44 is switched to the solid line position in the figure. After the leading edge of the second recording material P passes through the sensor provided on the conveyance path 42, the first recording material P and the second recording material P are separated from the leading edge position of the first recording material P that is stopped. When the second recording material P reaches a distance equal to the distance to the point where the leading ends overlap, the retracting roller 41 starts to rotate again, and the first recording material P starts. By restarting the conveyance, the leading ends of the first and second recording materials P overlap and are conveyed in the direction of the processing unit 40.

  In the present embodiment, a case where the first recording material P wound around the retracting roller 41 and the second recording material P newly conveyed are superposed and conveyed to the processing unit 40. As described above, when the sheet cannot be conveyed to the processing unit 40 at this timing due to the relationship between the copying speed and the stapling processing time, the plurality of recording materials P are retracted to the retreat path 51 and the leading ends of the next recording material P are aligned. You may convey to the processing unit 40 in the overlapping state.

  According to the present embodiment, the transport roller 53 is provided in the middle of the transport direction of the first and second branch claws 44 and 47, and the first and second branches are provided so as not to interfere with the transport roller 53. Since the notches 57 and 58 are formed in the claws 44 and 47, and the conveying roller 53 and the first and second branch claws 44 and 47 are arranged so as to overlap each other in a side view, the first and second branch claws are arranged. The conveyance direction of the recording material P by 44 and 47 can be smoothly switched.

  The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, or multifunction machines having both functions.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a cross-sectional side view of the recording material processing apparatus of the present embodiment. It is a principal part enlarged view same as the above. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a conveyance roller and the 1st and 2nd separation nail | claw. It is the cross-sectional side view which expanded the principal part of the recording material processing apparatus. It is a cross-sectional side view of a conventional recording material processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 12 ... Recording material processing apparatus, 38 ... Drive roller, 40 ... Processing unit, 41 ... Retracting roller, 42, 42 ', 42 "... ... transport path, 43 ... treatment path, 44 ... first branch claw, 45 ... main discharge tray, 46 ... discharge transport path, 47 ... second branch claw, 48 ... sub discharge tray, 50 ...... Discharge conveyance path, 51 ...... Retraction path, 52 ...... third branch claw, 53 ...... conveyance roller, 57, 58 ...... notch, 60, 61 ...... conveyance roller, P ...... recording material

Claims (3)

A conveyance path for conveying the recording material discharged from the image forming apparatus main body,
When the recording material bundle is subjected to post-processing such as stapling processing, it is arranged so as to be in contact with the transport path, and is rotated during the post-processing of the first recording material bundle to receive the next recording material in the winding direction. Laura,
A first branching claw disposed on the conveyance path and switching a conveyance direction of the recording material between the conveyance path side and a processing unit side for performing the post-processing;
A recording material processing apparatus comprising: a second branching claw disposed on the transport path after passing through the first branching claw and switching a recording material transporting direction between a discharge tray side and the retracting roller side. ,
A conveyance roller that conveys the recording material in the conveyance path is disposed in the middle of the conveyance direction between the first branch claw and the second branch claw,
The first branch claw and the second branch claw are formed with a notch for accommodating the transport roller,
By being accommodated in the notch portion of the first branch claw and the notch portion of the second branch claw so as not to interfere with each other,
The first branch claw overlaps with the conveyance roller in a side view, and the second branch claw overlaps with the conveyance roller in a side view.
A recording material processing apparatus.   The recording material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the transport rollers are provided on an outer peripheral portion of the retracting roller, and are driven to rotate in pairs with the retracting roller. An image forming apparatus main body that forms an image on the recording material, and a recording material that is installed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body and performs post-processing such as stapling on the recording material that is image-formed by the image forming apparatus main body An image forming apparatus comprising: a processing device;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the recording material processing apparatus is the recording material processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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