JP4469315B2 - Post-processing device, image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a plotter, and a multifunction machine.

  A post-processing device that transports sheet-like media (hereinafter referred to as paper) on which an image is formed from an image forming apparatus main body one by one, punches holes in the paper by punching means, and performs punching processing. One having a detecting means for detecting whether or not a punching blade (hereinafter referred to as a punching blade) is at a home position has been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  Since the punching means pierces the paper with a punch blade to form a punch hole, it is difficult to remove the paper if the punch blade is stuck in the paper and the machine is stopped. For example, if the paper is thin, it can be forcibly broken and removed, but in this case, there is a high possibility that the torn paper piece will remain in the machine, which will greatly affect the subsequent transport quality. Further, in the case of thick paper, it is difficult to break the paper, so it is difficult for the user to remove the paper.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-798 JP-A-10-324447 Japanese Patent No. 3581790

  The present invention provides a post-processing device and an image forming apparatus that can be safely removed without damaging the sheet-like medium even when the machine is stopped with the punch blade constituting the punching means stuck in the sheet-like medium. The issue is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying a sheet-like medium, a punching means for punching a sheet-like medium conveyed by the conveying means, and a punch blade of the punching means at a home position. In the post-processing apparatus having the detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a jam, the post-processing apparatus has a control means for stopping the driving of the post-processing apparatus when a jam occurs, and the post-processing apparatus is operated by this control means et drive is stopped, the cutting head by the detecting means detects whether or not the home position, when not in the home position, it was decided to return to the home position (claim 1). The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes an actuator that operates in conjunction with the punch blade and a sensor that detects the position of the actuator (claim 2). In the post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, when the punch blade is returned to the home position, the punch blade is returned by an operation reverse to that during the drilling operation (claim 3). The post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a control unit that determines that an abnormality occurs when the punch blade does not return to the home position within a predetermined time (claim 4). 5. An image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on an image carrier onto a sheet-like medium, fixing and discharging the sheet-like medium, and as means for perforating the sheet-like medium discharged after the fixing process . Rutotomoni includes a processing device after according to one rear handle stop signal for stopping the driving of the post-processing apparatus in the case where the signal input unit or for inputting the abnormality signal jamming, or signal is input The image forming apparatus is provided with a signal stop signal output means for outputting to the apparatus.

In this invention, even when the machine stops with the punch blade stuck in the sheet-like medium , the punch blade can be safely returned to the home position before prompting the user to remove the jam. It is possible to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can be safely removed without being damaged.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[1] Post-Processing Device FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a post-processing device 200 provided with a punching device for receiving and punching paper conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100. An inlet sensor 36, a punch unit 4 as a punching unit, an inlet roller 1 and two branching claws 8a are provided around the entrance of the sheet conveying path 2R of the post-processing apparatus 200 having a punching unit that is a connecting portion with the image forming apparatus 100. , 8b are disposed.

  The inlet sensor 36 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet to be discharged and conveyed. Each of the branching claws 8a and 8b, by means of solenoids and springs (not shown), allows a sheet going in the direction of the discharge tray 9, a sheet going in the direction of the proof tray 14, and a sheet going in the direction of the stapling device 13 to be fed. Each is driven to divide.

  The sorting / stacking conveyance path 16R from the sheet conveyance path 2R to the sheet discharge tray 9 has an upper conveyance roller 6 composed of a pair of rollers, a sheet discharge sensor 38 for detecting the sheet, the discharge roller 3, and the approach for bringing the sheet to one side. A roller 7, a paper surface detection lever 10 that moves up and down by the stacked paper, and paper surface detection sensors 33 and 34 that detect the height of the stacked paper are arranged. The sheet or staple-bound sheet bundle is discharged from the discharge roller 3 to the discharge tray 9.

  A plurality of conveyance rollers including a pair of rollers are disposed on the conveyance path 14R from the sheet conveyance path 2R to the proof tray 14. The proof tray 14 stocks interrupt sheets from a facsimile, a printer, or the like during a job such as copying.

  In the staple transport path 11R from the paper transport path 2R to the stapling apparatus 13, a transport roller 20 including a pair of rollers, a paper discharge sensor (not shown), and the like are disposed. Around the stapling device 13, a jogger fence 19 for aligning sheets, a return roller 5, and a discharge belt 12 for discharging a bundle of bound sheets are arranged.

A sheet fed from the image forming apparatus 100 and conveyed by the entrance roller 1 is temporarily stopped at an appropriate position in the punch unit 4 where punch processing is to be performed, and a punching operation is performed. The details of the punch unit 4 will be described later. Focusing on the flow of the paper, if the paper with punch holes is stapled, the paper passes through the staple discharge roller pair 11 and is stacked on the jogger fence 19. In addition, various post-processings are performed such as a stipple mode in which the stapler 13 binds. Further, punch scraps of the punched paper are accommodated in the hopper 15.
[2] Image Forming Apparatus As an example of an apparatus that can be combined with the post-processing apparatus 200, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the image forming apparatus 80 of the present example, an image forming unit 135 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body, and a paper feeding unit 136 is disposed immediately below the image forming unit 135. The paper feed unit 136 includes a paper feed cassette 210.

  A document reading device (not shown) for reading a document can be provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 80 as needed. The upper part of the image forming unit 135 is provided with a roller RR, a guide plate, and the like as a conveying unit that conveys an image-formed sheet.

  The image forming unit 135 is provided with an electrical unit F that electrically drives and controls the apparatus. A drum-shaped photoconductor 500 is also arranged. Around the photosensitive member 500, a charging device 600 for charging the surface of the photosensitive member 500, an exposure device 700 for irradiating the photosensitive member surface with laser light with image information, and a surface of the photosensitive member 500 are exposed. A developing device 800 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image, a transfer device 900 that transfers the toner image visualized on the photoconductor 500 to a sheet, a cleaning device 1000 that removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after transfer, and the like. Has been placed.

  The photoreceptor 500, the charging device 600, the exposure device 700, the developing device 800, the transfer device 900, the cleaning device 1000, and the like constitute the main part of the image forming unit. A fixing device 110 is disposed substantially above the photosensitive member 800 and downstream of the photosensitive member 800 on the paper conveyance path.

  When the image forming apparatus functions as a printer, an image signal is input during image formation. In advance, the photoreceptor 500 is uniformly charged by the charging device 600 in the dark. The uniformly charged photosensitive member 500 is irradiated with exposure light from the laser diode LD (not shown) of the exposure apparatus 700 based on the image signal, and reaches the photosensitive member through a known polygon mirror or lens. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 500. The electrostatic latent image moves with the rotation of the photosensitive member 500, is visualized by the developing device 800, and further moves toward the transfer device 900.

  On the other hand, unused paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 210 of the paper feed unit 136, and the paper feed roller 230 rotates during paper feed, and the paper S is sent out from the paper feed cassette 210 by this rotation. Then, it is conveyed to a pair of registration rollers 1400.

  The paper sent to the registration roller 1400 is temporarily stopped here. The registration roller 1400 transports the paper at a timing so that the positional relationship between the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor 500 and the leading edge of the paper is a predetermined position suitable for image transfer at the transfer position where the transfer device 900 is provided. To start.

The toner image is fixed while the sheet that has been transferred passes through the fixing device 110. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 110 is conveyed by a roller RR that is a conveying unit with the image surface facing down, and is sent to the post-processing device 100 from the sheet discharge roller 390 via the sheet discharge sensor 380.
The image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 can be integrated with the post-processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 1 to constitute an image forming apparatus.

[3] Punch unit as punching means The configuration of the punch unit 4 as punching means will be described. 2 is a front view showing the punch unit 4 taken out from the components of the post-processing apparatus 200 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view, and FIG. 4 is a side view. FIG. 5 is a view showing the vertical drive mechanism of the punch blade. In these drawings, a punch blade 120 which is one of members constituting the punch unit 4 is fixed to the bottom of a D-shaped cylindrical holder 123.

  The holder 123 is guided by guide means (not shown) and can reciprocate only in the vertical direction. A shaft 121 passes through the inside of the holder 123. An eccentric cam 22 is fixed on the shaft 121 and inside the holder 123, and the holder 123 moves up and down according to the rotation of the shaft 121. Let

  The shaft 121 is pivotally supported by the frame 40. A pulley 124 is fixed to one shaft end of the shaft 121. The pulley 124 is composed of two integrated disk-shaped members having substantially the same diameter, and one disk-shaped member has a projecting piece-like actuator 124a fixed to the outer peripheral portion. When the pulley 124 is rotated and the actuator 124a is located at the lowest position, the light from the light emitting unit 130a is not detected by the light receiving unit 130b, which is located between the light emitting unit 130a and the light receiving unit 130b of the sensor 130. Thus, the rotational position of the actuator 124 (the position of the punch blade 20) is detected.

  A timing belt 26 is wound around another disk-shaped member constituting the pulley 124 between a stationary member and a pulley provided integrally with the rotation shaft of the motor 25. Below the punch blade 120, two paper guide plates 41 and 42 facing in the vertical direction are provided in order from the top. These paper guide plates 41 and 42 are formed with holes through which the punch blade 120 passes. Further, a hopper 15 is provided below the paper guide plate 42.

The punching method of the unit 4 in the punch unit 4 is described below.
First, the vertical movement of the punch blade 120 of the punching unit 4, that is, the operation for punching the paper is performed by driving from the motor 25. The pulley 124 and the shaft 121 are rotated from the motor 25 through the timing belt 26.

  The rotational positions of the pulley 124 and the shaft 121 are monitored by a home position sensor 130 and controlled to stop at one rotation. When the shaft 121 rotates, the cam 22 that is eccentrically engaged with the shaft 121 rotates to move the holder 123 up and down. The punch blade 120 moves up and down by the vertical movement of the holder 123. As a result, punch holes are punched in the paper. The state of perforation is shown in FIG.

  Step 1 (on the punch blade): In FIG. 6A, the cam 22 is positioned immediately above the shaft 121, and the punch blade 120 is lifted to the uppermost position together with the holder 123. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the actuator 124 a that operates in conjunction with the punch blade 120 is at the lowest position, and the position is detected by the sensor 130. This position is the home position of the punch blade 120.

  Step 2 (punch blade lowering): In FIG. 6B, the shaft 121 was rotated in the clockwise direction as compared with Step 1. The cam 22 is positioned on the right side of the shaft 121, whereby the cam 22 pushes down the holder 123 and descends to a position approximately half of the entire stroke of the punch blade 120. The punch blade 120 has not reached the paper yet.

  Step 3 (drilling): In FIG. 6C, the shaft 121 was further rotated in the clockwise direction compared to Step 2. The cam 22 is located directly below the shaft 121, and the punch blade 120 is lowered to the lowest position together with the holder 123. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the actuator 124a is at the uppermost position. The punch blade 120 penetrates through the paper.

  Step 4 (punch blade rise): In FIG. 6D, the shaft 121 was further rotated in the clockwise direction as compared with Step 3. The cam 22 is located on the left side of the shaft 121, whereby the cam 22 pushes up the holder 123 and rises to a position that is substantially half of the entire stroke of the punch blade 120. The punch blade 120 is missing from the paper.

  Step 4 (punch blade rise): In FIG. 6D, the shaft 121 was further rotated in the clockwise direction as compared with Step 3. The cam 22 is located on the left side of the shaft 121, whereby the cam 22 pushes up the holder 123 and rises to a position that is substantially half of the entire stroke of the punch blade 120. The punch blade 120 is extracted from the paper.

  Step 5 (punch blade rising): In FIG. 6D, compared with step 3, the shaft 121 further rotated in the clockwise direction, and the punch blade 120 returned to the home position. As described above, the motor 25 is rotated in the clockwise direction (CW direction, and the actuator 124a provided on the pulley 124 is positioned between the light emitting unit 130a and the light receiving unit 130b of the sensor 130, and is turned on again when turned on. Completion is made and the motor 25 stops.

[4] Punch Unit Control at System Abnormality In this embodiment, the post-processing apparatus 200 is combined with the image forming apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. The post-processing device 200 and the image forming apparatus 100 each include a control unit including a CPU, and these control units exchange signals. Signal exchange between these control units is schematically shown in FIG. The control contents in the control unit 101 are shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the machine that outputs paper to the post-processing apparatus 200 is not limited to the image forming apparatus 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a wider image forming apparatus such as a printing machine, a printer, and the like. It was.

  The control unit 101 of the post-processing device 100 includes a CPU, and can receive a signal from the sensor 130 as to whether or not the actuator 124a has been detected. The control unit 101 can output a stop signal to the motor 25 and other driving sources used in the post-processing device 100.

Sheet medium output device is provided with a control unit 1 01 provided with the CPU, occurrence of a failure or jam of the sheet conveying system in the sheet-like medium output device receives the abnormality signal when there is such out of paper , also enter an abnormality signal to malfunction or jam occurrence of the sheet conveying system in the post-processing apparatus 200 via the control unit 101 outputs a stop signal for stopping the driving of the post-processing apparatus 2 00 to the control unit 101 . Upon receiving this stop signal, the control unit 101 stops all drive systems such as the motor and solenoid in the post-processing device 200 .

Thus, when a sheet-like medium output device (for example, an image forming apparatus, hereinafter referred to as a main body) detects an abnormality in a system including a post-processing device, a stop command is transmitted to the control unit 101 of the post-processing device 200. The control unit 101 of the post-processing device 200 first performs a stop process for all the drive sources (motors, solenoids, etc.) (step P1 in FIG. 8).

  When the stop process is completed, the punch unit 4 first checks the state of the sensor 130 (step P2 in FIG. 8). If it is in the on state (the punch blade is at the home position), a stop completion signal for the driving means is transmitted to the main body (step P3 in FIG. 8). The main body receives this signal and displays an abnormality on the operation unit. When the sensor 130 is in the off state, that is, when the punch blade is not at the home position, the motor 25 is driven in the counterclockwise direction, and in the direction opposite to the rotation direction when punching with the punch blade 120 in FIG. 6 (step P4 in FIG. 8). ). In this way, when the system including the image forming apparatus detects an abnormality (jam), conveyance abnormality, out of paper, etc., and stops the system, when prompting the paper removal work, the home position of the punching means is checked before that. If it is not in the home position, the homing operation for performing the homing operation of the punching means is performed in the direction in which the punch movement is reversed from that during normal drilling.

This makes it possible to safely return the punch blade to the home position before urging the user to remove the jam even when the punch blade is stuck in the paper. In this case, it is possible to solve the problem that the remaining piece of paper or the cardboard cannot be removed.
Further, when the paper to be punched is a paper that is difficult to punch, such as a thick paper or an OHP sheet, punching is performed when the punch blade has penetrated the paper as shown in FIG. The punch blade can be reliably returned to the HP by moving it in the opposite direction by the reverse operation. Also, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the punch unit stops just before the punch blade reaches the paper, the cause of the stop is solved, the punch unit is restarted, and the punch blade moves in the forward direction. When the punch blade is stabbed into the paper, the punch blade may not be able to penetrate due to the small moment of inertia of the punch blade. Can be returned to. Moreover, it can pierce by restarting from a home position.

  It is determined whether or not the sensor 130 detects ON (step P5 in FIG. 8). When the sensor 130 detects ON, the driving of the motor 25 is stopped (step P6 in FIG. 8), and a stop completion signal is transmitted to the main body (step P7 in FIG. 8). The main body receives this signal and displays an abnormality on the operation unit.

Further, it is determined whether or not the sensor 130 is turned on within a predetermined time (step P8 in FIG. 8). If the sensor 130 is not turned on, the motor 25 is similarly stopped (step P9 in FIG. 8) and stopped with respect to the main body. A signal notifying the failure of the punch unit is transmitted together with the completion signal (step P10 in FIG. 8). The main body receives this signal and displays an abnormality on the operation unit of the post-processing device or the like.
In this way, it is able to detect that the user processing has become impossible state before prompting the jam processing, it is not possible to request a useless work to the user because it becomes possible to display it.

It is a schematic block diagram of the post-processing apparatus concerning this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a front view of a punch unit. It is a side view of a punch unit. It is the front view which took out and showed the drive part of the punch blade. FIGS. 6A to 6E are diagrams showing the state of the punch blades in chronological order. It is a block diagram explaining signal exchange between control parts. It is a flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

4 Punch unit 120 Punch blade 200 Post-processing device

Claims (5)

Post-processing having transporting means for transporting the sheet-like medium, punching means for punching the sheet-like medium transported by the transporting means, and detecting means for detecting whether or not the punching blade of the punching means is at the home position In the device
Control means for stopping the driving of the post-processing device when a jam occurs,
Et drive of the post-processing apparatus is stopped by the action of the control means, the cutting head by the detecting means detects whether or not the home position, when not in the home position, and returning to the home position Post-processing device. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The post-processing apparatus, wherein the detection means includes an actuator that operates in conjunction with a drilling blade and a sensor that detects the position of the actuator. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A post-processing apparatus, wherein when the punching blade is returned to the home position, the punching blade is returned by an operation reverse to that during the drilling operation. The post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A post-processing apparatus comprising control means for determining an abnormality when the drilling blade does not return to the home position within a predetermined time. In an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on an image carrier to a sheet-like medium, fixing and discharging the image,
Rutotomoni includes a processing unit after any one of claims 1 to 4 as a means for perforating the sheet medium discharged after the fixing process, a signal input unit or for inputting the abnormality signal jamming An image forming apparatus comprising signal stop signal output means for outputting a stop signal for stopping the driving of the post-processing device to the post-processing device when the signals are input .

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