JP4500713B2 - Sheet discharging apparatus and sheet post-processing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet discharge device for sequentially placing sheets on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, or a printing machine at a predetermined position on a tray, and a staple, punch, stamp on the sheet placed on the tray. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing.

  In general, a post-processing apparatus that temporarily places a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus or the like on a tray and performs post-processing such as stapling, punching, or stamping on the sheet on the tray is a series of copying, printing, and the like. Widely used to automate processing. The sheets (or sheet bundles) post-processed in this temporary tray are accommodated in the downstream accumulation tray. Although the sheet is not properly transferred to a predetermined position in order to carry out the sheet on the tray, correct post-processing cannot be performed. The coated sheet requires a conveyance mechanism for carrying the sheet from the sheet discharge port to a predetermined position on the tray because the frictional force is small and conveyance is difficult.

Conventionally, a conveyance belt disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-241015) is known as a mechanism for carrying a sheet into a tray from such a paper discharge port. In this document, an endless belt (hereinafter referred to as a “caterpillar belt”) supported by a pair of pulleys is disposed between the paper discharge port and the tray so that the pulley on the tray side swings up and down around the pulley on the paper discharge port side. is doing. Therefore, the sheet is carried into the tray from the paper discharge port on the upper surface of the belt, and the conveyed sheet is reversed on the lower surface of the belt in the reverse direction so as to be abutted against and aligned with a regulating member prepared at a predetermined position on the tray. Yes. In this way, when the sheet is switched back by the caterpillar belt and transferred to a predetermined position on the tray, the sheet is surely carried into the tray, and the rear end of the sheet remains in the sheet discharge port and does not cause incomplete discharge. At the same time, the carried-in sheet can be reliably conveyed to a predetermined position on the tray on the lower surface of the belt.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-241015

  As described above, the following problem arises when the caterpillar belt hangs down freely between the sheet discharge outlet and the tray and moves up and down in accordance with the amount of sheets stacked on the tray. In order to carry a sheet from the paper discharge port to the tray on the upper surface of the belt, a carry-in guide for guiding the sheet so as to be sandwiched on the belt is necessary. Therefore, conventionally, both the carry-in guide and the belt press the sheet by their own weight. Thus, when a sheet is carried in, the sheet is guided to the tray between the carry-in guide and the belt, and after the carry-in, the sheet is placed at a predetermined position between the lower surface of the belt and the uppermost sheet stacked on the tray or the tray. As for the design conditions of the carry-in guide and the belt to be transferred, it is difficult to set a stable conveyance condition when sheets to be used such as thin paper that easily curls and glossy paper coated on the surface become widespread.

  In other words, if the carry-in guide is made lightweight and the sheet can easily enter between the upper surface of the belt, in the case of thick glossy paper such as colored paper, the rear end of the sheet remains on the belt, resulting in poor discharge and curling easily. In the case of a thin paper sheet, when the sheet carried on the tray is reversed and guided to the lower surface of the belt, the curled rear end of the sheet may enter between the upper surface of the belt and the conveyance guide to cause a paper jam. On the other hand, when the pressing force of the carry-in guide is increased, a paper jam in which the thin paper sheet curled from the paper discharge port onto the upper surface of the belt does not enter is caused. Similarly, when the contact condition between the lower surface of the belt and the tray is large, it exerts a strong conveying force on the already stacked sheets, leading to loss of wrinkles and the like. This causes a problem that it cannot be transferred to a predetermined position.

  Therefore, the present invention reliably carries a wide range of sheets onto the tray by adjusting the pressing force of the carry-in guide and the caterpillar belt according to the position of the sheet transferred from the paper discharge port to a predetermined position on the tray. The main object of the present invention is to provide a sheet discharge device capable of reliably transporting a sheet after loading to a predetermined position on the tray with a simple structure, and to provide a sheet post-processing device using the sheet discharge device. Yes.

  When a sheet is loaded onto the loading tray by a caterpillar belt, a transport weight is provided to press the sheet to be transported to the caterpillar belt, and the pressing of the transport weight is switched back when the sheet is discharged from the caterpillar belt. The size of the belt is increased when it is carried under the caterpillar belt to prevent the carry-out failure from the caterpillar belt and the carry-in failure to the caterpillar belt after the switchback. Further, the pressing force of the transport weight is increased in conjunction with the paddle drive provided at the loading tray exit for starting the switchback transport to the sheet so as not to have a special drive source. Further, the increase in the pressing force of the weight is made to rotate with a phase different from that of the paddle provided on the paddle drive shaft, and the conveying weight is pressed and engaged at a predetermined timing by a rubber piece.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. A sheet discharge port for sequentially carrying out the sheets, a tray provided below the sheet discharge port for stacking and supporting the sheets, and a sheet provided between the sheet discharge port and the tray to convey the sheet from the sheet discharge port to the tray. And a switchback transfer means for reversing the conveyance direction of the sheet on the tray and transferring the sheet to a predetermined position. The switchback transfer means includes a conveyance belt provided between the paper discharge port and the tray. And a plate-shaped guide member disposed opposite to the belt surface for conveying the sheet from the paper discharge port of the conveyance belt to the tray. The conveying belt and the plate-shaped guide member are arranged so that the tray-side end portion swings up and down around the discharge-port side end portion, and the plate-shaped guide member includes the plate-shaped guide member. And a pressing force applying means for pressing down to the conveying belt side. The pressing force applying means has a pressurizing action for increasing the pressure contact force between the plate-shaped guide member and the conveying belt during the reverse conveyance in which the switchback conveying means conveys the rear end of the sheet on the tray to the predetermined position. To exert.

  Further, the pressing force applying unit is operated by a driving unit of a paddle conveying unit that transfers the sheet on the processing tray toward the processing position, and the paddle conveying unit applies a conveying force to the sheet on the processing tray. The timing and the timing at which the pressing force applying means applies the pressing force to the plate-shaped guide member are different. Further, the paddle conveying means is constituted by a first plate-like elastic piece having a base end portion fixed to a rotation shaft, and a tip portion of the first plate-like elastic piece conveys a sheet on the processing tray. The pressing force applying means is elastically deformed, and is constituted by a second plate-like elastic piece fixed to the rotating shaft. The tip end portion of the second plate-like elastic piece abuts and deforms with the plate-like guide member to apply a pressing force.

  According to the present invention, a switchback transfer unit including a conveyance belt between a sheet discharge port and a tray, and a plate-shaped guide member facing a belt surface that conveys a sheet from the sheet discharge port of the conveyance belt to the tray are provided. The transport belt and the plate-shaped guide member are arranged so that the end on the tray side swings up and down around the end on the discharge port side, and the transport belt is mounted on the plate-shaped guide member. Since the pressing force applying means for pressing is provided, the pressing force of the pressing force applying means is weak when the sheet is carried into the belt, and the sheet is surely placed in the tray by increasing when the sheet is carried out from the belt. It will be transported up. At the same time when the sheet is carried in, the belt contacts the sheet deposited on the tray with a weak pressing force and does not cause damage such as wrinkles on the sheet. Since the belt is pressed so as to be in strong contact with the seat, it is reliably guided to a predetermined position.

  Therefore, even if the sheet is discharged onto the tray with a thick sheet such as colored paper and the surface is slippery, the sheet can be reliably discharged from the belt, and the sheet discharged from the belt to the tray is slightly curled. However, it is guided between the lower surface of the belt and the tray at the time of switchback and can be reliably conveyed to a predetermined position. Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a paddle conveying means for reversing the conveying direction of the sheet on the tray, and a plate-like elastic piece is provided on the drive rotating shaft so as to apply a pressing force to the plate-like guide member. There are effects such as simple driving and structure.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as paper binding on a printed sheet (hereinafter referred to as sheet) formed by an image forming apparatus or the like. Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to the post-processing apparatus will be described. To do.

[Image forming system]
The post-processing apparatus according to the present invention sequentially receives sheets on which images are formed connected to a paper discharge port of an image forming apparatus (not shown), and performs “paper binding processing”, “jog processing”, and “sheet carry-out processing”. In view of this, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus main body having a copying machine, a printing function, a facsimile function, and the like, and a post-processing apparatus connected thereto. The main body of the image forming apparatus is composed of a printer device connected to an external device such as a computer, and is widely known as a device that prints on a sheet fed from a paper feeding unit by a printing unit and sequentially carries out from a paper discharging unit. . A laser head for electrostatic printing, an inkjet head, an offset printing head, or the like is used for the printing unit, and image information sent from an external device is printed on the sheet.

  Further, the multifunction printing system is configured by integrating the scanner device into the printer device having such a configuration and adding a copying function or a facsimile function. In such a system, a series of processing operations such as a paper binding process for aligning and binding sheets after image formation in the page order, or a jog process for sorting and storing in the aligned state when discharging and storing are set as operation modes. I have. In the control of each operation mode, the operator sets the post-processing mode such as “paper binding processing”, “jog processing”, “sheet carry-out (storage) processing” simultaneously with the printing mode such as the number of copies and the printing function in the image forming apparatus, In accordance with the command signal from the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus executes processing corresponding to each operation mode.

  The post-processing apparatus 10 is disposed below the sheet discharge path 11 that receives sheets sequentially discharged from an image forming apparatus (not shown) and carries them out to the downstream processing tray 20 and the sheet discharge outlet 13 of the sheet discharge path. And a stacking tray 30 disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray 20. The paper discharge path 11 is provided with a transport roller 14 for transporting the sheet sent toward the carry-in port 12, and the transport roller 14 is composed of a pair of rollers in pressure contact with each other. The paper discharge path 11 is provided with an inlet sensor 15 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed sheet.

  A carry-in guide 16 is connected to a paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus and sequentially guides sheets to the carry-in port 12 of the paper discharge path 11. Accordingly, the sheet from the image forming apparatus is guided to the paper discharge path 11 and is sequentially sent to the paper discharge port 13 by the conveying roller 14 and is carried out. A processing tray 20 is disposed below the discharge port 13 with a step formed thereon, and the sheet is temporarily supported on the tray, and the sheet is post-processed in this state. The processing tray 20 incorporates a mechanism corresponding to a post-processing function to be applied to the sheet. The illustrated one is a “paper binding function” and a “jog function”, and the stacking tray 30 on the downstream side for sheets from the paper discharge port 13. It is equipped with a “sheet unloading function” for unloading.

  The “paper binding function” stacks a series of sheets carried out from the image forming apparatus on the processing tray 20 in the order of pages and staples them, and stores the processed sheet bundle in the stacking tray 30. Therefore, the processing tray 20 has a regulating member 21 for regulating the sheet to the reference position, a sheet pressing unit 22 for correctly guiding the curled sheet to the regulating unit 21, and an aligning unit 23 for aligning the accommodated sheets. Then, a stapler (post-processing unit) 24 for binding the aligned sheets is disposed. Further, the processing tray 20 is provided with a sheet pushing means 25 for carrying out the sheet bundle after the stapling process to the stacking tray 30. The “jog function” sorts and stores a series of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus in the stacking tray 30 and aligns the sheets. Therefore, the processing tray 20 is provided with a shift mechanism that shifts the sheet by a predetermined amount in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. In the illustrated shift mechanism, the aligning means 23 also has the function. The “sheet carrying-out function” sequentially carries out a series of sheets carried out from the image forming apparatus onto the stacking tray 30 without performing post-processing on the processing tray 20. For this reason, an eject roller means 26 is disposed on the processing tray 20.

[Sheet carry-in mechanism]
Between the paper discharge outlet 13 of the paper discharge path 11 and the processing tray 20, the following transport mechanism is provided. First, a belt transfer unit 17 that conveys a sheet from the paper discharge port 13 to the processing tray 20, a plate-shaped guide member 18 (a guide plate that will be described later) that guides the sheet so as to be sandwiched between the belt transfer unit 17, a sheet, A pressurizing means 19 is provided for transporting the tip so as to be scraped toward the restriction position of the processing tray 20. As shown in FIG. 3 a, the belt transfer unit 17 is configured with a caterpillar belt 173 laid between a pair of pulleys 171 and 172, and is disposed between the sheet discharge port 13 and the processing tray 20 along the sheet conveyance direction. . Then, the sheet from the paper discharge port 13 is conveyed to the processing tray 20 by the illustrated belt upper surface 173a.

  Therefore, a drive motor, which will be described later, is connected to the shaft 174 of the pulley 171 located on the paper discharge port 13 side, and rotates counterclockwise in the figure. The pulley shaft 174 is rotatably supported by a device frame 50 (the illustrated one is a side frame of the device). The other pulley 172 of the caterpillar belt 173 is supported by a shaft 175, and this shaft 175 is supported by an arm member 176 that is integral with a shaft 174 that is rotatably supported by the apparatus frame 50. Therefore, the caterpillar belt 173 is supported by the apparatus frame 50 (frame side frame) so that the pulley shaft 174 on the discharge port side can be freely rotated, and the pulley shaft 175 located on the processing tray 20 side is supported by the arm member 176 and swings. It becomes movable. The swingable caterpillar belt 173 always comes into contact with the sheet on the processing tray 20 at the front end side (pulley shaft 175 side) in the sheet discharge direction, and the belt lower surface 173b shown in FIG. Transport in the reverse direction.

  Accordingly, the caterpillar belt 173 transports the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 13 onto the processing tray 20 by the belt upper surface 173a, and at the same time, the sheet on the processing tray 20 is transported in the direction opposite to the sheet ejection direction by the belt lower surface 173b. Switchback is carried. In this manner, the switchback transfer means is constituted by the illustrated belt transfer means 17 between the paper discharge outlet 13 and the processing tray 20. The caterpillar belt 173 is provided with a pinch roller 177 and a plate-shaped guide member 18 facing each other in order to reliably transfer the sheet from the paper discharge port 13 to the processing tray 20.

  The pinch roller 177 is disposed opposite to the sheet discharge port 13 side of the caterpillar belt 173 and supported by a paper guide 178 that forms the sheet discharge path 11. The plate-shaped guide member 18 is constituted by a guide plate that guides the sheet in the sheet discharge direction. The guide plate 18 is supported at the end of the sheet discharge port so that the paper guide 178 is rotatable, and the leading end thereof is a caterpillar belt. 173 along the sheet discharge direction. Accordingly, the sheet from the paper discharge port 13 is nipped between the belt upper surface 173a of the caterpillar belt 173 and the pinch roller 177, and is guided so as to be sandwiched between the belt upper surface 173a and the guide plate 18 and moved toward the processing tray 20 side. Sent.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of the belt transfer means 17 and the guide plate 18 described above are arranged at appropriate intervals in the sheet width direction (conveyance orthogonal direction; the same applies hereinafter) so that the guide plate 18 is positioned between the belt transfer means 17. Is arranged. In order to give a greater conveying force to the sheet conveyed by the caterpillar belt 173, the guide plate 18 is disposed at a position shifted from the caterpillar belt 173 in the width direction. The guide plate 18 is provided with the following pressing force applying means.

  A pressure means 19 (pressure elastic piece 193; the same applies hereinafter) is provided at the leading end of the caterpillar belt 173 in the paper discharge direction. The pressurizing means 19 is constructed by attaching a paddle piece 192 made of a rubber material to a paddle rotating shaft 191 connected to a drive motor, which will be described later, and this paddle piece 192 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. The tip of the piece 192 transports the sheet on the processing tray 20 to the right side in the figure. The paddle piece 192 moves to the right side in the drawing when the trailing edge of the sheet conveyed by the caterpillar belt 173 is fed onto the processing tray 20, and moves the sheet between the caterpillar belt 173 and the processing tray 20. Let it go in between.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the paddle rotating shaft 191 is provided with first, second, and two paddle pieces 192a and 192b, and a stepping motor is connected to the rotating shaft 191. A sensor (not shown) is provided. Then, after the estimated time (timer time) for the trailing edge of the sheet to reach the processing tray 20 from the timing when the trailing sensor of the sheet is detected by the entrance sensor 15 of the sheet discharge path 11, the paddle piece 192 is connected to the sheet on the processing tray 20. The sheet is moved in the opposite direction (reverse direction) to the conveying direction. The paddle rotation shaft 191 is provided with a pressure elastic piece 193 that is a pressure means. The pressure elastic piece 193 has a tip abutting against the tip portion 181 of the guide plate 18 so as to press the guide portion 182 to the belt upper surface 173a. The above-described caterpillar belt 173 and the guide plate 18 are supported so as to be swingable around the end portion on the paper discharge port 13 side, and the leading end in the transport direction by its own weight is the caterpillar belt 17 on the processing tray 20 and the guide plate on it. It comes to contact | abut in order of 18.

  A pressure elastic piece 193 of the paddle rotation shaft 191 applies a pressing force to the guide plate 18. The pressure elastic piece 193 presses the guide plate 18 toward the caterpillar belt 173 at the timing when the rear end of the sheet is carried out to a predetermined position in the same manner as the paddle piece 192 that rotates at the predetermined timing, and at the same time, the tip of the caterpillar belt 173 is Press toward the processing tray 20 side. The timing at which the pressure elastic piece 193 presses the guide plate 18 is set from the following conditions. When the leading end of the sheet from the discharge port 13 enters between the guide plate 18 and the caterpillar belt 173, the pressure elastic piece 193 does not apply pressure at a position away from the guide plate 18. As a result, the sheet smoothly enters between the guide plate 18 and the caterpillar belt 173 (see FIG. 3a).

  Next, immediately before or after the rear end of the seat is detached from the front end of the caterpillar belt 173, the pressure elastic piece 193 contacts the guide plate 18 and pushes it down to apply pressure (see FIG. 3b). When a pressing force is applied immediately before separation, the trailing edge of the sheet reliably receives the conveying force of the caterpillar belt 173 and is conveyed onto the processing tray 20, and there is no possibility that the trailing edge of the sheet remains (remains) on the caterpillar belt 173. In this case, when the guide plate 18 is pressurized at the timing when the front end of the sheet is carried into the processing tray, the sheet is seated by the action of the applied pressure, and the front end may abut against the processing tray and bend. Since the guide plate is pressurized when the rear end is separated from the caterpillar belt (immediately before), the front end of the sheet is smoothly carried out onto the processing tray.

  Further, if a pressure is applied immediately after separation, the curled sheet enters between the guide plate 18 and the caterpillar belt 173 when the rear end of the sheet carried out on the processing tray 20 is switched back and conveyed by the paddle piece 192. And is reliably guided between the processing tray 20 and the lower surface side of the caterpillar belt 173 (belt lower surface 173b in the drawing).

[Configurations of processing trays]
Next, each configuration of the processing tray 20 will be described. The processing tray 20 has the following configuration for temporarily stacking and supporting sheets carried out by the caterpillar belt 173 from the discharge port 13 and performing post-processing. First, the illustrated processing tray 20 supports the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 13 by bridging with a stacking tray 30 described later. For this reason, the processing tray 20 is configured to be shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the smallest size sheet to be carried out. The processing tray 20 is provided with a regulating member 21 that regulates the positioning of the trailing edge of the sheet in the conveyance direction. The restricting member 21 is configured by a stopper piece that protrudes from the processing tray 20. Accordingly, the sheet carried out on the processing tray 20 is reversed in the conveying direction by the paddle piece 192, switched back, and sent to rest until it hits the regulating member 21 on the belt lower surface 173b of the conveying belt. On the processing tray 20, sheet pressing means 22 for pressing the trailing end portion of the sheet reaching the regulating member 21 is provided.

  The sheet pressing means 22 includes a plate-shaped pressing member 221 (hereinafter referred to as a weight plate) that contacts the upper surface of the sheet, and an arm member 222 that supports the weight plate 221. The weight plate 221 is swingably supported on the arm member 222 by the first support shaft 223 on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, and the arm member 222 is swingable by the support member 224 such as a frame by the second support shaft 225. It is supported. This is because when the sheets are sequentially stacked on the processing tray 20, the weight plate 221 swings around the first support shaft 223, and at the same time, the arm member 222 that supports the weight plate 221 supports the second support shaft 225. This is because a substantially uniform pressing force is applied to the sheets regardless of the stacking amount by swinging to the center.

  Therefore, the weight plate 221 and the arm member 222 preferably have the following conditions. The weight plate 221 is inclined with respect to the mounting surface of the processing tray 20 so that the upstream side is high and the downstream side (regulating member 21 side) is low. This is to make it easier for the front end of the sheet to enter the weight plate 221, and the sheet with the front end curled is corrected along the inclined surface of the weight plate 221. Further, the weight plate 221 shown in the figure has a tip portion that intersects the regulating member 21 as shown in FIG. The restricting member 21 protruding on the processing tray 20 is formed with a notch that is partially cut in the sheet width direction, and a part of the weight plate 221 is fitted into the notch to cross the two. . This is because no gap is formed between the regulating member 21 and the weight plate 221 for the curled tip to enter.

  Next, the arm member 222 supports the weight plate 221 with the first support shaft 223 so as to be swingable, and at the same time, the second support shaft so that the rotation fulcrum position moves up and down according to the sheet stacking amount. At 225, the device frame and other support members 224 are supported. The positional relationship between the first support shaft 223 and the second support shaft 225 is set as follows. A second support shaft 225 (hereinafter referred to as a second fulcrum) is disposed downstream of the first support shaft 223 (hereinafter referred to as a first fulcrum) in the sheet conveying direction. The second fulcrum 225 is set at a position lower than the maximum sheet height (maximum stacking amount). This is because, when the second fulcrum 225 is set at a position higher than the maximum load, the arm member 222 is pressed against the arm member 222 by the entering sheet and strongly presses the sheet in FIG. .

  Next, the first fulcrum 223 is arranged at a position higher than the second fulcrum 225 (upward in FIG. 8 a) with reference to the sheet placement surface of the processing tray 20. This is because the arm member 222 is applied with a counterclockwise rotational force in FIG. As described above, the weight plate 221 has the first, second, and second rotation fulcrums, and swings around the first fulcrum 223 when the sheet stacking amount on the processing tray 20 is small (T1 shown in FIG. 8b). When the loading amount is large (T2 shown in FIG. 8c), the first fulcrum position is moved around the second fulcrum 225. Therefore, the arm member 222 is provided with an upper limit stopper 226 for restricting the upper limit and a lower limit stopper 227 for restricting the lower limit. When the sheet stacking amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (T1 shown in FIG. 8B), the lower limit stopper 227 works. The upper limit stopper 226 prevents unnecessary rotation.

  Further, a movement regulating member 228 is provided between the weight plate 221 and the arm member 222, and when the weight plate 221 is pushed up by the sheet, the movement regulating member 228 pushes up the arm member 222. Accordingly, the weight plate 221 rotates counterclockwise about the first fulcrum 223 until the sheets are stacked on the processing tray 20 on the T1 line in the drawing, and presses the sequentially fed sheets. At this time, the arm member 222 is locked to the lower limit stopper 227 and maintains its posture. When the sheets are sequentially stacked and exceed the stacking amount T1, the movement restricting member 228 is pushed up by the sheet being brought into contact with the arm member 222. Then, the arm member 222 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and the first fulcrum 223 that is the support shaft of the weight plate 221 gradually moves upward. This swinging movement of the arm member 222 moves the position of the first fulcrum 223 in accordance with the sheets that are sequentially fed up to the maximum sheet stacking amount T2. As a result, the position of the weight plate 221 gradually moves upward on the processing tray 20 and moves the sheet up and down with substantially the same pressing force as if it moved up and down according to the paper level on the processing tray 20. 21 will be guided.

  Next, the structure of the processing tray 20 will be described. The processing tray 20 is provided with a regulating member 21 that regulates the trailing edge of the sheet that is switched back and conveyed. A side regulating member that regulates the side edge is provided. Although not shown, the side regulating member is configured by a flange wall protruding from the processing tray 20 on the front side in FIG. An alignment plate 231 that can reciprocate in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction is provided on the opposite side edge of the sheet.

  The aligning means 23 constituted by the aligning plate 231 positions the sheet placed on the tray with the aligning plate 231 on the side regulating member. Although not shown in the drawing, the well-aligning mechanism of the alignment plate 231 can employ various known structures. For example, an alignment plate having an L-shaped cross section is supported on the tray so as to reciprocate. Then, a wire suspended on a pair of pulleys is provided on the back surface (back side of the bottom surface) of the tray, and an alignment plate is fixed to a part of the wires, and one of the pulleys is connected to a drive motor capable of forward and reverse rotation. Then, the alignment plate attached to the wire moving in the sheet width direction can be reciprocated in the width direction by forward / reverse rotation control of the motor. The processing tray 20 is provided with the above-mentioned regulating member 21 at the rear end of the sheet and a side regulating member at one side edge, and a sheet positioned at these regulating members has a sheet binding, marking, punching or the like at a predetermined position of the sheet. A processing means 24 is provided.

  A stapling device, which is a typical post-processing device for paper binding, will be described. A guide groove (not shown) through which the push-out pawl 251 moves is provided at the center of the processing tray 20 in the sheet width direction, and along this guide groove. The pushing claw 251 transfers the sheet positioned on the downstream regulating member 21 to the upstream ejection port 29. For this reason, a belt member 254 is stretched between a pair of pulleys 252 and 253 provided on the back side of the processing tray 20, and an extrusion claw 251 is integrally fixed to the belt member 254. The pulley 252 is connected to a sheet pushing claw drive motor M2. Accordingly, the push-out claw 251 is wound around the processing tray 20 by the sheet push-out claw drive motor M2. Similar to the sheet pushing claw 251, the ejection port 29 is provided with ejection roller means 26 having the following structure.

  The eject roller means 26 includes an eject roller 261 that can be pressed against and separated from an eject port 29 of the processing tray 20 and an elevating support arm 262 that moves the roller member up and down. FIG. 5 shows the configuration, and a rotation shaft 263 is provided on the apparatus frame 50, and a bracket member 264 is swingably attached around the rotation shaft 263. A drive rotating shaft 265 is supported by a bearing on the bracket member 264, and the rotation of the rotating shaft 263 is transmitted by a transmission gear 266. A pair of elevating support arms 262 are pivotally supported on the drive rotating shaft 265, and an eject roller 261 is supported by a bearing at the tip thereof. A transmission belt 267 is bridged between a pulley formed integrally with the eject roller 261 and a pulley (not shown) provided on the drive rotating shaft 265.

  Accordingly, the pair of eject rollers 261 can swing around the drive rotation shaft 265, and at the same time, the rotation is transmitted to rotate in the clockwise direction (sheet discharge direction). Therefore, a balance arm 268 is provided between the pair of lift support arms 262, and the balance arm 268 is joined to the bracket member 264 at the center so as to swing left and right by a hinge coupling portion 269. On the left and right of the balance arm 268, a lifting support arm 262 is coupled, and this coupling is loosely fitted as shown. Therefore, when the eject roller 261 attached to the left and right lifting support arms 262 tilts against the sheet surface on the processing tray 20, the balance arm 268 tilts around the hinge coupling portion 269 by the force, and the bracket member The roller pressing force acting on H.264 is equally transmitted to the left and right eject rollers 261.

[Stacking tray]
The structure of the stacking tray 30 disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the stacking tray 30 is attached to the apparatus frame 31 so as to be movable up and down. The stacking tray 30 is controlled to move up and down so that the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets is positioned at the ejection port 29 of the processing tray 20. A guide rail 32 is provided in the apparatus frame 31 along the sheet stacking direction, and rollers 33 and 34 fitted to the guide rail 32 are attached to a fixing member 35 of the stacking tray 30.

  Therefore, the stacking tray 30 is supported so as to be movable up and down along the guide rail 32 by the rollers 33 and 34 integrated therewith. The apparatus frame 31 is provided with a pair of upper and lower pulleys 36 and 37 and an elevating belt 38 spanned between the pulleys 36 and 37, and a fixing member 35 is fixed to a part of the elevating belt 38. A lifting motor M3 is connected to one of the pulleys 36 and 37 by a transmission gear 39, and the stacking tray 30 is driven up and down in the illustrated vertical direction by driving the lifting motor M3.

  On the other hand, an upper limit sensor (not shown) is mounted above the stacking tray 30, and the lifting motor M3 gradually moves according to the stacking amount of sheets so that the uppermost sheet on the stacking tray 30 is positioned at the upper limit sensor position. The stacking tray 30 is lowered, and when the sheets on the stacking tray 30 are taken out, the upper surface of the tray is raised to the upper limit sensor position. In the present invention, the stacking tray 30 may be fixedly attached to the apparatus frame 31 without moving up and down as shown.

[Conveyance drive system]
Next, the conveyance drive mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. Sheets from the image forming apparatus are accumulated on the processing tray 20 by the conveying roller 14, the caterpillar belt 17, and the pressurizing unit (paddle) 19 in the paper discharge path 11, and after post-processing, the sheet from the processing tray 20 to the sheet extruding unit 25. The paper is stacked on the stacking tray 30 by the eject roller means 26. These conveying means are driven by a conveyance driving motor M1 and a sheet pushing claw driving motor M2, respectively. The conveyance drive motor M1 rotates in one direction, and the rotation shaft 51 of the conveyance roller 14, the rotation shaft 52 of the caterpillar belt 17, and the rotation shaft 53 of the eject roller 261 arranged in the paper discharge path 11 are always rotated in one direction. To drive.

  Therefore, the conveyance drive motor M1 rotates the intermediate rotation shaft 54 via the transmission belt V1 and the transmission gear G1, and this intermediate rotation shaft 54 is connected to the rotation shaft 52 of the caterpillar belt 17 and the rotation shaft 53 of the eject roller 261. Drive is transmitted by V2 and V3. The rotation of the rotation shaft 52 of the caterpillar belt 17 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 51 of the transport roller 14 by the transmission gear G2. As a result, the conveying roller 14, the caterpillar belt 17 and the eject roller 261 rotate in the sheet conveying direction at a speed set by the transmission belt and the transmission gear, respectively. The conveyance drive motor M1 is transmitted from the intermediate rotation shaft 54 to the rotation shaft 191 of the pressurizing means 19. The illustrated transmission gears G3 and G4 are connected as follows, and the transmission gear G3 rotates at a predetermined timing. It is transmitted to the transmission gear G4.

  The transmission gear G4 is constituted by a toothless gear and includes a notch portion to which the rotation of the transmission gear G3 is not transmitted. The transmission gear G4 is provided with a biasing spring in a direction to mesh with the transmission gear G3, and is held in a non-engagement position with the transmission gear G3 by a solenoid SL1. That is, the transmission gear G3 and the transmission gear G4 are held and locked at the non-engagement position by the solenoid SL1, and when the lock is released by the solenoid SL1, the transmission gear G4 moves to a position where it is engaged with the transmission gear G3 by the force of the urging spring. Then, after meshing with the transmission gear G3, the transmission gear G4 makes one rotation, and then the engagement is disengaged at the missing portion (toothed portion) and held at the non-engaged position by the claw of the solenoid SL1.

  Therefore, the transmission gear G4 transmits the rotation of the transmission gear G3 to the rotating shaft 191 of the pressurizing means 19 only by one rotation by the action of the solenoid SL1. The solenoid SL1 guides the pressure elastic piece 193 immediately before the trailing edge of the sheet reaches the processing tray 20 from the caterpillar belt 17 based on a signal detected by the inlet sensor 15 of the sheet discharge path 11. The plate 18 is pressed, and the paddle piece 192 is set at a timing to engage with the sheet rear end after the sheet rear end reaches the processing tray 20. The rotation of the transmission belt V2 transmits the rotational force to the lifting support arm 262 of the ejection roller 261 as follows when the ejection roller 261 is moved up and down. The rotary shaft 56 rotated by the transmission belt V2 is connected by transmission gears G6 and G7. The transmission gear G7 is constituted by a toothless gear, and the toothless gear G7 is a biasing spring (like the transmission gear G4 described above). (Not shown) and a solenoid SL2.

  Then, the rotation of the rotary shaft 56 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 57 only once at a predetermined timing by the action of the solenoid SL2. One rotation of the rotary shaft 57 is transmitted to the lift support arm 262 that supports the eject roller 261 via the cam 58. The cam 58 moves up and down a lifting support arm 262 supported by the rotary shaft 53 between a retracted position, a standby position, and an operating position shown in FIG. Although the shape of the cam 58 is not shown, it is constituted by, for example, an eccentric cam, and the cam follower is constituted by a slide lever and is slid up and down. The slide lever is engaged with the lifting support arm 262. Then, the rotation of the drive motor M1 is transmitted from the cam 58 to the lift support arm 262, and the eject roller 261 is lowered from the retracted position by a predetermined amount. When the motor is stopped there, the lift support arm 262 is stopped and held at the standby position, and again the drive motor. When M1 is driven to rotate, the lifting support arm 262 moves the eject roller 261 to an operating position in contact with the sheet.

  In the above configuration, the rotation of the driving motor M1 rotates the conveying roller 14 and the caterpillar belt 17 and conveys the sheet from the paper discharge path 11 onto the processing tray 20. On the other hand, an instruction signal for post-processing the sheet on the processing tray 20 is obtained from the control means, and the solenoid SL2 is unlocked to the disengaged state. Then, the sector gear G7 rotates following the rotation of the drive motor M1, and rotates the cam 58. As the cam 58 rotates, the lift support arm 262 of the eject roller 261 gradually descends from the retracted position. The drive motor M1 is stopped at a timing when the drive motor M1 is rotated by a predetermined amount from the unlocking operation of the solenoid SL2.

  Then, the lifting support arm 262 stops the eject roller 261 at the standby position shown in FIG. In this way, the eject roller 261 is stopped between the retracted position and the operating position, and is put on standby when a user's fingers or foreign matters enter the sheet on the processing tray 20 from outside when performing post-processing such as stapling. This is to block noise generated by the stapling operation.

  Next, upon receiving an operation end signal from the post-processing device, the control means starts the drive motor M1 again. As the drive motor M1 is driven, the lifting support arm 262 positions the eject roller 261 in the operating position in contact with the sheet. In the illustrated example, the abutment between the eject roller means 26 and the sheet applies a pressing force by the weight of the eject roller means 26. The operation timing of the lifting support arm 262 will be described later. In addition, CL shown in the figure is a one-way clutch, which is provided between the rotary shaft 53 and a gear G8 that transmits the drive of the transmission belt V3, and the lifting support arm 262 that supports the eject roller 261 rotates around the rotary shaft 53. To do. This is because the user manually rotates the eject roller 261 when a trouble such as a paper jam occurs while the eject roller 261 is carrying out the sheet.

  Next, the sheet push-out means 25 is driven as follows by a sheet push-out claw drive motor M2 capable of forward and reverse rotation. In the sheet pushing means 25, an extrusion claw 251 is integrally connected to a belt member 254 spanned between a pair of pulleys, and the extrusion claw 251 reciprocates along the processing tray 20. A sheet pushing claw drive motor M2 is connected to the one pulley 252.

  The configuration characteristic of the illustrated embodiment described above will be described in detail. First, the sheet tray means 25 and the eject roller means 26 are arranged on the processing tray 20. The positional relationship will be described with reference to FIG. The distance (L1 in the drawing) between the regulating member 21 on the processing tray 20 and the eject roller 261 is set to a position shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the smallest size sheet. Also, the extrusion claw conveyance length (L2 in the drawing) is set to satisfy the relationship of L2 ≧ L1 so that the extrusion claw 251 of the sheet pushing means 25 is engaged with the sheet from the regulating member 21 on the processing tray 20 to the ejection roller 261 and pushed out. It is. The movement stroke (L3 in the drawing) of the push-out claw 251 is L3> L2 ≧ L1.

  Next, the characteristic feature is the pressurizing means 19 provided in the belt transfer means 17 described above, and details are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. The guide portion 182 of the guide plate 18 whose base end portion is swingably supported is in contact with the belt upper surface 173a of the caterpillar belt 173 by its own weight as shown in FIG. 3a. In this state, the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 13 is nipped between the pinch roller 177 and the caterpillar belt 173 and sent to the left side of the figure. At this time, the guide plate 18 prevents curling when the sheet guided to the belt upper surface 173a is a thin paper sheet and prevents the sheet leading edge from rising above the belt upper surface 173a. In the case of a cardboard sheet, the guide plate 18 is pushed up at the leading end of the sheet to facilitate its passage.

  In such a configuration, the guide plate 18 is strongly pressed against the upper surface 173a of the caterpillar belt 173 by the pressing means 19 in the state shown in FIG. 3B immediately before the leading end of the sheet is detached from the guide plate 18. In the pressing means 19, a pressing elastic piece 193 provided on the paddle rotation shaft 191 presses the tip 181 of the guide plate 18 by elastic deformation. Then, the sheet receives a strong conveying force from the caterpillar belt 173 and is surely carried out onto the processing tray 20, and at the same time, even if the leading edge is curled when the sheet is reversely conveyed (in the right direction in the figure) by the paddle conveying piece 192, the upper surface of the belt Entry from between 173a and the guide plate 18 is prevented. Further, when the leading end of the sheet is carried between the belt lower surface 173b and the sheets stacked on the processing tray 20, the caterpillar belt 173 is pressed by the pressure unit 19 and receives a strong conveying force.

  Next, the characteristic feature is a sheet pressing means 22 for guiding a sheet that is abutted and conveyed against the regulating member 21 on the processing tray 20, and this is shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b, and 8c. When the number of sheets stacked on the processing tray 20 is small, the sheet pressing means 22 having the above-described structure swings counterclockwise by the sheet entering around the first fulcrum 223 as shown in FIG. 8a. The sheet is guided to the regulating member 21 while pressing the sheet. At this time, the arm member 222 maintains its position (posture) by the lower limit stopper 227. Therefore, even a sheet with a curled rear end can be reliably abutted against the regulating member 21 and regulated.

  When a predetermined amount or more of sheets are stacked on the processing tray 20, the movement pressing member 22 is engaged with the arm member 222 in the sheet pressing unit 22 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 8c, the sheet pressing means 22 swings in the clockwise direction in the figure integrally with the arm member 222 around the second fulcrum 225 by the entering sheet, and the first fulcrum 223 also moves upward. Therefore, even if the amount of stacked sheets changes, the sheet pressing means 22 guides the sheets with substantially the same state (posture) and pressing force.

  Further, the illustrated embodiment has an operation mode configuration characterized as follows. As shown in FIG. 11, a sheet (sheet 1 in the drawing) stacked on the processing tray 20 in advance and a subsequent sheet (sheet 2 in the drawing) carried out from the sheet discharge outlet 13 are simultaneously carried out by the eject roller means 26 and the pushing claw 251. In this case, the rear end S21 of the succeeding sheet (sheet 2) and the rear end S11 of the preceding sheet are offset by α in the figure, and the trailing end S21 of the succeeding sheet (sheet 2) is offset from the trailing end S11 of the preceding sheet (sheet 1). The start timing of the eject roller means 26 and the pushing claw 251 is set so as to precede. The offset amount (α in the figure) formed before and after the conveyance direction is expressed by the relationship between the position (β in the figure) between the position where the front end of the sheet first contacts when entering the accumulation tray 30 and the rear end of the accumulated sheet (β in the figure). > Α is set.

  This is to prevent the offset sheet from being pushed out of the tray at the leading edge of the succeeding sheet when the offset amount is set to be large beyond the contact point where the sheet leading edge enters the stacking tray 30. As described above, the trailing edge S21 of the preceding sheet and the trailing edge S21 of the succeeding sheet are offset by a predetermined amount in the front and rear directions in the conveyance direction, so that the trailing edge S21 of the succeeding sheet is not damaged by the pushing claw 251.

  Next, each operation mode will be described. The above-described apparatus has operation modes of “paper binding processing” and “jog processing”, which will be described in order below.

[Paper Binding Mode]
A series of sheets carried out from the image forming apparatus are sequentially stacked on the processing tray 20 in order of pages from the sheet discharge outlet 13 and aligned, and in this state, post-processing such as stapling is performed on the trailing edge of the sheet. The processed sheet bundle is stored in the stacking tray 30 by the eject roller means 26. The operation is shown in FIGS. 12a to 12n.

  FIG. 12a shows a state in which the preceding sheets are placed on the processing tray 20 in a bundle shape. Therefore, a sheet carry-out signal is obtained from the image forming apparatus, and the conveyance drive motor M1 is driven to rotate the conveyance roller 14. When the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the inlet sensor 15, the control CPU operates the solenoid SL2 to rotate the cam 58. The eject roller means 26 is moved from the operating position shown in FIG. 12a to the retracted position shown in FIG. 12b by the action of the cam 58 and held in this state. Next, the sheet is advanced between the caterpillar belt 173 and the pinch roller 177 in the state shown in FIG. When the leading end of the sheet reaches a predetermined position on the caterpillar belt 173, the solenoid SL1 is actuated to start the rotation of the paddle piece 192. The operation timing of the solenoid SL1 is set by a timer from the signal that the entrance sensor 15 detects the leading edge of the sheet.

  Simultaneously with the rotation of the paddle piece 192, the pressure elastic piece 193 presses the tip 181 of the guide plate 18 in the state shown in FIG. 12d, and gradually pushes the guide plate 18 against the belt upper surface 173a. Immediately before the rear end of the seat is detached from the caterpillar belt 173, the pressure elastic piece 193 presses the guide plate 18 in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the trailing edge of the sheet is vigorously carried out from the caterpillar belt 173 and reliably reaches the processing tray 20 even if it is a cardboard sheet.

  Thus, the sheet that has reached the processing tray 20 is conveyed in the reverse direction to the state shown in FIG. 12f by the paddle piece 192, and then switched back toward the regulating member 21 at the belt lower surface 173b as shown in FIG. 12g. Transport. When the trailing end of the sheet is abutted against the regulating member 21 in the state of FIG. 12h, the sheet width direction is aligned by the aligning means 23. The operations shown in FIGS. 12a to 12h are repeated so that predetermined sheets are stacked on the processing tray 20.

  Next, after predetermined sheets are stacked on the processing tray 20 in this way, a post-processing instruction signal is received from the image forming apparatus, and a post-processing operation is executed. In this post-processing operation, the eject roller means 26 is first moved to the standby position of the processing tray 20 by the method described above, and then the post-processing operation is executed. After the execution of this post-processing operation, the processed sheet is carried out from the processing tray 20 to the stacking tray 30. In this operation, the sheet pushing claw driving motor M2 is driven to move the pushing claw 251 to a position where it is engaged with the rear end of the sheet as shown in FIG. 12j. At this time, the eject roller means 26 is placed at a position away from the sheet.

  Next, in a state where the sheet is slightly moved by the pushing claw 251 (the illustrated one is about 5 mm), the pushing claw 251 and the eject roller 261 simultaneously convey the sheet bundle toward the stacking tray 30 at the same speed as shown in FIG. . The reason why the sheet is carried out by the push-out pawl 251 before the eject roller 261 is to prevent the sheet bundle from being broken when the eject roller 261 contacts the sheet first. In this way, the sheet bundle is discharged to the stacking tray 30 (see FIG. 12l). After such an operation, as shown in FIG. 12m, the pushing claw 251 reverses the sheet pushing claw drive motor M2 to return to the home position and prepares for the next sheet carry-out. In the course of the return of the push-out pawl 251, control is performed so that the subsequent sheet starts to be fed as shown in FIG.

[Description of jog mode]
A series of sheets carried out from the image forming apparatus are sorted and stored in the stacking tray 30 and aligned. Therefore, the processing tray 20 is provided with a shift mechanism that shifts the sheet by a predetermined amount in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and is controlled as follows. The sheets from the image forming apparatus are sequentially carried out by the operation described with reference to FIGS. 12a to 12h. A jog operation for aligning and sorting sheets will be described with reference to FIGS. 13a to 13h.

  FIG. 13 a shows a state in which the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed from the carry-in entrance 12 to the caterpillar belt 17 by the conveyance roller 14. FIG. 13 b shows the start timing of the operation in which the preceding sheet is discharged to the stacking tray 30 by the sheet pushing means 25. The trailing edge of the succeeding sheet is positioned at the sheet discharge port 13, and the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet precedes at an interval of α = 5 mm in the state where the pushing claw 251 is engaged with the trailing edge of the preceding sheet bundle. At this time, the preceding sheet bundle is moved in the width direction by a predetermined amount on the processing tray 20 by the aligning means 23. Further, when the succeeding sheet is carried out by the caterpillar belt 173, the paddle 192 piece is held at the initial position and placed in an inoperative state.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13c, the eject roller 261 is lowered to the lowest position when the pushing claw 251 moves 5 mm in the discharging direction, and the subsequent sheet and the sheet bundle are stacked and discharged. At this time, the pinch roller 41 is in a position where it is not released until the eject roller 261 nips the succeeding sheet. FIG. 13d shows a state where the trailing edge of the preceding sheet and the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet overlap on the processing tray 20. As is apparent from the drawing, the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet precedes the trailing edge of the preceding sheet by a predetermined amount (α), and a predetermined interval is formed between the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet and the pushing claw 251 in this state. The sheet bundle is discharged onto the stacking tray 30 by the claw member 251 and the eject roller 261 in a state where the trailing edge of the succeeding sheet is advanced in the discharging direction by a predetermined amount (α) from the trailing edge of the sheet bundle.

  FIG. 13e shows a state in which the succeeding sheet is discharged by the pushing claw 251 and the eject roller 261 in a posture shifted by a predetermined amount (α). At this time, the pushing claw 251 passes the side of the eject roller 261. FIG. 13f shows a state in which the pushing claw 251 on the side of the eject roller 261 passes and the subsequent sheet is overlaid and discharged by the sheet bundle. FIG. 13 g shows a state in which the overlapping preceding sheet and succeeding sheet are stored in the stacking tray 30. At this time, subsequent sheets are sequentially discharged from the sheet discharge outlet 13. In the illustrated example, the leading edge of the succeeding sheet is sent to the caterpillar belt 173, and this sheet is fed to the eject roller means 26 by the caterpillar belt 173. When the sheet bundle push-out pawl 251 is positioned (withdrawn) upstream of the caterpillar belt 173 in the discharge direction, the next succeeding sheet (n−1) is continuously conveyed and discharged to the stacking tray 30 by the eject roller 261. On the other hand, the push-out claw 251 returns to the home position and waits until the third copy sheet is sent.

  FIG. 13 h shows a state in which the leading edge of the succeeding sheet is fed onto the stacking tray 30. As shown in the figure, the succeeding sheet engages with the sheet on the stacking tray 30 at the X position shown in the figure, and this X position is determined by the interval between the ejection port 29 and the stacking tray 30 and the inclination angle of the tray. The aforementioned offset interval (α) is set to be smaller than β shown in the figure. When all the succeeding sheet groups are discharged and there is a third sheet division, the operation returns to the operation described with reference to FIG. 12B, and when the entrance sensor 15 detects the carry-in of the sheet, the eject roller means 26 moves to the retracted position. . If there is no division after the third copy, the operation is terminated.

1 is an overall cross-sectional view of a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. The top view which shows the principal part structure of the apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a belt conveyance means and a pressurization means (state in which the pressurizing force is not provided). Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a belt transfer means and a pressurization means (state in which the applied pressure is given). The block diagram of the conveyance drive mechanism of the apparatus of FIG. The perspective view which shows the structure of an eject roller. The perspective view which shows the structure of a pressurizing means. The perspective view which shows the structure of a sheet | seat press means. The block diagram which shows the positional relationship of the 1st fulcrum of a sheet | seat press means, and a 2nd fulcrum (state without a sheet | seat). The block diagram which shows the positional relationship of the 1st fulcrum of a sheet | seat press means, and a 2nd fulcrum (state with few sheet | seat stacking amounts). The block diagram which shows the positional relationship of the 1st fulcrum of a sheet | seat press means, and a 2nd fulcrum (state with much sheet | seat stacking amount). Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a stacking tray. Explanatory drawing which showed the operation | movement relationship between an eject roller and an extrusion nail | claw. Explanatory drawing which showed the positional relationship of a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “paper binding mode” of the post-processing apparatus. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device. The operation explanation flow of the “jog mode” of the post-processing device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Post-processing apparatus 11 Paper discharge path 13 Paper discharge port 15 Inlet sensor 17 Belt transfer means 18 Guide plate 19 Pressure means (193 pressure elastic piece)
20 Processing tray 22 Sheet pressing means 23 Alignment means 24 Post-processing means 25 Sheet pushing means 26 Eject roller means 29 Eject port 30 Stack tray 173 Conveyor belt (caterpillar belt)
176 Arm member 192 Paddle piece 221 Weight plate 222 Arm member 223 First support shaft (first support point)
225 Second pivot (second fulcrum)
231 Alignment plate 251 Extrusion claw 261 Eject roller 262 Lifting support arm M1 Conveyance drive motor M2 Sheet extrusion claw drive motor

Claims (9)

A paper discharge port for sequentially carrying out the sheets;
A tray that is provided below the paper discharge port and supports the stacking of sheets;
A switchback transfer means provided between the discharge outlet and the tray for transferring a sheet from the discharge outlet to the tray, and then reversing the transfer direction of the sheet on the tray and transferring it to a predetermined position;
The switchback transfer means includes a transport belt provided between the paper discharge port and the tray, and a plate-shaped guide disposed opposite to a belt surface for transporting a sheet from the paper discharge port of the transport belt to the tray. Composed of members,
The conveyor belt and the plate-shaped guide member are arranged so that the end on the tray side swings up and down around the end on the discharge port side,
The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped guide member is provided with a pressing force applying means for pressing the plate-shaped guide member toward the conveying belt. The conveyor belt is composed of a pair of belt members arranged at intervals in the width direction of the sheet,
The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped guide member is disposed between the pair of belt members.   The pressing force applying unit exerts a pressurizing action to increase a pressure contact force between the plate-shaped guide member and the conveying belt during reverse conveyance in which the switchback conveying unit conveys the rear end of the sheet on the tray to the predetermined position. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1.   The pressing force applying unit applies a pressing force to the plate-shaped guide member immediately before the rear end of the sheet is separated from the switchback transfer unit when the sheet is conveyed from the discharge port to the tray. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The pressing force applying unit applies a pressing force to the plate-shaped guide member from immediately before the trailing edge of the sheet is detached from the sheet conveying unit until the trailing edge of the sheet is reversed and conveyed. Sheet ejector. A paper discharge port for sequentially carrying out the sheets;
A processing tray that is provided below the sheet discharge port and supports the stacking on the sheet;
Post-processing means disposed on the processing tray for performing post-processing such as binding processing on the sheet bundle;
An accumulation tray disposed downstream of the processing tray;
A switch that is provided between the paper discharge port and the processing tray and conveys a sheet from the paper discharge port to the processing tray, and then reverses the conveyance direction of the sheet on the processing tray and transfers it to a predetermined post-processing position. Back transfer means;
A sheet post-processing apparatus provided with paddle conveying means disposed above the processing tray and in the vicinity of the switchback transfer means to transfer a sheet on the processing tray toward the processing position,
The switchback transfer means is disposed so as to face a conveyance belt provided between the paper discharge port and the processing tray, and a belt surface that conveys a sheet from the paper discharge port of the conveyance belt to the tray. A plate-shaped guide member,
The plate-shaped guide member and the conveyor belt are configured such that the front end portion on the processing tray side swings up and down around the rear end portion on the discharge port side,
A sheet post-processing apparatus, wherein the plate-shaped guide member is provided with a pressing force applying means for pressing the conveying belt, and the pressing force applying means is operated by a driving means of the paddle conveying means.   The timing at which the paddle conveying unit applies a conveying force to a sheet on a processing tray and the timing at which the pressing force applying unit applies a pressing force to the plate-shaped guide member are different from each other. Sheet post-processing equipment. The paddle conveying means is composed of a first plate-like elastic piece whose base end is fixed to the rotating shaft,
The front end of the first plate-like elastic piece is elastically deformed so as to convey the sheet on the processing tray, and the pressing force applying means is composed of a second plate-like elastic piece fixed to the rotating shaft, The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a distal end portion of the second plate-shaped elastic piece abuts and deforms with the plate-shaped guide member to apply a pressing force.   The first and second plate-like elastic pieces convey a sheet on the processing tray after the second plate-like elastic piece gives a pressing force to the plate-like guide member. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus is attached to the rotary shaft.

Images