JP4581567B2 - Sheet ejector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as a stapling operation on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus, or a sheet discharge apparatus that discharges a compile tray sheet provided in the image forming apparatus or the like to a stacker tray.

The sheet discharge device that discharges the sheets of the compile tray to the stacker tray is described in Patent Document 1 below.
(Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-143211)
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561 describes a technique for discharging a sheet that has been post-processed with a compile tray (alignment processing for aligning sheet edges, stapling processing with a stapler, etc.) to a stacker tray.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-143211 (see FIG. 1)

  If the length of the compile tray described in Patent Document 1 is long, the image forming apparatus or the post-processing apparatus becomes large, so that the length of the compile tray in the sheet discharge direction is short. In this case, the front end of the sheet discharged to the compilation tray is arranged to extend outward from the outer end of the compilation tray. Since the front end portion of the sheet extending outward from the outer end of the compile tray is disposed above the stacker tray, the front end portion is curved downward. If there is a curved portion below, the sheets on the compile tray are difficult to align.

For this reason, in order to support the lower surface of the front end portion of the sheet extending from the outer end of the compile tray to the upper side of the stacker tray, the outer end of the compile tray extends to the outer side of the outer end of the compile tray above the stacker tray. A sheet discharge device provided with a shelf that moves between a sheet lower surface supporting position for taking out and supporting the sheet lower surface and a storage position stored below the compilation tray is considered.
In order to move the shelf between the sheet lower surface support position and the storage position, a shelf drive motor is necessary, and the shelf drive motor conventionally has been a sheet discharge roller that discharges the sheets of the compile tray to the stacker tray. A drive motor and another motor were used.
As described above, there is a problem that the cost increases when one motor is used to drive the shelf.

In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention has the following description contents (O01) and (O02) as technical problems.
(O01) The shelf is moved between the sheet lower surface support position protruding above the stacker tray and the storage position by the motor that drives the sheet discharge roller to the stacker tray.
(O02) A set clamp paddle that holds the upper surface of the sheet on the stacker tray by a motor that drives a sheet discharge roller to the stacker tray, and a lower surface supporting position of the sheet that protrudes above the stacker tray and an upper surface of the sheet supported by the stacker tray. Rotate between clamp position to hold down.

(Invention)
Next, the present invention that has solved the above problems will be described. The elements of the present invention include elements of the examples in order to facilitate correspondence with elements of specific examples (examples) of the embodiments described later. Add the code enclosed in parentheses. The reason why the present invention is described in correspondence with the reference numerals of the embodiments described later is to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments.

(Invention)
In order to solve the technical problem, the sheet discharging apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including the following structural requirements (A01) to (A07).
(A01) A sheet that is rotatably supported by a stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) that is rotatably supported on the outer end portion of the compile tray (7) and that is discharged to the compile tray (7) is stacked on the stacker tray (TH1). A stacker tray discharge rotating member (81-83) having a stacker tray discharge roller (82) to be discharged into the stacker and a discharge roller gear (82a) rotating integrally with the stacker tray discharge roller (82).
(A02) A sheet lower surface support position protruding above the stacker tray (TH1) from the outer end of the compile tray (7) to support the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the compile tray (7) and the compile tray ( 7) A shelf (84) having a rack gear (84b) formed so as to be movable between the retracted position retracted downward and along the arc, (A03) the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) A discharge roller rotating drive shaft (86) disposed in parallel with and supported so as to be rotatable forward and backward,
(A04) A discharge roller drive gear (87) mounted on the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86), rotating integrally with the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) and meshing with the discharge roller gear (82a),
(A05) The discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) is mounted via a torque limiter (88) and meshed with the rack gear (84b), so that the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) is rotated forward and backward. Sometimes, when the load torque is within a predetermined value, the rack gear (84b) and the shelf (84) are rotated between the discharge roller rotating drive shaft (86) between the seat lower surface support position and the storage position. When the load torque exceeds a predetermined value determined by the torque limiter (88), the shelf movement gear (89) to be moved by the rotation stops even if the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) rotates. The shelf moving gear (89) in a state,
(A06) Stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4) for rotating the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) forward or backward,
(A07) A discharge roller drive control means (CA4) for controlling the rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4).

(Operation of the present invention)
In the sheet discharge apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structural requirements (A01) to (A07), the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) is rotatably supported on the outer end portion of the compilation tray (7). A stacker tray discharge roller (82) for discharging the sheet discharged to the compile tray (7) to a stacker tray (TH1), and a discharge roller gear (82a) that rotates integrally with the stacker tray discharge roller (82). The stacker tray discharge rotating member (81-83) is rotatably supported by the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81).
A shelf (84) having a rack gear (84b) formed along an arc has a stacker tray (from the outer end of the compile tray (7) to support the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the compile tray (7). TH1) is supported so as to be movable between a sheet lower surface supporting position protruding upwardly of TH1) and a storage position of being drawn downward of the compile tray (7).
A discharge roller rotating drive shaft (86) disposed in parallel with the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) is supported so as to be able to rotate forward and backward.
A discharge roller drive gear (87) that is attached to the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) and rotates integrally with the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) meshes with the discharge roller gear (82a).
The shelf moving gear (89) that is attached to the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) via a torque limiter (88) and meshes with the rack gear (84b) is connected to the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86). When the load torque is within a predetermined value determined by the torque limiter (88) during rotation and reverse rotation, the rack gear (84b) and the shelf (84) rotate together with the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86). ) Between the seat lower surface support position and the storage position. When the load torque exceeds a predetermined value determined by the torque limiter (88), the shelf moving gear (89) is stopped even if the discharge roller rotating drive shaft (86) rotates.
The stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4) rotates the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) forward or backward.
The discharge roller drive control means (CA4) controls the rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4).

(Embodiment 1 of the present invention)
The sheet discharging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the present invention, the following structural requirements (A08) and (A09) are provided.
(A08) The stacker tray discharge roller (82) that rotates so as to discharge the sheet of the compile tray (7) to the stacker tray (TH1) when the drive shaft (86) for rotating the discharge roller rotates forward.
(A09) The shelf (84) that moves from the sheet lower surface support position to the retracted position when the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) rotates forward.

(Operation of Form 1 of the Present Invention)
In the sheet discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the structural requirements (A08) and (A09), the stacker tray discharging roller (82) is compiled when the discharging roller rotating drive shaft (86) is rotated forward. It rotates so that the sheet | seat of a tray (7) may be discharged to a stacker tray (TH1).
The shelf (84) moves from the sheet lower surface support position to the storage position when the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) rotates forward.

(Embodiment 2 of the present invention)
The sheet discharging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that, in the present invention or the first embodiment of the present invention, the following structural requirements (A010) to (A012) are provided.
(A010) A set clamp paddle (83) fixed to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) and rotating integrally with the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81), and the sheet discharged to the compilation tray (7) The set clamp paddle (83) rotatable between a sheet lower surface support position for supporting the lower surface of the sheet and a clamp position for pressing and clamping the sheet upper surface discharged to the stacker tray (TH1).
(A011) An electromagnetic clutch (CL0) capable of transmitting and shutting off the rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4) to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81),
(A012) The electromagnetic clutch (CL0) is turned on at a predetermined timing in a state in which the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) is rotated forward by the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4), and the set clamp paddle (83 ) Is rotated between the seat lower surface support position and the clamp position, and set clamp paddle operation control means (CA5).

(Operation of Embodiment 2 of the present invention)
In the sheet discharge apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention having the structural requirements (A010) to (A012), the sheet discharge apparatus is fixed to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81) and rotates integrally with the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81). The set clamp paddle (83) has a sheet lower surface support position that supports the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the compile tray (7), and a clamp position that presses and clamps the sheet upper surface discharged to the stacker tray (TH1). Rotate between.
The rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4) is transmitted to or blocked by the stacker tray discharge roller shaft (81).
The set clamp paddle operation control means (CA5) turns on the electromagnetic clutch (CL0) at a predetermined timing when the discharge roller rotation drive shaft (86) is rotated forward by the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor (M4). Then, the set clamp paddle (83) is rotated between the seat lower surface support position and the clamp position .

(Embodiment 3 of the present invention)
The sheet discharge apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that, in the present invention or the first embodiment of the present invention, the following structural requirements (A013) to (A015) are provided.
(A013) Compilation tray sheet discharge sensor (SN0) for detecting sheet discharge to the compilation tray (7),
(A014) Compilation tray sheet sensor (SNc) for detecting whether or not there is a sheet in the compilation tray (7),
(A015) When a sheet is discharged to the compile tray (7) with no sheets in the compile tray (7), the stacker tray discharge roller (82) is rotated forward during discharge of the sheet to the compile tray (7). The discharge roller that holds the shelf (84) in the storage position and rotates the stacker tray discharge roller (82) reversely after the discharge of the sheet to move the shelf (84) from the storage position to the sheet lower surface support position. Drive control means (CA4).

(Operation of Form 3 of the Present Invention)
In the sheet discharge apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration requirements (A013) to (A015), the compile tray sheet discharge sensor (SN0) detects sheet discharge to the compile tray (7).
The compile tray sheet sensor (SNc) detects whether there is a sheet in the compile tray (7).
The discharge roller drive control means (CA4) discharges the stacker tray while discharging the sheets to the compile tray (7) when the sheets are discharged to the compile tray (7) with no sheets in the compile tray (7). The roller (82) is rotated forward to hold the shelf (84) in the storage position, and after the sheet is discharged, the stacker tray discharge roller (82) is rotated in reverse to move the shelf (84) from the storage position to the lower surface of the sheet. Move to support position.

(Embodiment 4)
A sheet discharging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the following configuration requirement (A016) is provided in the third embodiment of the present invention.
(A016) When a sheet is discharged to the compile tray (7) with no sheets in the compile tray (7), the sheet to the compile tray set in advance during the normal rotation period of the stacker tray discharge roller (82) the set clamp paddle rotation start time of the time of ejection, the set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating the clamping position the set clamp paddles (83) from said seat bottom surface supporting position (CA5).

(Operation of Form 4 of the Present Invention)
In the sheet discharging apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration requirement (A016),
(A016) When a sheet is discharged to the compile tray (7) with no sheets in the compile tray (7), the sheet to the compile tray set in advance during the positive rotation period of the stacker tray discharge roller (82) the set clamp paddle rotation start time of the time of ejection, the set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating the clamping position the set clamp paddles (83) from said seat bottom surface supporting position (CA5).

(Embodiment 5)
A sheet discharge apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that, in any of the present invention and any of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the following configuration requirement (A017) is provided.
(A017) When discharging the sheets of the compile tray (7) to the stacker tray (TH1), the stacker tray discharge roller (82) is rotated forward so that the shelf (84) is moved from the sheet lower surface support position to the storage position. The discharge roller drive control means (CA4) to be moved.

(Operation of Form 5 of the Present Invention)
In the sheet discharging apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention having the configuration requirement (A017), the discharge roller drive control means (CA4) is configured to discharge the sheets from the compilation tray (7) to the stacker tray (TH1). The stacker tray discharge roller (82) is rotated forward to move the shelf (84) from the sheet lower surface support position to the storage position.

(Embodiment 6 of the present invention)
A sheet discharge apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in any of the present invention and any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the following configuration requirement (A018) is provided.
(A018) A set clamp at the time of discharging the sheet to the stacker tray set in advance during the normal rotation period of the stacker tray discharge roller (82) when discharging the sheets of the compilation tray (7) to the stacker tray (TH1) paddle rotation start time, the set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating the set clamp paddles (83) to the seat lower face supporting position from the sheet clamping position (CA5).

(Operation of Embodiment 6 of the present invention)
In the sheet discharging apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention having the configuration requirement (A018), the set clamp paddle operation control means (CA5) discharges the sheets from the compilation tray (7) to the stacker tray (TH1). said sheet to said stacker tray discharge roller (82) of the set clamp paddle rotation starting time at the time of sheet discharge to a preset stacker tray during forward rotation period, the set clamp paddles (83) from said sheet clamping position in Rotate to bottom support position.

The above-described present invention has the following effects (E01) and (E02).
(E01) The shelf can be moved between the sheet lower surface support position protruding above the stacker tray and the storage position by the motor that drives the sheet discharge roller to the stacker tray. Accordingly, since no motor for moving the shelf is required, an increase in the number of motors to be used can be suppressed.
(E02) A sheet clamp roller paddle (83) that presses the upper surface of the sheet on the stacker tray by a motor that drives a sheet discharge roller to the stacker tray, and a sheet lower surface support position that protrudes above the stacker tray and a sheet supported by the stacker tray. It can be rotated between the clamp position that holds the upper surface of the plate. Therefore, since no motor for rotating the set clamp paddle (83) is required, an increase in the number of motors to be used can be suppressed. Further, when the shelf is moved to the storage position, the sheet can be supported by the set clamp paddle (83).

Next, specific examples (examples) of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus (tandem digital color copying machine) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus U includes a UI (user interface), an image input apparatus U1, a paper feeding apparatus U2, an image forming apparatus main body U3, and a post-processing apparatus U4.

(User Interface UI):
The UI has input keys such as a display UI1, a copy start key UI2 (see FIG. 15), a copy number input key UI3 (see FIG. 15), a numeric keypad UI4, a staple processing setting key UI5, and the like.
(Image input device U1):
The image input device U1 includes an automatic document feeder and an image scanner.
In FIG. 1, in the image input device U1, reflected light from an illuminated document (not shown) is R (red) by an exposure optical system (not shown), a CCD (solid-state imaging device), and an image processing circuit (not shown). ), G (green), and B (blue) image data, and input to the image forming apparatus body U3 at a predetermined timing.

(Paper Feeder U2):
The sheet feeding device U2 includes a plurality of sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR3, a sheet feeding path SH1 that takes out the recording sheets S for image recording stored in the sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR3, and conveys them to the image forming apparatus body U3. Have.

(Image forming apparatus body U3):
In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus main body U3 includes an image recording unit (details will be described later) for recording an image on a recording sheet S conveyed from the sheet feeding device U2, a toner dispenser device U3a, a sheet conveying path SH2, and a sheet discharge. It has a path SH3, a sheet reversing path SH4, a sheet circulation path SH5, and the like.
The image forming apparatus body U3 includes a controller C, laser drive circuits DLy to DLk controlled by the controller C, a power supply circuit E, and the like. The laser drive circuits DLy to DLk whose operations are controlled by the controller C correspond to Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) image data input from the image input device U1. Laser drive signals are output to the toner image forming apparatuses UY, UM, UC, and UK latent image forming apparatuses ROSy, ROSm, ROSc, and ROSk of the respective colors at a predetermined timing. The toner image forming apparatuses UY, UM, UC, UK of the respective colors are movable between a drawing position pulled out in front of the image forming apparatus main body U3 and a mounting position mounted inside the image forming apparatus main body U3. It is supported by.

In FIG. 1, a charging device CCk, a developing device Gk, a cleaner CLk, and the like are disposed around a photosensitive drum (toner image carrier) Pk of a K (black) toner image forming apparatus UK.
Further, around the photosensitive drums Py, Pm, and Pc of other toner image forming apparatuses UY, UM, and UC, chargers CCy, CCm, CCc, and developing units Gy, similar to those around the photosensitive drum Pk, respectively. Gm, Gc, cleaners CLy, CLm, CLc, etc. are arranged.

  In FIG. 1, photosensitive drums Py, Pm, Pc, Pk are uniformly charged by chargers CCy, CCm, CCc, CCk, respectively, and then output from the latent image forming devices ROSy, ROSm, ROSc, ROSk. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by the laser beams Ly, Lm, Lc, and Lk. The electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) colors by developing units Gy, Gm, Gc, and Gk. The toner image is developed.

The toner images on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer rollers T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k, and a color image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B. It is formed. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B is conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4.
In the case of only black image data, only the K (black) photosensitive drum Pk and the developing device Gk are used, and only a black toner image is formed.
After the primary transfer, residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drums Py, Pm, Pc, and Pk is cleaned by the photosensitive drum cleaners CLy, CLm, CLc, and CLk.

  The belt module BM includes a belt support roller (Rd, Rt, Rw, Rd, Rt, Rw, belt driving roller Rd, tension roller Rt, walking roller Rw, a plurality of idler rollers (free rollers) Rf, and a backup roller T2a. Rf, T2a) and the primary transfer rollers T1y, T1m, T1c, T1k. The intermediate transfer belt B is supported by the belt support rollers (Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, T2a) so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow Ya.

A secondary transfer unit Ut is disposed below the backup roller T2a. The secondary transfer roller T2b of the secondary transfer unit Ut is disposed so as to be separated and press-contactable (separable) to the backup roller T2a with the intermediate transfer belt B interposed therebetween, and the secondary transfer roller T2b is arranged as an intermediate transfer belt. A secondary transfer region Q4 is formed by a region (nip) in pressure contact with B. A contact roller T2c is in contact with the backup roller T2a, and a secondary transfer device (transfer device) T2 is constituted by the rollers T2a to T2c.
A secondary transfer voltage having the same polarity as the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the contact roller T2c at a predetermined timing from a power supply circuit controlled by the controller C.

Below the belt module BM, a sheet conveyance path SH2 in which a sheet conveyance roller Ra, a registration roller Rr, and the like are arranged is arranged. The recording sheet S fed from the sheet feeding path SH1 of the sheet feeding device U2 is conveyed to the registration roller Rr in the sheet conveying path SH2, and the timing at which the color toner image is conveyed to the secondary transfer region Q4. In addition, the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer region Q4 through the registration-side sheet guide SGr and the pre-transfer sheet guide SG1.
The registration-side sheet guide SGr is supported by the image forming apparatus main body U3 together with the registration roller Rr.
The color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred to the recording sheet S by the secondary transfer device T2 when passing through the secondary transfer region Q4. Note that in the case of a full-color image, the toner images primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt B are secondarily transferred onto the recording sheet S at once.

  The intermediate transfer belt B after the secondary transfer is cleaned by a belt cleaner CLB. The secondary transfer roller T2b and the belt cleaner CLB are disposed so as to be separated from (contacted and separated from) the intermediate transfer belt B. When a color image is formed, the unfixed toner of the final color is formed. The image is separated from the intermediate transfer belt B until the image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt B.

  The recording sheet S on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is a region (fixing region) where the pair of fixing rollers Fh and the pressure roller Fp of the fixing device F are pressed against each other through the post-transfer sheet guide SG2 and the sheet conveying belt BH. Transported to Q5. The toner image on the recording sheet S is heated and fixed by the fixing device F when passing through the fixing region Q5. A switching gate G1 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device F. The switching gate G1 selectively switches the recording sheet S, which has been transported through the sheet transport path SH2 and heated and fixed in the fixing region Q5, to either the sheet discharge path SH3 or the sheet reversal path SH4. The sheet S conveyed to the sheet discharge path SH3 is discharged to the post-processing device U4 by the sheet conveyance roller Ra, the discharge roller Rh, and the like.

A sheet circulation path SH5 is connected to the sheet reversing path SH4, and a Mylar gate G2 is provided at the connecting portion. The Mylar gate G2 once passes the recording sheet S conveyed to the sheet reversing path SH4 as it is, and conveys the recording sheet S switched back after passing to the sheet circulation path SH5 side. The recording sheet S conveyed to the sheet circulation path SH5 is retransmitted to the transfer area Q4 through the sheet feeding path SH1.
A sheet conveying path SH is configured by the elements indicated by the symbols SH1 to SH5. Further, a sheet conveying device SU is constituted by the elements indicated by the symbols SH, Ra, Rr, Rh, SG1, SG2, SGr, BH, G1, and G2.

(Post-processing device U4)
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing the vertical movement of the discharge clamp roller.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing the vertical movement of the sub paddle.
2 and 3, the post-processing apparatus U4 is a sheet carrying-in port 1 through which the recording sheet S copied by the image forming apparatus main body U3 is loaded onto a surface (one side surface of the post-processing apparatus) connected to the image forming apparatus main body U3. Is provided. The recording sheet S carried in from the sheet carry-in port 1 is switched by the switching gates 2 and 3 so that the upper end discharge path SH6 extending upward, the end binding discharge path SH7 extending rightward, and the saddle stitch discharge path extending downward. It is conveyed to one of SH8. The recording sheet S conveyed to the upper end discharge path SH6 is directly discharged from the upper end discharge port P0 to the top tray TH0 by the upper end discharge roller 4 without being subjected to post-processing.

(End binding device)
FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of a rear end portion in the sheet discharging direction of the end binding device according to the first exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG.
2 and 3, the recording sheet S conveyed through the end binding discharge path SH <b> 7 is discharged to the end binding compile tray 7 by the compile tray discharge roller 6. In the vicinity of the compile tray discharge roller 6, a compile tray discharge sheet sensor SN0 for detecting a recording sheet conveyed through the end binding discharge path SH7 is disposed. The end binding compile tray 7 is arranged so as to be gently inclined with respect to the horizontal, and is configured to accommodate a plurality of sheets.
2 to 4, the end binding compile tray 7 includes a compile tray main body 8 on which recording sheets are stacked. A tamper moving recess 9 is formed at the left end of the upper surface of the compile tray main body 8, and a pair of tamper guide grooves 9a and 9b (see FIG. 5) are formed in the tamper moving recess 9.
The compile tray 7 is provided with a compile tray sheet sensor SNc that detects whether or not the sheet S is present.

  4 and 5, the right end portion (base end portion) of a film-like (thin film-like) mylar (sheet lifting member) 11 is fixedly supported at the left end portion of the tamper moving recess 9. The left end portion (front end portion) protrudes above the upper surface of the compile tray main body 8. The rigidity (strength) of the mylar 11 according to the first embodiment is such that when a small number of recording sheets (up to about 5 sheets of plain paper) are stacked on the compile tray main body 8, the recording sheets (or recording sheet bundle) are lifted upward. In a state where a large number of recording sheets are stacked, it is set to such an extent that the front end of the mylar 11 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the end binding compile tray 7 due to elastic deformation due to the weight of the recording sheet bundle. Therefore, even when the number of sheets stored is small, the distance between the uppermost surface of the stored recording sheet bundle and the main paddle (47) described later can be maintained at a predetermined distance by the mylar 11.

(Description of sheet side edge aligning member)
6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
In FIG. 6, a tamper drive pulley 16 that can be rotated forward and backward by a tamper drive motor M <b> 1 is supported on the front portion of the lower surface of the tamper moving recess 9. A driven pulley 17 is rotatably supported by a pulley support portion 9c at the rear of the tamper moving recess 9. Between the tamper driving pulley 16 and the driven pulley 17, a tamper driving timing belt 18 is laid (attached).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the tamper of the end binding device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of the front tamper, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of the rear tamper.
4 to 7, a pair of front and rear tampers 21 and 22 are arranged in the tamper moving recess 8 to align the front and rear side edges of the sheet loaded on the end binding compilation tray 7. In FIG. 7A, the front tamper 21 has a sheet mounting portion (tamper base) 21a whose upper surface is substantially flush with the upper surface of the compile tray main body 8 and whose rear end (-X end) is inclined downward. And a sheet side end alignment wall 21b that rises upward from the front end of the sheet placement portion 21a. Further, a sheet side edge locking portion 21c protruding inward is formed at the upper end of the sheet side edge aligning wall 21b, and the sheet side edge locking portion 21c is used on the end binding compilation tray 7. The front side edge of the recording sheet is prevented from riding on the front tamper 21 and the curled sheet side edge is prevented from sliding upward.

  7B, similarly to the front tamper 21, the rear tamper 22 has a sheet placement portion (tamper base) 22a, a sheet side end alignment wall 22b, and a sheet side edge locking portion 22c. A large number of ridges 22 d parallel to the upper surface of the compile tray main body 8 are formed on the inner surface of the sheet-side end alignment wall 22 b of the rear tamper 22 (a pressing surface that presses the sheet-side edge). Accordingly, the rear edge of the recording sheet is prevented from riding on the rear tamper 22 by the sheet side edge locking portion 22c and the protrusion 22d.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.
Next, the connection between the front tamper 21 and the rear tamper 22 and the tamper driving timing belt 18 will be described. The connection structure between the front tamper 21 and the tamper driving timing belt 18, and the rear tamper 22 and the tamper driving. Since the connection structure with the timing belt is similar, the rear tamper 22 will be described in detail, and the detailed description of the front tamper 21 will be omitted.
7 and 8, two guided pins 26 protrude downward from the lower surface of the sheet placing portion 22a of the rear tamper 22. The guided pin 26 extends downward through the rear tamper guide groove 9b. A cylindrical collar 27 is fitted to the guided pin 26. The tip of the guided pin 26 passes through a pin through hole 28b formed in the upper end wall 28a of the inverted L-shaped tamper bracket 28, and the guide pin 26 has a clip 29 for retaining the tip. Is installed. In FIG. 8, a connecting plate 31 is disposed to face the vertical wall 28 c of the tamper bracket 28. The tamper bracket 28 and the connecting plate 31 are connected by two connecting members 32 with the tamper driving timing belt 18 interposed therebetween.

In FIG. 5, the front tamper 21 is connected to the right side of the tamper driving timing belt 18, and the rear tamper 22 is connected to the left side of the tamper driving timing belt 18. Therefore, by rotating the tamper drive motor M1 (see FIG. 6) forward or backward, the front tamper 21 and the rear tamper 22 can move in a direction toward or away from each other.
The tamper driving motor M1, the tamper driving pulley 16, the driven pulley 17, the tamper driving timing belt 18, the tampers 21 and 22, the guided pin 26, the tamper bracket 28, the connecting plate 31, the connecting member 32, etc. An alignment member 33 is configured. The configuration of the sheet side edge aligning member is not limited to the above configuration, and various conventionally known configurations (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 08-081111 and 8-108965) can be employed. .

(Description of sheet rear end positioning member)
4 and 5, a sheet rear end positioning member 41 is fixedly supported on the rear end side (left end side) of the compile tray main body 8 in the sheet discharge direction. The sheet rear end positioning member 41 is a rear end positioning wall (end wall, sheet end) formed upward to position the rear end in the sheet discharge direction of the recording sheet conveyed to the end binding compilation tray 7. Positioning portion) 41a and a sheet guide wall 41b extending from the upper end of the rear end positioning wall 41a toward the compile tray main body 8 side. As shown in FIG. 5, the rear end positioning wall 41a is provided at a portion other than the staple position where the staple operation for binding the recording sheet bundle is performed by a stapler described later. The sheet trailing edge guide wall 41b guides the sheet trailing edge downward when the sheet trailing edge moving toward the sheet trailing edge positioning wall 41a for sheet alignment is curled upward, and the curl amount It has a function to reduce
The compile tray 7 is constituted by the compile tray main body 8, the sheet rear end positioning member 41, and the like.
The sheet rear end positioning member 41 according to the first exemplary embodiment is fixedly supported by the compile tray main body 8, but is not limited thereto. It is also possible to employ a rotatable sheet rear end positioning member.

(Description of sheet rear edge alignment member)
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a sheet rear end aligning member, FIG. 9A is an explanatory view of a main paddle, FIG. 9B is an explanatory view of a conical paddle, and FIG. 9C is an explanatory view of a rotating brush.
5 and 6, above the sheet rear end positioning member 41, a rear end alignment member support shaft 46 is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) of the post-processing apparatus U4. The rear end aligning member support shaft 46 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) disposed rearward.
5 and 6, the rear end aligning member support shaft 46 has three main paddles (X-axis direction) disposed at positions corresponding to the sheet rear end positioning member 41 at intervals in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). A sheet rear end aligning member (sheet end aligning member) 47 is fixedly supported. The main paddle 47 has three flexible sheet contact portions 47a as shown in FIG. 9A, and the upper surface of the recording sheet on the end binding compile tray 7 (or the uppermost surface of the recording sheet bundle). The recording sheet is conveyed to the rear end positioning wall 41a side.

The sheet contact portion 47a extends in the tangential direction at a position shifted by about 120 ° in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface. The number and arrangement position of the sheet contact portions 47a are not limited to 3 sheets / 120 °, but only 1 sheet, 2 sheets / 180 degrees, 4 sheets / 90 degrees, 5 sheets / 72 degrees, 6 sheets / 60 degrees. Arbitrary things such as ° can be adopted. Further, the extending direction of the sheet contact portion 47a is not limited to the tangential direction, and may be a radial direction.
In the main paddle 47 of the first embodiment, when there are many recording sheet bundles stored in the end binding compilation tray 7, the contact pressure between the sheet contact portion 47a and the recording sheet becomes an appropriate pressure. A distance between the main paddle 47 and the end binding compilation tray 7 is set.

5, 6, and 9 </ b> B, a conical paddle 48 is fixed to the front end portion of the rear end alignment member support shaft 46. The conical paddle 48 is a sheet side edge guide rotating member that guides one side edge of the recording sheet moving forward, and has a conical rotation surface whose outer diameter increases toward the front side.
That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, the conical paddle 48 has six triangular fin members 48a extending in the radial direction at positions shifted by 60 ° in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface. The outer edge forms a conical surface when rotated. The conical paddle 48 has a function of orienting a curled portion above the sheet downward when the sheet curled upward is brought toward the X direction (forward).

A rotating brush 49 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) is fixed to the rear end portion (−X side end portion) of the rear end alignment member support shaft 46. In FIG. 9C, the rotating brush 49 has a plurality of brush hairs (linear members) extending in the radial direction at a position shifted by about 60 ° in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical surface. The rotating brush 49 has a function of pressing down the curl at the rear end of the sheet.
In the present invention, the conical paddle 48 and the rotating brush 49 can be omitted.

(Description of stapler guide member)
4 and 5, a stapler guide member 61 is fixedly supported on a frame (not shown) of the post-processing device U4 at the lower left of the sheet rear end positioning member 41. The stapler guide member 61 is formed with a stapler guide portion 62 that extends linearly in the front-rear direction and curves inwardly at both front and rear end portions so as to protrude in an arc shape. A stapler guide groove 62 a is formed in the stapler guide portion 62 along the stapler guide portion 62. Gear teeth 62b (see FIG. 4) are formed on one inner surface of the stapler guide groove 62a.
The front end and the rear end of the stapler guide groove 62 are provided with snap-fit engagement portions (not shown) for preventing the moving staple member described later from moving further to the front end side or the rear end side. ing.

In FIG. 5, two staple position light-shielding sections (staple position detection sections) 63 are provided on the left side of the stapler guide groove 62a corresponding to the staple position where the stapling operation for binding the side edges of the recording sheets is performed. Yes. The staple position light-shielding portion 63 is formed to be long in the front-rear direction along the linear guide groove 62. A home position light shielding portion (home position detecting portion) 64 is formed at the front end portion of the stapler guide member 61 along the arcuate curved portion of the guide groove 62.
In addition, the staple position light-shielding portion 63 of the first embodiment is set to have a length in the front-rear direction of 12.6 mm. Further, the home position light shielding portion 64 of the first embodiment is formed to be sufficiently longer (for example, about 50 mm) than the staple position light shielding portion 63, and is used for detecting the home position, and at the corner (corner) of the sheet bundle. It is also used for detecting the staple position for corner binding for executing corner binding.

(Description of moving staple member)
4 and 5, a moving staple member 70 is disposed on the stapler guide member 61. The moving stapler 70 has a moving carriage 71, and a shaft support portion 71a is formed at the right end (+ Y end) of the moving carriage 71. A roller 72 is rotatably supported on the movable carriage 71, and the movable carriage 71 is configured to be movable on the stapler guide member 61. A guide gear 73 is rotatably supported on the lower surface of the movable carriage 71. The guide gear 73 is fitted in the stapler guide groove 62a and meshes with the gear teeth 62b. A rotation shaft 73a of the guide gear 73 passes through the stapler guide groove 62a, and a stapler drive motor M2 is connected to the lower end portion. A motor support plate M2a is supported on the stapler drive motor M2. A motor support shaft M2b is connected between the right end of the motor support plate M2a and the shaft support 71a. Therefore, the stapler drive motor M2 is configured to be movable integrally with the movable carriage 71.

  Therefore, by rotating the stapler drive motor M2 forward / reversely, the guide gear 73 is rotationally driven, and the movable carriage 71 moves back and forth along the stapler guide portion 62 by the gear teeth 62b of the stapler guide groove 62a with which the guide gear 73 is engaged. Move while being guided in the direction. The stapler drive motor M2 according to the first embodiment is configured by a stepping motor that is driven to rotate by a predetermined angle every time a pulse is input. The stapler drive motor M2 of the first embodiment is set to move the movable carriage 71 in the front-rear direction at a moving speed of 31.5 cm / s. Therefore, the moving carriage 71 of the first embodiment is set so that it passes through the staple position light shielding unit 63 from the front end to the rear end in 40 ms and takes 50 ms or more to pass through the home position light shielding unit 64. The movable carriage 71 moves to the staple position with reference to the home position, which is the reference position for starting movement, during staple execution.

  In FIG. 4, a stapler position detection sensor SN <b> 1 is fixedly supported on the lower surface of the movable carriage 71. The stapler position detection sensor SN1 includes an optical sensor having a light emitting unit 74a that emits light and a light receiving unit 74b that can receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit. The stapler position detection sensor SN1 is configured such that when the movable carriage 71 moves to the staple position or the home position, the staple position light shielding unit 63 or the home position light shielding unit 64 enters between the light emitting unit 74a and the light receiving unit 74b. It is arranged at a position to be shielded from light. Accordingly, the movable carriage 71 is moved by the stapler position detection sensor SN1, the staple position light shielding unit 63, and the home position light shielding unit 64 to the staple position (the side edge binding position, the position indicated by the solid line or the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5) and the home. It is possible to move between positions (reference position and corner binding position, position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5).

A stapler body 76 is supported on the upper surface of the movable carriage 71. The stapler main body 76 has a needle launching portion 76a for ejecting staple needles 77 for binding the bundle of recording sheets stacked on the end binding compilation tray 7, and a needle folding portion 76b for folding the leading end of the staple needle ejected from the needle launching portion 76a. And have. The needle launching portion 76a is rotatably supported by a needle bending portion 76b by a rotation shaft 76c. Further, the tip end portion 78a of the stapler operating member 78 is pin-connected to the needle launching portion 76a. An eccentric cam 79 rotatably supported by the needle bending portion 76b is loosely fitted to the ring-shaped rear end portion 78b of the stapler operating member 78. Therefore, when the eccentric cam 79 is rotated by a driving device (not shown), the stapler operating member 78 moves in the vertical direction, and the needle launching portion 72a moves in the vertical direction to perform stapling.
A moving staple member 70 is constituted by the members denoted by reference numerals 71 to 79.

(Description of discharge roller, shelf and set clamp paddle)
FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the discharge roller portion of the end binding compile tray.
11 is an explanatory view of the clamp roll and the sub paddle, FIG. 11A is a plan view, and FIG. 11B is a view as seen from the direction of arrow XIB in FIG. 11A.
2, 3, 10, and 11, a discharge roller that is rotatably supported between the front and rear frames U <b> 4 a and U <b> 4 b of the post-processing device U <b> 4 is located in front of the end binding compile tray 7 in the sheet discharge direction. A shaft (stacker tray discharge roller shaft) 81 is provided. The discharge roller shaft 81 receives a driving force from a stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4 (see FIG. 16) that can rotate forward and backward via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). The discharge roller shaft 81 is turned on and off by the electromagnetic clutch. 81 rotates.
10 and 11, two discharge rollers (stacker tray discharge rollers) 82 are rotatably supported on the discharge roller shaft 81 at intervals in the front-rear direction, and each of the discharge rollers 82 has a roller gear ( A discharge roller gear) 82a.

Further, three set clamp paddles 83 arranged at intervals are fixedly supported on the discharge roller shaft 81. The set clamp paddle 83 has a cylindrical core portion 83a, an elastically deformable sheet pressing portion 83b fixedly supported on the core portion 83a, and a frictional resistance with the recording sheet fixedly supported on the core portion 83a. And a low friction film (low friction member) 83c.
Stacking tray discharge rotating members (81-83) are constituted by the elements denoted by reference numerals 81-83.
Further, the discharge roller shaft 81 is provided with three shelves (sheet lower surface support members) 84 arranged at intervals. The shelf 84 is formed with a guided long hole 84a extending along the sheet discharge direction and through which the discharge roller shaft 81 passes. The shelf 84 is formed with an arcuate rack gear 84b (see FIG. 10) extending along the sheet discharging direction.

In FIG. 10, below the discharge roller shaft 81, a drive shaft (discharge roller rotating drive shaft) 86 to which a driving force is transmitted from the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4 (see FIG. 16) is disposed. . A discharge roller drive gear 87 that meshes with a roller gear 82 a of the discharge roller 82 (see FIG. 11) is fixedly supported on the drive shaft 86. The drive shaft 86 includes a torque limiter 88 and a shelf operating gear (shelf moving gear) 89 that meshes with the rack gear 84 b of the shelf 84 is fixedly supported. Accordingly, the discharge roller 82 rotates forward and backward according to the forward / reverse rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4, and the shelf 84 is guided by the discharge roller shaft 81, so that the sheet lower surface support position shown in FIG. It moves between the storage positions shown in FIG. In the state where the shelf 84 is moved to the seat lower surface support position or the storage position, when the rotation for moving the shelf 84 further forward or backward is transmitted from the drive shaft 86, the torque limiter 88 applies to the shelf operation gear 89. As a result, the drive shaft 86 idles.
The set clamp paddle 83 rotates in accordance with the rotation of the discharge roller shaft 81 when the electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on and off, and comes into contact with the upper surface of a sheet bundle on the stacker tray (TH1) described later. A sheet clamp position for suppressing the sheet bundle (see FIG. 2), and a sheet lower surface support position for supporting the lower surface of the recording sheet discharged onto the end binding compile tray 7 with the shelf 84 held at the storage position (see FIG. 3). ).

(Description of clamp roller)
2 and 11, a clamp roller 91 is disposed above the discharge roll 82. The clamp roller 91 is rotatably supported by a plate spring-like clamp roller support member 92. The left end portion of the clamp roller support member 92 is fixedly supported by a clamp roller lifting shaft 93 that is rotatably supported by the frames U4a and U4b. A clamp roller elevating member 94 is provided at the rear end of the clamp roller elevating shaft 93. The clamp roller elevating member 94 includes an elevating bar 94a connected to the rear end of the clamp roller elevating shaft 93, a clamp roller elevating solenoid 94b connected to the right end of the elevating bar 94a, and a left end of the elevating bar 94a. And a connected tension spring 94c.

Accordingly, when the clamp roller elevating solenoid 94b is off, the clamp roller 91 is held at the upper standby position (see the solid line in FIG. 2) by the tension spring 94c. On the other hand, when the clamp roller raising / lowering solenoid 94b is on, the clamp roller 91 is held at the lower clamp position (see the dotted line in FIG. 2), and the discharge roll 82 and the clamp roller 91 are used on the end binding compile tray 7. A recording sheet (or recording sheet bundle) is sandwiched. At this time, the recording sheet is clamped by an appropriate pressure by a plate spring-like clamp roller support member 92, and the recording sheet (or recording sheet bundle) clamped according to the forward or reverse rotation of the discharge roll 82 is used for end binding. It is drawn into the compile tray 7 or discharged from the end binding compile tray 7.
The clamp roller elevating member 94 is not limited to the solenoid (94b) and the spring (94c). For example, it is possible to use a configuration that elevates and lowers using a motor or an eccentric cam. In addition, the clamp roller support member 92 is not limited to a plate spring-like configuration. For example, the clamp roller support member 92 may have a highly rigid clamp roller support member and a coil spring that presses the clamp roller support member toward the discharge roll 82. It is.

(Description of sub paddle)
3 and 11, a sub-paddle support shaft 101 is rotatably supported on the frames U4a and U4b on the lower left side of the clamp roller lifting shaft 93. A plurality of sub-paddle support members 102 are fixedly supported on the sub-paddle support shaft 101 and extend to the right with an interval in the front-rear direction. A sub paddle support arm 102 a is formed at the right end of the sub paddle support member 102. The sub paddle support arm 102a is configured in the same manner as the main paddle 47, and a sub paddle (second sheet aligning member) 103 that conveys the recording sheet on the end binding compilation tray 7 to the main paddle 47 side is rotatable. It is supported. A pulley 104 is supported on the rotation shaft 103 a of the sub paddle 103. A driving pulley 105 is rotatably supported on the sub-paddle support shaft 101 at a position corresponding to the pulley 104. The drive pulley 105 has a pulley portion 105a and a gear portion 105b, and a sub-paddle drive belt SB is mounted between the pulley 104 and the pulley portion 105a.

  At the rear end of the sub-paddle support shaft 101, a sub-paddle elevating member 106 configured similarly to the clamp roller elevating member 94 is provided. That is, the sub-paddle elevating member 106 includes an elevating bar 106a, a sub-paddle elevating solenoid 106b, and a tension spring 106c. Accordingly, when the sub paddle elevating solenoid 106b is turned on / off, the sub paddle 103 is in the upper standby position (see the solid line in FIG. 3) and the lower sheet drawing position in which the recording sheet is drawn into the main paddle 47 (see the dotted line in FIG. 3). Move between.

In FIG. 11, on the left side of the sub paddle support shaft 101, a sub paddle drive shaft 111 is rotatably supported by frames U4a and U4b. A driving gear 112 that meshes with the gear portion 105 b of each driving pulley 105 is fixedly supported on the sub-paddle driving shaft 111. Rotation is transmitted to the sub-paddle drive shaft 111 from a post-processing apparatus sheet conveyance roll drive motor (not shown) that drives the compile tray discharge roll 6, and according to the driving of the post-processing apparatus sheet conveyance roll drive motor, The rotation is transmitted through the drive gear 112, the gear portion 105b, the pulley portion 105a, the sub paddle drive belt SB, and the pulley 104, and the sub paddle 103 rotates.
In the sheet post-processing apparatus U4 of the first embodiment, the sub paddle support shaft 101 and the clamp roller support shaft 93 are provided separately. For example, the sub paddle support member 102 and the driving pulley 105 are rotated on the clamp roller support shaft 93. The sub-paddle support shaft 101 is omitted as a structure including a lift bar that can be supported and extended in the front-rear direction and can move integrally with the plurality of sub-paddle support members 102, a sub-paddle lift solenoid connected to the lift bar, and a tension spring. It is also possible to do.

(Explanation of stacker tray)
2 and 3, on the right side wall of the post-processing device U4, a stacker tray (end binding) that receives the alignment sheet bundle or the end binding sheet bundle carried out from the end binding compilation tray 7 by the discharge roller 82. A discharge tray TH1 is provided to protrude outward. The stacker tray TH1 includes a tray guide 121 supported on the right side surface of the post-processing device U4, a slider 122 supported on the tray guide 121 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a stacker coupled to the slider 122 with screws. A tray main body 123. The slider 122 and the stacker tray main body 123 can be moved up and down by a conventionally known lifting mechanism (not shown) (for example, see the lifting mechanism described in JP-A-7-49082, JP-A-7-300200, etc.). The height sensor (not shown) is configured to move up and down according to the amount of recording sheet bundle on the stacker tray main body 123 (height of the upper surface of the sheet bundle) (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003). -089463 publication etc.).

(Description of saddle stitching device)
2 and 3, the recording sheet bundle is aligned at the lower part of the saddle stitch discharge path SH8, the center part in the sheet conveying direction is bound, and then discharged to the saddle stitch discharge tray TH2 in a folded state. A binding device NTS is arranged. The saddle stitching device NTS is conventionally known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-089462, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-089463, etc.), and various configurations can be adopted, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a discharge device that discharges the sheets stacked on the edge binding compile tray to the stacker tray TH1, and shows a state where the sheets are stacked on the edge binding compile tray.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a discharge device that discharges the sheets stacked on the end binding compilation tray to the stacker tray TH1, and shows a state in which the sheets stacked on the end binding compilation tray shown in FIG. 12 are discharged to the stacker tray. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, in a state where a bundle of a plurality of stacked sheets S is discharged to the compile tray 7, after the edges of the sheets are aligned by the tampers 21 and 22, or a table work by the moving stapler 70 is performed. When the discharge signal of the sheets S on the compile tray 7 to the stacker tray TH1 is output, the clamp roller 91 (see FIG. 2) descends and the upper surfaces of the plurality of sheets S are placed on the stacker tray. Press toward the discharge roller 82.

When the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4 rotates forward in the state of FIG. 12, the drive shaft 86, discharge roller drive gear 87, and shelf operation gear 89 rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the bundled sheet S sandwiched between the clamp roller 91 and the stacker tray discharge roller 82 is conveyed from the compilation tray 7 to the stacker tray TH1 side, and at the same time, the shelf 84 is supported at the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 12). To the storage position (see FIG. 13).
The electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on immediately before the completion of discharging the bundled sheets S to the stacker tray TH1, and the set clamp paddle 83 is supported from the clamp position (position shown in FIG. 12) to the lower surface of the sheet. The rotation starts clockwise toward the position (see FIG. 13). Then, simultaneously with the completion of discharging the bundled sheets S to the stacker tray TH1, the sheet S rotates to the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 13).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a member mounted on a discharge roller shaft that is rotatably supported.
In FIG. 14, a sheet-like spring member 85 is fixed to the upper surface of the central shelf 84 among the three shelves 84 supported on the discharge roller shaft 81 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the discharge roller shaft 81. Yes. The sheet-like spring member 85 lifts the sheet S accommodated in the compilation tray 7, and the side end of the sheet S is moved when the sheet S is moved in the direction along the discharge roller shaft 81 by the tamper 21 or 22. It is possible to prevent the sliding movement of the shelf 84 from colliding with the side end surface.

(Description of the control part of Example 1)
FIG. 15 is a block diagram (function block diagram) illustrating functions provided in the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram subsequent to FIG.
15 and 16, the main body controller C has an I / O (input / output interface) for performing input / output of signals to / from the outside and adjustment of input / output signal levels, programs and data for performing necessary processing, and the like. ROM (Read Only Memory) stored, RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing necessary data, CPU (Central Processing Unit) for performing processing according to the program stored in the ROM, and It is composed of a microcomputer having a clock oscillator and the like, and various functions can be realized by executing a program stored in the ROM.

(Signal input element connected to the main body controller C)
An output signal such as the next signal output element UI is input to the main body controller C.
UI: User interface The user interface UI sets a display unit UI1, a copy start key UI2, a copy number input key UI3, a numeric keypad UI4, and staple processing to be executed (saddle stitching, corner binding, side edge binding, no binding, etc.). A staple processing setting key UI5 and the like are provided.

(Controlled element connected to main unit controller C)
The main body controller C outputs a control signal for the next controlled element.
CI: Image Scanner Controller The image scanner controller CI is a controller built in the image scanner of the image input apparatus U1 having an automatic document feeder and an image scanner, and is a control output from the main body controller C of the image forming apparatus main body U3. The operation of the image scanner is controlled according to the signal.
CG: Document Conveying Device Controller The document conveying device controller CG is a controller built in an automatic document conveying device (not shown) of the image input device U1 having an automatic document conveying device and an image scanner. The operation of the automatic document feeder is controlled in accordance with a control signal output from the main body controller C.

DLy to DLk: Laser Drive Circuit The laser drive circuits DLy to DLk drive a laser diode (not shown) of a ROS (latent image forming apparatus) to form electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photoreceptors Py to Pk.
D0: Main motor drive circuit The main motor drive circuit D0 drives the main motor M0 to drive the image bearing members Py to Pk and developing devices Gy to Gk (not shown), heating rollers Fh, and registration rollers via gears (not shown). Rr, Ra
Etc. are driven to rotate.

E: Power supply circuit The power supply circuit E has the following power supply circuit.
E1y to E1k: Power supply circuit for developing bias The power supply circuits for developing bias E1y to E1k apply a developing bias to the developing roller Ga (not shown) of the developing devices Gy to Gk.
E2y to E2k: Charging power supply circuit The charging power supply circuits E2y to E2k apply a charging bias to the charging rollers CRy to CRk.
E3y to E3k: Primary transfer power supply circuit The primary transfer power supply circuits E3y to E3k apply a primary transfer bias to the primary transfer rollers T1y to T1k.
E4: Secondary transfer power supply circuit The secondary transfer power supply circuit E4 applies a secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer contact roller T2c.
E5: Fixing Power Supply Circuit The fixing power supply circuit E5 supplies heating power to the heating roller Fh.

(Function of the main body controller C)
The main body controller C has a program (function realization means) that realizes a function of executing a process according to an output signal from each signal output element and outputting a control signal to each control element. Next, a program (function realization means) for realizing various functions of the main body controller C will be described.
C1: Main motor rotation control means The main motor rotation control means C1 controls the rotation of the photoconductors Py to Pk, the developing roller Ga of the developing device G, the fixing device F, etc. by controlling the main motor drive circuit D1.
C2: Power supply circuit control means The power supply circuit control means C2 includes the following means C2a to C2d, and controls the power supply circuit E to control the developing bias, charging bias, transfer bias, and heater of the heating roller Fh. Control on / off, etc.
C2ay to C2ak: Development bias control means The development bias control means C2ak to C2ak control operations of the development bias power supply circuits E1y to E1k to control the development bias applied to the development rollers Ga of the development devices Gy to Gk.
C2by to C2bk: Charging bias control means The charging bias control means C2by to C2bk controls the operation of the charging bias power supply circuits E2y to E2k to control the charging bias applied to the charging rollers CRy to CRk.

C2cy to C2ck: primary transfer bias control means The primary transfer bias control means C2cy to C2ck control the transfer bias applied to the primary transfer rollers T1y to T1k by controlling the operation of the transfer power supply circuits E3y to E3k.
C2d: Secondary transfer bias control means The secondary transfer bias control means C2d controls the transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer contact roller T2c by controlling the operation of the transfer power supply circuit E4.
C2e: Fixing power supply control means The fixing power supply control means C2e controls the operation of the fixing power supply circuit E5 to turn on and off the heater of the heating roller Fh.
C3: Job control means The job control means C3 controls the operations of the ROS, the image carriers Py to Pk, the transfer rollers T1y to T1k and T2c, the fixing device F, etc. in accordance with the input of the copy start key UI2. A job (printing operation, copying operation) that is an image recording operation is executed.

(Control unit of post-processing device U4)
CA: Post-Processing Device Controller The post-processing controller CA is a controller built in the finisher (post-processing device) U4, and controls the operation of the finisher U4 according to a control signal output from the main body controller C of the image forming apparatus main body U3. To do.

(Signal input element connected to post-processing device controller CA)
The output signal of the next signal input element is input to the post-processing device controller CA.
SN0: Compile Tray Sheet Discharge Sensor The compile tray sheet discharge sensor SN0 is disposed at the downstream end of the end binding discharge path SH7 and detects that the front end of the recording sheet S discharged to the compile tray 7 has passed. .
SN1: Stapler position detection sensor The stapler position detection sensor SN1 detects whether the staple position light shielding unit 63 or the home position light shielding unit 64 is shielded (ON).
SNc: Compilation tray sheet sensor The compilation tray sheet sensor SNc detects whether or not the sheet S is accommodated in the compilation tray 7.

(Controlled elements connected to the post-processing device controller CA)
DA1: Tamper Drive Circuit The tamper drive circuit DA1 controls the forward / reverse rotation drive of the tamper drive motor M1 to operate the tampers 21 and 22.
DA2: Stapler Stapler Moving Circuit for End Binding The stapler moving circuit DA2 for end binding controls the forward / reverse rotation drive of the stapler drive motor M2 to move the carriage 71 and the stapler body 76.
DA3: Stapler Stapler Operation Circuit for End Binding The stapler operation circuit DA3 for end binding controls the cam operation motor M3 to rotate the eccentric cam 79, and ejects the staple needle 77 from the staple ejecting portion 76a to bind the sheet bundle.

DA4: discharge roller drive circuit The discharge roller drive circuit DA4 controls the forward / reverse rotation drive of the discharge roller drive motor M4 to rotate the discharge roller 82 forward / reversely or to move the shelf 84 to the storage position (see FIG. 3) and the sheet. It is moved between the lower surface support position (see FIG. 2).
DA5: Set Clamp Paddle Actuation Circuit The set clamp paddle actuation circuit DA5 controls on / off of the electromagnetic clutch CL0, and sets the set clamp paddle 83 to the seat clamp position (see FIG. 2) and the seat lower surface support position (see FIG. 3). ).
DA6: Clamp roller lifting / lowering circuit The clamp roller lifting / lowering circuit DA6 controls on / off of the clamp roller lifting / lowering solenoid 94b to move the clamp roller 91 between the standby position and the clamp position.

DA7: Sub Paddle Elevator Circuit The sub paddle elevator circuit DA7 controls the on / off of the sub paddle elevator solenoid 106b to move the sub paddle 103 between the standby position and the seat retract position.
DA8: Post-processing device sheet transport roller driving circuit The post-processing device sheet transport roller driving circuit DA8 controls the post-processing device sheet transport roller driving motor M5 to control the sheet transport rollers such as the upper end discharge roller 4 and the compile tray discharge roller 6. Drive.
DA9: Stacker tray operation circuit The stacker tray operation circuit DA9 controls the stacker tray operation motor M6 to move the stacker tray TH1 up and down.

DA10: Switching Gate Control Circuit The switching gate control circuit DA10 controls the switching gate operation solenoids SL1 and SL2 to move the switching gates 2 and 3.
DA11: Saddle Stitching Device Control Circuit The saddle stitching device control circuit DA11 controls a control device such as a stapler of the saddle stitching device NTS to perform saddle stitching of the recording sheet bundle.

(Function of the post-processing device controller CA)
CA1: Tamper control means The tamper control means CA1 controls the tamper driving circuit DA1 in accordance with the size of the recording sheet carried into the end binding compile tray 7 to operate the tampers 21 and 22, and thereby the end binding compile tray. 7 align the side edges of the recording sheets carried in.
CA2: Stapling stapler movement control means CA2 The staple binding movement control means CA2 for end binding controls the staple processing circuit DA2 for stapling movement according to a user input with the staple processing setting key UI5 of the user interface UI, and moves the staple. The member 70 is moved to the home position or the staple position.

CA3: End binding stapler operation control means The end binding stapler operation control means CA3 controls the end binding stapler operation circuit DA3 to rotationally drive the eccentric cam 79 and drive the staple needle 77 from the needle launching portion 76a. Bind a bundle of sheets. The stapler operation control means CA3 for end binding in the first embodiment is set to the staple position when execution of staple (corner binding or side end binding) is designated by a user input with the staple processing setting key UI5 of the user interface UI. After the movement, the recording sheet bundle stacked on the end binding compilation tray 7 is stapled.

CA4: discharge roller drive control means The discharge roller drive control means CA4 controls the discharge roller drive circuit DA4 to rotate the discharge roller 82 forward and backward so that the recording sheet is discharged to the stacker tray TH1 or drawn to the compile tray 7 side. Or the shelf 84 is moved between the storage position and the seat lower surface support position. The discharge roller drive control unit CA4 according to the first exemplary embodiment drives the discharge roller 82 to rotate forward when the recording sheet bundle aligned or stapled by the end binding compile tray 7 is discharged to the stacker tray TH1, and discharges the sheet bundle. At the same time, the shelf 84 is moved to the storage position.
When the first sheet is discharged to the compile tray 7 with no sheets in the compile tray 7, the discharge roller 82 is rotated forward and the discharged recording sheet S is pulled to the main paddle 47 side. Then, the discharge roller 82 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction to pull in the recording sheet, and the shelf 84 is moved to the sheet lower surface support position.

CA5: Set Clamp Paddle Operation Control Unit The set clamp paddle operation control unit CA5 controls the set clamp paddle operation circuit DA5 to set the set clamp paddle 83 to the sheet clamp position (see FIG. 2) and the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 3). ). The set clamp paddle operation control means CA5 according to the first embodiment holds the set clamp paddle 83 at the sheet clamp position when the shelf 84 is moved to the seat lower surface support position. Then, the set clamp paddle 83 is moved to the sheet lower surface support position in accordance with the timing at which the trailing end of the recording sheet bundle aligned or stapled and discharged to the stacker tray TH1 passes the discharge roller 82. After the sheet bundle is discharged, the next first recording sheet is carried into the end binding compile tray 7 and the set clamp paddle 83 is moved to the sheet clamp position in accordance with the timing when it is pulled to the main paddle 47 side.

CA6: Clamp roller lifting / lowering control means The clamp roller lifting / lowering control means CA6 controls the clamp roller lifting / lowering circuit DA6 to move the clamp roller 91 in accordance with the timing of discharging the aligned or stapled (bound) recording sheet bundle. Move between the standby position and the clamp position.
CA7: Sub-paddle lifting control means (second sheet edge aligning member control means)
The sub-paddle lift control means CA7 controls the sub-paddle lift circuit DA7 to move the sub-paddle 103 between the standby position and the sheet pull-in position according to the timing when the recording sheet is loaded into the end binding compile tray 7. The recording sheet is conveyed to the main paddle 47 side.

CA8: Post-processing apparatus sheet conveyance roller control means The post-processing apparatus sheet conveyance roller control means CA8 controls the post-processing apparatus sheet conveyance roller drive circuit DA8 in accordance with the timing when the sheet is carried into the post-processing apparatus U4, and performs recording. Transport the sheet.
CA9: Stacker tray operation control means The stacker tray operation control means CA9 controls the stacker tray operation circuit DA9 to move the stacker tray TH1 up and down according to the amount of recording sheets S stacked on the stacker tray TH1.

CA10: switching gate control means The switching gate control means CA10 causes the recording sheet S carried in from the sheet carry-in port 1 to be fed into the upper end discharge path SH6 and the end binding in response to a user input with the staple processing setting key UI5 of the user interface UI. The switching gates 2 and 3 are controlled so as to be conveyed to either the discharge path SH7 for saddle stitching or the discharge path SH8 for saddle stitching.
CA11: Saddle Stitching Device Control Unit The saddle stitching device control unit CA11 controls the saddle stitching device control circuit DA11 when the saddle stitching is designated by a user input with the staple processing setting key UI5 of the user interface UI. Then, the saddle stitching device NTS performs saddle stitching of the recording sheet bundle.

(Description of Flowchart of Example 1)
The discharge roller drive control means CA4 and the set clamp paddle operation control means CA5 execute processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation control processing of the discharge roller drive motor and the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch at the time of discharging the sheet to the compile tray of the present invention.
Processing of each ST (step) in the flowchart of FIG. 17 is performed according to a program stored in the ROM of the controller C. This process is executed in a multitasking manner in parallel with other various processes of the image forming apparatus.
The flowchart of the operation control process of the discharge roller drive motor and the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) at the time of discharging the sheet to the compile tray shown in FIG.

In step ST1 of FIG. 17, it is determined whether or not a discharge sheet sensor SN0 (see FIGS. 12, 13, and 15) that detects a sheet discharged to the compile tray 7 is turned on. If no (N), ST1 is repeatedly executed. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST2. In ST2, it is determined whether or not there is a sheet in the compile tray 7. That is, it is determined whether the compile tray sheet sensor SNc (see FIGS. 12, 13, and 15) is turned on. If no (N), the process moves to ST3, and if yes (Y), the process returns to ST1.
In ST3, the following processing is executed.
(1) The discharge roller drive motor M4 is rotated forward.
(2) The timing of the sheet bundle clamp control timer TM1 at the time of discharging the sheet to the compilation tray 7 is started.
Next, in ST4, it is determined whether TM1K ≧ TM1a. That is, it is determined whether or not the measurement time TM1K of the sheet bundle clamp control timer TM1 at the time of sheet discharge has been counted until the set clamp paddle rotation start time setting time TM1a at the time of sheet discharge to the compilation tray 7. If no (N), ST4 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST5.

In ST5, the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on.
In ST6, it is determined whether or not the set clamp paddle has rotated to the clamp position (see FIG. 20A). This determination can be made based on a detection signal from a sensor that detects the rotational position of the set clamp paddle, or whether or not a timer that measures the rotational time of the set clamp paddle has measured a predetermined time. In ST6, if no (N), ST6 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST7.
In ST7, the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned off.
Next, in ST8, it is determined whether TM1K ≧ TM1b. If no (N), ST8 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST9.
Next, in ST9, the following process is executed.
(1) Stop the discharge roller drive motor M4.
(2) The discharge roller drive motor M4 is rotated in the reverse direction.
(3) The reverse rotation duration setting time TM2a for discharging the sheet to the compile tray 7 is set in the timer TM2 for controlling the reverse rotation time of the discharge roller drive motor M4 when discharging the sheet to the compile tray 7.

Next, in ST10, it is determined whether or not the M4 reverse rotation time control timer TM2 for discharging the sheet to the compile tray 7 has counted the reverse rotation duration setting time TM2a for discharging the sheet to the compile tray 7. If no (N), ST10 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST11.
In ST11, the discharge roller drive motor M4 is stopped. Next, the process returns to ST1.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the sheet discharge process to the stacker tray of the present invention.
In step ST11 of FIG. 18, it is determined whether or not the discharge processing instruction flag FL = “1”. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction for sheet discharge processing. The discharge processing instruction flag FL is set at the end of the stapling operation on the sheet bundle of the compile tray 7 executed by another program or at the end of the alignment operation (side edge aligning operation) by tampering with the sheet bundle. FL = “1” is set by another program.
If no (N) in ST21, ST21 is repeatedly executed. If yes (Y), the process transfers to ST22.
In ST22, the following processing is executed.
(1) The stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4 is rotated forward.
(2) When the sheet is discharged to the compile tray 7, the set clamp paddle control timer TM3 starts timing.
Next, in ST23, it is determined whether TM3K ≧ TM3a. Note that TM3k is a measurement time of the timer TM3, and TM3a is a set clamp paddle rotation start time setting time when discharging a sheet to the stacker tray 123. If no (N) in ST23, ST23 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST24.
In ST24, the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on.

Next, in ST25, it is determined whether TM3K ≧ TM3b. Note that TM3k is a measurement time of the timer TM3, and TM3b is a time required from the start of discharge of the sheet bundle until the discharge ends and the set clamp paddle 83 rotates to the sheet lower surface support position.
If no (N) in ST25, ST25 is repeatedly executed, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST26.
In ST26, the following processing is executed.
(1) Turn off the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16).
(2) Stop the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4.
(3) Set the discharge processing instruction flag FL = “0”. That is, the discharge processing instruction flag FL is set to an initial set value.
Next, the process returns to ST21.

(Operation of Example 1)
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet discharge apparatus according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration. FIG. 19A is a view showing a state where sheets are not discharged to the compile tray (the compile tray is empty), and FIG. FIG. 19C is a diagram illustrating an initial state in which a sheet is ejected to an empty compile tray, and FIG. 19C is a diagram illustrating a state immediately before completion of ejection of a sheet to be ejected to an empty compile tray.
In the state of FIG. 19A, the shelf 84 has moved to the storage position, and the set clamp paddle 83 has moved to the seat lower surface support position. Further, since the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor M4 (see FIG. 16) is stopped and the electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is off, the drive shaft 86 and the discharge roller shaft 81 in FIG. 19A are also stopped. .

In FIG. 19B, when the sheet S is conveyed to the end binding discharge path SH7 and the front end of the sheet is detected by the compile tray sheet discharge sensor SN0, the drive shaft 86 and the discharge roller drive gear 87 are rotated forward (arrows in FIG. 19B). Rotate in the direction). At this time, the shelf operating gear 89 attached to the drive shaft 86 also attempts to rotate via the torque limiter 88, but the rack gear 84b with which the shelf operating gear 89 meshes does not move and therefore does not rotate. At this time, the drive shaft 86 idles with respect to the shelf operating gear 89.
As the discharge roller drive gear 87 rotates, the discharge roller 82 that rotates integrally with the discharge roller drive gear 87 rotates in the discharge direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 19B).

In FIG. 19C, when the front end portion of the first sheet S discharged to the compilation tray 7 comes into contact with the upper surface of the compilation tray 7, the front end portion of the sheet S is set to the set clamp paddle by the forward rotation of the discharge roller 82. It is conveyed to the upper surface of 83.
The electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on and the set clamp immediately before the completion of discharging the first sheet to the compile tray 7 (that is, immediately before the discharge roller 82 stops normal rotation). The paddle 83 rotates from the sheet lower surface support position in FIG. 19C to a clamp position (see FIG. 20) that presses the sheet on the upper surface of the stacker tray TH1.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration. FIG. 20A is a state immediately after a sheet is discharged to an empty compile tray (the first sheet is discharged to the compile tray). 20B is a diagram showing an initial state in which sheets are discharged to an empty compile tray, and FIG. 19C is a state immediately before completion of discharging sheets discharged to an empty compile tray. FIG.
In the state of FIG. 20A, the shelf 84 remains moved to the retracted position, and the set clamp paddle 83 has moved to the clamp position. The first sheet S discharged to the compile tray 7 is in a state where the discharge to the compile tray 7 has been completed, that is, a state where it has dropped onto the compile tray 7. At this time, the stacker tray discharge roll drive motor M4 is temporarily stopped.

  In FIG. 20B, the clamp roller 91 has moved to a clamp position (see FIG. 20B) that presses the upper surface of the first sheet S discharged to the compilation tray 7 against the discharge roller 82. With the clamp roller 91 moved to the clamp position (see FIG. 20B), the stacker tray discharge roll drive motor M4 is rotated in the reverse direction. At this time, the first sheet S sandwiched between the clamp roller 91 and the discharge roller 82 is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member 41. Further, the shelf 84 moves from the storage position (see FIG. 20B) toward the seat lower surface support position (see FIG. 21A).

20C, when the shelf 84 moves to the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 20C) in a state where the first sheet S is conveyed by the main paddle 47, the stacker tray discharge roll drive motor M4 stops and the drive shaft 86 is moved. The discharge roll drive gear 87 and the shelf operation gear 89 are also stopped.
In the state of FIG. 20C (a state where the drive shaft 86 is stopped), the main paddle 47 continues to rotate and conveys the rear end of the first sheet S to the sheet rear end positioning member 41.
Thereafter, even if the second and subsequent sheets are discharged onto the first sheet of the compile tray 7, the stacker tray discharge roll drive motor M4, the drive shaft 86, the discharge roll drive gear 87, and the shelf operation gear are used. 89 remains stopped and does not rotate. However, when the second and subsequent sheets are discharged to the compilation tray 7, the discharged sheet S is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member 41 by the sub paddle 103 (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the second sheet is discharged to the compile tray and the rear end thereof is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member, and FIG. 21A is a second sheet discharged to the compile tray. FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second sheet is discharged to the compile tray, and FIG. 21C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second sheet is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member. is there.
In FIG. 21A, the second sheet is discharged to the compilation tray 7. When the second and subsequent sheets are discharged to the compile tray 7, the drive shaft 86, the discharge roll drive gear 87, and the shelf operation gear 89 remain stopped.
In a state where the second sheet S is discharged onto the first sheet S of the compile tray 7 (see FIG. 21B), the sub paddle 103 comes into contact with the second sheet S and two sheets The eye sheet S is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member 41.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the second and subsequent sheets are discharged in a state where the second sheet is discharged to the compile tray and the rear end thereof is conveyed to the sheet rear end positioning member. FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first sheet is discharged to the compile tray, FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a predetermined number of sheets are discharged to the compile tray and discharged to the sheet trailing edge positioning member, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the clamp roller contacted the upper surface of a predetermined number of sheets.
In FIG. 22A, the third sheet S is discharged to the compilation tray 7.
When the third and subsequent sheets S are discharged to the compilation tray 7, they are conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member 41 by the sub-paddle 103 (see FIGS. 3 and 21C) as in the case of the second sheet S. And aligned.
In FIG. 22B, the rotation of the main paddle 47 stops when a predetermined number of sheets S are discharged to the compilation tray 7 and discharged to the sheet rear end positioning member.
In FIG. 22C, the clamp roller 91 moves to a position in contact with the upper surface of the predetermined number of sheets S in FIG. 22B.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a discharge roller, a shelf, a set clamp paddle, and the like when a predetermined number of sheets stored in a compile tray in a stacked state are discharged to the stacker tray. FIG. 23A is a discharge roller in the state of FIG. FIG. 23B is a diagram showing a state in the middle of discharging a predetermined number of sheets to the stacker tray by rotating, FIG. 23B is a diagram illustrating a state immediately before the completion of discharging the predetermined number of sheets to the stacker tray, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where discharge of a sheet to a stacker tray is completed.
In FIG. 23A, the main paddle 47 is stopped. When the drive shaft 86, the discharge roll drive gear 87, and the shelf operation gear 89 are rotated forward, a predetermined number of sheets (bundle sheets) S) sandwiched between the clamp roller 91 and the discharge roller 82 are placed on the stacker tray TH1. It is conveyed toward. At this time, the shelf 84 moves from the seat lower surface support position (see FIG. 22C) toward the storage position (see FIG. 23B).
The electromagnetic clutch CL0 (see FIG. 16) is turned on immediately before the completion of discharging the bundled sheets S to the stacker tray TH1 (see FIG. 23B), and the set clamp paddle 83 is in the clamp position (position shown in FIG. 23B). ) To the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 23C), and starts to rotate clockwise. Then, simultaneously with the completion of discharging the bundled sheets S to the stacker tray TH1 (see FIG. 23C), the sheet S rotates to the sheet lower surface support position (see FIG. 13).

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H02) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) The present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses and post-processing apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, FAX machines, and multifunction machines.
(H02) The stacker tray discharge roller drive motor rotates the discharge roller rotation drive shaft forward or backward, and the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor rotates forward or backward, or only forward rotation is performed. The gear train from the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor to the discharge roller rotation drive shaft is provided with two gear trains, a forward rotation transmission gear train and a reverse rotation transmission gear train, and the clutches provided in these gear trains are turned on and off. It is possible to employ a configuration to be controlled.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus (tandem digital color copying machine) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing the vertical movement of the discharge clamp roller. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory view showing the vertical movement of the sub paddle. FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of a rear end portion in the sheet discharging direction of the end binding device of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the tamper of the end binding device according to the first embodiment, FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of the front tamper, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of the rear tamper. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a sheet rear end alignment member, FIG. 9A is an explanatory view of a main paddle, FIG. 9B is an explanatory view of a conical paddle, and FIG. 9C is an explanatory view of a rotating brush. FIG. 10 is an explanatory perspective view of the discharge roller portion of the end binding compile tray. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the clamp roll and the sub paddle, FIG. 11A is a plan view, and FIG. 11B is a view as seen from the direction of arrow XIB in FIG. 11A. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a discharge device that discharges the sheets stacked on the end binding compile tray to the stacker tray TH1, and shows a state where the sheets are stacked on the end binding compile tray. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a discharge device that discharges the sheets stacked on the end binding compile tray to the stacker tray TH1, and shows a state where the sheets stacked on the end binding compile tray shown in FIG. 12 are discharged to the stacker tray. FIG. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of a member mounted on a discharge roller shaft that is rotatably supported. FIG. 15 is a block diagram (function block diagram) illustrating functions provided in the control unit of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 16 is a block diagram subsequent to FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the operation control processing of the discharge roller drive motor and the set clamp paddle rotation electromagnetic clutch when discharging the sheet to the compile tray of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the sheet discharge process to the stacker tray of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration. FIG. 19A is a diagram illustrating a state in which no sheet is discharged to the compilation tray (the compilation tray is empty), and FIG. FIG. 19C is a diagram illustrating an initial state in which sheets are ejected to an empty compile tray, and FIG. 19C is a diagram illustrating a state immediately before completion of ejection of sheets ejected to an empty compile tray. FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sheet discharging apparatus according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration. FIG. 20A is a state immediately after a sheet is discharged to an empty compile tray (the first sheet is discharged to the compile tray). 20B is a diagram illustrating an initial state in which a sheet is discharged to an empty compile tray, and FIG. 20C is a state immediately before completion of discharging of a sheet to be discharged to an empty compile tray. FIG. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the second sheet is discharged to the compile tray and the rear end thereof is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member, and FIG. 21A is a second sheet discharged to the compile tray. FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second sheet is discharged to the compilation tray, and FIG. 21C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second sheet is conveyed toward the sheet rear end positioning member. is there. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the second and subsequent sheets are discharged in a state where the second sheet is discharged to the compile tray and the rear end thereof is conveyed to the sheet rear end positioning member. FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first sheet is discharged to the compile tray, FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating a state in which a predetermined number of sheets are discharged to the compile tray and discharged to the sheet trailing edge positioning member, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the clamp roller contacted the upper surface of a predetermined number of sheets. FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a discharge roller, a shelf, a set clamp paddle, and the like when a predetermined number of sheets stored in a compile tray in a stacked state are discharged to the stacker tray. FIG. FIG. 23B is a diagram showing a state in the middle of discharging a predetermined number of sheets to the stacker tray by rotating, FIG. 23B is a diagram illustrating a state immediately before the completion of discharging the predetermined number of sheets to the stacker tray, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where discharge of a sheet to a stacker tray is completed.

Explanation of symbols

CA4 ... discharge roller drive control means,
CA5: set clamp paddle operation control means,
CL0 ... electromagnetic clutch,
M4: Stacker tray discharge roller drive motor,
SN0: Compilation tray sheet discharge sensor,
SNc: Compilation tray sheet sensor,
TH1 ... Stacker tray,
7 ... Compilation tray,
81 ... Stacker tray discharge roller shaft,
82: Stacker tray discharge roller,
82a ... discharge roller gear,
83 ... set clamp paddle,
84 ... shelf,
84b ... rack gear,
86: Drive shaft for rotating the discharge roller,
87 ... discharge roller drive gear,
88 ... Torque limiter,
89 ... shelf moving gear,
(81-83) ... Rotating member for discharging the stacker tray,

Claims (7)

A sheet discharge device having the following structural requirements (A01) to (A07);
(A01) A stacker tray discharge roller that is rotatably supported by a stacker tray discharge roller shaft rotatably supported on the outer end portion of the compile tray and discharges the sheet discharged to the compile tray to the stacker tray, and the stacker A stacker tray discharge rotating member having a discharge roller gear that rotates integrally with the tray discharge roller;
(A02) A sheet lower surface support position that protrudes upward from the stacker tray from the outer end of the compile tray to support the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the compile tray, and a storage position that is drawn below the compile tray. A shelf having rack gears supported movably between and formed along an arc;
(A03) A discharge roller rotating drive shaft disposed parallel to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft and supported so as to be capable of rotating forward and backward.
(A04) A discharge roller drive gear that is mounted on the discharge roller rotation drive shaft, rotates integrally with the discharge roller rotation drive shaft, and meshes with the discharge roller gear;
(A05) The discharge roller rotating drive shaft is mounted via a torque limiter and meshed with the rack gear, and when the load torque is within a predetermined value during forward rotation and reverse rotation of the discharge roller rotating drive shaft, A shelf moving gear that rotates integrally with the drive shaft for rotating the discharge roller to move the rack gear and the shelf between the seat lower surface support position and the storage position, and the load torque is determined by the torque limiter. The shelf moving gear that is in a rotation stopped state even when the discharge roller rotating drive shaft rotates,
(A06) A stacker tray discharge roller drive motor for rotating the discharge roller rotation drive shaft forward or backward,
(A07) Discharge roller drive control means for controlling the rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the following constituent elements (A08) and (A09):
(A08) The stacker tray discharge roller that rotates so as to discharge the sheets of the compile tray to the stacker tray when the drive shaft for rotating the discharge roller rotates forward.
(A09) The shelf that moves from the sheet lower surface support position to the storage position when the drive shaft for rotating the discharge roller rotates forward. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the following constituent elements (A010) to (A012):
(A010) A set clamp paddle fixed to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft and rotating integrally with the stacker tray discharge roller shaft, the sheet lower surface support position for supporting the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the compilation tray, and the stacker The set clamp paddle that is rotatable between a clamp position that presses and clamps the upper surface of the sheet discharged to the tray;
(A011) An electromagnetic clutch capable of transmitting and blocking rotation of the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor to the stacker tray discharge roller shaft;
(A012) The electromagnetic clutch is turned on at a predetermined timing in a state in which the discharge roller rotation drive shaft is rotated forward by the stacker tray discharge roller drive motor, and the set clamp paddle is moved to the sheet lower surface support position and the clamp position . Set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating between. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the following components (A013) to (A015):
(A013) Compilation tray sheet discharge sensor for detecting sheet discharge to the compilation tray,
(A014) A compile tray sheet sensor for detecting whether or not there is a sheet in the compile tray,
(A015) When a sheet is discharged to the compile tray when there is no sheet in the compile tray, during discharging of the sheet to the compile tray, the stacker tray discharge roller is rotated forward to hold the shelf in the storage position, The discharge roller drive control means for moving the shelf from the storage position to the sheet lower surface support position by rotating the stacker tray discharge roller in reverse after discharging the sheet. The sheet discharging apparatus according to claim 4, comprising the following constituent (A016):
(A016) Set clamp paddle rotation start time when discharging sheets to the compile tray set in advance during the normal rotation period of the stacker tray discharge roller when sheets are discharged to the compile tray with no sheets in the compile tray to the set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating the clamping position the set clamp paddles from the sheet lower face supporting position. The sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the following constituent elements (A017):
(A017) The discharge roller drive control means for rotating the stacker tray discharge roller forward to move the shelf from the sheet lower surface support position to the storage position when discharging the sheets of the compile tray to the stacker tray. The sheet discharging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the following constituent elements (A018):
(A018) the compilation tray sheet to the stacker tray discharge preset set clamp paddle rotation starting time at the time of sheet discharge to the stacker tray during forward rotation period of the roller when discharged to the stacker tray, the set clamp The set clamp paddle operation control means for rotating the paddle from the sheet clamp position to the seat lower surface support position.

Images