JP4689443B2 - Recording medium post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a recording medium post-processing apparatus of a forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art A post-processing device that is connected to an image output device such as a copying machine or a printer and performs post-processing such as binding on a recording medium output from the image output device is widely known. Recently, the functions of the post-processing apparatus have been made multifunctional, and in addition to the conventional end-face stitching, a type that enables saddle-stitching processing, and a type that performs cutting processing after the saddle-stitching processing has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-210419

However, in the conventional recording medium post-processing apparatus, the tab portion of the recording medium having a tab called tab paper is cut by the cutting process, and the meaning of using the tab paper is lost. There was a problem.
The present invention solves such a problem, and provides a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of preventing the tab portion of the recording medium from being cut, and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing apparatus. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a recording medium after forming a recorded image. A recording medium transport path for transporting the recording medium, a bookbinding processing section for bookbinding the recording medium transported through the recording medium transport path, and a recording medium that has been bound by the bookbinding processing section. A cutting means; and a tab information input means for inputting information on which a recording medium having a tab is conveyed to the cutting means, and the cutting process of the cutting means is performed by the input information to the tab information input means. It is a recording medium post-processing device that is not broken.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the recording medium transport path includes a punch unit that performs punching processing of the transported recording medium. It is a post-processing device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the bookbinding processing unit includes an alignment binding tray that performs alignment and binding processing of the recording medium to be conveyed. A recording medium post-processing apparatus comprising:
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the bookbinding processing unit performs a folding process for folding the conveyed recording medium. It is a recording medium post-processing apparatus including a tray.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the cutting means is in contact with a linear fixed blade and the fixed blade. However, the recording medium post-processing apparatus includes a round blade that rotates and horizontally cuts the recording medium with the fixed blade in the process of horizontal movement.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium post-processing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the tab information input means is information for conveying a recording medium having a tab. It is a recording medium post-processing device provided with a tab information input switch for inputting.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recorded medium post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the tab information input means is a medium to be conveyed along the recording medium conveyance path. The recording medium post-processing apparatus includes a tab detection sensor that detects a tab of the recording medium.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recorded medium post-processing device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the tab information input unit forms a recorded image on a loaded recording medium. And a recording medium post-processing device arranged in the image forming apparatus.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium to be post-processed, and an image forming unit for forming an image; It is an image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing device.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the image forming unit is configured such that the tab to the tab information input unit after the start of the image forming operation with the cutting process selected. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming operation is stopped by input of information to be conveyed by the recording medium having a recording medium.
The invention described in claim 11 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a warning means for warning the selection of the cutting process together with the stop of the image forming operation of the image forming unit. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording medium post-processing apparatus capable of preventing the tab portion of the recording medium from being cut, and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium post-processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the recording medium (P) having the tab (T) carried into the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the tab detection sensor 41.
In FIG. 1, a basic configuration of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 will be described. The recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 is attached to a side portion (recording medium discharge side) of the image forming apparatus 100, and a recording medium (P) such as a recording sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 is recorded. It is guided to the medium post-processing device 10. The recording medium passes through the inlet conveyance path 11 of the recording medium conveyance path 1 having a punch unit 53 as a punching means for performing post-processing on one recording medium, the upper conveyance path 12 leading to the upper tray 50, and the shift The branching claw 54 and the branching claw 55 distribute the shift tray conveyance path 13 leading to the tray 51 to the alignment binding conveyance path 14 that constitutes the bookbinding processing unit 2 and performs post-processing such as alignment and stapling. Configured to be.
The recording medium (P) subjected to alignment, stapling, and the like in the alignment binding tray 20 constituting the bookbinding processing unit 2 is guided to the shift tray 51 by the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 which are deflection means. A recording medium (conveying path 13) is configured to be distributed to the folding tray 21 of the bookbinding processing unit 2 that performs folding and the like, and a post-folding process is performed on the folding tray 21 by the folding plate 71 and the folding roller pair 72 ( P) is guided to the lower tray 52 through a folding guide path 74 and a lower discharge roller pair 75 configured to be movable back and forth with respect to the folding conveyance path 15 and the cutting means 3. At this time, cutting is performed by the cutting means 3 as necessary.

The cutting means 3 includes tab information input means 4 for inputting tab information indicating whether or not a recording medium (P) having a tab (T) as shown in FIG. 2 has been conveyed. The control means 45 performs control so that the cutting process of the cutting means 3 is not performed by inputting the tab information.
The tab information input unit 4 includes a tab information input switch 40 that allows the user to confirm information that the recording medium (P) having the tab (T) is conveyed to the cutting unit 3 and manually input the tab information. ing.
It is also possible to automatically input tab information by detecting a tab of a recording medium conveyed through the recording medium conveyance path 1 by the tab detection sensor 41. Further, the information input switch 40 of the tab information input means 4 is arranged on the control panel of the image forming apparatus 100, and the tab detection sensor 41 is arranged on the recording medium conveyance path so that the tab information is sent to the command sent from the image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the cutting prohibition control of the cutting means 3 can be performed.
Further, a branching claw 58 is disposed in the alignment binding conveyance path 14 and is held in the state shown in the figure by a low load spring (not shown). After the rear end of the recording medium passes through this, the conveyance roller pair 59 is provided. , 60, at least the conveyance roller pair 59 of the pair of staple discharge rollers 61 is reversely rotated to guide and stay at the rear end to the recording medium accommodating portion 62, and then superposed on the recording medium to be conveyed next and conveyed. It is configured as possible. By repeating this operation, it is possible to transport two or more recording media (P) in a superimposed manner.

An inlet conveyance path 11 common to each of the upstream conveyance path 12, the shift tray conveyance path 13, and the alignment binding conveyance path 14 is an inlet sensor 63 for detecting a recording medium received from the image forming apparatus 100, and an inlet downstream thereof. A roller 64, a punch unit 53, a conveying roller 65, a branching claw 54, and a branching claw 55 are sequentially arranged. The branching claw 54 and the branching claw 55 are held in the state shown in FIG. 1 by a spring (not shown). By turning on a solenoid (not shown), the branching claw 54 is moved upward and the branching claw 55 is moved downward. By rotating each, the recording medium is distributed to the upper conveyance path 12, the shift tray conveyance path 13, and the alignment binding conveyance path 14. When guiding the recording medium to the upper conveying path 12, the branching claw 54 is in the state of FIG. 1 and the solenoid is OFF (OFF). When guiding the recording medium to the shift tray conveying path 13, the state of FIG. When the solenoid is turned on, the branch claw 54 is turned upward and the branch claw 55 is turned downward. When the recording medium is guided to the alignment binding conveyance path 14, the branch claw 54 is shown in FIG. In this state, the solenoid is turned off (OFF), and the branch claw 55 is turned upward by turning on the solenoid from the state shown in FIG.
The recording medium stacking apparatus included in the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 includes a shift discharge roller pair 66, a return roller 67, a recording medium surface detection sensor 68, a shift tray 51, a lifting mechanism and a shift mechanism (not shown). Etc.
The return roller 67 is a sponge roller for contacting the recording medium discharged from the shift discharge roller pair 66 and abutting the rear end of the recording medium against an end fence (not shown). The return roller 67 is rotated by the rotational force of the shift discharge roller pair 66.
The configuration of the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 as the recording medium bundle deflection means will be described. The branch guide plate 56 is provided so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction around the fulcrum 560 and has a pressure roller 561 that is rotatable at the downstream end thereof, and is pressed toward the discharge roller 70 by a spring 562. Thus, the gap between the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 can be set freely according to the drive pulse of the branch motor (not shown) and the stop position of the cam (not shown). The movable guide 57 is rotatably supported by the drive shaft 291 of the discharge roller 70, and its stop position can be controlled by a drive pulse of a movable guide drive motor (not shown).

Next, the configuration of the alignment binding tray 20 that performs post-processing such as alignment of the bookbinding processing unit 2 and staple binding will be described in detail.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the alignment binding tray 20 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the conveyance surface of the recording medium (P).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the alignment binding tray 20 and its drive mechanism of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a discharge mechanism for discharging the recording medium (P) from the alignment binding tray 20 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a moving mechanism of the end face binding stapler 24 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, the recording media (P) guided to the alignment binding tray 20 by the staple discharge roller 61 are sequentially stacked. In this case, the recording medium in the conveying direction, which is the vertical direction of the arrow (A) shown in the figure, is aligned by the hitting roller 22 for each recording medium, and the jogger fence 23 is aligned in the horizontal direction of the arrow (B). Alignment in the width direction of the recording medium perpendicular to the conveyance direction of a certain recording medium is performed. The edge stitching stapler shown in FIG. 3 is shown by a stipple signal from the control means 45 (not shown) between the end of the job, that is, from the last recording medium of the recording medium bundle to the first recording medium of the next recording medium bundle. 24 is driven and the binding process is performed. The bundle of recording media subjected to the binding process is immediately sent to the shift discharge roller pair 66 by the discharge belt 27 having the discharge claw 26 shown in FIG. 5, and is set at the receiving position in the direction of the arrow (C) shown in the figure. The paper is discharged to the shift tray 51.
As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge claw 26 is configured such that its home position is detected by a discharge belt HP sensor 28, and this discharge belt HP sensor 28 is turned on by a discharge claw 26 provided on the discharge belt 27. (ON) / OFF (OFF). Two discharge claws 26 are arranged on the outer periphery of the discharge belt 27 so as to face each other, and the recording medium bundle accommodated in the alignment binding tray 20 is alternately moved and conveyed. Further, if necessary, the discharge belt 27 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the back of the discharge claw 26 that is waiting to move the recording medium bundle from now on and the back of the discharge claw 26 on the opposite side are accommodated in the alignment binding tray 20. You may align the front-end | tip of the conveyance direction of a recording medium bundle.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the drive shaft 291 of the discharge belt 27 driven by the discharge motor 29 via the timing belt 290 has the discharge belt 27 and its drive pulley 69 at the alignment center in the width direction of the recording medium (P). The discharge roller 70 is arranged and fixed symmetrically, and the peripheral speed of the discharge roller 70 is set to be faster than the peripheral speed of the discharge belt 27.
As shown in FIG. 4, the tapping roller 22 is given a pendulum motion by a tapping solenoid 221 about a fulcrum 220 and intermittently acts on the recording medium sent to the alignment binding tray 20 to cause the recording medium to move to the rear end. It strikes against the fence 222. The hitting roller 22 rotates counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow (D) shown in the figure. The jogger fence 23 is driven via a timing belt 231 by a jogger motor 230 capable of forward and reverse rotation, and reciprocates in the width direction of the recording medium in the direction of the arrow (B) shown in the figure.
As shown in FIG. 6, the end-face stitching stapler 24 is driven via a timing belt 241 by a forward / reversely movable stapler moving motor 240 to bind a predetermined position of an end portion of the recording medium. Move in the width direction of arrow (E). A stapler movement HP sensor 242 for detecting the home position of the end-face stitching stapler 24 is provided at one end of the moving range, and the binding position in the width direction of the recording medium is the end-face stitching stapler from the home position. It is controlled by the amount of movement of 24.
In the saddle stitching stapler 25, as shown in FIG. 3, the distance from the rear end fence 222 to the needle striking position of the saddle stitching stapler 25 is equal to or longer than the distance corresponding to half of the conveyance direction length of the maximum recording medium size that can be saddle stitched. The two are arranged symmetrically with respect to the alignment center in the width direction of the recording medium (P) and are fixed to the stay 250.

Next, a mechanism for moving the folding plate 71 that performs post-processing of folding the recording medium (P) conveyed to the folding tray 21 of the bookbinding processing unit 2 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a movement mechanism diagram of the folding plate 71 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 7, the folding plate 71 is supported by fitting a long hole portion 711 to each of two shafts 710 erected on a front and rear side plate (not shown), and the shaft portion 712 and the long hole portion 714 of the link arm 713. Are fitted, and the link arm 713 swings about the fulcrum 716, whereby the folding plate 71 reciprocates in the left-right direction in the direction of the arrow (F) or the direction of the arrow (G). The long hole portion 715 of the link arm 713 and the shaft portion 718 of the folding plate driving cam 717 are fitted, and the link arm 713 swings by the rotational movement of the folding plate driving cam 717.
The folding plate driving cam 717 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (H) by the folding plate driving motor 719. The stop position is determined by detecting both end portions of the half-moon shaped shielding portion 720 by the folding plate HP sensor 721.
FIG. 7A shows the home position position completely retracted from the recording medium accommodation area of the upper conveyance guide 210 and the lower conveyance guide 211. When the folding plate drive cam 717 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (H), the folding plate 71 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow (F), and protrudes into the recording medium accommodation area under the transport guide 210 and transport guide 211. To do.
FIG. 7B shows a position where the center of the recording medium (P) on the upper conveyance guide 210 and the lower conveyance guide 211 is pushed into the nip of the pair of folding rollers 72. When the folding plate drive cam 717 is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (H), the folding plate 71 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow (G), and the recording medium (P) on the transport guide upper 210 and the transport guide lower 211 is moved. Evacuate from the storage area.

FIG. 8 is a front view (a) of the cutting means 3 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention and a right side view (b) thereof.
The cutting means 3 is a rotary cutter type so-called shuttle cutter type cutter unit, and can reduce the size of the entire apparatus and the size of the drive source. The fixed blade 30 is fixed to the stay 300, and the stay 300 is fixed to the side plates 76 and 77 and has a configuration that can be established as an independent unit.
A bracket 32 and a motor bracket 33 are fixed to the side plates 76 and 77, respectively, and an idler pulley 320 and a cutter motor 330 are fixed to the side plates 76 and 77, respectively. On the other hand, the slider base 34 is arranged in such a manner that a plurality of rollers 340 sandwich the stay 300 in a rotatable manner, and the slider base 34 can move linearly. The slider base 34 includes a two-stage idler gear 341 having a belt tooth shape and a gear tooth shape.
The round blade 31 is connected to the drive gear 343 via the shaft 342 so as to sandwich the slider base 34, and the round blade 31 also rotates when the idler gear 341 rotates. The round blade 31 is pressed by the leaf spring 344 from the drive gear 343 side, and always contacts the fixed blade 30 while having an appropriate pressing force.
The timing belt 35 is fixed to both ends with a belt having ends, and is arranged around a pulley 331 and an idler pulley 320 of the cutter motor 330 and two idler gears 341. When the pulley 331 of the cutter motor 330 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (J) shown in the drawing, the slide unit 36 is rotated by the arrow (M) shown in FIG. It will move to the left of the direction. At this time, if there is a recording medium (P) in the gap between the round blade 31 and the fixed blade 30, cutting is possible.
The home position of the slide unit 36 is detected by the cutter HP sensor 37. An arrival sensor 38 is disposed at a position where the cutting of the recording medium (P) having the maximum width (L) that can be cut by the slide unit 36 starting from the home position is surely completed.

Next, the advance / retreat mechanism of the retracting guide plate 74 will be described.
FIG. 9 is an advance / retreat mechanism diagram of the retracting guide plate 74 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The retraction guide plate 74 is supported by fitting the elongated hole portion 731 to each of two shafts 730 standing on the front and rear side plates (not shown), and the elongated hole portion 735 of the shaft portion 732 and the link arm 734 is fitted. As the link arm 734 swings about the fulcrum 737, the retraction guide plate 74 reciprocates left and right in the direction of the arrow (N) and the direction of the arrow (O).
The long hole portion 736 of the link arm 734 and the shaft portion 733 of the retracting guide plate driving cam 738 are fitted, and the link arm 734 is swung by the rotational movement of the retracting guide plate driving cam 738. The retraction guide plate drive cam 738 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (Q) by a retraction guide plate drive motor 739. The stop position is determined by detecting both end portions of the shielding portion 740 by the retraction guide plate HP sensor 741.
FIG. 9A shows the home position where the retraction guide plate 74 is completely retracted from the passage range of the slide unit 36 of the cutting means 3. When the retracting guide plate drive cam 738 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow (Q), the retracting guide plate 74 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow (N) and protrudes to a position beyond the fixed blade 30 of the cutting means 3. (See FIG. 1).
FIG. 9B shows a state where the tip of the retracting guide plate 74 has entered a position beyond the fixed blade 30 of the slide unit 36 of the cutting means 3. When the retracting guide plate drive cam 738 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (R), the retracting guide plate 74 is moved in the direction of the illustrated arrow (O) and retracts from the passing range of the slide unit 36 of the cutting means 3.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the control means 45 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The control means 45 is a microcomputer having a CPU 46, an I / O interface 47, and the like. Each switch of a control panel of the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 100, each recording medium surface detection sensor 68, and the like. A signal from the sensor is input to the CPU 46 via the I / O interface 47.
The CPU 46, based on the input signal, includes a tray lifting / lowering motor (not shown) for the shift tray 51, a drawing / moving motor for moving the shift tray 51, a hitting roller motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the hitting roller 22, a hitting solenoid 221 and the like. Each solenoid (SOL), a transport motor that drives each transport roller, a discharge motor that drives each discharge roller, a discharge motor 29 that drives the discharge belt 27, a stapler moving motor 240 that moves the end-face stitching stapler 24, and a jogger fence 23 An unillustrated bundle branch drive motor and a movable guide motor for rotating the moving jogger motor 230, the branch guide plate 56, and the movable guide 57, and an illustrated bundle transport roller upper 212 and bundle transport roller lower 213 for rotationally driving the bundle. Do not bundle bundle motor, movable rear end fence 214 Controls driving of a rear end fence moving motor (not shown) that moves, a folding plate driving motor 719 that moves the folding plate 71, a folding roller driving motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the pair of folding rollers 72, a cutter motor 330 of the cutting means 3, and the like. . A pulse signal of a not shown staple driving motor for driving the staple discharge roller pair 61 is inputted to the CPU 46 and counted, and the hitting solenoid 221 and the jogger motor 230 are controlled according to this count.
The CPU 46 also performs cutting control of the cutting unit 3 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 and conveyance control of the folding roller 73 and the lower discharge roller 75. The length of the recording medium is detected based on the ON time of the folding portion passage sensor 78 and the conveyance speed.
Control of the recording medium post-processing device 10 including control for cutting is performed by the CPU 46 executing a program written in a ROM (not shown) while using a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

Hereinafter, the operation of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention executed by the CPU 46 will be described.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the following discharge mode is adopted according to the post-processing mode.
In the non-stipple mode (A), the recording medium passes through the entrance conveyance path 11 and the upper conveyance path 12 and is discharged to the upper tray 50.
In the non-stipple mode (B), the paper is discharged to the shift tray 51 through the entrance conveyance path 11 and the shift tray conveyance path 13.
In the sort / stack mode, the sheet passes through the entrance conveyance path 11 and the shift tray conveyance path 13 and is discharged to the shift tray 51. At that time, the recording medium (P) to be discharged is sorted by shifting the shift tray 51 in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction for each section.
In the staple mode, alignment and binding are performed by the alignment binding tray 20 through the entrance conveyance path 11 and the alignment binding conveyance path 14, and then discharged to the shift tray 51 through the shift tray conveyance path 13.
In the saddle stitch binding mode, alignment and center binding are performed by the alignment binding tray 20 via the entrance conveyance path 11 and the alignment binding conveyance path 14, and further center folding is performed by the folding tray 21, passing through the folding conveyance path 15, and the lower tray 52. Is discharged.
In the cutting mode, the recording medium bundle that has been saddle-stitched in the saddle-stitch bookbinding mode is cut from the folding conveyance path 15 by the cutting means 3 and then discharged to the lower tray 52.
In the cutting mode, when the recording medium to be carried and carried has a tab (T), it cannot be selected.
Further, when the saddle stitch binding mode is selected and the recording medium having the tab cannot be confirmed at the start, if the tab (T) is confirmed on the recording medium during the image forming operation by the image forming unit 101, the recording medium is confirmed there. Whether the image forming operation for interrupting the conveyance of the recording medium having the tab is stopped, and the selection of the cutting process of the cutting means 3 is displayed on the warning means 42 for cutting, or the recording medium having the tab is removed. Display to call attention to.

The operation in the non-stipple mode (A) will be described below.
In this mode, the recording medium is discharged from the entrance conveyance path 11 through the upper conveyance path 12 to the upper tray 50 without binding. In this mode, the branching claw 54 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 and the upper transport path 12 is opened. The processing procedure at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this mode, when the operation starts and the recording medium is brought in from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the inlet roller 64 and the conveying roller 65 of the inlet conveyance path 11 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 and the upper conveyance path 12 are set. The transport roller 79 and the upper discharge roller 80 start rotating (step 1). Then, the ON (ON) and OFF (OFF) (step 2, step 3) of the inlet sensor 63 and the ON (ON) and OFF (OFF) (step 4, step 5) of the upper discharge sensor 81 are checked, and the final If it is not the final recording medium (step 2), if it is the final recording medium, the respective rollers, that is, the entrances are determined. The rotation of the roller 64, the transport rollers 65 and 79, and the upper discharge roller 80 is stopped (step 7), and the process ends.
As a result, all the recording media carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side are discharged and stacked on the upper tray 50 without being bound. In this embodiment, since the punch unit 53 is provided between the entrance roller 64 and the transport roller 65, a hole can be formed between them.

The operation in the non-stipple mode (B) will be described below.
In this mode, the recording medium (P) is discharged from the entrance transport path 11 to the shift tray 51 via the shift tray transport path 13 without binding. In this mode, the branching claw 54 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and the branching claw 55 rotates clockwise, so that the shift tray transport path 13 is opened. The processing procedure at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this mode, when the operation starts and the recording medium is brought in from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the inlet roller 64 and the conveying roller 65 of the inlet conveying path 11 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 and the shift tray are conveyed. The conveyance roller 82 and the shift discharge roller pair 66 on the path 13 start to rotate (step 11). Then, a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branch claw 54 and the branch claw 55 is turned on (step 12), and the branch claw 54 rotates counterclockwise and the branch claw 55 clockwise in FIG.
Next, the inlet sensor 63 is turned on (OFF) (steps 13 and 14) and the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned on (ON) and off (steps 15 and 16). Confirm the passage of the recording medium (P).
Then, it is confirmed whether it is the final recording medium (step 17), and if it is not the final recording medium (step 13), if it is the final recording medium, each roller, That is, the rotation of the entrance roller 64, the transport rollers 65 and 82, and the shift discharge roller pair 66 is stopped (step 18), and a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branching claws 54 and 55 is turned off (step 19). finish.
As a result, all the recording media carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side are discharged and stacked on the shift tray 51 without binding. In this embodiment, since the punch unit 53 is provided between the entrance roller 64 and the transport roller 65, the punch unit 53 can also make a hole between them.

The operation in sort and stack modes will be described below.
In this mode, the conveyance and discharge are performed in the same manner as in the non-stipple mode (B) in which the recording medium is discharged from the entrance conveyance path 11 to the shift tray 51 via the shift tray conveyance path 13. In this case, the shift tray 51 swings in the direction orthogonal to the discharge direction for each section division, and the recording medium discharged onto the shift tray 51 is sorted. In this mode, similarly to the non-stipple mode (B), the branching claw 54 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and the branching claw 55 rotates clockwise, respectively, so that the shift tray conveyance path 13 is opened. . The processing procedure at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this mode, when the operation starts and the recording medium is brought in from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the inlet roller 64 and the conveying roller 65 of the inlet conveying path 11 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 and the shift tray are conveyed. The conveyance roller 82 and the shift discharge roller pair 66 on the path 13 start to rotate (step 21). Then, a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branch claw 54 and the branch claw 55 is turned on (step 22), and the branch claw 54 rotates counterclockwise and the branch claw 55 clockwise in FIG.
Then, ON (ON) and OFF (OFF) of the inlet sensor 63 (step 23, step 24) and ON (ON) of the shift discharge sensor 83 (step 25) are checked. By this check, it is determined whether the recording medium that has passed through the shift discharge sensor 83 is the first recording medium in the section (step 26). If the recording medium is not the first recording medium in the section, the shift tray 51 has already moved. If it is the recording medium at the head of the section, the illustrated or ft motor is turned on (step 27), and the illustrated or ft sensor detects the shift tray 51. The shift tray 51 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction until the recording medium is conveyed (step 28), and the shift motor is turned off (step 29).
Then, the recording medium is discharged to the shift tray 51, the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned off, and when the recording medium is confirmed to pass through the shift discharge sensor 83 (step 30), the final recording medium is used. If it is not the final recording medium (step 31), the processing from step 23 is repeated. If it is the final recording medium, the final recording medium passes and a predetermined time elapses. At that time, the rotation of each of the rollers, that is, the inlet roller 64, the transport rollers 65 and 82, and the shift discharge roller pair 66 is stopped (step 32), and a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branch claws 54 and 55 is turned off (OFF). ) (Step 33), the process ends.
As a result, all of the recording media carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side is discharged without being bound to the shift tray 51, and is sorted and stacked. In this case as well, the recording media punched by the punch unit 53 can be sorted and stacked.

The operation in the stipple mode will be described below.
In this mode, the recording medium is sorted from the entrance conveyance path 11 by the branching claw 54 and the branching claw 55 and conveyed to the alignment binding tray 20 through the alignment binding conveyance path 14, and the alignment binding tray 20 performs alignment and binding processing. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the shift tray 51 through the shift tray conveyance path 13. In this mode, both the branching claw 54 and the branching claw 55 rotate counterclockwise, and the path from the entrance conveyance path 11 to the alignment binding conveyance path 14 is opened. The processing procedure at this time is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
In this mode, when the operation starts and the recording medium is brought into the state from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the entrance roller 64 and the transport roller 65 of the entrance transport path 11, the transport roller 49 of the alignment binding transport path 14, the transport The roller pairs 59 and 60, the staple discharge roller pair 61, and the hitting roller 22 of the alignment binding tray 20 each start to rotate (step 41). Then, a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branch claw 54 is turned on (ON), and the branch claw 54 is rotated counterclockwise (step 42).

Next, the end-face stitching stapler 24 is detected by the stapler movement HP sensor 242, and after confirming the home position, the stapler movement motor 240 is driven to move the end-face stitching stapler 24 to the binding position (step 43). The home position of the discharge belt 27 is also detected by the discharge belt HP sensor 28, and after confirming the position, the discharge motor 29 is driven to move the discharge belt 27 to the standby position (step 44). The jogger fence 23 is also moved to the standby position after the home position position is detected by a jogger fence HP sensor (not shown) (step 45). Further, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are moved to the home position (step 46).
Then, the inlet sensor 63 is turned on (OFF) (step 47, step 48), the staple discharge sensor 223 is turned on (step 49), and the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned off (step 50). Then, since the recording medium is discharged to the alignment binding tray 20 and the recording medium exists, the hitting solenoid 221 is turned on for a predetermined time to bring the hitting roller 22 into contact with the recording medium. The rear end of the recording medium is aligned by urging toward the end fence 222 (step 51).
Next, by driving the jogger motor 230, the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount to perform the alignment operation in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction in the width direction of the recording medium, and then returned to the standby position ( Step 52). As a result, the direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the recording medium conveyance direction in the vertical and horizontal directions of the recording medium sent to the alignment binding tray 20 is aligned.
The operation from step 47 to step 53 is repeated for each sheet, and when the final recording medium of the section is reached (step 53), the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount so that the end face of the recording medium does not shift. (Step 54) In this state, the end face binding stapler 24 is turned on (ON) and end face binding is executed (step 55).

On the other hand, the shift tray 51 is lowered by a predetermined amount to secure a discharge space (step 56), the illustrated discharge motor is driven to start the rotation of the shift discharge roller pair 66 (step 57), and the discharge motor. 29 is turned on (ON), the discharge belt 27 is rotated by a predetermined amount (step 58), and the bound recording medium bundle is pushed up toward the shift tray 51. As a result, the recording medium bundle is sandwiched between the nips of the shift discharge roller pair 66 and discharged to the shift tray 51. Then, the recording medium bundle enters the position of the shift discharge sensor 83, the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned on (step 59), the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned off (OFF), and the recording medium bundle is turned on. When it is confirmed that the position of the shift discharge sensor 83 has been removed (step 60), the recording medium bundle has been discharged to the shift tray 51 by the shift discharge roller pair 66. The jogger fence 23 is moved to the standby position (steps 61 and 62), the rotation of the shift discharge roller pair 66 is stopped after a predetermined time (step 63), and the shift tray 51 is raised to the recording medium receiving position (step 63). Step 64). This raised position is controlled by detecting the upper surface of the uppermost recording medium of the recording medium bundle stacked on the shift tray 51 by the recording medium surface detection sensor 68. These series of operations are repeated until the final part of the job (JOB) (step 65).
In the final part, the end-face stitching stapler 24, the discharge belt 27, and the jogger fence 23 are moved to their home positions (steps 66, 67, 68), the entrance roller 64, the transport rollers 65, 49, 59, 60, and the staple. The rotation of the discharge roller pair 61 and the hitting roller 22 is stopped (step 69), the solenoid of the branch claw 54 is turned off (OFF) (step 70), all the processing is returned to the initial state, and the process is completed. .
In this manner, the recording medium carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side is bound by the alignment binding tray 20, discharged onto the shift tray 51, and stacked. In this case as well, the recording media punched by the punch unit 53 can be sorted and stacked.

The operation of the alignment binding tray 20 in the staple mode will be described in more detail.
When the stipple mode is selected, first, the end face stitching stapler 24 is moved to a predetermined position by the stipple moving motor 240 and waits. If the diagonal binding is selected, the end surface binding stapler 24 is tilted to about 45 ° by an oblique motor (not shown).
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the jogger fence 23 moves from the home position and waits at a standby position that is 7 mm away from the width of the recording medium discharged to the alignment binding tray 20 (step 45). When the recording medium is conveyed by the pair of staple discharge rollers 61 and the trailing end of the recording medium passes through the staple discharge sensor 223 (step 49), the jogger fence 23 moves inward by 5 mm from the standby position and stops (step 52). ).
Further, the staple discharge sensor 223 detects this when the recording medium passes the rear end, and the signal is input to the CPU 46 (see FIG. 10). The CPU 46 counts the number of pulses transmitted from a not-shown staple conveyance motor that drives the staple discharge roller pair 61 from the time of reception of this signal, and turns on the hit solenoid 221 after transmitting a predetermined pulse (step 51). The hitting roller 22 performs a pendulum motion when the hitting solenoid 221 is turned on (ON) and off (OFF). When the hitting roller 22 is on (ON), the hitting recording medium is struck down and returned to the bottom. Do. At this time, every time the recording medium stored in the alignment binding tray 20 passes through the entrance sensor 63 or the staple discharge sensor 223, the signal is input to the CPU 46, and the number of recording media is counted.
After a lapse of a predetermined time after the hit solenoid 221 is turned off, the jogger fence 23 is further moved inward by 2.6 mm by the jogger motor 230, and is temporarily stopped to complete the horizontal alignment. The jogger fence 23 then moves outward by 7.6 mm, returns to the standby position (step 52), and waits for the next sheet. This operation is performed up to the last page.
Thereafter, it moves again inward by 7 mm and stops (step 54), and the both ends of the recording medium bundle are pressed to prepare for the stipple operation. Thereafter, the end face stitching stapler 24 is actuated by a staple motor (not shown) after a predetermined time, and the binding process is performed (step 55). At this time, if two or more bindings are designated, the stapler moving motor 240 is driven after the binding processing at one place is completed, and the end-face binding stapler 24 moves to the proper position along the rear end of the recording medium. Then, the second binding process is performed. If the third and subsequent locations are specified, this is repeated.

When the binding process is completed, the discharge motor 29 is driven, and the discharge belt 27 is driven (step 58). At this time, the discharge motor is also driven, and the shift discharge roller 66 starts to rotate to accept the recording medium bundle lifted by the discharge claw 26 (step 57). At this time, the jogger fence 23 is controlled so as to differ depending on the size of the recording medium and the number of sheets to be bound. For example, when the number of sheets to be bound is smaller than the set number or smaller than the set size, the trailing edge of the recording medium bundle is hooked and conveyed by the discharge claw 26 while pressing the recording medium bundle by the jogger fence 23.
Then, after a predetermined pulse from the detection by the recording medium presence sensor 224 or the discharge belt HP sensor 28, the jogger fence 23 is retracted by 2 mm, and the restriction on the recording medium by the jogger fence 23 is released. This predetermined pulse is set until the discharge claw 26 comes into contact with the rear end of the recording medium and then passes through the front end of the jogger fence 23.
If the number of sheets to be bound is larger than the set number or larger than the set size, the jogger fence 23 is retracted in advance by 2 mm and discharged. In either case, when the recording medium bundle passes through the jogger fence 23, the jogger fence 23 moves further to the outside by 5 mm and returns to the standby position to prepare for the next recording medium (step 62). Note that the binding force can be adjusted by the distance of the jogger fence 23 to the recording medium.

The operation in the saddle stitch binding (without cutting) mode will be described below.
In this mode, the recording medium is conveyed to the alignment binding tray 20 via the entrance conveyance path 11 and the alignment binding conveyance path 14, and after alignment and center binding are performed by the alignment binding tray 20, the recording medium is further folded by the folding tray 21. In this mode, the bundle of recording media folded in the middle is discharged to the lower tray 52 through the folding conveyance path 15. In this mode, both the branch claw 54 and the branch claw 55 are rotated counterclockwise, and the path from the entrance conveyance path 11 to the alignment binding conveyance path 14 is opened. Further, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are closed, and the recording medium bundle is guided to the folding tray 21 to be folded in half. The processing procedure at this time is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
In this mode, when the operation is started and the recording medium is brought into the state from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the inlet roller 64 and the conveying roller 65 of the inlet conveyance path 11 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 are aligned and conveyed. The conveyance roller 49, the conveyance roller pair 59, 60 and the staple discharge roller pair 61 in the path 14, and the hitting roller 22 of the alignment binding tray 20 start to rotate (step 101). Then, a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branch claw 54 is turned on (ON), and the branch claw 54 is rotated counterclockwise (step 102).
Next, the home position of the discharge belt 27 is also detected by the discharge belt HP sensor 28, and after confirming the position, the discharge motor 29 is driven to move the discharge belt 27 to the standby position (step 103). The jogger fence 23 is also moved to the standby position after the home position position is detected by a jogger fence HP sensor (not shown) (step 104). Further, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are moved to the home position (step 105).
Then, the inlet sensor 63 is turned on (OFF) (step 106, step 107), the staple discharge sensor 223 is turned on (step 108), and the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned off (step 109). Then, since the recording medium is discharged to the alignment binding tray 20 and the recording medium exists, the hitting solenoid 221 is turned on for a predetermined time to bring the hitting roller 22 into contact with the recording medium. The rear end of the recording medium is aligned by urging toward the end fence 222 (step 110).

Next, by driving the jogger motor 230, the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount to perform the alignment operation in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction in the width direction of the recording medium, and then returned to the standby position ( Step 111). As a result, the direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the recording medium conveyance direction in the vertical and horizontal directions of the recording medium sent to the alignment binding tray 20 is aligned.
The operation from step 106 to step 112 is repeated for each sheet, and when the final recording medium of the part is reached (step 112), the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount so that the end face of the recording medium does not shift. (Step 113) In this state, the discharge motor 27 is turned on (ON) to rotate the discharge belt 27 by a predetermined amount (Step 114), and the saddle stitching stapler 25 is turned on (ON) to perform saddle stitching (Step 115). ). Next, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are displaced by a predetermined amount to form a path toward the folding tray 21 (step 116), and rotation of the lower 212 and 213 on the bundle conveying roller of the folding tray 21 is started ( Step 117) After detecting the home position of the movable rear end fence 214 provided on the folding tray 21, the movable rear end fence 214 is moved to the standby position (step 118).

In this way, when the receiving system for receiving the bundle of recording media in the folding tray 21 is prepared, the rotation of the discharge belt 27 is started (step 119), and the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 are gripped to the folding tray 21 side. The recording medium bundle is conveyed. The discharge belt 27 is moved by a predetermined amount, the branch guide plate 56 is displaced by a predetermined amount, and the leading end of the recording medium reaches the position of the bundle arrival sensor 215 (step 120). The rotation of 213 is stopped (step 121), and the pressure state of the lower bundle conveying roller 213 is released (step 122). Next, the folding operation by the folding plate 71 is started (step 123), and the rotation of the folding roller pairs 72 and 73 and the lower discharge roller pair 75 is started (step 124). Then, the passage of the recording medium bundle folded inward by the folding portion passage sensor 78 is monitored (steps 125 and 126). 213 is pressurized (step 127), and the folding plate 71, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are moved to the home position (steps 128 and 129). The folding portion passage sensor 78 also functions as a sensor for detecting the length of the recording medium.
In this state, the passage of the recording medium bundle is monitored by the lower discharge sensor 84 (steps 130 and 131), and when the rear end of the recording medium bundle passes through the lower discharge sensor 84, the folding roller pairs 72 and 73 and the lower discharge roller pair 75 is further rotated for a predetermined time and then stopped (step 132). Next, the discharge belt 27 and the jogger fence 23 are moved to the standby position (steps 133 and 134). Then, it is checked whether it is the final part of the job (JOB) (step 135). If it is not the final part of the job (JOB), the process returns to step 106 and the subsequent processing is repeated. 27 and the jogger fence 23 are moved to the home position (steps 136 and 137), and the rotation of the entrance roller 64, the transport rollers 65 and 49, the transport roller pair 59 and 60, the staple discharge roller pair 61 and the hitting roller 22 is stopped ( In step 138), a solenoid (not shown) for driving the branching claw 54 is turned off (step 139), and all the processing is returned to the initial state to finish the process, and the process ends.
In this way, the recording medium carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side is bound by the alignment binding tray 20, folded in the folding tray 21, and then the recording medium bundle folded in the lower tray 52 is discharged. Then load.

The binding operation and folding operation in the middle folding mode will be described in more detail.
The recording medium distributed by the branching claw 54 and the branching claw 55 from the entrance conveyance path 11 is guided to the alignment binding conveyance path 14, and is aligned by the conveyance roller 49, the conveyance roller 59, the conveyance roller 60 and the staple paper discharge roller 11. It is discharged to the tray 20. The alignment binding tray 20 aligns the recording media sequentially discharged by the pair of staple discharge rollers 61 in the same manner as in the staple mode, and performs the same operation until just before the staple. Thereafter, the recording medium bundle is transported downstream by a predetermined distance set for each size of the recording medium by the discharge claw 26, and the center thereof is bound by the saddle stitching stapler 25. Next, the movable guide 57 is rotated and set at a position where the movable guide 57 is deflected to the lower conveyance path, and the branch guide plate 56 is closed by a predetermined amount, and the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 are set at a position separated by a small distance. This minute distance is set so as to change stepwise according to the number of sheets and to be smaller than the thickness of the recording medium bundle. For example, the drive motor pulses P1, P2, and P3 are set such that there is no gap when the number of sheets to be bound is 2 to 5, 0.5 mm for 5 to 10, and 1 mm for 10 or more. . In this way, it is possible to change in stages according to the number of sheets.
After that, the bound bundle of recording media starts to be transferred downstream by the discharge claw 26. At that time, when the leading end of the recording medium bundle passes through the nip between the pressure roller 561 and the discharge roller 70 for a predetermined distance, the branch guide is further branched. The plate 56 is closed and the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 are brought into a pressurized state. This timing is set for each size of the recording medium and is managed by a drive pulse of the discharge motor 29. Thereby, the passing distance is set to be equal regardless of the size.

For example, the movement distance of the discharge claw 26 from the discharge claw HP sensor 260 to the nip between the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 is L1, the predetermined passing distance is 5 mm, and the discharge claw HP sensor 260 of the discharge claw 26 is in the stack. When the distance to the rear end of the recording medium is Lh, the operation timing is determined by the distance Ln that the discharge claw 26 has moved from the discharge claw HP sensor 260, and is controlled by the converted pulse. Ln is given by Ln = L1−Lh−Lp + 5 mm where Lp is the length of the recording medium. By setting and controlling this pulse for each size, the pressure can be applied at the same timing regardless of the size. Here, the pulse control from the discharge claw HP sensor 260 of the discharge claw 26 is described as an example, but a detection means (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the nip between the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 to detect the leading end of the recording medium bundle. You may control. In this case, control is possible regardless of the size information from the main body.
Thereafter, the leading end of the recording medium bundle is sandwiched between the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 so as to pass through a path guided to the folding tray 21 formed by the turning of the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57. Then, it is conveyed downstream by the discharge claw 26 and the discharge roller 70 again. The discharge roller 70 is provided on the drive shaft of the discharge belt 27 and is driven in synchronization with the discharge belt 27.
The recording medium bundle is moved from the home position to a position corresponding to the size of the recording medium in advance by the upper bundle conveying roller 212 and the lower bundle conveying roller 213 and stopped to guide the lower end surface. It is conveyed to the movable rear end fence 214. At this time, the discharge claw 26 stops at the position where the other discharge claw 26 arranged at the position facing the outer periphery of the discharge belt 27 reaches the vicinity of the rear end fence 222, and the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57. Returns to the home position and prepares for the next recording medium.

The recording medium bundle abutted against the movable rear end fence 214 is released from the pressurization of the lower bundle conveying roller 213. Thereafter, the vicinity of the stitched needle portion is pushed by the folding plate 71 in a substantially right angle direction, and is guided to the nip of the opposing folding roller pair 72. The pair of folding rollers 72 that has been rotated in advance presses and conveys the recording medium bundle, thereby folding the center of the recording medium bundle. The folded recording medium is strengthened by a second pair of folding rollers 73 provided in the folding conveyance path 15 and discharged to the lower tray 52 by a lower discharge roller pair 75. At this time, when the rear end of the recording medium bundle is detected by the folding portion passage sensor 78, the folding plate 71 and the movable rear end fence 214 are returned to the home position, and the pressurization of the lower bundle conveying roller 213 is restored. Prepare for the next recording medium. If the next job (JOB) is the same size as the recording medium, the movable rear end fence 214 may wait at that position.
If cutting is selected at this time, the folding section passage sensor 78 detects the trailing end of the bundle of recording media and then temporarily stops after conveyance for a predetermined distance. The recording medium bundle is sandwiched and fixed by the lower discharge roller pair 75. First, the retracting guide plate 74 is moved to the retracted position, and when the movement is completed, the slide unit 36 of the cutting means 3 is moved and cut. Thereafter, the recording medium bundle is discharged to the lower tray 52 by the lower discharge roller pair 75. After the recording medium is transported, the slide unit 36 returns to the home position, and the retraction guide plate 74 is set at the transport position of the recording medium after a predetermined time or in accordance with the next job (JOB) entry timing.

The operation in the cutting mode will be described below.
The processing procedure of the cutting mode when cutting is performed is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
In this mode, when the operation is started and the recording medium is brought into the state from the image forming apparatus 100 side, the inlet roller 64 and the conveying roller 65 of the inlet conveyance path 11 of the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 are aligned and conveyed. The conveyance roller 49, the conveyance roller pair 59, 60 and the staple discharge roller pair 61 in the path 14, and the hitting roller 22 of the alignment binding tray 20 start to rotate (step 201). Then, a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branching claw 54 is turned on (ON) to turn the branching claw 54 counterclockwise (step 202).
Next, the home position of the discharge belt 27 is also detected by the discharge belt HP sensor 28, and after confirming the position, the discharge motor 29 is driven to move the discharge belt 27 to the standby position (step 203). The jogger fence 23 is also moved to the standby position after the home position position is detected by a jogger fence HP sensor (not shown) (step 204). Further, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are moved to the home position (step 205).
Then, the inlet sensor 63 is turned on (OFF) (step 206, step 207), the staple discharge sensor 223 is turned on (step 208), and the shift discharge sensor 83 is turned off (step 209). Then, since the recording medium is discharged to the alignment binding tray 20 and the recording medium exists, the hitting solenoid 221 is turned on for a predetermined time to bring the hitting roller 22 into contact with the recording medium. The rear end of the recording medium is aligned by urging toward the end fence 222 (step 210).
Next, by driving the jogger motor 230, the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount to perform the alignment operation in the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction in the width direction of the recording medium, and then returned to the standby position ( Step 211). As a result, the direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the recording medium conveyance direction in the vertical and horizontal directions of the recording medium sent to the alignment binding tray 20 is aligned.

The operation from step 206 to step 212 is repeated for each sheet, and when the final recording medium of the copy is reached (step 212), the jogger fence 23 is moved inward by a predetermined amount so that the end face of the recording medium does not shift. (Step 213) In this state, the discharge motor 29 is turned on (ON) to rotate the discharge belt 27 by a predetermined amount (Step 214), and the saddle stitch stapler 25 is turned on (ON) to perform saddle stitching (Step 215). ).
Next, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are displaced by a predetermined amount to form a path toward the folding tray 21 (step 216), and rotation of the upper and lower 212, 213 on the bundle conveying roller of the folding tray 21 is started ( Step 217) After detecting the home position of the movable rear end fence 214 provided on the folding tray 21, the movable rear end fence 214 is moved to the standby position (step 218).
In this way, when the receiving system for receiving the bundle of recording media in the folding tray 21 is prepared, the discharge belt 27 starts to rotate (step 219), and is fed into the discharge roller 70 and the pressure roller 561 so that the folding tray 21 side. The recording medium bundle is conveyed. The discharge belt 27 is moved by a predetermined amount, the branch guide plate 56 is displaced by a predetermined amount, and the leading end of the recording medium reaches the position of the bundle arrival sensor 215 (step 220). The rotation of 213 is stopped (step 221), and the pressure state of the lower bundle conveying roller 213 is released (step 222). The retraction guide plate 74 is moved to the conveying position in the solid line state shown in FIG. 1 (step 223), and then the folding operation by the folding plate 71 is started (step 224), the pair of folding rollers 72 and 73, the pair of lower discharge rollers The rotation of 75 is started (step 225). Then, the passage of the recording medium bundle folded in half by the folding portion passage sensor 78 is monitored (steps 226 and 227), and it is determined from the folding portion passage sensor 78 whether the trailing end of the recording medium bundle has passed a predetermined distance. (Step 228), the pair of folding rollers 72 and 73 and the lower discharge roller pair 75 are stopped when a predetermined distance has passed (Step 229), and the retracting guide plate 74 is moved from the passage range of the slide unit 36 of the cutting means 3. 1 is moved to the retracted position of the position of the chain line shown in FIG. 1 (step 230).

Next, the slide unit 36 is moved by a predetermined distance, and the rear end portion in the transport direction of the recording medium bundle is cut in a state where the folding side of the recording medium bundle is sandwiched between the pair of lower discharge rollers 75 (step 231). After pressurizing the lower bundle conveying roller 213 (step 232), the folding plate 71, the branch guide plate 56 and the movable guide 57 are moved to the home position so that the next recording medium bundle can be received (steps 233, 234). ) The lower discharge roller pair 75 is rotated to discharge the recording medium bundle to the lower tray 52 (step 235).
In this state, the passage of the recording medium bundle is monitored by the lower discharge sensor 84 (steps 236 and 237). When the rear end of the recording medium bundle passes through the lower discharge sensor 84, the slide unit 36 is moved to the home position (step). 238), the rotation of the lower discharge roller pair 75 is stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed when it is considered that the discharge of the recording medium bundle has been completed (step 239). Next, the discharge belt 27 and the jogger fence 23 are moved to the standby position (steps 240 and 241).
Then, it is checked whether it is the final part of the job (JOB) (step 242). If it is not the final part of the job (JOB), the process returns to step 206 and the subsequent processing is repeated. 27 and the jogger fence 23 are moved to the home position (steps 243 and 244), and the rotation of the entrance roller 64, the transport rollers 65 and 49, the transport roller pairs 59 and 60, the staple discharge roller pair 61 and the hitting roller 22 is stopped ( In step 245), a solenoid (not shown) that drives the branching claw 54 is turned off (step 246), and all the processing is returned to the initial state to finish the process, and the process ends.
In this way, the recording medium carried in from the image forming apparatus 100 side is bound by the alignment binding tray 20, folded in the folding tray 21, cut by the cutting means 3, and then cut on the lower tray 52. The recording medium bundle is discharged and loaded.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the initial process of the cutting means 3. In the initial process of the cutting means 3, if the cutter HP sensor 37 is off (OFF) (step 301) and the retracting guide plate HP sensor 741 is off (OFF) (step 302), the retracting guide plate driving motor 739 is turned on. The direction is rotated (step 303).
When the retracting guide plate HP sensor 741 is turned on (step 304) and the retracting guide plate 74 completes the movement to the retracted position, the retracting guide plate drive motor 739 is stopped (step 305), and the cutter motor 330 is rotated counterclockwise (step 306). On the other hand, if the retracting guide plate HP sensor 741 is on (ON) in (Step 302), the process jumps to (Step 306) and executes the process of Step 306 described above. After the cutter motor 330 is rotated counterclockwise at (Step 306), when the cutter HP sensor 37 is turned on (Step 307), the cutter motor 330 is stopped (Step 308), as shown in FIG. The slide unit 36 is positioned at the initial position, and the process ends at the end.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for initial processing of the retraction guide plate 74. In the initial process of the retracting guide plate 74, if the retracting guide plate HP sensor 741 is off (OFF) (step 311), the retracting guide plate drive motor 739 is rotated clockwise (step 312), and the retracting guide plate HP When the sensor 741 is turned on (step 313), the retracting guide plate drive motor 739 is stopped (step 314). On the other hand, if the retracting guide plate HP sensor 741 is not turned off in step 311, That is, if it is on (ON), it is already in the initial position, so the processing is finished as it is, whereby the retracting guide plate 74 is ended in the initial position shown in FIG.
By configuring and processing in this way, the retracting guide plate 74 functions as a guide plate for the recording medium bundle during folding operation and feeding operation, and retracts from the cutting position when cutting, so that Compared with the case of using the guillotine type cutter, the apparatus can be miniaturized, and the output of the drive unit can be reduced, thereby saving power.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for determining the presence or absence of cutting by the cutting unit 3 before the image forming operation starts in the image forming apparatus 100.
At the start, first, it is determined whether or not there is input of tab information for transporting a recording medium having a tab (T) to the cutting means 3 to the tab information input means 4 (step 321), and tab information is input. If there is no tab, the process ends at the end, but if tab information is input, cutting is disabled (step 322), and the process ends at the end.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining the presence or absence of cutting by the cutting unit 3 after the image forming operation is started in the image forming apparatus 100.
At the start, it is determined whether post-cut processing is selected (step 331). If post-cut processing is not selected, the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 100 is continued with initial settings (step 332). If the post-cut processing is selected, it is determined whether or not there is input of tab information to which the recording medium having the tab (T) is conveyed to the cutting means 3 to the tab information input means 4. If it is determined (step 333), no tab information is input (step 332), and if tab information is input, the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 100 is stopped (step 334), and the warning means 42 is noted. Is displayed (step 335), it is confirmed that the cutting has been canceled (step 336), and the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus 100 is continued (step 336). Flop 337), ends at the end.

FIG. 27 is a front view showing a main configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 including the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 27, an image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 101 that forms an image, and a post-processing of a recording medium after a recorded image is formed by the image forming unit 101. The recording medium post-processing device 10 is attached to the side. A document image reading unit 102 is placed on the image forming unit 101. The image forming unit 101 is held on a recording medium feeding device 103 that feeds a recording medium.
The image forming unit 101 is excellent in convenience and versatility in an electrophotographic image forming process, and forms a high-speed and high-quality toner recording image on a recording sheet of a recording medium.
The light source 121 moves the document (O) placed on the document table 120 of the document image reading unit 102 to the right in the direction of the arrow (S), and at this time, the document image surface of the document (O) is the light source 121. The original image is read by the reading optical system 122. The document image read by the reading optical system 122 is written on the drum-shaped photosensitive drum 110 by the writing unit 112 of the image forming unit 101.

The photosensitive drum 110 rotates clockwise in the direction of the arrow (U) shown in the figure. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 110 is uniformly charged by the charging device 111, and an original image is written on the charged surface by the writing unit 112. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 110, and this latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing unit 113.
On the other hand, the recording medium is fed from the recording medium feeding device 103 toward the photosensitive drum 110, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 110 is transferred to the recording medium by the transfer device 114.
This recording medium passes through the fixing unit 115, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording medium. Then, the recording medium is discharged out of the apparatus and carried into the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10, and the above-mentioned recording medium is discharged. The predetermined post-processing is performed.
The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 110 is removed by the cleaning unit 116 and prepared for the next process.
Accordingly, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus 100 including the recording medium post-processing apparatus 10 that is easy to use by preventing the tab (T) portion of the recording medium from being cut.

1 is a basic configuration diagram of a recording medium post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the recording medium and tab detection sensor which have the part of the tab carried in to the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alignment binding tray of a recording medium post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a direction perpendicular to a recording medium conveyance surface. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an alignment binding tray and a driving mechanism of the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the discharge | release mechanism which discharge | releases a recording medium from the alignment binding tray of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the moving mechanism of the end surface binding stapler of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a movement mechanism figure of the folding plate of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is the front view and side view of the cutting means of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is an advance / retreat mechanism diagram of the retracting guide plate of the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure by the control means of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the non-stipple mode (A) of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the non-stipple mode (B) of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the sort of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention, and a stack mode. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the stipple mode of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the saddle stitching (no cutting) mode of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the cutting mode of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence continuous with the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the initial process of the cutting means of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the initial process of the retraction | saving guide plate of the recording medium post-processing apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining whether cutting is performed by a cutting unit before the image forming operation is started in the image forming apparatus of the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining whether cutting is performed by a cutting unit after the image forming operation is started in the image forming apparatus of the recording medium post-processing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus including a recording medium post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium conveyance path, 2 Bookbinding processing part, 3 Cutting means, 4 Tab paper information input means, 10 Recording medium post-processing apparatus, 11 Inlet conveyance path, 12 Upper conveyance path, 13 Shift tray conveyance path, 14 Alignment binding Conveying path, 15 folding conveying path, 20 alignment binding tray, 21 folding tray, 22 tapping roller, 23 jogger fence, 24 end stitching stapler, 25 saddle stitching stapler, 26 ejection claw, 27 ejection belt, 28 ejection belt HP sensor, 29 Discharge motor, 30 fixed blade, 31 round blade, 32 bracket, 33 motor bracket, 34 slider base, 35 timing belt, 36 slide unit, 37 cutter HP sensor, 38 arrival sensor, 40 tab information input switch, 41 tab detection sensor, 42 warning means, 45 control means, 46 CPU, 7 I / O interface, 49 transport roller, 50 upper tray, 51 shift tray, 52 lower tray, 53 punch unit, 54, 55 branch claw, 56 branch guide plate, 57 movable guide, 58 branch claw, 59, 60 transport roller Pair, 61 Stipple discharge roller pair, 62 Recording medium storage section, 63 Inlet sensor, 64 Inlet roller, 65 Conveyance roller, 66 Shift discharge roller pair, 67 Return roller, 68 Recording medium surface detection sensor, 69 Drive pulley, 70 Discharge roller, 71 Folding plate, 72, 73 Folding roller pair, 74 Retraction guide plate, 75 Lower discharge roller pair, 76, 77 Side plate, 78 Folding section passage sensor, 79 Conveyance roller, 80 Upper discharge roller, 81 Upper discharge sensor, 82 Conveying roller, 83 Shift discharge sensor, 84 Bottom discharge sensor, 10 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 Image forming apparatus, 101 Image forming unit, 102 Original image reading unit, 103 Recording medium feeding apparatus, 110 Photosensitive drum, 111 Charging apparatus, 112 Writing unit, 113 Developing unit, 114 Transfer apparatus, 115 Fixing unit, 116 Cleaning unit, 120 Document table, 121 Light source, 122 Reading optical system, 210 On conveyance guide, 211 Under conveyance guide, on 212 bundle conveyance roller, 213 Below bundle conveyance roller, 214 Movable rear end fence, 215 Bundle arrival sensor, 220 Support point 221 Tapping solenoid, 222 Rear end fence, 223 Stipple discharge sensor, 224 Recording medium presence / absence sensor, 230 Jogger motor, 231 Timing belt, 240 Stapler moving motor, 241 Timing belt, 2 42 Stippler movement HP sensor, 250 stay, 260 discharge claw HP sensor, 290 timing belt, 291 drive shaft, 300 stay, 320 idler pulley, 330 cutter motor, 331 pulley, 340 roller, 341 idler gear, 342 shaft, 343 drive gear, 344 leaf spring, 560 fulcrum, 561 pressure roller, 562 spring, 710 shaft, 711 long hole, 712 shaft, 713 link arm, 714, 715 long hole, 716 fulcrum, 717 folding plate drive cam, 718 shaft , 719 Folding plate drive motor, 720 Shielding part, 721 Folding plate HP sensor, 730 shaft, 731 Long hole part, 732, 733 Shaft part, 734 Link arm, 735, 736 Long hole part, 737 Support point, 738 Retraction guide plate drive Mosquito 739 evacuation guide plate drive motor, 740 shielding part, 741 evacuation guide plate HP sensor

Claims (11)

In a recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a recording medium that has undergone image formation, bookbinding a recording medium conveyance path that conveys the recording medium and a recording medium that is conveyed along the recording medium conveyance path A bookbinding processing section to be processed, a cutting means for cutting the recording medium that has been bound by the bookbinding processing section, and tab information input for inputting information that the recording medium having a tab is conveyed to the cutting means. Means and control means,
The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so that the cutting process of the cutting unit is not performed based on the input information to the tab information input unit.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium transport path includes a punch unit that performs a punching process on the transported recording medium.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookbinding processing unit includes an alignment binding tray that performs alignment and binding processing of the recording medium to be conveyed. apparatus.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookbinding processing unit includes a folding tray that performs a folding process of the recording medium to be conveyed. Post-processing device.   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutting means is a fixed fixed blade and a fixed blade in a horizontal movement process while rotating while abutting the fixed blade. A recording medium post-processing apparatus comprising a round blade for cutting the recording medium between the blade and the blade.   6. The post-recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tab information input unit includes a tab information input switch for inputting information indicating that the recording medium having a tab is conveyed. A post-processing apparatus for a recording medium.   The recording medium post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the tab information input unit detects a tab included in the recording medium conveyed through the recording medium conveyance path. A post-recording medium post-processing apparatus comprising:   The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tab information input unit is arranged in an image forming apparatus that forms a recorded image on a recording medium that is carried in. A recording medium post-processing apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image; and the recording medium post-processing device according to claim 1.   10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit has information indicating that a recording medium having a tab is conveyed from the tab information input unit after the start of an image forming operation in a state where a cutting process is selected. An image forming apparatus that controls the image forming unit to stop an image forming operation when input.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a warning unit that warns selection of a cutting process when the image forming operation of the image forming unit is stopped.

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