JP4750302B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that aligns or staples sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sheet processing apparatuses that perform various processes such as alignment, stapling, and punching on sheets discharged from a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer or a sheet bundle stacked on a plurality of sheets have been proposed. In such an apparatus, the sheets are discharged onto the intermediate stacking means by the discharge means and temporarily stacked, and after being subjected to processing such as alignment and stapling, the sheets are discharged to the outside of the apparatus. A plurality of sheet stoppers are provided.
[0003]
That is, a plurality of stopper portions are linearly arranged at the end portion of the intermediate stacking means, and the sheet end is abutted against this to align the stopper portions.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the sheet ends are abutted against the plurality of stopper portions for alignment, the alignment stability increases as the area where the sheet abuts increases. However, when multiple stoppers are assembled, they may not be arranged linearly due to assembly errors, etc., and in this case, the abutting area will be narrowed because the sheet strikes only the stopper that protrudes toward the abutting side. There is.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a stable sheet alignment area when a plurality of stopper portions that are aligned by abutting the sheet edge are arranged, and the alignment can be stabilized. A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus are provided.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes an intermediate stacking unit that stacks discharged sheets, and a support surface that abuts an end of the sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking unit, A sheet processing apparatus having three or more stopper portions provided on one end side in the sheet conveying direction of the intermediate stacking means, and linearly arranging the stopper portions in a direction crossing the sheet conveying direction; and The support surfaces of the outer stopper portions are 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm in a direction in which the support surfaces of the other stopper portions are in contact with the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking unit. It arrange | positions so that it may protrude.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the same will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. As long as there is no specific description, it is not the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to them.
[0008]
In the following description, the schematic configuration of the main body of the image forming apparatus and the schematic configuration of the sheet processing apparatus will be briefly described first, and then the configuration and operation of each part of the sheet processing apparatus will be described in detail. In the following description, the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is simply referred to as “upstream side”, the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction is simply referred to as “downstream side”, and the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction is referred to as “width direction”.
[0009]
{Schematic configuration of entire image forming apparatus}
FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus main body 101 and a sheet processing apparatus 102 provided with a combination of processing units described later as appropriate. The image forming apparatus main body 101 includes a document feeding unit 110 that automatically feeds a document D, an image reader unit 120 that reads an image of the document D, an image forming unit 140 that forms an image on a sheet P, and the like. ing. On the side of the image forming apparatus main body 101, a sheet processing apparatus 102 for processing and stacking the image-formed sheets P discharged from the apparatus main body is provided. The sheet processing apparatus 102 includes a three-fold processing unit (hereinafter also referred to as a Z-fold processing unit) 200 that folds a sheet into a Z-shape, a two-fold processing unit 800 that folds a sheet in two, and punches and aligns sheets. And finisher 900 for selectively performing various processes such as stapling.
[0011]
In the present embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus is exemplified by a combination of the three-fold processing unit 200, the two-fold processing unit 800, and the finisher 900. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The combination of the unit 200 and the finisher 900, the combination of the two-fold processing unit 800 and the finisher 900, or the finisher 900 alone may be used.
[0012]
The sheets include plain paper, thin resin sheets that are substitutes for plain paper, postcards, cardboard, sealed letters, plastic thin plates, and the like.
[0013]
(Control system for image forming apparatus)
Here, the configuration of the control system of the entire image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the control block diagram of FIG.
[0014]
The CPU circuit unit 701 has a CPU (not shown), and according to the control program stored in the ROM 702 and the setting of the operation unit 711, the document feeding control unit 712, the image reader control unit 713, the image signal control unit 714, the image The forming unit controller 715, the three-fold controller 716, the two-fold controller 717, the finisher controller 718, and the like are controlled.
[0015]
The document feeding control unit 712 is a document feeding unit 110, the image reader control unit 713 is an image reader unit 120, the image forming unit control unit 715 is an image forming unit 140, and the three-fold control unit 716 is a three-fold process. The unit 200, the two-fold control unit 717 controls the two-fold processing unit 800, and the finisher control unit 718 controls the finisher 900.
[0016]
The operation unit 711 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like, and outputs a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key by the user to the CPU circuit unit 701. Based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 701, the corresponding information is displayed on the display unit.
[0017]
The RAM 703 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and a work area for operations associated with control. An external I / F 704 is an interface between the image forming apparatus 100 and an external computer 705. The print data from the computer 705 is expanded into a bitmap image and output to the image signal control unit 714 as image data. Yes.
[0018]
An image of the original read by the image sensor 127 is output from the image reader control unit 713 to the image signal control unit 714.
[0019]
The image forming unit controller 715 outputs the image data from the image signal controller 714 to the exposure controller 130.
[0020]
(Document feeder, image reader)
Referring to FIG. 1, a document D set in a face-up state (a surface on which an image is formed is directed upward) on document placing tray 111 of document feeding unit 110 is sent by document feeding unit 110. The sheets are conveyed one by one in the left direction (in the direction of arrow A in the figure) sequentially from the first page. Then, the document is conveyed from the left direction to the right direction on the platen glass 112 through a curved path, and then discharged onto the document discharge tray 113.
[0021]
At this time, the scanner unit 121 of the image reader unit 120 is held in a predetermined position, and a document reading process is performed when the document passes through the scanner unit 121 from left to right. . This reading method is referred to as document scanning.
[0022]
When the document passes over the platen glass 112, the document is irradiated by the lamp 122 of the scanner unit 121, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 127 via the mirrors 123, 124, 125 and the lens 126.
[0023]
It is also possible to read the original by temporarily stopping the original conveyed by the original feeding unit 110 on the platen glass 112 and moving the scanner unit 121 from the left to the right in that state. This reading method is referred to as fixed document reading.
[0024]
When reading a document without using the document feeding unit 110, the user lifts the document feeding unit 110 and sets the document on the platen glass 112. In this case, the above-described original fixed reading is performed.
[0025]
(Image forming unit)
The document image data read by the image sensor 127 is subjected to predetermined image processing and sent to the exposure controller 130. The exposure control unit 130 outputs laser light corresponding to the image signal. The laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 141 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 131. The photosensitive drum 141 is charged in advance by a primary charging unit 142, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 141 by irradiation with the laser beam (image light). The The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 141 is developed by the developing unit 143 and visualized as a toner image.
[0026]
On the other hand, the sheet is conveyed to the transfer unit 146 from any one of the cassettes 144 and 145, the manual feeding unit 155, and the double-sided conveyance path 154. Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to the sheet in the transfer unit 146. The transferred sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 148 by the conveying unit 147, and is subjected to fixing processing by the fixing unit 148.
[0027]
Then, the flapper 151 is rotated by the operation of the plunger 153 to guide the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 148 to the path 152. After the sheet has passed through the flapper 151, the sheet is switched back. Transport to. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged toward the sheet processing apparatus 102 by the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101.
[0028]
As a result, the surface on which the toner image is formed can be discharged from the image forming unit 140 in a face-down state. This is called reverse paper discharge.
[0029]
As described above, when the sheets are discharged face down to perform image forming processing in order from the first page, for example, when performing image forming processing using the document feeder 110, or from a computer The page order can be aligned when image forming processing is performed on image data.
[0030]
When image forming processing is performed on a hard sheet such as an OHP sheet conveyed from the manual feeding unit 155, the surface on which the toner image is formed is faced up without leading the sheet to the path 152 (face up). In this state, the paper is discharged from the image forming unit 140 by the discharge roller pair 149.
[0031]
Further, when performing image forming processing on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided straight from the fixing unit 148 toward the discharge roller pair 149, and the sheet is switched back immediately after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the flapper 151, The paper is guided to the double-sided conveyance path 154 by the flapper 151 and is conveyed again to the transfer unit 146 as described above.
[0032]
Then, the sheet P on which the image is formed in this manner is discharged to the sheet processing apparatus 102 side by the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101.
[0033]
{Schematic configuration of sheet processing apparatus}
Next, the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus 102 is disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 101, and the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 101 is folded, punched, Various processes such as alignment and stapling are selectively performed, and a plurality of trays that can be moved up and down can be appropriately discharged and stacked.
[0035]
Briefly described here, in the sheet processing apparatus 102 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of entrance rollers 201 of the tri-fold processing unit 200 is disposed at a position facing the discharge roller pair 149 of the image forming apparatus main body 101. A discharge roller pair 266 is provided via a path and a roller that are provided and perform the trifold processing of the trifold processing unit 200. An inlet roller pair 801 of the two-fold processing unit 800 is provided at a position facing the discharge roller pair 266 of the three-fold processing unit 200, and a path and a roller for performing the two-fold processing through the flapper 802 are provided. In addition, an inlet roller pair 301 of the finisher 900 is provided via a flapper 802 of the two-fold processing unit 800, and subsequently, a pair of conveyance rollers 302 and a sheet end detection sensor 311 (see FIG. 7) are integrally movable. A punch unit 308 for making a hole in the trailing edge of the sheet, a large conveying roller 390, and a plurality of pressing rollers 391 for pressing the sheet against the large conveying roller 390 are provided.
[0036]
A switching flapper 392 is provided along the large conveying roller 390, and switches between the non-sort path 393 and the sort path 394. A switching flapper 395 switches between a sort path 394 and a buffer path 396 for temporarily storing sheets. The non-sort path 393 is provided with a discharge roller pair 397 and discharges the sheet to the sample tray 601.
[0037]
From the sort path 394, a pair of conveying rollers 398, a processing tray 400 for temporarily stacking and aligning sheets, a pair of discharge rollers 404 for discharging the sheets to the processing tray 400, and a stapling unit for stapling the sheets on the processing tray 400 500, a swing guide 403 (see FIG. 40), a bundle discharge roller pair 406 as sheet bundle discharge means, and the like are provided. The bundle discharge roller pair 406 includes a roller 406a disposed on the processing tray 400 and a roller 406b supported by the swing guide 403, and cooperates when the swing guide 403 is closed. The upper sheet bundle is nipped and conveyed, and the bundle is discharged onto a stack tray 600 as sheet stacking means.
[0038]
Hereinafter, a folding process for folding the sheet in three, a punching process for punching at a predetermined position at the end of the sheet, an alignment process for aligning sheets in the sheet conveying direction and the width direction orthogonal thereto, and an aligned sheet bundle On the other hand, it is divided into each process of a stapling process for performing binding processing such as one-point binding, two-point binding, and a stacking process for discharging and stacking sheets (or sheet bundles) selectively subjected to these processes. The structure and operation of the parts related to will be described in detail sequentially.
[0039]
{Z folding process}
Next, the Z-folding process for folding the sheet and the configuration and operation of the parts related to this process will be described in detail.
[0040]
In the Z-folding process, the sheet is folded in three by the Z-folding processing unit 200 according to the procedure shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet discharged from the image forming unit 140 by the discharge roller pair 149 is sent to the Z-fold conveyance path 250 of the Z-fold processing unit 200. In the Z-folding processing unit 200, one end of the sheet is brought into contact with the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254 by the conveying roller pair 253 as a reference (FIG. 3B), and the position of ¼ in the conveying length direction from the sheet end is set. The fold is folded once by the first and second fold rollers 255 and 256 (FIG. 3 (c)), the fold is abutted against the sheet fold end receiving stopper 261 (FIG. 3 (d)), and further from the fold. The second and third folding rollers 256 and 264 are folded back in the direction opposite to the first time by setting the quarter position in the conveyance length direction as a fold (FIG. 3 (e)). Thus, in Z-folding, if the folds are 1/4 each from the leading edge of the sheet, the folded sheet will be exactly half the size of the original sheet material, and the sheet will be A three-fold process is performed so that it folds in a letter shape.
[0041]
When an A3 size sheet or a B4 size sheet is designated by the operation unit 711 for the Z-folding process, the Z-folding process is performed on the sheet P carried from the entrance roller pair 201.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the conventional Z-folding processing unit 200, the guide member 271 has a flat shape, and when the sheet P hits the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 after the first folding process, In some cases, the sheet P in the vicinity of the folding end receiving stopper 261 may come out, the folding position of the sheet P is not stable, and the folding accuracy is unstable.
[0043]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, after the first folding step, the sheet P held by the guide member 271 is straight or far away from the nip portion of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264. The loop shape of the sheet P is not constant, it is difficult to be folded and conveyed by the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264, the folding position is not stable, and the folding accuracy is unstable. .
[0044]
Therefore, the Z-folding processing unit 200 according to the present invention guides the sheet to be Z-folded to the receiving conveyance path 252 shown in FIG. 6A by the flapper 251 and to the first folding path 269 by the conveyance roller pair 253. The sheet is conveyed and received by a sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254 provided in the first folding path 269.
[0045]
At this time, in order to prevent the conveyed sheet P from jumping on the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254, when the leading edge of the sheet P reaches slightly upstream from the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254, it is detected by the sheet leading edge detection sensor 257. The Z-folding control unit 716 (see FIG. 2) stops the conveyance motor M and the Z-folding processing unit 200 that rotate the conveyance roller 253 for the first time, and starts (first time) after a predetermined time has elapsed. The leading edge of the sheet P is brought into contact with the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254.
[0046]
As a result, the sheet P gently lands on the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254 in the first folding path 269 without jumping on the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254.
[0047]
Thereafter, the conveyance roller pair 253 continues to convey the sheet P while the leading edge of the sheet P is in contact with the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254 by the conveying motor M200 rotating at the original rotation speed. The sheet P protrudes from the opening 259 of the guide wall 258 and approaches a nip portion X200 formed by the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256 in a buckled state.
[0048]
When the sheet P approaches the nip portion X200, the Z-folding control unit 716 (see FIG. 2) stops the conveyance motor M200 for the second time, and the second time after the vibration of the looped portion of the sheet P is settled. Let's start. For this reason, the loop-shaped portion of the sheet P is fed into the nip portion X200 in a stable state.
[0049]
The second stop timing of the conveying motor M200 is detected by the sheet leading edge detection sensor 257 before the leading edge of the sheet P contacts the sheet leading edge receiving stopper 254, and then the conveying motor M200 starts the first time. It is measured based on the number of rotations after.
[0050]
The sheet P is decelerated or temporarily stopped immediately before coming into contact with the sheet leading edge stopper 254 and immediately before being fed into the nip portion X200 of the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256. Folded.
[0051]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256 fold the sheet P in half and convey it to the second folding path 270.
[0052]
(Curvature by mylar, vertical waist by protrusion)
The second folding path 270 abuts the guide member 271 that guides the first folded sheet by the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256 and the fold by the first folding of the sheet P guided by the guide member 271. The sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 (261a, 261b) that is an abutting member and Mylar 263 (263a, 263b) that is an urging member that urges the sheet P at the tip of the guide member 271 are configured.
[0053]
The stopper 261a is a fixed stopper and abuts the A3 sheet. . The position of the stopper 261b in the second folding path 270 is changed by the solenoid 202, so that the sheet such as A4 or B4 can be abutted.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 271 is provided with a protrusion 271a in the vicinity of the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261, and the protrusion 271a curves the sheet P so as to make a vertical stiffness.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 8, the Mylar 263 (263a, 263b) is formed by an elastic member so that the sheet P is curved so as to be convex toward the nip portion side of the second and third folding rollers 256, 264. Has been. That is, the mylar 263a provided at the tip of the guide member 271 on the nip portion Y200 side urges the folding end side of the sheet P in the direction away from the nip portion Y200, and is provided at the tip of the guide member 271 on the nip portion X200 side. The mylar 263b thus urged the nip Y200 side in the direction approaching the nip Y200 from the urging position of the sheet P by the mylar 263a. In this way, by urging the two points of the sheet P in the opposite directions, the sheet P is directed in the direction in which the sheet P is conveyed to the nip portion Y200, and is further nipped by the conveying force of the first and second folding rollers 255 and 256. Curved so as to have a convex shape toward the portion Y200.
[0056]
In the second folding path 270, immediately before the folded end of the conveyed sheet P comes into contact with the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 provided in the second folding path 270, it is detected by the sheet folding end detection sensor 262, and Z The folding control unit causes the folding drive motor M201 driving the second folding roller 256 to stop for the third time.
[0057]
As a result, the folding end of the sheet P is gently brought into contact with the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 by the inertial rotation of the folding rollers 256 and 264 so that the sheet P tilts or jumps with respect to the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261. There is nothing.
[0058]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the sheet P abuts on the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261, the center in the sheet width direction near the fold by the first folding is urged by the protrusion 271a. As a result, the sheet P is curved with the center of the sheet projecting toward the guide member 271 facing the guide member 271 provided with the protrusion 271a.
[0059]
The folding drive motor M201 rotates the three folding rollers 255, 256, and 264. As shown in FIG. 9A, after the folded end of the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet folded end receiving stopper 261, the Z-fold control unit 716 starts the folding drive motor M201 for the third time. This third start is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sheet folding end detection sensor 262 detects the folding end of the sheet P described above.
[0060]
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9B, when conveyance by the rollers 255 and 256 is started, the portion of the sheet P facing the lower end of the Mylar 263 starts buckling due to the urging of the Mylar 263, and the portion Is formed in a loop shape curved so as to be convex toward the nip portion side of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264, and the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264 together with the already folded portion. Approaches the nip portion Y200.
[0061]
The Z-folding processing unit 200 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which a pair of first folding rollers 255 and a pair of third folding rollers 264 use a common second folding roller 256. That is, the first folding roller 255 and the second folding roller 256 form a roller pair, and the third folding roller 264 and the second folding roller 256 form a roller pair.
[0062]
When the looped portion of the sheet P approaches the nip portion Y200 of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264 to some extent, the Z-fold control unit 716 causes the folding drive motor M201 to stop for the fourth time. This eliminates the vibration of the looped portion.
[0063]
The fourth rotation stop of the folding drive motor M201 is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the folding drive motor M201 started the third start.
[0064]
The folding drive motor M201 starts the fourth time after the folding drive motor M201 has stopped rotating for the fourth time for a predetermined time, and then starts the fourth time to fold the loop-shaped portion of the sheet P into the second and third folds. Enter rollers 256 and 264. FIG. 9 (c) shows this state.
[0065]
As a result, the sheet P is accurately folded in three without wrinkles, and is discharged from the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264.
[0066]
Thereafter, the sheet P is sent to the half-folding processing unit 800 by the discharge roller pair 266 shown in FIG. 1 through the delivery conveyance path 265 shown in FIG.
[0067]
As described above, the guide member 271 is provided with the protrusion 271a in the vicinity of the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261, and the protrusion 271a can be bent and conveyed at a fixed folding position by bending the sheet P so as to make a vertical stiffness. Folding accuracy can be improved.
[0068]
In this embodiment, the protrusion 271a is provided in the vicinity of the sheet folding end receiving stopper 261 having a large deflection of the sheet P, but it may be provided on the entire guide member 271.
[0069]
Further, a mylar 263 is provided at the tip of the guide member 271 and the sheet P is urged to bend so as to have a convex shape toward the nip portion side of the second and third folding rollers 256 and 264. Can be reliably folded and conveyed.
[0070]
The urging member is not limited to Mylar, and the same effect can be obtained if it is a flexible member.
[0071]
{Punch process}
Next, the punching process for punching a sheet and the configuration and operation of the part related to this process will be described in detail.
[0072]
(Drilling position detection)
The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 101 or the Z-folding processing unit 200 is received by the entrance roller pair 301 and enters the punch unit 308 by the conveying roller 302.
[0073]
As shown in FIG. 10, the punch unit 308 includes a puncher 318 that is a punching means, a sheet end detection sensor 311 that detects an end in the sheet width direction and detects a sheet size and a position in the sheet width direction, A first drive motor M300, which is a first drive means for driving the sheet edge detection sensor 311 with respect to the puncher 318 in the sheet width direction, and a second drive means for driving the puncher 318 together with the sheet edge detection sensor 311 in the sheet width direction. A second drive motor M301 is included.
[0074]
In punching a sheet by the punch unit 308, the user detects the edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction while conveying the sheet in advance, or the punching line by stopping the sheet and determining the punching position. Select the high-precision punch mode that detects the upper sheet edge and determines the punching position.
[0075]
(High speed punch mode)
When the high-speed punch mode is selected, first, only the sheet edge detection sensor 311 is moved to a predetermined position by the first drive motor M300 in accordance with the difference in the sheet width length due to the difference in sheet size, sheet orientation, and the like. .
[0076]
Next, while transporting the sheet, the puncher 318 and the sheet end detection sensor 311 are moved together by the second drive motor M301, and as shown in FIG. 11, the sheet end upstream of the line L for punching holes is moved. Detect.
[0077]
The sheet is conveyed as it is, and the sheet is stopped at a position where the punching position by the punch 316 and the punching position of the sheet are aligned, and punching is performed by a puncher 318 described later. As described above, according to the high-speed punch mode, it is sufficient to stop only once when punching a sheet, and it is possible to reduce the time loss due to the stop of the sheet and perform the punching process at high speed.
[0078]
However, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), when the sheet P is conveyed without being skewed, the detected sheet end O2 and the sheet end O1 of the line L for punching holes in the sheet width direction. Since the positions are the same, the position where the puncher 318 opens is not shifted.
[0079]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the sheet is skewed, the position in the sheet width direction between the detected sheet end O2 and the sheet end O1 of the line L for punching holes is shifted by L1, The position where the puncher 318 makes a hole is shifted by L1.
[0080]
(High precision punch mode)
When the high-precision punch mode is selected, first, only the sheet edge detection sensor is moved to a predetermined position by the first drive motor M300 according to the difference in the sheet width length due to the difference in sheet size, sheet orientation, and the like. .
[0081]
The sheet is stopped at a position where the line L for punch holes faces the sheet end detection sensor 311.
[0082]
With the sheet stopped, the puncher 318 and the sheet end detection sensor 311 are moved together by the second drive motor M301, and the sheet end detection sensor 311 detects the sheet end O1 of the line L where the punch hole is formed.
[0083]
At this position or at a position where the sheet is further conveyed and the punching position by the punch 316 is aligned with the punching position of the sheet, punching is performed by a puncher 318 described later.
[0084]
In this way, the sheet end O1 of the line L for punching holes is detected in a state where the sheet is stopped at a position where the line L for punching holes faces the sheet end detection sensor 311. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, not only when the sheet P is conveyed without being skewed, but also when the sheet is skewed as shown in FIG. Since the sheet end O1 is detected, the position of the line L in the sheet width direction can be detected accurately, and the displacement of the position where the puncher 318 opens a hole can be suppressed and the hole can be formed with high accuracy.
[0085]
(Puncher)
As shown in FIG. 12, the puncher 318 is formed of a first frame 309, a second frame 310, and the like. A die 319 is formed in the first frame 309, and a die hole 320 is formed in the die 319.
[0086]
As shown in FIG. 13, the second frame 310 is attached to the first frame 309 with a spacer 310a interposed therebetween. A gap is formed between the first and second frames 309 and 310 by the thickness of the spacer 310a, and the gap serves as a guide 321 for guiding the sheet. The first frame 309 and the second frame 310 are formed with guide portions 309c and 310b for introducing the sheet into the guide 321.
[0087]
As shown in FIG. 14, the second frame 310 has a punch 316 and a slide cam 312 which is a cam member so as to be slidable. The punch 316 is provided at a position corresponding to the die hole 320. As the punch 316 reciprocates in the sheet width direction (arrow H direction), the die hole 320 and the punch 316 can make a hole in the sheet.
[0088]
The slide cam 312 is formed with racks 312a and 312c, a grooved cam 322, and sensor flags 312d and 312e. A plurality of cams 322 are arranged in the moving direction of the slide cam 312, and a plurality of die holes 320 are arranged corresponding to the cams 322. The cam 322 is formed in a groove shape. Each punch 316 is provided with a connecting pin 323 that engages with a grooved cam 322.
[0089]
As shown in FIG. 15, the groove-shaped cam 322 is formed in a direction in which the punch 316 enters the die hole 320 and is continuously separated from both ends of the hole-opening groove 322a. Thus, the punch 316 is formed by a pair of standby groove portions 322b and 322c that hold the punch 316 at a standby position separated from the die hole 320.
[0090]
Next, the punching operation will be described.
[0091]
The puncher 318 stops at a predetermined position determined by the above-described high-speed punch mode or high-precision punch mode and stands by. Then, the line L for punching holes is conveyed to a position facing the punch 316, and immediately after the sheet stops, the slide cam 312 moves in the sheet width direction.
[0092]
During this time, the engaging position of the cam 322 with respect to the connecting pin 323 engaged with the grooved cam 322 is changed to the standby groove portion 322b (322c), the drilling operation groove portion 322a, and the standby groove portion 322c (322b). As a result, the punch 316 enters and exits the die hole 320 to make a hole in the sheet.
[0093]
Thereafter, the sheet having the hole is discharged and conveyed, and the slide cam 322 moves backward to make a hole in the next sheet. Therefore, the slide cam 322 can make holes in two sheets during one reciprocation, and can cope with high-speed drilling.
[0094]
(Punch unit of other embodiments)
Although the slide puncher 318 has been described as the punching means, a rotary puncher in which the punch and the die rotate only in one direction may be used. Even in this case, it is possible to make holes in the sheet with high accuracy in the same manner as the above punch unit. Moreover, although conveyance of the sheet | seat was stopped at the time of punching, it can punch while conveying by using a rotary punching unit, and a punching process can be performed at higher speed.
[0095]
(Punch scrap processing)
As shown in FIG. 16, punch scrap generated when a hole is punched in the sheet by the punch 316 and the die 319 falls to the lower part in the casing 351, and is a half of the conveyance path of the punch scrap from the lower part of the casing 351. It is stored in the pipe 360. As shown in FIG. 17, the punch scrap G stored in the half pipe 360 is transported to the punch scrap discharge port 372 of the half pipe 360 by a screw shaft 370 that is a transport means rotated by a screw drive motor 371. The punch 316, the screw shaft 370, and the half pipe 360 are arranged in parallel to each other.
[0096]
(Saddle formed on half pipe)
As shown in FIG. 18, the half pipe 360 is provided with a flange 362 on the upper side and on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the screw shaft 370 to prevent punch scraps from falling. The collar portion 362 is formed of an elastic member Mylar, and prevents damage or the like when a punch or the like hits the collar portion 362.
[0097]
The conventional half-pipe has no flange, and punch scraps collected at the bottom of the half-pipe rises in the direction of the screw-shaft rotation due to the rotation of the screw shaft. was there.
[0098]
The half pipe 360 in the present embodiment is provided with a flange portion 362 that prevents the fall of punch scraps above and on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the screw shaft 370, so that the punch scrap G that has risen hits the flange portion 362. Since it falls, punch scraps can be prevented from dropping and scattering from the half pipe 360.
[0099]
(The wall near the punch waste discharge port of the half pipe and the downstream side in the screw shaft rotation direction) As shown in FIG. 19, the wall near the punch waste discharge port 372 of the half pipe 360 and the downstream side in the rotation direction of the screw shaft 370 The 360a was constituted by a plane extending vertically downward from the punch scrap conveyance area (lower part of the half pipe 360).
[0100]
The wall in the vicinity of the punch scrap discharge port of the conventional half pipe and the downstream side in the screw shaft rotation direction has an open shape to the outside, so when punch scrap is electrostatically adsorbed to the open part, the next punch scrap hits It did not fall, but it became a lump, and in the worst case, the lump was lifted and dropped and scattered from the half pipe.
[0101]
The half pipe 360 in the present embodiment is configured by forming the wall 360a on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the screw shaft 370 with a plane extending vertically downward from the punch scrap conveyance area (lower part of the half pipe 360), Can be prevented, and punch scraps can be prevented from falling and scattering from the half pipe 360.
[0102]
The punch waste G conveyed by the screw shaft 370 is discharged from the punch waste discharge port 372 of the half pipe 360, and is disposed below the punch waste discharge port 372 and is detachably attached to the rear portion of the main body of the copying machine. Then, the punch scraps are collected in a punch scrap box 344 which is a scrap storage container for storing punch scraps generated when punch holes are made in a sheet.
[0103]
When the punch waste box 344 is removed from the image forming apparatus 100 to dispose of the punch waste G accumulated in the punch waste box 344, the punch waste G remaining in the casing is received by the screw shaft 370 and punched. There is almost no falling from the waste outlet 372.
[0104]
The punch waste G is charged with static electricity and hardens in the punch waste discharge port 372 and may block the punch waste discharge port 372. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 17, four blades 374 for forcibly discharging and dropping the punch waste G are provided radially at the end of the screw shaft 370 located at the punch waste discharge port 372.
[0105]
(Punch waste box)
As shown in FIG. 1, the punch waste box 344 is detachably provided on the rear surface of the finisher 900 by a magnet (not shown).
[0106]
Further, as shown in FIG. 20, an inclined inverted V-shaped dispersion plate 376 for dispersing punch waste G falling from the punch waste receiving port 373 is provided in the punch waste box 344. The punch scraps falling from the punch scrap receiving port 373 are dispersed in the left-right direction by the dispersion plate 376 and accumulated in the punch scrap box 344.
[0107]
When the dispersion plate 376 is provided, the punch waste G is dispersed and averaged in the punch waste box 344, and is stored using the space in the punch waste box 344 sufficiently.
[0108]
In addition, the punch scrap detection sensor 345 that detects the amount (height and position) of punch scrap stored in the punch scrap box 344 detects that the punch scrap box 344 is full, and the user In order to discard the punch scrap G, the punch scrap box 344 is removed from the rear surface of the finisher 900 and the punch scrap G is discarded.
[0109]
The punch waste box 344 has a hole 346 for the punch dust detection sensor 345 to detect punch waste, and a rib 347 and a tube 348 are formed around the hole 346 as uneven surfaces in the vertical direction.
[0110]
The conventional punch waste box is formed flat without providing anything around the hole for the punch dust detection sensor to detect punch waste. For this reason, punch scraps are electrostatically adsorbed on the wall around the hole, and the punch scraps accumulate as a trigger to block the holes for detecting punch scraps. There was a case.
[0111]
The punch waste box 344 in the present embodiment is provided with a hole 346 for the punch dust detection sensor 345 to detect waste, and at least the hole 346 has a rib 347 and a tube 348 around it. As a result, even if punch debris adheres around the hole 346, a considerable amount of punch debris must adhere to get over the rib 347 and the tube 348 to close the hole 346. Can be prevented, and punch scraps can be detected accurately.
[0112]
In the present embodiment, the rib 347 and the tube 348 are formed around the hole 346. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and only one of them may be provided. The hole 346 may have a shape that is not blocked by punch scraps, such as the periphery of the hole is higher than the other surface.
[0113]
{Alignment process}
On the downstream side of the punch unit 308, as shown in FIG. 1, a conveying roller 390 and a pressing roller 391 that rotates following the roller around the conveying roller 390 are disposed. Is conveyed by. A switching flapper 392 is provided along the large conveying roller 390 to switch between the non-sort path 393 and the sort path 394. The switching flapper 395 switches between the sort path 394 and the buffer path 396 for temporarily storing sheets. The non-sort path 393 is provided with a discharge roller 397 to discharge the conveyed sheet to the sample tray 601.
[0114]
On the other hand, the sheets conveyed to the sort path 394 are discharged after a plurality of sheets are aligned in the alignment process and subjected to a stapling process or the like.
[0115]
Next, the alignment process for aligning the sheets conveyed to the sort path 394 and the configuration and operation of the parts related to this process will be described in detail.
[0116]
As shown in FIG. 21, in the vicinity of the processing tray 400, which is an intermediate stacking means, a rear end stopper 401 disposed at the rear end of the processing tray 400, and an alignment means for aligning sheets on the processing tray 400 in the width direction 402, swing guide 403 as swing guide means swinging above the processing tray 400, pull-in paddle 405 as paddle means for returning the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404 to the rear end stopper 401, bundle discharge roller pair 406, a knurled belt 407, and a trailing edge dropping member 408 as a sheet pressing member are provided.
[0117]
The processing tray 400 is an inclined tray with the downstream side (left side in FIG. 21) upward and the upstream side (right side in FIG. 21) downward. A rear end dropping member 408, a knurled belt 407, and a rear end stopper 401 are disposed at a lower end portion on the upstream side of the processing tray 400, and an alignment means 402 and a pull-in paddle 405 are disposed at an intermediate portion. The sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404 is guided by the trailing edge dropping member 408 and the sheet guide 413 by the action of its own weight and the pull-in paddle 405 and, in some cases, the action of the knurled belt 407. This slides on the processing tray 400 until it comes into contact with the support surface 401a as the abutting stopper portion. When the staple processing is performed by the stapler, the rear end stopper 401 rotates and retracts below the processing tray 400 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.
[0118]
(Discharge roller pair and knurled belt)
The pair of discharge rollers 404 includes a lower discharge roller 404a and a discharge roller 404b. The lower discharge roller 404a is a knurled belt that is a sheet conveying rotating body constituted by endless belt members at several positions in the axial direction between the discharge roller 404b. A plurality of sheet guides 413 are arranged at appropriate positions between the knurled belts 407. The knurled belt 407 is a flexible ring having a knurled surface as a non-slip rough surface formed on the entire outer periphery, and can be deformed in the rotational direction. The knurled belt 407 is usually separated from the processing tray 400. However, when the knurled belt 407 is rotated by the lower discharge roller 404a, the knurled belt 407 contacts the upper surface of the stacked sheets while being deformed, and assists the drawing operation. is there.
[0119]
(Rear edge dropping member)
The trailing edge dropping member 408 serves as a guide when the trailing edge of the sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 is forcibly dropped onto the processing tray 400 and the sheet is abutted against the trailing edge stopper 401.
[0120]
As shown in FIG. 22, a plurality of rear end dropping members 408 and knurled belts 407 are arranged in the axial direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction. In this embodiment, the rear end dropping members are sandwiched between the knurled belts 407 at both ends. A member 408 is attached.
[0121]
As shown in FIG. 23, the trailing edge dropping member 408 is provided on the swinging center shaft 408a so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. Normally, if there is no passage of the sheet, the position of the solid line in FIG. Waiting at position). A cam surface 408b is formed at one end of the rear end dropping member 408 so as to engage with the link 414, and the cam surface 408b is pushed down by the operation of the link 414 (in the state of the one-dot chain line in FIG. 23). As a result, the trailing edge dropping member 408 swings clockwise in FIG.
[0122]
The link 414 is supported at the center of rotation, and a part of the link 414 engages with the aforementioned cam surface 408b, and is also connected to a solenoid 415 as a rotation drive mechanism. By the ON / OFF operation of the solenoid 415, as shown in FIG. 23, the rear end dropping member 408 rotates to the position of the solid line and the one-dot chain line. As shown in FIG. 21, the solenoid 415 is turned on after a lapse of a predetermined time after the sheet detection sensor 420 provided at a predetermined position of the sort path 394 detects the leading edge of the sheet, and is detected after the trailing edge of the sheet is detected. Turns off after a lapse of time.
[0123]
As shown in FIG. 23, the other end of the trailing edge dropping member 408 is formed with a sheet guide surface 408c and a pressing surface 408d that presses the trailing edge of the sheet that has been ejected and floated downward. Therefore, in the state where the solenoid 415 is turned on (that is, the state where the solenoid 415 is retracted outside the sheet passing locus), the sheet does not come into contact with the pressing surface 408d as shown in FIG.
[0124]
In a state where the solenoid 415 is turned off while the sheet is being discharged to the processing tray 400 (that is, a state where the solenoid 415 is located in the sheet passing locus), the trailing edge dropping member 408 is not restrained by the link 414 as shown in FIG. The upper surface of the sheet is pressed downward by the pressing surface 408d by its own weight.
[0125]
The sheet guide surface 408c allows the sheet rear end to be directed upward from the center of the knurled belt 407 when the sheet is discharged and moved to the rear end stopper 401 by its own weight and the conveyance force of the pull-in paddle 405. It functions as a guide member that guides it so that it does not (see FIG. 26).
[0126]
When the rear end of the sheet is discharged from the discharge roller 404, the pressing surface 408d pushes the discharged rear end of the sheet downward from the center of the knurled belt 407 within a predetermined time.
[0127]
(Withdrawal paddle)
The drawing paddle 405 is discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 and discharges the sheet by the discharge roller pair 404 so that the trailing edge of the sheet dropped onto the processing tray 400 by the trailing edge dropping member 408 hits the trailing edge stopper 401. The sheet is later rotated at a predetermined timing to draw the sheet into the trailing end stopper 401, and is disposed downstream of the discharge roller 404 and above the intermediate portion of the processing tray 400 as described above (see FIG. 21). It is fixed in the same phase at a plurality of locations on the corresponding drive shaft 416. The pull-in paddle 405 is driven to rotate at an appropriate timing by a paddle motor M416. The length of each paddle is set slightly longer than the distance from the drive shaft 416 to the surface of the processing tray 400, and the arrangement position is always on both sides of the center of gravity of the sheet P at any position during alignment. In order to be able to act from the above, the position is set at least at two or more locations. The pull-in paddle 405 is located at the home position shown in FIG. 21 when in a normal standby state and when the sheet is being discharged from the discharge roller pair 404, and is configured not to interfere with the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 404. .
[0128]
The pull-in paddle 405 is driven to rotate for a predetermined time when the sheet P is discharged to the processing tray 400, and operates to pull the sheet P toward the abutting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401. Here, by arranging the plurality of pull-in paddles 405 as described above, the pull-in action on both sides including the center of gravity always acts on the sheet P in alignment, so the sheet P does not tilt during alignment movement, A good alignment operation can always be performed.
[0129]
The pull-in time (rotation drive time) of the pull-in paddle 405 is determined so as not to hinder the next sheet discharge operation, and stops at the home position.
[0130]
(Alignment means)
The aligning means 402 aligns the width direction of the sheet whose rear end is abutted against the rear end stopper 401 as described above. As shown in FIG. 27, the aligning means 402 is composed of a pair of aligning members 409 and 410. On the surface of the processing tray 400, a lower portion and an upper portion (corresponding to both side edges of the sheet P). Are arranged independently of each other. The alignment members 409 and 410 are arranged such that the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a are opposed to the processing tray 400 on the upper surface side, and the processing tray 400 is formed on the lower surface side of the processing tray 400. The rack gear portions 409b and 410b are assembled so as to be movable in the alignment direction through a pair of guide grooves 400a parallel to the width direction.
[0131]
The rack gear portions 409b and 410b are engaged with pinion gears 411 and 412 that are driven to rotate forward and backward by the alignment motors M409 and M410, so that the alignment members 409 and 410 can move in the alignment direction, respectively. Here, a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the respective home positions is arranged for the alignment members 409 and 410. In the normal case, the alignment member 409 has one end in the sheet width direction (shown in FIG. 27). Upper end), the alignment member 410 stands by at each home position position set at the other end (lower end shown in FIG. 27).
[0132]
(Swing guide)
The swing guide 403 is pivotally supported by the swing support shaft 417 on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 21), and swings by the action of the rotating cam 418 connected to the swing motor M403. When the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the swing guide 403 is in an open state (a state in which the bundle discharge roller pair 406 is separated as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 21), which hinders sheet discharge and alignment. It is not to become. When the bundle of sheets is discharged from the processing tray 400, the sheet is rotated to a closed state (a state where the bundle discharge roller pair 406 is in contact as shown by a solid line in FIG. 21) and downstream (left side in FIG. 21). The sheet bundle is sandwiched between a roller 406b provided on the processing tray 400 and a roller 406a provided on the processing tray 400. The rollers 406 a and 406 b of the bundle discharge roller pair 406 can be rotated forward and backward by receiving driving from the motor M 406, nipping and conveying the sheet bundle, and discharging the bundle onto the stack tray 600.
[0133]
(Alignment operation)
The alignment operation on the processing tray 400 will be described. The sheet sent to the sort path 394 is discharged onto the processing tray 400 by the discharge roller pair 404. In synchronization with this discharging operation, the trailing edge dropping member 408 swings to drop the trailing edge of the sheet onto the processing tray 400. In addition, when the first sheet is discharged, as shown in FIG. 21, the in / out tray 419 provided below the processing tray 400 protrudes in the direction of the arrow X, and the leading edge of the stacked sheets hangs down and becomes defective. And the alignment of sheets on the processing tray 400 is improved.
[0134]
When the sheet P is discharged onto the processing tray 400 by the knurled belt 407 wound around the lower discharge roller 404a of the discharge roller pair 404, the sheet P starts to return to the trailing end stopper 401 side by its own weight, and in addition to this. As the pull-in paddle 405 stopped at the home position rotates, the returning action is promoted. When the trailing edge of the sheet P is abutted against the trailing edge stopper 401 and stops, the aligning members 409 and 410 move in the width direction so as to align the sheet width direction, and the sheet width is determined by abutting the aligning surfaces 409a and 410a. The direction is aligned. The pull-in paddle 405 returns to the home position again and stops before the next sheet is discharged.
[0135]
(Paddle operation when discharging the first sheet to the processing tray)
In the alignment operation, as described above, when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the swing guide 403 is in an open state. Therefore, each time the sheet P is discharged to the processing tray 400, the pull-in paddle 405 is rotated, and the rotation of the knurled belt 407 is integrated to assist returning the sheet toward the trailing end stopper 401.
[0136]
However, when the first sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the swing guide 403 is in the closed state. Accordingly, the first sheet is discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 and the bundle discharge roller pair 406, and after the trailing edge of the sheet falls on the processing tray 400 by the operation of the trailing edge dropping member 408, the bundle discharge roller pair 406 is moved by a predetermined amount. By driving in reverse, the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the rear end stopper 401. At this time, the pull-in paddle 405 does not operate, and the sheet P is pulled back on the processing tray toward the rear end stopper 401 by the bundle discharge roller pair 406 and the knurled belt 407.
[0137]
Thereafter, the swing guide 403 is in an open state, alignment in the sheet width direction is performed by the aligning unit 402, and the swing guide 403 is maintained in the open state until bundle discharge is performed thereafter. Therefore, when the second and subsequent sheets are discharged to the processing tray 400, the pull-in paddle 405 is operated together with the operation of the trailing edge dropping member 408.
[0138]
As described above, the pull-in paddle 405 operates from the discharge of the second and subsequent sheets, and does not operate when the first sheet is discharged, so that the number of operations can be minimized. Therefore, the wear of the pull-in paddle 405 can be suppressed. In addition, when the second sheet is discharged, since the pull-in paddle 405 is at the home position, the discharge operation of the second sheet can be performed without considering the position of the pull-in paddle 405. Will be improved.
[0139]
In this embodiment, an example in which the sheets are discharged one by one to the processing tray 400 has been described. However, when a plurality of sheets are stored in the buffer path 396 and simultaneously discharged to the processing tray 400, the buffer path 396 is discharged. The pull-in paddle 405 is not operated when the plurality of sheets stored in the first are discharged to the processing tray 400 for the first time.
[0140]
(Paddle home position detection member detent structure)
After the drawing paddle 405 is rotated so as to draw the sheet into the processing tray 400, the drawing paddle 405 stops at a home position that does not become an obstacle when the next sheet is discharged. For this purpose, home position detecting means for detecting the home position of the pull-in paddle 405 is provided.
[0141]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28 (a), the pull-in paddle 405 is attached to a drive shaft 416 supported by a bearing 421, and the drive shaft 416 is rotated by a paddle motor M416. A detection member 422 as a detent member is attached to the end of the shaft 416 so as to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 416. The detection member 422 has a cylindrical flange 422a, and a notch 422b is formed in a part of the flange 422a. A home position sensor 423 is provided so as to straddle the flange 422a.
[0142]
The home position sensor 423 is constituted by a transmissive photo sensor, and is provided at a position facing the notch 422b when the pull-in paddle 405 is at the home position. That is, it is determined whether or not the pull-in paddle 405 is in the home position based on whether or not the home position sensor 423 detects the notch 422b, and the drive control of the pull-in paddle 405 is performed according to the detection result.
[0143]
As described above, the detection member 422 rotates integrally with the drive shaft 416. Here, a structure for preventing the detection member 422 from rotating with respect to the drive shaft 416 will be described.
[0144]
The detection member 422 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 28 (a) and 28 (b), a round shaft hole 422d is formed on a convex portion 422c formed at the center of rotation. Further, a linear groove 422e longer than the diameter of the shaft hole 422d is formed so as to cover a part of the shaft hole 422d, and a metal pin 422f as a pin member is embedded in the groove.
[0145]
By attaching the straight metal pin 422f so as to cover a part of the round hole as described above, the shaft hole 422d has a “D” shape having an arc portion and a straight portion. Then, the end of the drive shaft 416 is formed so as to fit in the “D” shape, and the detection member 422 is so-called “D-cut coupled” to the drive shaft by coupling both. For this reason, the drive shaft 416 and the detection member 422 rotate integrally without a phase difference.
[0146]
In the anti-rotation configuration using “D-cut coupling” as described above, when the drive shaft 416 rotates and stops rotating, the D-cut linear portion of the detection member 422 (hereinafter referred to as “D-hole linear portion”). Concentrated load is applied to the end of the. For this reason, when a “D” -shaped shaft hole is simply formed in the detection member made of synthetic resin, the end of the straight part of the D hole may be chipped during long-term use. .
[0147]
On the other hand, the shaft hole of this embodiment is strong because the D hole straight portion is composed of the metal pin 422f as described above, and both ends of the D hole straight portion even if a rotational load is applied by the D cut shaft. There is no chipping in 422g. In this embodiment, since the length of the pin 422f is equal to or larger than the diameter of the shaft hole 422d, the load received from the drive shaft 416 is distributed over the entire length of the pin 422f. Such a load becomes smaller.
[0148]
However, even if the length of the pin 422f is not increased as described above, for example, even if the pin has the same length as the D hole straight portion, it has sufficient strength against the load applied to both ends 422g of the D hole straight portion. The occurrence of chipping can be prevented.
[0149]
Further, in this embodiment, the pin 422f is made of metal, but this is because the mechanical strength is strong, and the member is not necessarily limited to metal as long as the member has higher rigidity than the detection member 422.
[0150]
In addition, although the above-described anti-rotation structure has been described as being used for the home position detecting member of the retractable paddle 405, it is natural that the anti-rotation structure can also be used as an anti-rotation structure for other rotating members.
[0151]
(Sheet discharge speed to processing tray)
As described above, the pull-in paddle 405 is rotated to pull the sheet into the processing tray 400. In order for this pull-in operation to be performed reliably, the sheet must be discharged onto the processing tray 400 accurately.
[0152]
However, the sheets sent to the alignment process have various sizes and thicknesses. Regardless of the type of sheet, if the discharge roller pair 404 is set to a constant speed and discharged to the processing tray 400, the thickness and size of A4 size plain paper, etc. are smaller and thicker than normal sheets. , The sheet tends to jump out of the discharge roller pair 404 vigorously.
[0153]
Accordingly, the sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair 404 is pushed downward by the trailing edge dropping member 408 and dropped onto the processing tray 400. In the case of a sheet that easily jumps out of the discharge roller pair 404 as described above, the solid line in FIG. As described above, there is a possibility that the rear end of the sheet may protrude downstream from the region of the rear end dropping member 408. When the pull-in paddle 405 is operated in this state and the sheet is pulled back to the trailing end stopper 401 side, the sheet rides on the sheet guide surface 408c of the trailing end stopper 401 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. There is a possibility that the stopper 401 cannot be abutted.
[0154]
Therefore, in this embodiment, control is performed so as to change the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 in accordance with the type of sheet. That is, the rotation of the discharge roller pair 404 when discharging a sheet that is difficult to jump out from the discharge roller pair 404 such as a normal sheet such as A4 plain paper, a larger size sheet, a folded sheet, or a thin sheet. If the speed is set as the reference value, control is made so that the rotation speed of the discharge roller pair 404 is slower than the reference value when discharging sheets that are easy to jump out of the discharge roller pair 404, such as small-size sheets and thick sheets. To do.
[0155]
As a result, even if it is a small size sheet or a thick sheet, it will not be unnecessarily popped out from the discharge roller pair 404, and the trailing edge of the sheet dropped into the processing tray 400 by the trailing edge dropping member 408 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the trailing edge dropping member 408 is positioned on the trailing edge stopper side with respect to the sheet guide surface 408c. When the pull-in paddle 405 operates, the trailing edge of the sheet is guided by the sheet guiding surface 408c, and the knurling The belt 407 is also urged to rotate and is pulled so as to abut against the rear end stopper 401.
[0156]
In this embodiment, the speed of the discharge roller pair 404 is changed according to the type of the sheet. However, the speed of the discharge roller pair 404 is constant, and a sheet that is easy to pop out, such as a small size sheet or a thick sheet. The same effect can be obtained even when the timing for operating the pull-in paddle 405 for the sheet jumping out from the discharge roller pair 404 is set earlier than in the case of other sheets. In other words, by operating the pull-in paddle 405 at a timing before the trailing edge of the ejected sheet exits the trailing edge dropping member 408, the trailing edge of the trailing edge dropping member 408 is provided even if the sheet is likely to jump out of the discharge roller pair 404. This prevents the sheet guide surface 408c from coming off.
[0157]
Further, as described above, not only the speed of the discharge roller pair 404 or the operation timing of the pull-in paddle 405 may be changed according to the type of sheet, but both may be controlled to change simultaneously.
[0158]
(Advance and retreat speed of haunting tray)
When a sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 as described above, the leading end hangs down in the case of a sheet having a longer size than the processing tray 400. Therefore, in order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, as described above, the in / out tray 419 is projected below the processing tray 400.
[0159]
Here, the configuration of the moving means for moving the in / out tray 419 in / out will be briefly described. FIG. 30 (a) is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a part of the appearance tray 419, and (b) is a schematic plan view of the appearance / retraction tray. The in / out tray 419 is attached to the lower portion of the processing tray 400 so as to be movable along the processing tray 400. As shown in FIG. 30 (b), a long hole 419a that is long in the sheet width direction is formed at the base of the intruding tray 419, and an engagement pin 424a is engaged with the long hole 419a. The engaging pin 424a is provided at the tip of an arm 424b integrated with the pulley 424. By rotating the pulley 424 by a motor (not shown), the retracting tray 419 moves in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 30 (a). It is designed to appear and disappear from the device body. Note that the state indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 30A is a state protruding from the apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as “protruding state”), and the state indicated by a solid line is retracted (hereinafter referred to as “retracted state”). . In this retracted state, the intrusion tray 419 is immersed into the apparatus up to the tip.
[0160]
When projecting the in / out tray 419, it is necessary to avoid interference with the sheet bundle already discharged onto the stack tray 600. Therefore, when the sheet surface detection sensor detects that the upper surface of the sheet on the stack tray 600 is equal to or higher than a predetermined height, the stack tray 600 is lowered to lower the upper surface of the sheet to a predetermined position or less, and the intrusion tray 419 is moved. It is configured to protrude. Accordingly, the sheet may be discharged to the processing tray 400 before protruding the intrusion tray 419.
[0161]
As described above, when the in / out tray 419 is protruded after the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400, the lowermost sheet on the processing tray 400 that comes into contact with the in / out tray 419 is protruded from the in / out tray 419 when the protrusion speed is too high. There is a possibility that the alignment state is disturbed by being pushed out. Therefore, in this embodiment, when projecting tray 419 is projected, the projecting speed is set to project at a slow speed of about 90 mm / s so as not to push out the sheet discharged to processing tray 400.
[0162]
On the other hand, when retracting the in / out tray 419 after completion of sheet alignment, it is desirable that the retreat time is short in order to shorten the sheet discharge time to the stack tray 600 and lengthen the alignment support time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the retracting tray 419 is retracted, the retracting speed is set to about 150 mm / s faster than the protruding speed.
[0163]
As described above, the protruding tray 419 is protruded at a low speed, and the retracted tray 419 is retracted at a high speed, so that the sheets discharged to the processing tray 400 are not disturbed. To be discharged quickly.
[0164]
(Rear end stopper placement)
As described above, the sheet discharged to the processing tray 400 is pulled in until it abuts against the rear end stopper 401 by the operation of the pull-in paddle 405 and the knurled belt 407. A plurality of the rear end stoppers 401 are arranged in the sheet width direction. In the form, four are arranged, and the sheet trailing edge is aligned by abutting the sheet against the sheet trailing edge.
[0165]
Here, as shown in FIG. 31, the four rear end stoppers 401 (401A, 401B, 401C, 401D) according to the present embodiment are arranged substantially linearly in the sheet width direction. The outer rear end stoppers 401A and 401D are arranged so as to slightly protrude from the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C in the sheet discharge direction (arrow P direction in FIG. 31). This protrusion amount is a slight amount that does not affect the alignment, and is about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.
[0166]
In the above configuration, when a plurality of rear end stoppers 401 are arranged linearly without shifting in the sheet width direction, the abutting support surface 401a may be arranged on a straight line accurately. Each position may be slightly shifted in the sheet discharge direction due to the above. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 32, if the rear end stoppers 401B, 401C on the inner side in the sheet width direction are shifted so as to protrude in the sheet discharge direction, the rear end stopper of the sheet 401B, It will be matched by hitting 401C. However, the abutting area at this time is an interval Lbc between the trailing edge stoppers 401B and 401C, and the abutting area is shortened, so that the alignment of the sheet trailing edge becomes unstable.
[0167]
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, since the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides in the sheet width direction protrude in the sheet discharge direction, the sheet pulled back on the processing tray. The rear ends abut against the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D and are aligned. At this time, the abutting area is an interval Lad between the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides, and the abutting area is maximized. For this reason, the butting alignment of the sheet is stably performed.
[0168]
Even if the rear end stoppers 401B and 401C on the inner side in the sheet width direction are slightly shifted in the sheet discharge direction due to an error at the time of assembling the rear end stopper, the sheet is more than the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on the outer sides. Since there is very little possibility of projecting in the discharge direction, no misalignment occurs.
[0169]
When the rear end stopper is disposed as described above, the sheet normally comes into contact only with the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both outer sides. For this reason, if the surface roughness and slidability of the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D on both the outer sides are made higher than those on the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C, the sheets abutted against the rear end stoppers are aligned in the width direction. In this case, the resistance to the sheet is reduced, which is preferable.
[0170]
Furthermore, if the durability of the rear end stoppers 401A and 401D that are always positively in contact with the rear end of the sheet is higher than that of the inner rear end stoppers 401B and 401C, the sheet will be caught even if the endurance of the sheet passes. Does not cause misalignment.
[0171]
(Convex part of alignment member)
After the sheet is brought into contact with the trailing end stopper 401 and aligned as described above, the first alignment member 409 and the second alignment member 410 are operated to perform alignment in the sheet width direction. Protrusions are formed on part of the opposing surfaces of the members 409 and 410. That is, as shown in FIG. 33, convex portions 409c and 410c are integrally formed on the matching surfaces 409a and 410a. The protruding amount of the convex portions 409c and 410c is about 0.5 mm, and is formed with a length between the first rack gear portion 409b and the second rack gear portion 410b facing each other so as to overlap each other in the sheet discharge direction position.
[0172]
When the sheets are returned to the processing tray 400, the alignment members 409 and 410 are in the home position at an interval equal to or larger than the sheet width, but when the sheet trailing edge is abutted against the trailing edge stopper 401, the alignment members 409 and 410 ( When one alignment member 409 is at the alignment reference position, only the other alignment member 410) moves in the direction of the arrow and presses the sheet side edge to perform alignment in the width direction. The movement at this time is performed via the rack gear portions 409b and 410b by driving the pinion gears 411 and 412.
[0173]
When the alignment pressure is applied by pressing the sheet side end, a rotational moment is generated about the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a around the rack gear portions 409b and 410b. In order to facilitate understanding of this moment, the case where the sheet is skewed will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 34, if the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a are flat, the pressing point on the sheet P is This is the tip of the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a, and the moment is proportional to the distance L2 'between the pressing point and the rack gear portions 409b and 410b. This moment is likely to increase when the rack gear portions 409b and 410b are coupled at positions shifted from the centers of the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a as in this embodiment. The moment is preferably reduced in order to act in a direction in which the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a are bent around the rack gear portions 409b and 410b.
[0174]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 33, if the projections 409c and 410c as described above are formed on a part of the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a, the sheet P is pressed by the projections 409c and 410c. The pressing point to the sheet is the tip of the convex portions 409c and 410c. For this reason, the moment acting on the alignment members 409 and 410 is proportional to the distance L2 (L2 <L2 ′) between the pressing point and the rack gear portions 409b and 410b, and the convex portions 409c and 410c are not provided. Smaller than
[0175]
When the sheet is largely skewed, the leading ends of the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a come into contact with the sheet even if the convex portions 409c and 410c are provided. The load applied to the surface is small, and the load applied to the alignment surface becomes large when the final alignment is performed according to the sheet width. In the present embodiment, since the sheet comes into contact only with the convex portions 409c and 410c in the final stage of the alignment, the load due to the alignment pressure is concentrated on the central portion of the alignment surface. The moment is reduced. For this reason, even if the alignment operation is repeated, the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a do not bend.
[0176]
In the present embodiment, the projections 409c and 410c are integrally formed with the alignment members 409 and 410. However, the alignment members 409 and 410 are attached to the alignment surfaces 409a and 410a separately. May be configured.
[0177]
(Evacuation of knurled belt)
As described above, the sheets discharged to the processing tray 400 are aligned in the width direction by the alignment members 409 and 410, and at this time, depending on the size of the sheet, as shown in FIG. In some cases, the knurled belt 407 is positioned between the member 409 and the sheet side end P ′. In this case, when the sheet is aligned by moving the alignment member 410, the sheet side end hits against the knurled belt 407 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 35, and the knurled belt 407 is displaced to disturb the alignment of the sheet. There is a possibility. For this reason, in this embodiment, a retracting means for retracting the knurled belt 407 is provided, and the knurled belt 407 is retracted from the sheet according to the sheet size and the like.
[0178]
Here, the configuration of the retracting means will be described. As shown in FIG. 36, the knurled belt 407 is wound around several lower discharge rollers 404a, and is rotated by the rotation of the lower discharge rollers 404a. An idle roller 425 can be engaged with the inner peripheral surface of the knurled belt 407, and the idle roller 425 is rotatably attached to the tip of the retracting member 426. On the other hand, a rack gear portion 426a is formed at the base of the retracting member 426, and this rack gear portion 426a meshes with a pinion gear 427 driven by a knurled belt motor M407. Further, the position of the retracting member 426 is detected by the home position sensor 428, and the state of the knurled belt 407 is controlled by controlling the knurled belt motor M407 according to the detection result.
[0179]
That is, when the retracting member 426 is at the home position, as shown in FIG. 37, the idle roller 425 is in a position where it does not interfere with the knurled belt 407. At this time, the knurled belt 407 is in contact with the sheet on the processing tray. Yes (this state is called "free state"). When the knurled belt motor M407 rotates forward by a predetermined amount from this state, as shown in FIG. 38, the retracting member 426 moves in the direction of the arrow Q, and the knurled belt 407 is pulled by the idler roller 425, so that the processing tray is more than the sheet guide 413. The sheet is drawn toward the sheet drawing direction 400 and is separated from the sheet on the processing tray (this state is referred to as “retracted state”).
[0180]
In the above configuration, the retraction control of the knurled belt 407 is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S401, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in a standby mode (standby) such as a jam (paper jam) or no sheet. If the apparatus is in standby, the process proceeds to step S405 and the retracting member 426 is moved in the retracting direction. The knurled belt 407 is in the retracted state. This is because a jam occurs in the portion of the processing tray 400, and when the knurled belt 407 is in a free state when processing this, the belt 407 is not fixed and may easily come off when touched by hand. . Therefore, in the case of jam processing, the knurled belt 407 is made to be in a state where it is difficult to touch by retracting it, and the belt 407 is constrained by an idle roller 425 so that it is difficult to come off even if it is touched by hand. It is for making it into a state. Thereby, it is possible to easily perform jam processing or the like in the processing tray 400 portion.
[0181]
If it is determined in step S401 that the apparatus is not in standby mode, the process proceeds to step S402 to determine whether or not the size of the processed sheet is narrow. Here, the criterion for determining whether or not the sheet is narrow is that the knurled belt 407 is positioned between the sheet-side end and the alignment member 409 that is abutted and aligned when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 as described above. In the case of a small size, it corresponds to a narrow sheet. In the case of such a narrow sheet, as shown in FIG. 35, if the sheet is pushed out by the alignment member 410 as it is, the sheet will hit the knurled belt 407, so that the process proceeds to step S406 and the retracting member 426 is moved to the retracted position. The knurled belt 407 is retracted in advance. Accordingly, since the knurled belt 407 is separated from the sheet on the processing tray, even the narrow sheet is aligned in the width direction without hitting the knurled belt 407.
[0182]
If it is determined in step S402 that the sheet is not a narrow sheet, the process proceeds to step S403 to determine whether the sheet is in a mode for discharging a large size sheet or a folded sheet to the processing tray 400. Here, the criterion of whether or not the sheet is a large size sheet is, as shown in FIG. 40, when the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 by the discharge roller pair 404, the rear end of the discharged sheet is in a free state. Whether or not the sheet is in contact with the sheet 407 is determined, and the discharge mode is set depending on the sheet size, the sheet type, and whether or not to discharge the folded sheet.
[0183]
That is, as described above, since a small-sized sheet or a thick sheet is likely to jump out when being discharged by the discharge roller pair 404, the rear end of the sheet does not come into contact with the knurled belt 407. However, a heavy sheet such as a large sized sheet or a folded sheet does not jump out of the discharge roller pair 404 and falls as it is when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the discharge roller pair 404. At this time, if the knurled belt 407 is in a free state, the trailing end of the falling sheet may hit the knurled belt 407 as shown in FIG. Since the knurled belt 407 has elasticity, the hit sheet is discharged onto the processing tray so as to bounce. At this time, the bounced sheet P or the knurled belt 407 may disturb the sheet that has already been discharged onto the processing tray and aligned.
[0184]
Therefore, if it is determined in step S402 in FIG. 39 that the sheet is a large size sheet, the process proceeds to step S406, and the knurled belt 407 is retracted in advance. As a result, even if the sheet that has passed through the discharge roller pair 404 falls on the processing tray as it is, the trailing edge of the sheet does not hit the knurled belt 407, and is thus discharged onto the processing tray without disturbing the aligned sheets. .
[0185]
On the other hand, if the sheet is a small size sheet or the like in step S402, the process proceeds to step S404, where the retracting member 426 is positioned at the home position and the knurled belt 407 is set in a free state. Even in this state, the sheet that has jumped out of the discharge roller pair 404 does not hit the knurled belt 407 as described above. The knurled belt 407 abuts on the sheet discharged and aligned on the processing tray 400, and acts to hold the sheet. For this reason, a sheet that has already been discharged and aligned is not disturbed by the sheet that falls on the processing tray 400.
[0186]
As described above, in the case of a narrow sheet or a large size sheet, the knurled belt 407 is retracted, and in the case of other sheets, the sheet is discharged to the processing tray 400 in a free state. By performing the processing, accurate alignment is performed regardless of the type of sheet.
[0187]
{Stapling process}
Next, the stapling process for performing the binding process on the aligned sheet bundle and the configuration and operation of the parts related to this process will be described in detail.
[0188]
(Detailed description of staple unit)
Regarding the staple unit (binding means) 500, in particular, FIG. 41 (side view corresponding to the main cross section), FIG. 42 (plan view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 41) and FIG. 43 (back view in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 41). Will be described with reference to FIG.
[0189]
The stapler 501 is fixed on the moving table 503 via the holder 502. The movable table 503 has a pair of stud shafts 504 and 505 fixed in parallel to the trailing edge of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 400, and the stud shafts 504 and 505 are respectively rotated. Each of the rolling rollers 506 and 507 is assembled in a series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, and 508c drilled in a parallel state with respect to the fixed base 508. Is movably engaged.
[0190]
Each of the rolling rollers 506 and 507 has flanges 506a and 507a each having a diameter larger than the hole width of the series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, and 508c. , Support rollers 509 are provided at three locations, and the moving table 503 moves on the fixed table 508 along a series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, and 508c.
[0191]
Here, as shown in FIG. 42, the series of hole-shaped guide rails 508a, 508b, and 508c includes a main guide rail hole portion 508a and a left end guide rail hole that branches from the left end side of the hole portion and is parallel. It consists of a portion 508b and a right end guide rail hole portion 508c which branches from the right end side and is parallel. Therefore, due to such a rail shape, when the stapler 501 is located on the left end side, the rolling roller 506 is in the left end portion of the rail hole portion 508b, and the rolling roller 507 is in the left end portion of the rail hole portion 508a. To each of the rolling rollers 506 and 507 are both in the rail hole portion 508a when they are positioned in the middle and are inclined to the right by a predetermined angle. When maintained in a non-inclined parallel posture and positioned on the right end side, the rolling roller 507 is in the right end of the rail hole portion 508c, and the rolling roller 506 is in the right end of the rail hole portion 508a, respectively. It is moved and maintained in a left-tilt posture in a state where it is tilted to the left by a predetermined angle. These posture changing actions are performed by an operating cam (not shown). The staple unit 500 is provided with a position sensor (not shown) that detects the home position of the stapler 501, and the stapler 501 normally stands by at the home position on the left end side.
[0192]
(Stapling unit backlash removal means)
Next, a description will be given in detail of the backlash removing configuration at the stapler alignment position (standby position).
[0193]
As described above, the stapler 501 having the sheet stopper 513 that regulates the position of the trailing edge of the sheet discharged onto the processing tray 400 together with the trailing edge stopper 401 attached to the processing tray 400 is formed on the movable table 503. It is configured to be movable along the guide rails 508a, 508b, and 508c. However, the stapler 501 (the rolling rollers 506 and 507) has some fitting backlash in the guide rail for the purpose of smoothly moving in the guide rail due to component tolerances or the like. When the stapler 501 stands by at the alignment position (a predetermined position for regulating the rear end of the sheet together with the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400), the aforementioned looseness (about 0.3 mm) occurs due to the above-mentioned fitting backlash. Then, the accuracy of alignment of the sheet rear end position may be lowered.
[0194]
In view of this, in this embodiment, a backlash removing means for preventing rattling of the stapler 501 at the alignment position (standby position) is provided. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 44, as a backlash removing means, a reference guide 521 is provided on the staple unit 500 side, and the reference guide 521 is located at the stapler standby position (alignment position) on the apparatus main body side. A roller spring 522 with a roller urging in the direction of arrow B is provided. Therefore, when the staple unit 500 is moved to the alignment position, the leaf spring 522 with the roller rides on the reference guide 521 and urges the reference guide 521 in the direction of arrow B in the figure. The guide rail 508a is biased to the one side edge portion at the alignment position.
[0195]
As a result, rattling at the alignment position (standby position) of the stapler 501 can be prevented, and the position of the sheet stopper 513 of the stapler 501 that regulates the sheet trailing edge position is held together with the trailing edge stopper 401 of the processing tray 400. The alignment of the trailing edge of the sheet on the processing tray 400 is improved.
[0196]
In the above configuration, the back guide is provided with a reference guide on the staple unit side and a leaf spring with a roller on the apparatus main body side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plate spring with a roller may be provided on the staple unit side, and a reference guide may be provided on the apparatus main body side. Alternatively, the same effect can be expected even if one side edge part of a part of the guide rail (part corresponding to the alignment position) forming the stapler movement path is configured to be movable with respect to the other side edge part.
[0197]
(Spare cartridge storage box)
The staple unit 500 is configured such that a cartridge 530 having a binding needle (hereinafter referred to as a needle cartridge) is detachable. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 45, a needle cartridge 530a that can accept up to 100 sheets and a needle cartridge 530b that can accept up to 50 sheets, in which needles of different lengths are loaded on the cartridge frame, It is configured to be exchangeable according to the number of sheet bundles.
[0198]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 46, the needle length of the needle cartridge is set as follows to correspond to the maximum allowable bundle number.
[0199]
In other words, the needle cartridge 530a that can accept up to 100 sheets is allowed to crown length (13mm) + (bundle thickness equivalent to 100 sheets (10mm) + folding length (3mm)) x 2 = 39mm, up to 50 sheets The needle cartridge 530b that can be used is set to have a crown length (13 mm) + (bundle thickness equivalent to 60 sheets (5 mm) + folding length (3 mm)) × 2 = 31 mm.
[0200]
As described above, in the staple unit 500 in which a plurality of types of needle cartridges having different maximum binding allowable numbers can be used, when the user replaces the staple cartridge with one other than the actually installed staple cartridge, the user can change the main body of the apparatus. There is a problem that the operability for the user is poor because the needle cartridge must be taken to a different storage location for the needle cartridge.
[0201]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the staple unit 500 in which a plurality of types of staple cartridges 530a and 530b having different maximum binding allowable numbers can be used, the staple cartridges other than the staple cartridges used by being attached to the staple unit 500 are stored. For this purpose, the cartridge housing means is integrally provided in the apparatus main body. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 47, the cartridge housing portion 531 for housing the needle cartridge 530b that is not attached to the staple unit 500 is opened and closed to the apparatus main body (the sheet processing apparatus 102 or the finisher 900). The opening / closing cover 103 that can be provided is integrally provided inside.
[0202]
With this configuration, when the staple cartridge is replaced when the staples are lost, or when the staple cartridge is replaced when the maximum number of staples is different, the user can store the staple cartridge in a location different from the main body of the apparatus. It is not necessary to go to collect the desired needle cartridge until the user's operability is improved.
[0203]
Further, by providing the cartridge storage portion 531 inside the opening / closing cover 25, the cartridge storage portion 531 is concealed inside the device by closing the opening / closing cover 25, so that the appearance of the device exterior is not impaired and the appearance is good.
[0204]
The number and type of needle cartridges that can be exchanged (such as the maximum allowable number of bindings) are not limited to those described above, and may be set as appropriate.
[0205]
Further, the case where the opening / closing cover is integrally provided as the cartridge storing means for storing the needle cartridge is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is exposed when the opening / closing cover is opened, for example. The same applies to a configuration in which a housing inner / outer cover (having an opening necessary for replacing the staple cartridge of the stapler) is provided to cover the inside of the apparatus main body, and a storing means capable of fitting and storing the needle cartridge in the housing inner / outer cover is provided. Can be expected.
[0206]
(Manual moving means of staple unit)
The staple unit is configured to be moved to a staple cartridge replacement position (home position), for example, when the staple cartridge is replaced as described above.
[0207]
However, when the user has inadvertently pushed the staple unit moved to the replacement position into the apparatus, it has been difficult to return the staple unit to the replacement position.
[0208]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a manual moving unit that allows the user to move the staple unit 500 to an arbitrary position is provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 48, when the opening / closing cover 103 (see FIG. 47) provided in the apparatus body is opened, a stapler moving dial 532 is provided in the vicinity of the home position of the staple unit 500. By rotating the dial 532 by the user, the staple unit 500 can be easily moved to the home position (or arbitrarily in the movable direction).
[0209]
The staple unit 500 is configured to reciprocate along the end of the sheet bundle by a moving mechanism as moving means shown in FIG. A part of the staple unit 500 is engaged with a belt 533, and the belt 533 is stretched around pulleys 534 and 535. Of these, one pulley 535 is connected to a gear pulley 537 of the stapler moving motor M500 via a belt 536. Therefore, the staple unit 500 is reciprocated along the guide rail when the motor M500 is driven to rotate forward and backward. The dial 532 serving as the manual driving means is provided so as to mesh with the gear pulley 537, and further, a part thereof is disposed so as to be exposed from a housing inner / outer cover (not shown). The dial 532 is configured to be usable when the driving of the moving mechanism is stopped.
[0210]
With the configuration as described above, as described above, for example, even when the user inadvertently pushes the staple unit 500 moved to the replacement position into the apparatus, the user moves the staple unit 500 to the replacement position. The user operability is improved.
[0211]
(Stapling operation)
The stapling operation performed by the stapling unit 500 stacks and aligns a specified number of sheets on the processing tray 400 as described above, and the aligned sheet bundle corresponds to the stapling mode and the sheet size. In this operation, stapling is performed at a stapling position, and the sheet is discharged onto a sample tray 601 or stack tray 600 that can be raised and lowered, which will be described later.
[0212]
(Binding pitch change)
First, the binding control in the initial state and the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch when the two staples are performed by the stapler 501 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0213]
Note that the binding pitch in the default setting (initial state) in this embodiment is about 120 mm, while the changeable range when changing the binding pitch, which will be described later, is in the range of about 70 mm to 150 mm. Is symmetrical with respect to the center in the sheet width direction.
[0214]
In step S510 of FIG. 49, it is determined whether or not the binding pitch has been changed. When there is no change in the binding pitch, the process proceeds to the initial state binding control after step S521, and when there is a change in the binding pitch, the process proceeds to the binding control when the binding pitch is changed after step S531, and each process is performed. Is called.
[0215]
(Initial state control: Initial mode)
In the initial state of the binding control, the staple unit 500 having the sheet stopper 513 that restricts the trailing edge of the sheet is first moved from the home position to the alignment position (together with the trailing edge stopper of the processing tray) before the sheet is discharged onto the processing tray 400. The sheet is moved to a position where the rear end of the sheet is regulated (step S521). Thereafter, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the processing tray 400, and the first binding process is performed on the sheet bundle at the alignment position (step S522). Thereafter, the roller 406b that is open with respect to the roller 406a is closed, and the sheet bundle is pinched by the rollers 406a and 406b (step S523). Thereafter, the staple unit 500 is moved from the standby position to the second binding position (step S524), and the second binding process is performed (step S525).
[0216]
(Control during binding pitch change: binding pitch change mode)
Subsequently, the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch will be described. The binding control according to the present embodiment will be described while being compared with the conventional binding control.
[0217]
Conventionally, in accordance with the binding pitch change, the staple unit is first moved from the home position to the first binding position corresponding to the binding pitch change different from the alignment position before the sheet is discharged onto the processing tray. And wait. Thereafter, the sheets are stacked and aligned on the processing tray, and the first binding process is performed on the sheet bundle at the first binding position. Thereafter, the roller 406b opened with respect to the roller 406a is closed, and the sheet bundle is sandwiched by the rollers 406a and 406b. Thereafter, the staple unit is moved from the first binding position to the second binding position (position corresponding to the binding pitch change), and the second binding process is performed.
[0218]
However, when the control for changing the binding pitch is performed as described above, for example, when the binding pitch is set to be narrower than the default setting (for example, 70 mm), the processing tray is aligned when the trailing edge of the sheet is aligned on the processing tray. The staple unit having a sheet stopper that regulates the sheet trailing edge together with the trailing edge stopper provided on the sheet is waiting at a position corresponding to the binding pitch change. (Standby position at the time) is different, and furthermore, the same collision when changing the binding pitch compared to the sheet trailing edge abutting area (sheet trailing edge abutting area formed by the sheet stopper 513 and the trailing edge stopper 401) at the default setting Since the contact area may become narrow, sheet misalignment may occur.
[0219]
Therefore, the binding control at the time of changing the binding pitch according to the present embodiment is performed by aligning the staple unit 500 having the sheet stopper 513 that regulates the trailing end of the sheet from the home position before the sheet is discharged onto the processing tray 400. Move to the position and wait (step S531). Thereafter, the sheets are sequentially stacked and aligned on the processing tray 400. When the aligned sheet bundle is formed on the processing tray 400, the opened roller 406b is closed with respect to the roller 406a, and the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the rollers 406a and 406b (step S532). Thereafter, the staple unit 500 is moved to the first binding position corresponding to the binding pitch change (step S533), and the first binding process is performed (step S534). Thereafter, the staple unit 500 is moved from the first binding position to the second binding position (position according to the binding pitch change) (step S535), and the second binding process is performed (step S536).
[0220]
By adopting such a control structure, the staple unit 500 having the sheet stopper 513 always stands by at the same position (alignment position) regardless of the change in the binding pitch, and the rear end of the sheet is abutted and regulated. Since the area to be processed is the same regardless of whether or not the binding pitch is changed, it is possible to prevent sheet misalignment caused by the position of the sheet stopper 513 moving together with the staple unit 500 being changed with the binding pitch change. Can do.
[0221]
Further, by adopting a configuration having the two binding control modes described above, the user can appropriately select as necessary, and when the binding pitch is to be changed, the binding pitch change mode is used without causing sheet misalignment. When the binding is performed and there is no need to change the binding pitch, the initial mode can be used to perform processing faster than the binding pitch change mode.
[0222]
(Adjusting the staple stopper position of the staple unit)
As shown in FIGS. 41 and 50, the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 is configured to be attachable to the staple unit 500, and the abutting support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 is processed. The rear end stopper 401 provided on the tray 400 can be adjusted with the abutting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail in comparison with the conventional configuration.
[0223]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 50 (b), the sheet stopper 513 attached to the staple unit 500 is screwed with a screw 544 to a long hole 543 drilled in the staple unit side in substantially the same direction as the sheet conveyance direction. The configuration is such that, during this attachment, movement adjustment in the same direction as the sheet conveyance direction is possible.
[0224]
Therefore, for example, when the contact support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 is inclined with respect to the contact support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400 due to component tolerance or the like. The abutting support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 can be adjusted only with respect to the abutting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400. The contact support surface 401a and the contact support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 cannot form the same plane with respect to the rear end of the sheet, and the regulation of the rear end of the sheet becomes non-uniform in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction. There was a possibility.
[0225]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sheet stopper 513 attached to the staple unit 500 is configured to be swingable not only in the substantially same direction as the above-described sheet conveyance direction but also in the tilt direction with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 50 (a), an elongated round hole 545 is provided on the staple unit 500 side in addition to the elongated hole 543, and the sheet stopper 513 is moved along the elongated hole 543 with an arrow C in the figure. In addition to being configured to be movable and adjustable in the direction, the inside of the oblong hole 545 is also configured to be movable and adjustable in the tilt direction (the direction of arrow D in the figure).
[0226]
With this configuration, the surface adjustment between the abutting support surface 401a of the rear end stopper 401 of the processing tray 400 and the abutting support surface 513a of the sheet stopper 513 of the staple unit 500 can be performed. The same plane can be formed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the regulation of the trailing edge of the sheet from becoming uneven, and the alignment of the trailing edge of the sheet can be performed more accurately.
[0227]
{Loading process}
Next, a stacking process for discharging and stacking sheets (or sheet bundles) on which each of the above-described processes has been selectively performed, and a configuration and operation of a part related to this process will be described in detail.
[0228]
(Detailed explanation of stack tray and sample tray)
The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0229]
The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 are selectively used depending on the situation. The stack tray 600 disposed below is selected when receiving a sheet bundle for copy output, printer output, and the like, and is disposed above. The sample tray 601 is selected when receiving a sheet for sample output, interrupt output, stack tray overflow output, function output, job mixed output, or the like.
[0230]
The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 are held by tray base plates 602 and 603, respectively, and stepping motors M600 and M601 are fixed to the base plates 602 and 603 via mounting frame plates 604 and 605, respectively. By using, it is possible to self-propell in the up and down direction independently of each other.
[0231]
Next, sensor arrangements for controlling the raising / lowering positions of the stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 will be described.
[0232]
The sensor S602 is a sensor for detecting the stacking area of the sample tray 601, and is located in a range belonging to the area from the upper limit position detection sensor S603a of the sample tray 601 to the sheet surface detection sensor S605 of the processing tray 400. Is detected. The sensor S603b is a sensor for detecting that a predetermined number of sheets P are discharged from the discharge roller pair 397 onto the sample tray 601. Here, the sheet stacking number 1000 is detected from the non-sorted sheet surface detection sensor S604. It is arranged at a position corresponding to the sheet.
[0233]
The sensor S603c is a sensor for detecting that a predetermined number of sheets P are discharged from the processing tray 400 onto the sample tray 601. Similarly, the sensor S603c is equivalent to 1000 sheets stacked from the sheet surface detection sensor S605. Placed in position. The sensor S603d is a sensor for limiting the height of the stacking amount when the stack tray 600 receives sheets P from the processing tray 400, and is disposed at a position corresponding to 2000 sheets stacked from the sheet surface detection sensor S605. . The sensor S603e is a sensor that sets the lower limit position of the stack tray 600. The stack tray 600 and the sample tray 601 are provided with sheet presence / absence detection sensors S606a and S606b, respectively.
[0234]
Of these sensors, only the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 detect the presence or absence of light by transmitting light from one side edge of the sheet P to the other side edge, as shown in FIG. In this case, as the sheet surface detection method, the initial state is when the trays 600 and 601 are lowered to the position where the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 appear. The lowering is repeated until the sensor optical axis appears.
[0235]
(Pre-detection of sheet stacking height)
As described above, the trays 600 and 601 for discharging and stacking a bundle of sheets subjected to predetermined processing (binding or the like) are placed on the tray 600 by the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 disposed below the discharge port. , 601 is detected, and the trays 600, 601 are moved and controlled so that the uppermost sheet is always kept at the same position.
[0236]
In the trays 600 and 601, a maximum stackable number of sheets (for example, 1000 sheets) that can be stacked is set. For example, in the case of the sample tray 601, it is an area between the discharge port for discharging the sheet to the tray 601 and the alignment area (between the bundle discharge rollers 406a and 406b) on the processing tray 400. The position where the tray 400 does not enter the alignment area is the maximum height at which sheets can be stacked.
[0237]
When using this sample tray 601 to discharge and stack a sheet bundle from a certain discharge port of the processing tray 400, for example, when the maximum stackable height is detected, the sheet tray is processed to form one sheet bundle. When there is a sheet in progress, the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sample tray 601. Then, after the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sample tray 601, when the sample tray 601 is moved upward, the sample tray 601 is positioned so that the uppermost sheet does not block the upper discharge port (sheet surface). That is, the sample tray 601 is stopped in the alignment region of the processing tray 400. If the sample tray 601 is stopped in the alignment area of the processing tray 400 in this way, sheet processing on the processing tray 400 and discharge stacking on the stack tray 600 cannot be performed.
[0238]
In view of this, the present embodiment is configured to detect the sheet stacking height before reaching the maximum height that can be stacked on the tray (hereinafter referred to as pre-detection). This will be specifically described below.
[0239]
For example, in the sample tray 601, as described above, the movement control is performed so that the uppermost sheet surface of the already stacked sheets is always kept at the same position. The current position of the sample tray 601, that is, the sheet stacking height on the sample tray 601 can be known from the rotation amount of a certain motor M601. In the present embodiment, this is used to set a pre-detection position (a predetermined rotation amount of the motor M601) before reaching the maximum height at which sheets can be stacked. Furthermore, the pre-detection position is configured to be cut according to the number of sheet bundles set by the user.
[0240]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 54, when the maximum sheet stacking height of the sample tray 601 is H and the number of sheet bundles set by the user is n, the pre-detection position Ph is the maximum stacking position. The sample tray 601 is set to a position (Ph = H−n) where the sample tray 601 can move downward by the number n of sheet bundles from the height H.
[0241]
In this way, after pre-detection, there is a sheet that is being processed to form a sheet bundle of one copy, and after the sheet bundle is discharged and stacked on the sample tray 601, the sample tray 601 is moved upward. Even if it is moved, the sample tray 601 can be prevented from entering the alignment area in the processing tray 400 as described above, the accuracy of the number of sheets stacked on the tray can be improved, and stopless. Stacking on the stack tray 600 is possible.
[0242]
If the sample tray has entered the alignment area of the processing tray, the user may be notified that the already stacked sheets are to be removed.
[0243]
In this example, the height position of the sample tray 601 is controlled by the sheet surface detection sensors S604 and S605 and the sensors S603a, S603b, S603c, S603d, and S603e. Using three area flags F602 and three area sensors S602 ((2 ^Three =) It can have eight areas), and the same control as the position sensor may be performed at the change of each area.
[0244]
At this time, the pre-detection area, which is the sheet position detection position before reaching the maximum sheet stacking height, is the thickness of the sheet bundle when the maximum number of sheets stapled by the stapler 501 serving as the binding means (here, about 14.7 mm in thickness when binding 100 sheets) ) Larger (about 17mm here).
[0245]
In addition, by changing the number of bundle discharges after the tray has entered the pre-detection area according to the number of sheet bundles set by the user, a predetermined number of stacked sheets can be reliably stacked (here, the number of discharged sheets) When the number of sheets is 5 or less, the pre-detection area is not used. When the number of sheets is 6 to 25, 4 bundles are detected after the detection of the pre-detection area. When the number of sheets is 26 to 50, 2 bundles are discharged. is doing).
[0246]
Further, here, the configuration for performing the pre-detection of the sheet stacking height on the sample tray 601 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the pre-detection of the sheet stacking height on the stack tray 600 is performed. You may comprise as follows. According to this configuration, the stack tray 600 is prevented from blocking the discharge port to the discharge tray 104 (see FIG. 1) for discharging and stacking the sheets or sheet bundles folded in the two-fold processing unit 800. be able to.
[0247]
(Raise position of stack tray depending on whether or not there are stacked sheets)
In the sample tray 601 and the stack tray 600 that are movable in the vertical direction, when the sheets are discharged and stacked on the lower stack tray 600 and then discharged and stacked on the upper sample tray 601, the stack tray 600 is placed at a predetermined position. After descending to (lower limit position: sensor S603e position), the sample tray 601 is lowered below the alignment area on the processing tray. Then, after the stacking on the sample tray 601 is completed and the sample tray 601 is moved upward, the stack tray 600 is returned to the original position.
[0248]
However, during the returning operation of the stack tray 600, for example, if folded sheets are stacked on the stack tray 600, the folded sheets may sink between the stack tray 600 and the stacking wall. . Further, the folded sheet has a bag-like folded part, and when the folded part overlaps, the folded sheet is inclined to the sheet end located on the opposite side of the folded part, the sheet end is buckled, and the stack tray 600 When detecting the position of the uppermost upper surface, there is a possibility of causing a detection failure of the sheet surface.
[0249]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ascending position after the stack tray 600 is lowered to a predetermined position (lower limit position) is changed depending on the presence or absence of sheets on the stack tray 600.
[0250]
Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 55, the stack tray 600 is moved to the first position T1, which is the sheet discharge position, the second position T2, which is lower than the first position T1, and the second position. It is configured to be movable to a third position T3 which is a lower limit position below the position T2, and when returning from the third position T3, if there is no sheet on the stack tray 600, the first position T1 When there is a sheet on the stack tray 600, the sheet is returned to the second position T2.
[0251]
Further, when the already stacked sheets on the stack tray 600 are folded sheets, if the number of stacked folded sheets is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (21 sheets), a position where the folded sheets can be easily taken out (second position T2). The user is notified that the sheet is to be removed. In the present embodiment, when the folded sheets are continuously discharged onto the stack tray 600 by the bundle discharge roller pair 406, the maximum number of folded sheets on the stack tray 600 is 30 sheets.
[0252]
With this configuration, when returning from the lower limit position of the stack tray, a stacking failure in the sheet stacking state (folding sheet folded between the tray and the stacking wall or the folded sheet trailing edge buckling) Detection failure, etc.) can be prevented.
[0253]
Even when there is a sheet on the stack tray, the discharge port to the discharge tray 104 below the stack tray 600 is blocked by moving the sheet from the third position (lower limit position) T3 to the second position T2. Therefore, the sheet can be discharged to the discharge tray 104.
[0254]
In the above description, when there is a sheet on the stack tray 600 when the stack tray 600 is returned from the third position (lower limit position) T3, the discharge port to the discharge tray 104 is not blocked. Although it is configured to move to a certain second position T2, when the sheet does not have a discharge port to the discharge tray 104 (for example, a sheet processing apparatus having a configuration that does not include the folding unit 800), It is good also as a structure which does not move with position T3.
[0255]
(Shutter rise timing)
Also, as shown in FIG. 56, when the sample tray 601 is moved up and down through the alignment region (or the discharge port in the closed state of the rollers 406a and 406b) in the processing tray 400, the already loaded sheets on the sample tray 601 are aligned. A shutter 611 capable of closing the alignment region (or the discharge port) is provided so as not to enter the region (or the discharge port). The shutter 611 constitutes a part of a stacking wall that functions as a sheet trailing edge stopper on the tray.
[0256]
Accordingly, when the sheet bundle is discharged and stacked on the sample tray 601, the stack tray 600 positioned below the alignment area (or the discharge port) is moved downward, and then the upper side of the alignment area (or the discharge port). The sample tray 601 located at the position is moved downward in the vicinity of the alignment area (or the discharge port). At this time, by closing the shutter 611, it is possible to prevent the already stacked sheets on the sample tray 601 from entering the alignment area (or the discharge port).
[0257]
There is a timing at which the discharge port shutter 611 is closed (upward timing). There is an already stacked sheet (or a sheet bundle) on the stack tray 600, and the already stacked sheet is brought into contact with the discharge port shutter 611. If the discharge port shutter 611 is raised at some point, the sheets on the stack tray 600 are moved along with the upward movement of the shutter 611, and the stacking of the sheets may be disturbed.
[0258]
Thus, in the present embodiment, the shutter 611 is closed after the stack tray 600 is lowered by a predetermined amount (the stacked sheets are not in contact with the discharge port shutter 611).
[0259]
With this configuration, when the discharge port shutter 611 is raised, the stacked sheets (or sheet bundles) on the stack tray 600 are not moved along with the upward movement of the shutter 611, and the stacking of the sheets is disturbed. Can be prevented.
[0260]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention provides a stopper portion on both outer sides of three or more stopper portions that are aligned by abutting against the sheet. Support surface The other stopper part Support surface Since the arrangement is made so as to protrude in a direction in which the sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking unit comes into contact with the intermediate stacking unit, a wide abutting area is secured and stable sheet alignment is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the entire image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a Z (three) folding process.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional Z (three) folding processing unit.
FIG. 5 is a schematic front sectional view for explaining the operation of the Z (three) folding processing unit, (a) is a diagram showing a state immediately before the sheet is folded in two, and (b) is two sheets of the sheet. It is the figure which showed the state folded in.
FIG. 6 is a schematic front sectional view for explaining the operation of the Z (three) folding processing unit, (a) is a diagram showing a state immediately before the sheet is folded (Z), and (b) is a sheet. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a state when starting Z (three) folding, and FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a state in which the sheet is discharged after being folded into Z (three).
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a protrusion.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an urging member.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a punch unit.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating detection of a sheet edge.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a drilling means.
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a punching means.
FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the punch unit.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged view around the cam of the punch unit.
FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway view of the vicinity of the punch waste outlet of the punching unit.
FIG. 16 is a side view of the drilling unit.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a transport unit and a transport path.
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying means and the conveying path in the vicinity of the punch scrap discharge port.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a finisher.
FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of a waste container.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a matching configuration.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rear end dropping member.
FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a rear end dropping member.
FIG. 24 is an operation explanatory view of a rear end dropping member.
FIG. 25 is an operation explanatory view of a rear end dropping member.
FIG. 26 is an operation explanatory view of a rear end dropping member.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a driving configuration of the alignment member.
FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of a home position detection configuration of a pull-in paddle.
FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a state of a sheet that has jumped out too much to the processing tray.
FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an in / out tray.
FIG. 31 is an explanatory view of arrangement of a rear end stopper.
FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of sheet abutting when the rear end stopper arranged linearly is displaced due to an attachment error.
FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of an alignment state by an alignment member in which a protrusion is formed on the alignment surface.
FIG. 34 is an explanatory view of an alignment state by an alignment member having a flat alignment surface.
FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a narrow sheet hits the knurled belt.
FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram of a retracted configuration of the knurled belt.
FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram when the knurled belt is in a free state.
FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram when the knurled belt is in a retracted state.
FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing knurl belt retracting control;
FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the discharged sheet hits a knurled belt in a free state.
FIG. 41 is a side view corresponding to the main cross section of the staple unit.
42 is a plan view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 41. FIG.
43 is a rear view in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 41. FIG.
FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing a backlash urging member of the staple unit.
FIG. 45 is an explanatory perspective view of the staple unit.
FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram of the needle length according to the number of sheet bundles.
FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram of a needle cartridge storage unit.
FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram of a manual movement dial of the staple unit.
FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing the flow of the binding process in the initial mode and in the binding pitch change mode.
FIG. 50 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating sheet stopper position adjustment of the staple unit.
FIG. 51 is a plan view of a tray moving mechanism.
FIG. 52 is a sensor arrangement diagram around the tray.
FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram of a light transmissive sheet surface detection sensor.
FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram of pre-detection of the sheet stacking height.
FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram showing the raised position of the stack tray depending on the presence / absence of stacked sheets.
FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram of an openable / closable shutter that closes the discharge port.
[Explanation of symbols]
D: Manuscript
G: Punch scrap
H ... Maximum loading height
M200 ... Conveyor motor
M201 ... Folding drive motor
M300 ... 1st drive motor
M301 ... Second drive motor
M403 ... Swing motor
M407 ... Knurled belt motor
M409, M410 ... Matching motor
M416 ... Paddle motor
M500 ... Stapler moving motor
M600, M601 ... Stepping motor
O1, O2 ... sheet edge
P ... sheet
Ph: Pre-detection position
F602 ... Area flag
S602 Area sensor
S603a ... Upper limit position detection sensor
S603b, S603c, S603d, S603e ... Sensor
S604, S605 ... Sheet surface detection sensor
S606a, S606b ... Sheet presence / absence detection sensor
T1, T2, T3 ... position
X200, Y200 ... Nip part
100 ... Image forming apparatus
101 ... Image forming apparatus main body
102. Sheet processing apparatus
103… Open / close cover
110 ... Document feeder
111 ... Document tray
112… Platen glass
113… Document output tray
120… Image reader
121… Scanner unit
122… Ramp
123, 124, 125 ... mirror
126… Lens
127… Image sensor
130 ... Exposure control unit
131… Polygon mirror
140 ... Image forming unit
141… Photoconductor drum
142… Primary charging part
143… Developer
144,145… cassette
146… Transcription part
147… Conveying section
148… Fixing part
149… discharge roller pair
151… Flapper
152… pass
153… Plunger
154… Double-sided conveyance path
155… Manual feeding section
200 ... Z-fold processing section
201… Inlet roller pair
202… Solenoid
250… Conveying path
251 ... Flapper
252… Acceptance transport path
253… Conveying roller pair
254… Sheet edge stopper
255 ... 1st folding roller
256 ... 2nd folding roller
257… Sheet edge detection sensor
258… Guide wall
259… opening
261 ... Sheet folding edge receiving stopper
261a Stopper
261b Stopper
262… Folded edge detection sensor
263… Mylar
263a ... Mylar
263b ... Mylar
264 3rd folding roller
265… Conveying path
266… discharge roller pair
269 ... 1st folding pass
270 ... 2nd folding pass
271… Guide member
271a ... projection
301… Inlet roller pair
302… Conveying roller
303 ... Sheet detection sensor
304… Body
308… Punch unit
309 ... 1st frame
309a… Mounting tap
309b ... Mounting tap
309c… Guide
310 ... the second frame
310a ... Spacer
310b ... guide
311… Seat end detection sensor
312… Slide cam
312c ... Rack part
312d Sensor flag
312e… Sensor flag
316… punch
317… Stopper
318… puncher
319… Die
320… Die hole
321… Guide
322… Cam
322a ... Actuation groove
322b ... Standby groove
322c Standby groove
323… Connecting pin
344… Punch waste box
345… Punch scrap detection sensor
346… hole
347… Ribs
348… Cylinder
351… casing
360… half pipe
360a wall
362… Buttocks
370 ... Screw shaft
371 ... Screw drive motor
372… Punch waste outlet
373… Punch waste receptacle
374 ... feathers
375 ...
376… Dispersion plate
390 ... Large transfer roller
391… Pressing roller
392 ... Switching flapper
393 Non-sort path
394… Sort path
395 ... Switching flapper
396… Buffer path
397… discharge roller pair
398… Conveying roller pair
400… processing tray
400a… Guide groove
401… Rear end stopper
401a ... Abutting support surface
402… Matching means
403… Oscillating guide
404… discharge roller pair
404a ... Lower discharge roller
404b ... discharge roller
405… Pull-in paddle
406 ... Bundle discharge roller pair
406a, 406b ... Roller
407… Knurled belt
408 ... Rear end dropping member
408a… Oscillation center axis
408b ... cam surface
408c ... Sheet guide surface
408d… Pressing surface
409, 410 ... alignment member
409a, 410a ... alignment surface
409b, 410b ... Rack gear section
409c, 410c ... convex part
411, 412 ... Pinion gear
413… Sheet guide
414… Link
415… Solenoid
416… Drive shaft
417… Oscillating fulcrum shaft
418… Rotating cam
419… Infestation tray
419a ... oblong hole
420 ... Sheet detection sensor
421… Bearing
422… Detection member
422a… buttocks
422b ... Notch
422c ... convex part
422d ... Shaft hole
422e groove
422f… pin
422g ... both ends of the hole straight section
423… Home position sensor
424 ... pulley
424a ... engaging pin
424b ... Arm
425… idle roller
426… Retraction member
426a ... Rack gear section
427 Pinion gear
428… Home position sensor
500… Staple unit
501… Stapler
502… Holder
503… Moving table
504,505 ... Stud shaft
506,507… Rolling roller
506a, 507a ... Flange
508… Fixed base
508a, 508b, 508c ... guide rail
509… Support roller
513… Sheet stopper
513a… Abutting support surface
521 Standard guide
522… leaf spring with roller
530… cartridge
530a, 530b ... Needle cartridge
531 ... Cartridge storage
532… Dial
533… Belt
534,535 ... pulley
536… Belt
537… Gear pulley
543… Long hole
544… Screw
545… Oval hole
600… Stack tray
601… Sample tray
602,603… Base plate
604, 605 ... Mounting frame plate
611… Shutter
701 ... CPU circuit section
702… ROM
703… RAM
704 ... External I / F
705… Computer
711… Operation unit
712 ... Document feeding control unit
713… Image reader controller
714 Image signal controller
715 ... Image forming unit controller
716 ... Tri-fold controller
717 ... Folding control unit
718… Finisher control unit
800 ... Folding processing part
801… Inlet roller pair
802 Flapper
900… Finisher

Claims (6)

Intermediate stacking means for stacking discharged sheets;
Three or more stopper portions provided on one end side in the sheet conveying direction of the intermediate stacking unit, having a support surface that abuts against an end of the sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking unit;
In a sheet processing apparatus having
The stopper portion is linearly arranged in a direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction, and the support surfaces of the outer stopper portions are in contact with the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking unit rather than the support surfaces of the other stopper portions. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is disposed so as to protrude in the direction of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm .   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface properties of the sheet contact surfaces of the outer stopper portions are different from those of the other stopper portions. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surface roughness of the sheet contact surfaces of the outer stopper portions is lower than that of the other stopper portions. 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a sliding load on the sheet contact surfaces of the outer stopper portions is made lower than that of the other stopper portions. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein durability of the sheet abutting surfaces of the both outer stopper portions against scratches is enhanced as compared with other stopper portions. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the sheet on which the image is formed is processed.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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