JP4838687B2 - Sheet stacking apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for improving the alignment of sheets sequentially discharged to a sheet stacking unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile, and a composite machine of these are provided with a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing such as binding processing and punching processing on a sheet on which an image is formed. . The sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit configured to stack the sheets sequentially, and a sheet stacking device configured to stack the sheets on the sheet stacking unit with less curling. Yes.

  FIG. 22 shows the configuration of such a sheet stacking apparatus. The sheet stacking apparatus 1302 is stacked on an intermediate processing tray 1330 which is a sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets on which images are formed, and an intermediate processing tray 1330. A binding device 1300 that binds the sheets.

  The sheet stacking device 1302 sequentially stacks sheets on an intermediate processing tray 1330 provided in the binding device 1300 to form a sheet bundle, and a stapler that moves a plurality of locations of the sheet bundle along the edge of the sheet bundle. 1301 is bound. Then, after binding the sheet bundle in this way, the sheet bundle is discharged from the intermediate processing tray 1330 to the stack tray 1622 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Next, an operation of binding two locations of a sheet bundle (not shown) stacked on the intermediate processing tray 1330 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Sheets discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus (not shown) are first discharged one by one to the intermediate processing tray 1330. Next, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the rear end stopper 1331 by the pull-in paddle 1360 rotating in the direction of the arrow and the belt roller 1608 hung on the outer periphery of the discharge roller 1320a constituting the first discharge roller pair 1320.

  Next, the upstream end (rear end) in the sheet discharge direction is abutted against the abutting support surface 1331a of the rear end stopper 1331 so that the rear end is aligned. After that, the sheets are width-aligned by aligning both sides by the first and second aligning members 1340 (, 1341) approaching from both sides of the sheet in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction.

  Thereafter, this operation is repeated each time a sheet is discharged, so that a plurality of sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 1330 become a sheet bundle in which the rear end and the side end are aligned. Thereafter, the waiting stapler 1301 moves to the first and second binding positions of the sheet bundle along the rear end of the sheet bundle and binds each binding position.

  As described above, when aligning the rear end portion of the sheet, the sheet stacking device 1302 pulls the sheet back toward the rear end stopper 1331 by the return mechanism such as the pull-in paddle 1360 and the belt roller 1608 and contacts the rear end stopper 1331. By doing so, the load was matched.

JP-A-11-130338

  By the way, in a sheet processing apparatus provided with such a conventional sheet stacking apparatus, there are cases where Z-folded, bi-folded or tri-folded sheets are aligned. In this case, for example, in the case of Z-folding, as shown in FIG. 24, after aligning the opposite end of the Z-folded portion of the Z-folded sheet P with the trailing end stopper 1331, the abutting end is performed by the stapler 1301. The part is bound.

  The sheet P is pushed down by the trailing end lever 1332 when the opposite end (hereinafter referred to as the opposite end) of the Z-folded portion of the sheet P abuts against the trailing end stopper 1331. Thereby, even if the opposite end of the sheet P is curled, the opposite end can be reliably abutted against the rear end stopper 1331.

  Here, when stacking Z-folded sheets, the thickness of the Z-folded portion of the sheet P is increased by the amount of folding. At this time, since the rotation center position T of the pull-in paddle 1360 does not change, the distance Lo between the pull-in paddle 1360 and the pull-in target sheet surface is shortened by the amount of folding compared to a normal flat sheet. When the distance Lo to the drawing target sheet surface is shortened in this way, the deflection pressure of the drawing paddle 1360 increases, and the drawing feeding force toward the trailing end stopper by the drawing paddle 1360 increases.

  As a result, the conveyance speed in the direction of the trailing edge stopper of the sheet P increases, and accordingly, the collision force against the abutting surface 1331a of the trailing edge stopper 1331 of the sheet P increases, bouncing, bouncing, dents at the time of collision, Scratches, collision noise, bundle misalignment, etc. occur. Further, the deflection pressure at the time of contact between the pull-in paddle 1360 and the sheet P may cause image rubbing, image damage, sheet buckling, folding, and the like due to the rubber material of the pull-in paddle 1360.

  FIG. 25 shows a state in which a plurality of Z-folded sheets P are stacked. Thus, as the number of sheets increases, the difference in thickness between the Z-folded portion of the sheet P and its opposite end portion increases. As a result, the above-described problems are more likely to appear more remarkably.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the conventional sheet stacking apparatus 1302 is provided with a sheet guide 1312 for guiding the sheet P to the trailing end stopper 1331. The sheet guide 1312 and the intermediate processing tray 1330 are provided. The distance is constant. For this reason, as the number of stacked sheets increases, the sheet P comes into contact with the sheet guide 1312 and the conveyance resistance due to rubbing increases. As a result, intrusion failure occurs, and it may be difficult to align the folded sheets.

  As described above, the conventional sheet stacking apparatus has been difficult to achieve stable butting alignment with the folded sheet. Also, not only folded sheets, but flat sheets, envelopes, or embossed sheets with irregularities formed on the surface. In this case, the stacking thickness is uneven, and the same problem as the folded sheet has occurred.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet stacking apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that can realize good alignment. is there.

The present invention includes a sheet stacking means which is folded sheets stacked has a folded portion folded portion overlaps of the sheet and the non-folding portion folded portions do not overlap the sheets, folded conveyed to the sheet stacking means And a stopper for aligning the folded sheet by abutting with a non-folded portion side end of the sheet , and contacting the folded sheet with the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means. conveyed in the direction abut on the sheet conveying means, the stopper-side in a direction abutting the folded sheet to the stopper is provided to be inclined between the stopper and the sheet conveying means so that the lower the sheet thickness direction, wherein while guiding the folded sheet is conveyed to the abutted direction stopper by the sheet conveying means, it abuts against the stopper Height calculation for calculating a guide means having an end portion of the stopper-side abutting the non-folded upper surface of the deflected folded sheet upward in the sheet thickness direction, the stacking height of the sheets stacked on said sheet stacking means and means, the previous SL sheet stacking means conveyed folding the relative folding upper surface of the sheet the sheet conveying means of the sheet thickness direction of the operating position and non of the butted against the stopper folding bends upward sheet The operation position in the sheet thickness direction of the end of the guide unit with respect to the upper surface of the folding unit is calculated by the height calculation unit so as to act on the sheet with an operating pressure set in each of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit. Each of the sheets is changed according to the stacking height of the sheets.

The present invention also provides a folding means for forming a folded sheet having a folded portion where the folded portions of the sheets overlap and a non-folded portion where the folded portions of the sheets do not overlap, and a sheet stacking means on which the folded sheets are stacked. the sheet and the non-folded portion side end of the stacked folded conveyed to the unit sheet and a stopper for aligning the folded sheet abuts, in the sheet processing apparatus having a folding of folded sheets are conveyed to the sheet stacking means section A sheet conveying unit that contacts the upper surface and conveys the folded sheet in a direction to abut against the stopper; and the sheet conveying unit and the stopper so that the stopper side is lowered in the sheet thickness direction in the direction in which the folded sheet abuts against the stopper. inclined disposed between, to guide the folded sheet is conveyed to the abutted direction stopper by said sheet transport means With a guide means having an end portion of the stopper-side abutting the non-folded portion upper surface of the sheet folding deflected upward in the sheet thickness direction is abutted on the stopper, the sheets stacked on said sheet stacking means A height calculating means for calculating a stacking height, and the upper position of the sheet conveying means in the sheet thickness direction acting on the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means and abutting against the stopper The operation position in the sheet thickness direction of the end portion of the guide means relative to the upper surface of the non-folded portion of the folded sheet bent in the direction of the sheet so as to act on the sheet with an operating pressure set in each of the sheet conveying means and the guide means. Each of the heights is changed in accordance with the sheet stacking height calculated by the height calculating means.

The present invention also provides an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a folded portion in which the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming means is folded, and a folded portion of the sheet. a folding means to form a fold having a non-folding portion not overlapping sheets, folding the sheet stacking means sheet is stacked, the non-folded portion side end abuts with folded sheets of said sheet stacking means folded is conveyed to the sheet An image forming apparatus comprising: an aligning stopper; a sheet conveying unit that contacts the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking unit and conveys the folded sheet in a direction to abut against the stopper; and the folded sheet the stopper-side in a direction abutting on the stopper is inclined between said stopper and said sheet conveying means to be lower in the sheet thickness direction Vignetting, while guiding the folded sheet is conveyed to the abutted direction to said stopper by said sheet transport means, folding the sheet of the sheet folding when deflected upward abutment is in sheet thickness direction to said stopper a guide means having an end portion of the stopper-side abutting the non-folding portion upper surface, and a height calculating means for calculating a been stacking height of the sheets stacked on said sheet stacking means, the sheet conveying hand stage An action position in the sheet thickness direction with respect to the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means, and an action position in the sheet thickness direction at the end of the guide means with respect to the upper surface of the unfolded portion of the folded sheet that is abutted against the stopper and bent upward Is applied by the height calculating means so as to act on the sheet at a working pressure within a range set for each of the sheet conveying means and the guide means. Is characterized in that the respectively changed according to the calculated stacking height of the sheets.

  As in the present invention, the sheet conveying means and the guide means can be moved in the sheet thickness direction, and good alignment can be achieved by changing the operation position in the sheet thickness direction with respect to the sheet according to the calculated sheet stacking height. Can be realized.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a copier that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the numerical value taken up in description is a reference numerical value, Comprising: This invention is not limited.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 110 denotes a black and white / color copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) as an image forming apparatus, and 100 denotes a copying machine main body. A finisher 600 which is a sheet processing apparatus is connected to the copying machine main body 100. ing.

  In such a copying machine 110, when a paper feed signal is output, sheets are fed from the cassettes 107a to 107d provided in the copying machine main body 100 to the image forming unit 101. Thereafter, toner images of four colors are transferred to the sheet by the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black photosensitive drums 101 a to 101 d as image forming units, and are conveyed to the fixing device 111.

  Next, the transfer image is permanently fixed in the fixing device 111, and the sheet on which the image has been fixed is then discharged from the copying machine main body 100 by the discharge roller pair and conveyed to the finisher 600.

  Here, the finisher 600 sequentially takes in the sheets discharged from the copying machine main body 100, aligns the plurality of taken-in sheets, and bundles them into one bundle. In addition, the stapling process for binding the rear end (upstream end in the sheet conveying direction) of the bundled sheet bundle, the punching process for making a hole near the rear end of the fetched sheet, the sorting / non-sorting process, the folding process for folding the sheet bundle, and the double folding Various processes such as a bookbinding process are performed.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a saddle stitching processing apparatus, 300 a flat stitching processing apparatus constituting a sheet stacking apparatus, and 400 a sheet bundle back processing apparatus. The saddle stitching processing apparatus 200 and the sheet bundle back processing apparatus 400 are saddle stitched bookbinding. A processing apparatus 700 is configured.

  In addition, the finisher 600 can process a sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 100 online. Further, since the finisher 600 may be used as an option, the copying machine main body 100 can be used alone. Further, the finisher 600 and the copying machine main body 100 may be integrated.

  The finisher 600 has an entrance roller pair 602 for guiding the sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 100 to the inside. A switching flapper 601 that selectively guides a sheet to a side stitch binding path X or a saddle stitch binding path Y is provided on the downstream side of the pair of entrance rollers 602.

  Then, the sheet guided to the flat stitch binding path X by the switching flapper 601 is sent toward the buffer roller 605 via the conveyance roller pair 603. Here, the buffer roller 605 is a roller on which a predetermined number of sheets fed to the outer periphery thereof are stacked and wound. The sheet sent to the buffer roller 605 is stacked on the sample tray 621 by the switching flapper 611 disposed downstream, or is stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330 that is a sheet stacking unit in the flat stitching processing apparatus 300. .

  Thereafter, the sheets stacked in a bundle on the intermediate processing tray 330 are subjected to alignment processing and stapling processing by the stapler 301 as necessary, and then discharged onto the stack tray 622 by the discharge rollers 380a and 380b. The

  Reference numeral 650 denotes a punch unit provided between the conveying roller pair 603 and the buffer roller 605. The punch unit 650 operates as necessary to make a hole near the rear end of the conveyed sheet. It is like that.

  On the other hand, the sheet guided to the saddle stitch bookbinding path Y by the switching flapper 601 is stored in the storage guide 220 by the transport roller pair 213, and is further transported until the leading end of the sheet comes into contact with the liftable sheet positioning member (not shown). The In the middle of the storage guide 220, two pairs of staplers 218 (only one is shown because they appear to overlap each other) are provided, and the stapler 218 and the anvil 219 cooperate to form a sheet bundle. It is supposed to bind the center of the.

  Further, a pair of folding rollers 226a and 226b are provided downstream of the stapler 218, and a protruding member 225 is provided at a position facing the pair of folding rollers 226a and 226b. The pair of folding rollers 226a and 226b and the protruding member 225 constitute a sheet bundle folding device 201 that folds the sheet bundle.

  After the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed until it comes into contact with the liftable sheet positioning member, the sheet is bound by the stapler 218, and then the bound sheet bundle is folded by the sheet bundle folding device 201. Here, when the sheet bundle is folded, a sheet positioning member (not shown) is lowered so that the staple position of the sheet bundle faces the center position (nip) of the pair of folding rollers 226 after the staple processing is completed.

  Thereafter, when the protruding member 225 protrudes toward the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is pushed between the pair of folding rollers 226 (nip), conveyed while being sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers 226, and folded in a double fold shape. . As a result, the sheet bundle becomes a saddle-stitched booklet. The sheet bundle may be folded without being saddle-stitched.

  The sheet bundle that is saddle-stitched in a booklet form is sent as it is to the sheet bundle back processing apparatus 400 by the protruding member 225 and the bookbinding bundle conveyance belt 401. The sheet bundle back processing apparatus 400 presses both sides of the back folded portion of the sheet so that the crease is surely bent, and flattens the back of the back folded portion. Thereafter, the sheet bundle is discharged and stacked on the sheet bundle stacking tray 480.

  Next, a side stitch processing apparatus 300 including the stapler 301, the intermediate processing tray 330, and the sheet rear end alignment unit 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A stapler 301 serving as a binding means is fixed on a slide support 303, and rolling rollers 304 and 305 are provided at the lower part of the slide support 303. The slide support 303 is guided by the rolling rollers 304 and 305 and the guide rail groove 307 on the stapler moving table 306, and along the rear edge of the sheet stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330 (in the direction of arrow Y). To) move.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the stapler 301 is maintained in a posture inclined at a predetermined angle α with respect to the trailing edge of the sheet at the corner of the sheet P stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. . The inclination angle α is set to about 30 degrees, but can be changed by changing the shape of the guide rail groove 307. The stapler moving table 306 is provided with a position sensor (not shown) that detects the home position of the stapler 301. Normally, the stapler 301 stands by at the home position indicated by the symbol A on the front side of the apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate processing tray 330 is disposed with the downstream side (left side in FIG. 3) inclined upward and the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) inclined downward with respect to the sheet bundle discharge direction. In addition, a rear end stopper 331 is disposed at the lower end on the upstream side of the intermediate processing tray 330. The intermediate processing tray 330 may be horizontal.

  First and second aligning portions 340 and 341 are provided in the intermediate portion of the intermediate processing tray 330, and an upper end portion on the downstream side of the intermediate processing tray 330, more specifically, an upper region portion of the unit configuration is substantially drawn in a paddle. 360 and a swing guide 350 are arranged.

  The sheets P discharged from the first discharge roller pair 320 are stacked on the stacking surface 330c of the intermediate processing tray 330 or on the intermediate processing tray 330 by the inclination of the intermediate processing tray 330 and the action of the pull-in paddle 360. Glide down. Then, the rear end (upstream end in the discharge direction) of the sheet P is abutted against the abutting support surface 331a of the rear end stopper 331 which is a stopper.

  Further, one lower discharge roller 380 a constituting the bundle discharge roller pair 380 is disposed at the downstream end portion of the intermediate processing tray 330, and the other upper discharge roller 380 b is disposed at the lower front end portion of the swing guide 350. Has been placed. The upper discharge roller 380b comes into contact with the lower discharge roller 380a as the swing guide 350 swings, and the discharge roller pair 380a and 380b are rotated forward and backward by the drive motor M380. ing.

  The swing guide 350 is supported by the support shaft 351 and swings in the vertical direction. Normally, when each individual sheet P is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray 330, it swings upward and the upper discharge roller 380b is in an open state away from the lower discharge roller 380a. As a result, the bundle discharge roller pair 380 may interfere with the discharge operation of the sheet P onto the intermediate processing tray 330 by the pull-in paddle 360 described later and the width alignment operation by the first and second alignment units 340 and 341. There is no such thing.

  When the processing of the sheet on the intermediate processing tray 330 is finished, the swing guide 350 swings downward, and the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the upper discharge roller 380b and the lower discharge roller 380a. Thereafter, the bundle discharge roller pair 380 rotates in this state, whereby the sheet bundle is discharged to the stack tray 622.

  A plurality of pull-in paddles 360 are disposed above the intermediate processing tray 330, and a plurality of pull-in paddles 360 are fixed along a drive shaft 361 that is rotated by a drive motor M360 shown in FIG. Then, the drive motor M360 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 at an appropriate timing. Here, in FIG. 3, there are a plurality of pull-in paddles 360 that are sheets conveying means that convey the sheet and abut against the trailing end stopper 331, but there are a plurality of pull-in paddles 360 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 361.

  Further, the drive shaft 361 can move in a substantially vertical direction indicated by an arrow with respect to the intermediate processing tray 330, whereby the pull-in paddle 360 can reach the stacking surface 330 c of the intermediate processing tray 330 via the drive shaft 361. The distance can be changed.

  The drive shaft 361 is moved in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the stacking surface 330c by a paddle lifting motor M2 shown in FIG. Further, the home position of the pull-in paddle 360 is set to a position shown in FIG. 3 that does not interfere with the sheet discharged from the first discharge roller pair 320 onto the intermediate processing tray 330.

  Next, the sheet rear end alignment portion 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The sheet rear end aligning unit 1 includes a belt roller 608 as a sheet conveying unit, a rear end lever 332 as a sheet pressing member, a lever stopper 333, and a sheet guide guide 312 as a guide unit. The sheet is moved by the belt roller 608 in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 4 (upstream in the sheet discharge direction).

  The belt roller 608 is hung on the outer periphery of the first paper discharge roller 320a constituting the first paper discharge roller pair 320 and is driven by a knurling rotation drive (paper discharge) motor (M4) shown in FIG. It is rotated counterclockwise following the rotation of the paper roller 320a. In addition, the lower portion is provided above the intermediate processing tray 330 in a positional relationship such that the lower portion contacts the uppermost sheet stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rotational shape of the belt roller 608 is changed round by the pulling operation by the reciprocating movement of the variable lever 316 engaged with the outer peripheral edge of the belt roller in the arrow direction. The shape can be changed to an ellipse indicated by a dotted line.

  Thus, the distance from the stacking surface 330c of the intermediate processing tray 330 to the lowermost portion of the belt roller 608 can be made variable. The variable lever 316 is reciprocated in the arrow direction by a knurling traction motor (M5) shown in FIG.

  With this configuration, the sheets are sequentially stacked on the intermediate processing tray, and the rotational shape of the belt roller 608 is changed even if the height of the stacked uppermost sheet (hereinafter referred to as the uppermost stacked sheet) increases. Thus, the contact position (action position) can be changed. As a result, the belt roller 608 and the uppermost stacked sheet always come into contact with each other with substantially the same contact pressure (working pressure), and a substantially constant conveying force can be applied to the uppermost stacked sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet guide 312 has a guide surface 312 a that conveys the discharged sheet toward the rear end stopper 331, and the guide surface 312 a is formed on the sheet stacking surface 330 c of the intermediate processing tray 330. On the other hand, it is arranged so as to have an angle of β or less. In the present embodiment, β = approximately 30 °, but it is only necessary to set within a range that does not impede sheet conveyance, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The sheet guide 312 is provided so as to rotate integrally with the support shaft 313 around the support shaft 313. The sheet guide guide 312 is gradually positioned in the direction of arrow D as the sheet stacking height on the intermediate processing tray increases. Is going to change.

  As a result, the distance from the uppermost stacked sheet surface on the intermediate processing tray to the leading edge R of the sheet guide 312 can always be kept substantially constant. The support shaft 313 is rotated by a guide guide / rear end lever raising / lowering motor (M3) shown in FIG.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 12 to be described later, for example, even when a sheet curled downward is discharged, the sheet guide guide 312 protrudes in a mountain shape by the leading end R of the sheet guide 312. Can be pressed. Thus, the sheet can be flattened so as to follow the intermediate processing tray surface, and the sheets can be reliably aligned.

  Further, when a thin sheet is stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, even when the sheet is pulled by the belt roller 608 or the pull-in paddle 360 with a strong force with respect to the rigidity of the sheet in the direction of the trailing edge stopper 331, The sheet can be pressed at the leading end R. As a result, the sheet can be prevented from buckling and the sheets can be reliably aligned.

  The rear end stopper 331 is disposed on the upstream side of the intermediate processing tray 330 in the sheet discharging direction, and receives a sheet that is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray 330 and then moves upstream. The trailing edge stopper 331 is formed to rise perpendicularly to the sheet stacking surface 330 c of the intermediate processing tray 330 and has a support surface 331 a that receives the trailing edge of the sheet P.

  The rear end lever 332 is provided on the support shaft 335 so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction. A sheet loaded on the intermediate processing tray 330 is loaded on the intermediate processing tray 330 by its own weight or by applying a biasing force such as a spring to its own weight. The sheet is pressed in such a direction as to be pressed against the sheet stacking surface 330c. Further, the rear end lever 332 is pushed up by a sheet moving toward the rear end stopper 331 on the sheet stacking surface 330 c of the intermediate processing tray 330 or on the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. Yes.

  Further, the rear end lever 332 presses against a sheet on the intermediate processing tray 330 or a lever guide surface 332 a that guides a sheet that moves toward the rear end stopper 331, and a lever stopper 333 supported on the rotation shaft 334. And an abutting portion 332b that abuts.

  Here, when the lever guide surface 332a presses the sheet in the vicinity of the trailing end stopper 331, the upstream end of the sheet is securely placed without contacting the trailing end stopper 331 when the sheet is lifted. Can be consistent. Thereby, for example, even when the sheet is curled upward, the sheet can be reliably pressed against the intermediate processing tray 330.

  The lever stopper 333 changes the position according to the stacking height of the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, and adjusts the upper limit position of the rear end lever 332, in other words, the upper limit of the rotation angle of the rear end lever 332. It is. The lever stopper 333 as an adjustment member regulates the upper limit position of the rear end lever 332 by receiving the rear end lever 332 rotated upward by the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. .

  Here, this adjustment is such that the difference in height between the upper limit position (operation position) of the trailing end lever 332 and the position where the trailing end lever 332 presses the sheet becomes substantially constant regardless of the stacking height of the sheets. This is performed in order to keep the pressing force for holding and pressing the sheet substantially constant.

  The lever stopper 333 is rotatably attached to the rotation shaft 334, and the rotation shaft 334 is provided above the rear end stopper 331. Further, the rotating shaft 334 has a gear 337 as shown in FIG. 6A, and is rotated by a desired angle by the driving gear 337a meshed with the gear 337 so as to be held at that position. It has become.

  Here, the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 334 changes according to the stacking height of the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. When the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 334 changes in this way, The position where the lever stopper 333 receives the rear end lever 332 also changes.

  That is, the upper limit position (action position) of the rear end lever 332 is changed according to the stacking height of the sheets on the intermediate processing tray 330 by the rotation control of the rotation shaft 334 described later. The rotation shaft 334 is rotated by a guide guide / rear end lever lifting / lowering motor (M3) shown in FIG. 18 described later, like the support shaft 313 of the sheet guide guide 312 described above.

  Furthermore, a torsion spring 336 having one end fixed to the lever stopper 333 is wound around the rotating shaft 334, and the torsion spring 336 is provided with respect to the lever stopper 333 in FIG. ), The urging force is applied in the arrow J direction.

  Note that when the rotating shaft 334 and the lever stopper 333 are integrated, the torsion spring 336 is not necessary. Even in this configuration, by adjusting the rotation position of the rotation shaft 334, the position at which the lever stopper 333 receives the trailing end lever 332 can be changed according to the stacking height of the sheets.

  Here, the position where the lever stopper 333 receives the rear end lever 332 needs to be set as follows. That is, the upper limit position of the rear end lever 332 (operation) so that the difference in height between the position where the rear end lever 332 presses the sheet and the position received by the lever stopper 333 is substantially constant regardless of the sheet stacking height. Position) must be set.

  At this time, the upper limit position (action position) of the rear end lever 332 is set with a rotation allowance that allows the rear end lever 332 to rotate by a predetermined distance. By providing such a rotation margin, the trailing end lever 332 rotates upward until it comes into contact with the lever stopper 333 even when the curled sheet is fed, and the sheet is lifted while preventing buckling. Can be suppressed.

  Here, the upper limit is provided for the rotation margin in order to prevent the sheet from being curled excessively by generating an appropriate working pressure at the upper limit position (working position). Accordingly, the curled sheet can be received without clogging, and the sheet can be prevented from being lifted.

  For example, in FIG. 13, which will be described later, when 20 sheets having a thickness of about 0.1 mm are stacked and the stacked height of the sheets is about 2 mm, the rear end lever 332 has a margin of rotation of about 4 to 5 mm. The lever stopper 333 rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 334. Thereby, the position for receiving the rear end lever 332 is changed. The rotation angle of the rotary shaft 334 is adjusted so that the rotation margin of about 4 to 5 mm is substantially constant regardless of the stacking height of the sheets.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear end stopper 331 and the rear end lever 332 are connected by a support shaft 335 so that the sheet guide guide 312 and the lever stopper 333 rotate with the same drive via the rotation shaft 334. It has become. In other words, changing the upper limit position of the position change and the trailing end lever 332 of the sheet guides 312, i.e. the movement distance changing in the vertical direction of the trailing end lever 332 (the height direction) is performed in conjunction with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the rear end stopper 331 is divided into positions indicated by reference numerals 331A and 331B with the center in the direction (width direction) intersecting the sheet conveying direction as a boundary in the intermediate processing tray 330. Is provided. Similarly, the lever stopper 333 is also disposed at a position indicated by reference numerals 333A and 333B.

  With such an arrangement relationship, the stapler 301 can move along the rear end Pa of the sheet bundle without interfering with the rear end stopper 331, the rear end lever 332, and the lever stopper 333. A desired position of the sheet bundle can be bound.

  If the trailing end stopper 331 and the trailing end lever 332 are positioned at the binding position of the stapler 301, the trailing end stopper 331 may be caught by the clinch of the stapler 301.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear end stopper 331 and the rear end lever 332 are symmetrically arranged along the rear end Pa of the sheet P according to the size and binding position of the sheet by the same drive motor (not shown). It can be moved in the direction of the arrow. Thus, in the sheet bundle binding mode, the trailing edge stoppers 331A and 331B move the trailing edge of the sheet P at a position deviated from the clinching area of the stapler 301 as shown in FIGS. The rear end of the sheet P can be aligned while receiving it.

  In such a configuration, the lever stoppers 333A and 333B are long enough to receive the rotation of the rear end lever 332 regardless of the position of the rear end stopper 331 and the rear end lever 332 in the moving region. Have.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 9, even if the rear end stoppers 331A and 331B and the rear end levers 332A and 332B move in the width direction of the sheet P, the rear end levers 332A and 332B abut against the lever stoppers 333A and 333B. It is like that.

  The lever stoppers 333A and 333B may also move in the sheet width direction. In this case, the lever stoppers 333A and 333B move with the rear end levers 332A and 332B while facing the rear end levers 332A and 332B. You may make it do. When configured in this manner, the lengths of the lever stoppers 333A and 333B can be shortened.

  Next, as an example of the operation of the finisher 600, the flow of the sheet P in the staple sort mode will be described.

  When the user designates the paper discharge mode setting as staple sort, the switching flapper 611 and the switching flapper 610 are switched to accept the sheet P on the sort path 635 side, as shown in FIG. In this state, the conveying roller pair 603, the first conveying roller pair 604, and the buffer roller 605 are driven to rotate, take the sheet P discharged from the copying machine main body 100 into the apparatus, and convey it toward the sort path 635. .

  Then, the sheet is discharged onto the intermediate processing tray 330 by the belt roller 608 and the discharge roller 320b hung on the outer periphery of the discharge roller 320a constituting the first discharge roller pair 320. Thereafter, the swing guide 350 swings upward, so that the upper discharge roller 380b is separated from the lower discharge roller 380a of the bundle discharge roller pair 380.

  The sheet P discharged onto the intermediate processing tray 330 begins to return to the trailing end stopper 331 due to its own weight, and in addition to this, as the drawing paddle 360 stopped at the home position rotates counterclockwise. The return action is encouraged. Thereafter, the trailing edge of the sheet P is abutted against the trailing edge stopper 331 and stopped while being guided by the trailing edge lever 332, so that the trailing edge of the sheet is aligned. Thereafter, the pull-in paddle 360 is also detected by a paddle rotation home sensor (S1) shown in FIG.

  Next, after such sheet trailing edge alignment is performed, side edge alignment (width alignment) of the sheet P is performed by the first and second alignment portions 340 and 341 (see FIG. 2). Thereafter, the binding operation of the sheet bundle by the stapler 301 is performed, and the sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 622 and stacked by the bundle discharge operation of the bundle discharge roller pair 380 with the swing guide 350 being closed. The

  Next, as the above-described sheet trailing edge alignment operation, for example, the operation of the sheet trailing edge aligning unit 1 when the user sets a mode for flat binding of 100 normal flat sheets will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that the rotating shaft 334 and the lever stopper 333 are integrated and rotate integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when no sheets are stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, the rotation shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 and the variable lever 316 of the belt roller 608 stand by at the initial position (the lowest position). ing. Further, the rear end lever 332 and the sheet guide 312 that are restricted by the lever stopper 333 are also waiting at the initial position (the lowest position).

  When no sheets are stacked, the initial position of the pull-in paddle 360 as a working position that acts on the sheet with a working pressure in an appropriate range is a position where the paddle tip outer circumference circular locus interferes with the intermediate processing tray 330. Actually, it is a position where the interference part is bent and rotated. In this state, the sheet is conveyed by rotating counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 361.

  When no sheets are stacked, the initial position of the belt roller 608 as the working position that acts on the sheet with a working pressure in an appropriate range is such that the lower portion is in contact with the intermediate processing tray 330. The traction amount of the variable lever 316 is determined. At this position, the belt roller 608 rotates counterclockwise by the rotational driving from the outer periphery of the first discharge roller 320a, and conveys the sheet.

  When no sheets are stacked, the initial upper limit positions of the sheet guides 312 and the rear end lever 332 are set as follows as acting positions that act on the sheets with a working pressure in an appropriate range. That is, for example, a gap of about 5 to 6 mm is set between the front end R of the sheet guide guide 312 and the front end E of the rear end lever 332 and the sheet stacking surface 331b of the rear end stopper 331.

  Accordingly, the trailing end lever 332 can secure a margin for rotation by a gap (about 5 to 6 mm), and a conveyance path space is provided by a gap (about 5 to 6 mm) between the sheet guide guide 312 and the sheet stacking surface 331b. Can be secured. The rotation margin and the conveyance path space are provided to cope with the curled sheet.

  As described above, when the upper limit position of the rear end lever 332 is adjusted to the initial upper limit position and the sheet is not stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, the rear end lever 332 rotates downward due to its own weight. E is in contact with the sheet stacking surface 331b of the trailing end stopper 331. At this time, the upper end portion is separated from the lever stopper 333, and a clearance is generated between the rear end lever 332 and the lever stopper 333.

  In this state, when the sheet P12 slides down the sheet stacking surface 330c of the intermediate processing tray 330 and contacts the support surface 331a of the trailing end stopper 331, the sheet P12 pushes up the trailing end lever 332 by the thickness of the sheet. Then, when 10 sheets are stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, if the sheet thickness is about 0.1 mm, the sheet stacking height is about 1 mm. Rotate upward by the amount.

  As a result, the clearance between the leading end E of the trailing end lever 332 and the leading end R of the sheet guiding guide 312 and the tenth sheet when it is in the upper limit position is about 4 to 5 mm. The rotation margin and the sheet conveyance path space are about 4 to 5 mm. The leading edge E of the trailing end lever 332 and the leading edge R of the sheet guide guide 312 are changed to the working positions according to the stacking height of the sheets, and act on the sheet with a working pressure within an appropriate range.

  Here, as described above, when the sheet curled in the upward direction is fed in as described above, the trailing end lever 332 accepts the curled sheet without clogging and lifts the sheet in the upward direction. It is provided to suppress this. That is, by providing a rotation allowance, the trailing end lever 332 can suppress the upward lifting of the sheet while being pushed upward by the curled sheet.

  When the sheet P12 has a curl that causes the trailing end lever 332 to rotate more than the trailing margin of the trailing end lever 332, the trailing end lever 332 is pushed upward by the sheet and contacts the lever stopper 333. As a result, the rear end lever 332 receives the sheet P12 in a state of being restricted by the lever stopper 333, and can press the sheet P12 with a large pressing force.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the sheet P13 curled in the downward direction is fed, the apex R of the sheet P13 is suppressed and flattened by the tip R of the sheet guide 312. In this state, the sheet P13 is conveyed in the direction of the trailing edge stopper 331, whereby the stiffness of the sheet in the conveying direction can be strengthened and the alignment to the trailing edge stopper 331 surface can be improved.

  In this way, even if the sheet is greatly curled or the direction of curl is different, the sheet can be brought into contact with the trailing edge stopper 331 in a good state, and good trailing edge alignment is performed. Can do.

  Next, when the butt alignment of the tenth sheet is completed, the amount of interference between the paddle tip outer circumference circular locus of the pull-in paddle 360 and the uppermost sheet P10 on the intermediate processing tray 330 is made equal to the initial position described above. Set to. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the rotation shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 is moved upward by 1 mm.

  Further, the belt roller 608 is set again so that the lower portion is in a position in contact with the uppermost sheet P10 on the intermediate processing tray 330. Specifically, the contact position of the belt roller 608 is moved approximately 1 mm upward from the initial position by pulling the variable lever 316 in the right direction. As a result, the operation positions of the pull-in paddle 360 and the belt roller 608 are changed to the operation positions corresponding to the stacking height of the sheets, and the sheets act on the sheets with an appropriate range of operation pressure.

The leading edge and the trailing edge E of the lever 332, the rotation shaft 334 so that airspace about 5~6mm between 10th sheet P10 and the lever stopper 333 when the tip R and an upper limit position of the sheet guides 312 Is rotated about 2 degrees clockwise.

As a result, the rotation margin of the rear end lever 332 and the conveyance path space of the sheet guide guide 312 return to about 5 to 6 mm. The leading edge E of the trailing end lever 332 and the leading edge R of the sheet guide guide 312 are changed to the working positions according to the stacking height of the sheets, and act on the sheet with a working pressure within an appropriate range.

  Accordingly, the distance between the sheet stacking surface 331b of the rear end stopper 331 and the front end E of the rear end lever 332 at the upper limit position is about 6 to 7 mm. In this state, the 11th to 20th sheets Sheets are stacked and aligned at the trailing edge. In the meantime, when there is a curled sheet, the lift of the sheet is suppressed by the rear end lever 332.

  Thereafter, when the sheets are sequentially stacked and eventually the 20th sheet P20 is stacked, the rotation margin of the rear end lever 332 and the conveyance path space become about 4 to 5 mm. Then, again, the rotary shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 is moved upward by approximately 1 mm (approximately 2 mm from the initial position), and the variable lever 316 is pulled to the right, whereby the contact position of the belt roller 608 is approximately 1 mm (initial position). 2mm) from the top.

  Further, the rotation shaft 334 and the lever stopper 333 are rotated clockwise by about 2 degrees, and the rotation margin of the rear end lever 332 and the conveyance path space are returned to about 5 to 6 mm. As a result, the distance between the sheet stacking surface 331b of the rear end stopper 331 and the front end E of the rear end lever 332 is about 7 to 8 mm.

  Thereafter, when the 21st to 30th sheets are stacked, the rotation margin of the rear end lever 332 and the conveyance path space become about 4 to 5 mm. Therefore, the rotation shaft 334 and the lever stopper 333 are further rotated to the right by about 2 degrees to return the rotation margin of the rear end lever 332 and the conveyance path space to about 5 to 6 mm.

  If such an operation is repeated every time 10 sheets are stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, the sheet is pulled in until the 50th sheet is stacked after 40 sheets are stacked. The rotational axis position of the paddle 360 is approximately 4 mm above the initial position. Further, the distance from the lower part of the belt roller 608 to the intermediate processing tray 330 is approximately 4 mm, and the distance from the leading end R of the sheet guide 312 and the leading end E of the rear end lever 332 at the upper limit position to the intermediate processing tray 330 is It becomes approximately 9 to 10 mm.

  As described above, the operation positions of the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, and the sheet guide guide 312 are changed to the operation positions corresponding to the stacking height of the sheets, and the sheet acts on the sheet with an appropriate range of operation pressure. .

  FIG. 15 shows a state when the 90th sheet is stacked on the intermediate processing tray, and the above operation is repeated until the 100th sheet is stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. .

FIG. 16 shows the relationship between the number of stacked sheets and the moving heights of the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the rear end lever 332 and the sheet guide guide 312 when they are at the upper limit position.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the pull-in paddle 360 moves the rotary shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 upward by 1 mm as shown in FIG. As a result, the height rises 1 mm from the initial position.

Further, when the 20th sheet P20 is stacked, the rotary shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 is moved upward by about 1 mm, and is raised by 2 mm from the initial position. Similarly, the belt roller 608, the rear end lever 332 at the upper limit position, and the sheet guide guide 312 are also raised by 1 mm from the initial position every time the number of stacked sheets increases by ten.

  When the 100th sheet is stacked on the intermediate processing tray in this way, the 100 sheet bundle is bound by the staple operation of the stapler 301.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet trailing edge aligning unit 1 includes the pull-in paddle 360, the contact position (operation position) of the belt roller 608, the rotation margin of the trailing edge lever 332, and the sheet guide guide 312 and the stacking surface. The transport path space can always be set within a certain range. Accordingly, the sheets can be aligned and stacked with substantially the same conveying force and pressing force regardless of the sheet stacking height, and as a result, sheet return failure and buckling phenomenon can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the displacement is performed every 10 sheets, but the number of displacements and the displacement amount may be changed according to the thickness of the sheet, the transfer image density, and the like. When the transfer image density is high, or overcoating is performed for color copying or the like, the amount of toner is increased and the thickness of the sheet is increased.

  Further, if a sheet count value is provided in advance for each sheet and control is performed to displace each predetermined sheet count value, it is not necessary to perform calculation for each sheet, and complicated control is not necessary.

  For example, FIG. 17 shows the sheet count value per sheet set for each sheet thickness and the displacement value (height direction) of the rear end lever 332 corresponding to the sheet count value calculated in advance from the number of stacked sheets. It is. With this setting, even when a plurality of sheets having different thicknesses are mixed and loaded in one sheet bundle, the rear end lever 332 is always in the optimum position without complicated control. Can be controlled.

  In order to set the sheet count value, the present embodiment adopts a method in which the user pre-inputs the sheet type (thickness) before the job. However, a method in which a sheet thickness detection sensor is provided in the apparatus and the sheet thickness is automatically transmitted to the side stitching processing apparatus 300 as discharged sheet information may be used.

  Further, the sheet count value to be set is not limited to the one corresponding to the thickness of the sheet, and a sheet count value corresponding to the sheet information such as the surface resistance and the type of transfer image (for example, color / monochrome) may be set.

  FIG. 18 is a control block diagram of the side stitching processing apparatus 300 constituting the sheet stacking apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 950 denotes a CPU provided in the side stitching processing apparatus 300, 951 denotes a RAM, Reference numeral 952 denotes a ROM.

  The CPU 950 as a control means receives signals from the paddle rotation home sensor (S1), the paddle lift home sensor (S2), the guide guide / rear end home sensor (S3), and the knurled traction home sensor (S4). Further, the CPU 950 controls the drive motor (M360), the paddle lift motor M2, the guide guide / rear end lever lift motor (M3), and the knurling rotation drive (paper discharge) motor (M4) according to a control program stored in the ROM 952. Control. Further, the knurling traction motor (M5) that moves the variable lever 316 of the belt roller 608 is controlled.

  The RAM 951 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control. Reference numeral 953 denotes a communication interface for exchanging information with the finisher control unit 955 provided in the finisher 600. In this embodiment, the CPU 950 performs the above-described various controls through communication with the finisher control unit 955. However, the control is performed by exchanging information with the control unit provided on the copier body 100 side. Also good.

  Reference numeral 954 denotes a counter that counts the number of sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. Then, the CPU 950 that constitutes a height calculation means together with the counter 954 calculates the height of the sheet bundle based on the value of the counter 954 and sheet information input from an operation unit (not shown) on the copier body 100 side. I am doing so. The operation unit sets at least one of sheet processing information such as sheet thickness information, sheet weight information indicating sheet type, sheet image transfer information, surface resistance, folding type, and folding position as sheet information. be able to.

  Then, the CPU 950 determines whether the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the rear end lever 332 in the alignment operation in the flat sheet flat binding described above and the Z-fold sheet binding described later according to the calculation result. Control the behavior.

  Next, the operation of the sheet trailing edge aligning unit 1 when the user sets a mode in which, for example, 30 sheets of Z-folded sheets are stapled will be described.

  When no sheet P is stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330, the rotation shaft 361 of the pull-in paddle 360 and the variable lever 316 of the belt roller 608 are respectively in the initial position (the lowest position) as shown in FIG. ). Further, the rear end lever 332 whose rotation is restricted by the lever stopper 333 and the sheet guide 312 also stand by at their initial positions (lowermost positions).

  At this time, similarly to the initial position at the time of flat sheet flat binding, the initial position of the pull-in paddle 360 is a position where the paddle tip outer peripheral circular locus interferes with the intermediate processing tray 330 and is counterclockwise around the rotation shaft 361. The sheet is conveyed by rotating in the direction.

  The initial position of the belt roller 608 determines the pulling amount of the variable lever 316 so that the lower part is in contact with the intermediate processing tray 330. At this position, the belt roller 608 rotates counterclockwise by the rotational driving from the outer periphery of the first discharge roller 320a, and conveys the sheet.

  The initial upper limit positions of the sheet guide 312 and the trailing end lever 332 are, for example, about 5 between the leading end R of the sheet guiding guide 312 and the leading end E of the trailing end lever 332 and the sheet stacking surface 331b of the trailing end stopper 331. It is set so as to leave a gap of ˜6 mm. As described above, the initial position is the same as that in the above-described flat sheet stacking and alignment operation, and the working pressure is applied by the pull-in paddle 360, the conveyance by the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the rear end lever 332.

  However, the sheet may be a sheet having a different height or thickness at the folded portion and the non-folded portion, such as a Z-folded sheet. When the sheet is such a sheet, the sheet contact positions (action positions) of the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the rear end lever 332 pushed up by the sheet are different.

  Here, in the case of Z-folding, as shown in FIG. 24 described above, in order to normally set the binding position to the non-folding portion, the folding portion is discharged opposite to the rear end stopper on which the stapler 301 is disposed. It is usual to load on the side. In this case, the sheet thickness (height) in the stacked state becomes thicker (higher) as it goes to the folding portion.

  Furthermore, it is necessary not to simply add the thicknesses of the folded and overlapped sheets but to consider that the folded portion swells to return to its original state. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the seat height in consideration of the stiffness of the seat.

  Further, not only the stiffness inherently possessed by the sheet, but also the amount of applied toner related to the image transfer density is a factor that changes the stiffness of the sheet. That is, as the image transfer density is higher, the amount of applied toner increases and the rigidity of the sheet increases. Furthermore, the usage environment such as temperature and humidity also affects the stiffness of the seat. For example, the lower the temperature, the stronger the tendency for the folded part to return to its original state.

  Therefore, when binding Z-folded sheets, the pull-in paddle 360 set near the folding portion and at a position where the sheet thickness (height) is large is compared with the rear end lever 332 where the sheet thickness (height) of the non-folding portion is small. And set it to a high position away from the seat. Thereby, even in the case of a Z-folded sheet which is a sheet having a difference in height (variation) in the sheet conveying direction, the sheets can be stacked and stacked with a certain conveying force and pressing force.

  FIG. 19 shows a state in which 30 origami sheets are stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. At this time, the pull-in paddle 360, which is set so as to face the position where the sheet thickness (height) is large near the folding portion, conveys the sheet P14 at a position 13 mm away from the initial position. Further, the belt roller 608 conveys the sheet at a position 10 mm away from the initial position.

  On the other hand, since the sheet guide 312 and the rear end lever 332 are in a portion where the sheet thickness (height) of the non-folded portion is small, 3 mm from the initial position at the time of 30 sheets (from the intermediate processing tray) as in the case of stacking flat sheets 6-7 mm) acts to press the sheet at the moved position. That is, each height change amount in the sheet conveyance direction of the intermediate processing tray 330 according to information on sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330 such as the thickness, type, size, and sheet processing mode of the sheet material is calculated in advance. And control.

  Further, each height change amount in the sheet conveyance direction corresponding to the sheet information such as the above-described surface resistance (for example, presence / absence of coating), the image transfer information such as the transfer image density, the type of transfer image (for example, color / black and white), and the like. May be calculated respectively. In the case of coated paper, color paper having a high transfer image density, or color paper having a large transfer area, the friction coefficient between the sheets is small, and there is a possibility that a trouble occurs when the trailing edge stopper is abutted due to an increase in conveying force. For this reason, it is necessary to control each height change amount in the sheet conveyance direction in small increments.

  FIG. 20 shows the operation position control of the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the rear end lever 332 as a conveyance pressing member until 30 sheets of Z-fold paper are stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330. It is.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the heights of the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the trailing end lever 332 at the operation positions in the sheet conveying direction are calculated based on the sheet information. The distance from the sheet stacking surface 330c of the intermediate processing tray 330 can be changed according to the calculation result.

  Then, the distance from the sheet stacking surface 330c of the intermediate processing tray 330 such as the pull-in paddle 360 is changed according to the height of the sheet bundle according to the height of the sheet bundle. That is, the pull-in paddle 360, the belt roller 608, the sheet guide guide 312 and the rear end lever 332 can be moved in the sheet thickness direction, and the operation position in the sheet thickness direction on the sheet is changed according to the calculated sheet stacking height. To do.

  As a result, the aligning force with respect to the sheet such as the pull-in paddle 360 can be made substantially constant in any number of sheets. As a result, good consistency can be achieved for a wide range of sheet materials regardless of the thickness, number of sheets, usage environment (temperature, humidity), and secondary processing methods (sheet processing) such as folding and gluing. Can do.

  Further, with this configuration, it is possible to reduce fluctuations in the drawing speed and the drawing force due to the deflection pressure of the drawing paddle 360. For this reason, it is possible to perform stable alignment without causing problems related to alignment of the sheet bundle, such as bounce at the rear end stopper abutment, bounce, dents at collision, flaws, and sounds.

  In addition, it is possible to prevent image rubbing, image scratches, sheet buckling, folding and the like due to the rubber material of the pull-in paddle 360. Furthermore, the sheet guide guide 312 can be easily penetrated into the sheet guide surface, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of poor entry, poor alignment, guide rubbing, and the like due to conveyance resistance.

  Further, by making the abutting conveyance force of the belt roller 608 substantially constant, the bounce at the rear end stopper abutting, bounce, dents at the time of collision, a flaw, a sound, a sheet, along with an increase in the abutting conveyance speed Occurrence of defects related to bundle alignment can be prevented. Thereby, stable matching can be performed. Further, it is possible to prevent image rubbing, image scratches, breakage, and the like due to the rubber material of the abutting conveyance roller.

  Further, the distance between the upper limit position (operation position) of the rear end lever 332 and the position where the rear end lever 332 presses the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 330 is independent of the height and thickness of the sheets on the stacking means. It can be kept substantially constant. As a result, buckling of the upper curled paper due to poor entry into the rear end stopper 331 or poor pressing can be suppressed, and the alignment of the sheet with respect to the rear end stopper 331 can be enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, a Z-fold sheet has been described as an example of a sheet having a difference (variation) in height in the sheet conveyance direction, but an envelope, an embossed sheet having unevenness on the surface, a bonded sheet such as a slip The same effect can be obtained for all sheet materials having different heights. Further, the same effect can be obtained for folding sheets other than Z-folding and folding sheets having different folding positions.

  In the description so far, the case where the height of the sheet bundle is calculated from the sheet information such as the number of sheets (count value of the counter 954) and the sheet thickness has been described. However, the height of the sheet bundle is described using a sensor. May be detected.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a side stitching processing apparatus according to another configuration of the present embodiment. In FIG. 21, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 11 denote the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 21, 319A, 319B, and 319C are height detection means provided near the rotation shaft 361, belt roller 608, and rear end lever 332 of the pull-in paddle 360, and these height detection means 319A to 319C are not shown. The reflection type sensor is provided. In addition, the reflection type sensor which is this detection part detects the thickness and height of a sheet | seat by reflected light.

  The CPU 950 shown in FIG. 18 described above is based on the sheet information other than the sheet thickness and the number of sheets in the distance to the uppermost sheet surface detected by the reflection type sensors of the height detection means 319A to 319C, and the like. Determine the operating position. Examples of the sheet information other than the sheet thickness and the number of sheets include the use environment (temperature, humidity), surface resistance, sheet image transfer information (color / monochrome), image transfer density, and the like.

  Even in such a configuration, it is possible to realize stable alignment stacking for any sheet material by controlling the respective operation height positions according to the height of the sheet.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a copier that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a side stitch processing apparatus provided in the sheet processing apparatus. The front view of the said flat binding processing apparatus. The figure which shows the structure of the sheet | seat rear end alignment part of the said flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure explaining the structure which changes the shape of the belt roller provided in the said flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure explaining the relationship between the lever stopper provided in the sheet | seat trailing edge alignment part of the said flat stitching processing apparatus, and a trailing edge stopper. The top view of the said sheet rear end alignment part. The top view which shows the positional relationship of the stapler of the said flat stitching processing apparatus, and a rear-end stopper. The perspective view which shows the positional relationship of the said rear end stopper and a rear end lever. The figure explaining operation | movement at the time of the staple sort mode in the finisher which is the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure which shows a state when the sheet | seat curled in the upper direction was sent to the said flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure which shows a state when the sheet | seat curled in the downward direction was sent to the said flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure which shows the state until 20 sheets are stacked | stacked in the said flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure which shows the state until 50 sheets are stacked | stacked in the said flat stitching processing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state until 100 sheets are stacked in the flat stitching processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the number of stacked sheets and the moving heights of a pull-in paddle, a belt roller, a rear end lever, and a sheet guide. The figure which showed the count value per sheet set according to the thickness of a sheet | seat, and the displacement value of a rear-end lever. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the flat stitching processing apparatus. The figure which shows the state until 30 Z fold sheets are stacked in the said flat stitching processing apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation height position control of a drawing paddle, a belt roller, a sheet guide guide, and a rear end lever until the Z-fold paper is stacked on the 30 intermediate processing tray. The figure which shows the structure of the sheet | seat stacking apparatus which concerns on the other structure of this Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the conventional sheet | seat stacking apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation of binding a sheet bundle of a conventional sheet stacking apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which Z-folded sheets are stacked on an intermediate processing tray of a conventional sheet stacking apparatus. The figure showing the state in which the Z-folded sheet | seat was piled up several sheets.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet | seat rear end alignment part 100 Copier main body 101 Image forming part 110 Black-and-white / color copying machine 300 Side stitch processing apparatus 301 Stapler 312 Sheet guide guides 319A-319C Height detection means 330 Intermediate processing tray 330c Sheet stacking surface 331 Rear end stopper 332 Rear end lever 333 Lever stopper 360 Pull-in paddle 600 Finisher 608 Belt roller 950 CPU
954 Counter P sheet

Claims (17)

A sheet stacking means sheet folding with a non-folding portion folded portions overlapping folded portions and which folded portions of sheet of the sheet do not overlap are stacked, folded non of folded sheets are conveyed to the sheet stacking means In a sheet stacking apparatus provided with a stopper that abuts against the side edge and aligns the folded sheet,
A sheet conveying means that abuts on the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means and conveys the folded sheet in a direction against the stopper;
In the direction in which the folded sheet abuts against the stopper, the stopper side is inclined between the sheet conveying means and the stopper so that the stopper side is lowered in the sheet thickness direction, and conveyed in the direction abutted against the stopper by the sheet conveying means while guiding the folded sheet is, a guide means having a stopper-side end portion abutting the non-folding portion upper face of being butted to the stopper folding deflected upward in the sheet thickness direction sheet,
A height calculating means for calculating a stacking height of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means,
The guide for the previous SL sheet non-folding the upper surface of the stacking means is pressed against the sheet thickness direction of the active position and said stopper of said sheet conveying means for folding the upper surface of the folded conveyed sheet by folding bends upward sheet The operation position in the sheet thickness direction of the end portion of the means is the sheet stacking height calculated by the height calculating means so as to act on the sheet with an operating pressure set in each of the sheet conveying means and the guide means. The sheet stacking apparatus is characterized by being changed according to each. The sheet thickness according to the stacking height of the sheets calculated by the height calculating means so as to press the sheet conveyed in the direction in which the sheet conveying means abuts against the stopper with a working pressure within a set range. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet pressing unit configured to change a sheet action position in the direction.   3. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change of the operation position of the sheet pressing unit in the thickness direction of the sheet is performed in conjunction with the change of the operation position of the guide unit in the sheet thickness direction.   4. The operation position of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit in the sheet thickness direction is changed stepwise according to the stacking height of the sheets. 5. Sheet stacking device.   The height calculating means calculates the height of the sheet bundle based on at least one of sheet thickness information, sheet basis weight information, sheet image transfer density, and sheet processing information, and the number of sheets discharged and stacked. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus is a sheet stacking apparatus. The height calculating unit includes a detection unit that detects the height of the sheet bundle at each operation position in a direction in which the folded sheets of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit abut against the stopper. Item 5. The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. When a folded sheet is mixedly loaded on the sheet stacking unit, the sheet stacking height at each operation position in the direction in which the folded sheet of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit abuts against the stopper is calculated by the height calculating unit. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation positions of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit are changed accordingly. Operative position of the sheet conveying means and the guide means, the size of the folded sheet, thickness, stiffness, image transfer information, surface resistance, folding shape, is changed, respectively Re Teso by the folding position, characterized in Rukoto The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 7. 9. The folding means for forming a folded sheet having a folded portion where folded sheets overlap and a non-folded portion where the sheets do not overlap, and the folded sheets folded by the folding means are stacked. or the sheet processing apparatus comprising the sheet stacking equipment according to item 1. Folding means for forming a folded sheet having a folded portion where the folded portions of the sheets overlap and a non-folded portion where the folded portions of the sheets do not overlap, a sheet stacking means on which the folded sheets are stacked, and the sheet stacking means A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a stopper that contacts the non-folding portion side end of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet and aligns the folded sheet;
A sheet conveying means that abuts on the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means and conveys the folded sheet in a direction against the stopper;
In the direction in which the folded sheet abuts against the stopper, the stopper side is inclined between the sheet conveying means and the stopper so that the stopper side is lowered in the sheet thickness direction, and conveyed in the direction abutted against the stopper by the sheet conveying means while guiding the folded sheet is, a guide means having a stopper-side end portion abutting the non-folding portion upper face of being butted to the stopper folding deflected upward in the sheet thickness direction sheet,
A height calculating means for calculating a stacking height of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means,
The guide means for the operation position of the sheet conveying means in the sheet thickness direction with respect to the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means and the upper surface of the unfolded portion of the folded sheet that is abutted against the stopper and bent upward The working position of the end of the sheet in the sheet thickness direction is the sheet stacking height calculated by the height calculating means so as to act on the sheet with the working pressure set in each of the sheet conveying means and the guide means. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is changed accordingly. The sheet thickness according to the stacking height of the sheets calculated by the height calculating means so as to press the sheet conveyed in the direction in which the sheet conveying means abuts against the stopper with a working pressure within a set range. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a sheet pressing unit configured to change a sheet action position in the direction. 12. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the change of the operation position of the sheet pressing unit in the thickness direction of the sheet is performed in conjunction with the change of the operation position of the guide unit in the sheet thickness direction. 13. The operation position of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit in the sheet thickness direction is changed in stages according to the stacking height of the sheets, respectively. Sheet processing device. The height calculating means calculates the height of the sheet bundle based on at least one of sheet thickness information, sheet basis weight information, sheet image transfer density, and sheet processing information, and the number of sheets discharged and stacked. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. The height calculating unit includes a detection unit that detects the height of the sheet bundle at each operation position in a direction in which the folded sheets of the sheet conveying unit and the guide unit abut against the stopper. Item 14. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Items 10 to 13. Image forming means for forming images on sheets, further comprising a sheet processing apparatus according to process sheet formed an image in any one of the facilities to請 Motomeko 10 to 15 by the image forming means An image forming apparatus. An image forming means for forming an image on the sheet, a folded portion where the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming means is folded, and a non-folded portion where the folded portion of the sheet overlaps and the folded portion of the sheet does not overlap Folding means for forming a folded sheet, sheet stacking means for stacking folded sheets, a stopper that contacts the non-folded portion side end of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means, and aligns the folded sheets; In an image forming apparatus comprising:
A sheet conveying means that abuts on the upper surface of the folded portion of the folded sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means and conveys the folded sheet in a direction against the stopper;
In a direction in which the folded sheet abuts against the stopper, the stopper side is inclined between the sheet conveying means and the stopper so that the stopper side is lowered in the sheet thickness direction, and in the direction in which the sheet conveying means abuts against the stopper. while guiding the folded sheet is conveyed, the guide having the stopper side end folded sheet comes into contact with the non-folded portion upper surface of the sheet folding when deflected upward abutment is in sheet thickness direction to said stopper Means,
A height calculating means for calculating a stacking height of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means,
End of said guide means for said sheet non folding the upper surface of the abutted to the working position and the stopper of the sheet thickness direction with respect to the sheets stacked on the stacking means folding bent over sheet of the sheet conveying hand stage The working position in the sheet thickness direction depends on the stacking height of the sheets calculated by the height calculating means so as to act on the sheets with a working pressure within a range set in each of the sheet conveying means and the guide means. An image forming apparatus, wherein each is changed.

Images