JP4976246B2 - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as alignment processing or stapling processing for aligning sheet edges with respect to a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus or the like.

  Conventionally, an image-formed sheet (paper) sent from a paper discharge unit such as an image forming apparatus is received and stacked on a staple tray, and the stacked sheet bundle is offset in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction and aligned. In a sheet processing apparatus that sorts and discharges paper onto a paper discharge tray, or binds aligned sheet bundles with a staple unit and discharges them to a paper discharge tray, the sheets aligned on the staple tray In order to discharge a bundle onto a sheet discharge tray, which is a sheet stacking tray, a method in which a rear end portion of the sheet bundle is pushed out by a claw member or a method in which the sheet bundle is sandwiched by a conveyance roller is known. Yes.

The sheet processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a mechanism for discharging the aligned sheet bundle onto the paper discharge tray by driving the conveyance roller, and further, the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is placed on the paper discharge tray. As a member for reliably discharging, a paddle-shaped rotating body made of an elastic body is provided.
Japanese Patent No. 3471007

  In the sheet processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the sheet bundle aligned on the alignment tray is discharged onto the discharge tray and aligned, the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is reliably discharged as a sheet stacking tray. In order to discharge onto the tray, a mechanism including a paddle-shaped rotating body is provided, and the rear end portion of the sheet is scraped off by the paddle-shaped rotating body.

  However, in the conventional apparatus, a driving unit for rotating the rotating body is necessary, and the rotating body needs to be operated in synchronization with the movement of the discharged sheet bundle. Prone.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems of the prior art, and provides a sheet processing unit that includes a sheet discharge unit that can reliably discharge a sheet trailing edge with an inexpensive configuration when discharging a sheet bundle onto a sheet stacking tray. An object is to provide an apparatus.

In order to achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a sheet alignment tray that receives and stacks sheets, a transfer member that moves the sheets stacked on the sheet alignment tray one by one, and the transfer member. A rear edge fence that abuts against an end portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet transported by the sheet, and aligns the side surface of the sheet by pressing the side edge portion of the sheet aligned by the rear end fence. In the sheet processing apparatus, comprising: an end fence; and a sheet discharge member that presses the aligned sheet bundle and transfers the sheet bundle onto a sheet stacking tray provided downstream in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet alignment tray. Is pushed onto the sheet stacking tray by pushing the rear end of the sheet bundle, and the rear end of the sheet bundle is dropped onto the sheet stacking tray. Constituted by pivotable hook-shaped release claw to said the central portion of the sheet conveyance direction downstream end of the sheet align tray, to retractably to said sheet stacking tray direction than the sheet conveying direction downstream end Protruding convex portions are provided . With this configuration, the bowl-shaped discharge claw serves both as a function of pressing the rear end portion of the sheet bundle to push it out to the sheet stacking tray and a function of scraping the rear end portion of the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray. Without any dedicated mechanism, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as the rear end of the sheet bundle being caught on the way to the sheet stacking tray, and it has a simplified configuration and is inexpensive. The sheet processing apparatus can reliably discharge the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray. In addition, it is possible to change the discharge position of the rear end portion of the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray depending on the state of the sheet bundle to be processed, and reliably discharge onto the sheet stacking tray regardless of the state of the sheet bundle. Can do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the central portion of the sheet alignment tray at the downstream end in the sheet conveyance direction protrudes toward the sheet stacking tray from the downstream end in the sheet conveyance direction. The protruding portion may be further protruded in the sheet stacking tray direction than the protruding portion. With this configuration, even when a skew occurs in the sheet bundle during the sheet bundle discharging operation by the discharge claw, the sheet stacking tray can be reliably secured without being caught at the downstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet alignment tray. Can be released on top.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion is provided one, the projecting portion is provided two, these protrusions, in the width direction of the sheet bundle The protrusions are disposed apart from each other, the one protrusion is disposed between the protrusions, the two discharge claws are provided, and one protrusion of the two protrusions and the protrusion The two protrusions and one protrusion are arranged so that one of the two discharge claws passes between the two protrusions and the other discharge claw passes between the other protrusion and the protrusion. It is arranged.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is dropped onto the sheet stacking tray with respect to the discharge claw. And a control means for temporarily stopping the rotation, rotating the sheet rear end portion on the sheet stacking tray by the sheet pressing member, and returning the sheet to the standby position. With this configuration, when the bowl-shaped discharge claw moves to the standby position, the stacked sheet bundle is not damaged without coming into contact with the rear end portion of the sheet bundle.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the stipple means for performing the stipple processing by moving to the end in the width direction of the sheet bundle aligned by the rear end fence. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably discharge the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray even for the sheet bundle that has been subjected to the stippling process.

According to the present invention, the bowl-shaped discharge claw has both a function of pressing the rear end portion of the sheet bundle and pushing it to the sheet stacking tray, and a function of scraping the rear end portion of the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray. Therefore, without having a dedicated mechanism for each, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as the rear end of the sheet bundle being caught on the way to the sheet stacking tray, and a simplified configuration, A sheet processing apparatus that can reliably and inexpensively discharge a sheet bundle onto a sheet stacking tray is realized.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, there are a conveyance guide plate 201 and an open / close guide plate 202 that can be rotated upward. A paper discharge guide plate 203 is provided, and a conveyance path 204 is formed by the guide plates 201, 202, 203.

  A transport inlet 205 is formed by the end portions of the transport guide plate 201 and the open / close guide plate 202 at the upstream side of the transport path 204 in the sheet transport direction. Is provided, and a pair of conveying rollers 207 is provided in the vicinity of the inlet sensor 206 and downstream thereof. Further, a paper discharge roller pair 208 is provided downstream of the conveyance path 204, and a paper discharge sensor 209 is provided in the vicinity upstream of the paper discharge roller pair 208.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the transport roller pair and the paper discharge roller pair in this embodiment. The drive side transport roller 207a of the transport roller pair 207 and the drive side paper discharge roller 208a of the paper discharge roller pair 208 are shown in FIG. The roller pair 210 and the timing belt 211 are connected to a stepping motor 212, and the roller pairs 207 and 208 are rotationally driven by the rotation of the stepping motor 212.

  3A and 3B are perspective views showing the configuration of the paper discharge roller pair in the present embodiment. FIG. 3A shows the front side, and FIG. 3B shows the rear side.

  In FIG. 3, a swing arm 213 is rotatably provided on the roller shaft of the drive-side discharge roller 208a of the discharge roller pair 208. The swing arm 213 is made of an elastic friction member (for example, made of sponge). A hitting roller 214 is provided as a transfer member. The tapping roller 214 is connected to a pulley 220 fixed to the roller shaft of the driving-side discharge roller 208a via a timing belt 215, a pulley 216, a shaft 217, a pulley 218, and a timing belt 219. The hitting roller 214 rotates in the same direction by the rotation of the paper roller 208a.

  The swing arm 213 is always in a state of receiving a load in the direction of the staple tray 401 which is a sheet alignment tray, as shown in FIG. 1, by its own weight or a spring (not shown), The lever 221 is loaded in the opposite direction and is held at a position abutted against a stopper portion (not shown). The swing arm 213 is rotated in the direction of the staple tray 401 by the reciprocating rotation of the lever 221, and the hitting roller 214 is brought into contact with the staple tray 401. It is configured to do.

  4 and 5 are perspective views showing a configuration example of the drive portion of the lever in the present embodiment.

  In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, the reciprocating rotation of the lever 221 is driven by a DC / SOL 223 that is a DC solenoid device connected to the lever 221.

  Further, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 5, the cam 226 connected via the timing belt 225 is rotated by the rotational driving of the stepping motor 224 and is inserted into the link portion 227 of the long lever 221 a extending from the lever 221. The cam projection 226a is driven to rotate.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the drive-side discharge roller in this embodiment. A gear 228 is fitted to the roller shaft of the drive-side roller 208a of the discharge roller pair 208, and the roller of the drive-side roller 208a. A holder 229 is rotatably provided on the shaft, and a return roller 230 made of an elastic friction member (for example, made of sponge) is provided on the holder 229 and is connected to the gear 228 via an intermediate gear 231. With this configuration, the rotation of the driving-side paper discharge roller 208 a is transmitted to the return roller 230. The holder 229 is always loaded in the direction of the staple tray 401 by its own weight and the weight of the return roller 230, and the outer periphery of the return roller 230 is always in contact with the staple tray 401. Rotate.

  Next, the configuration of the sheet alignment unit in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a related structure of a staple tray that is a sheet alignment tray in the present embodiment. The side of the staple tray 401 is aligned with the side surface of the sheet by pressing the side edge of the sheet. Jogger fences 402 and 403 which are end fences are provided, and the jogger fences 402 and 403 are inserted into a guide shaft (not shown) fixed to the staple tray 401 and moved and guided, and a timing belt (not shown). And the stepping motors 406 and 407 are connected to the stepping motors 406 and 407, and the reciprocating linear movement is performed by the forward and reverse rotation of the stepping motors 406 and 407. The staple tray 401 is provided with home sensors 408 and 409 for detecting the standby positions of the jogger fences 402 and 403.

  Further, on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the staple tray 401, reference fences 410 and 411, which are rear end fences that contact the end portion in the sheet conveyance direction and perform alignment in the sheet conveyance direction, are provided. Further, between the reference fences 410 and 411, a discharge claw 430 which is a bowl-shaped lever body as a sheet discharge member to be described in detail later is installed.

  Next, each part operation | movement from sheet carrying in to alignment in this embodiment of the said structure is demonstrated.

  FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing specific operation timings of each part in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present embodiment, where (a) shows the operation timing in the sort mode and (b) shows the operation timing in the stipple mode.

  The basic operation timing is the same between the sort mode and the stipple mode, and the operation of the main part will be described with reference to FIG. Control of these operation timings is controlled by a control means (not shown) including a CPU or the like provided in the apparatus main body.

  When the length of the sheet discharged in the image forming apparatus or the like is small (for example, B5Y / A4Y), the sheet enters the carry-in entrance 205, and a certain amount after the entrance sensor 206 detects the front end of the sheet. After conveyance (after 20 mm conveyance), the stepping motor 212 accelerates and conveys the sheet from the receiving linear velocity (138 mm / s) to 500 mm / s. Also, when the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction is a large size (other than the above), the sheet trailing edge passes through a paper discharge sensor (not shown) on the image forming apparatus side, and then is conveyed by a certain amount and then accelerated conveyance. To do.

  The sheet that is accelerated and conveyed in the conveyance path 204 is conveyed by a certain amount after the sheet trailing edge passes through the inlet sensor 206 (position where the sheet trailing edge reaches 30 mm upstream of the discharge roller pair 208), and then the stepping motor 212. The sheet is decelerated and conveyed by the deceleration of 200 mm / s for the small size and 300 mm / s for the large size. The sheet is fed to the staple tray by the discharge roller pair 208 at the linear speed. 401 is discharged.

  After the sheet trailing edge passes through the inlet sensor 206 and is conveyed by a certain amount and passes through the sheet discharge roller pair 208 (after the sheet trailing edge has passed through the sheet discharge roller pair 208 and conveyed by about 5 mm), the DC / SOL 223, Alternatively, the lever 221 starts to rotate by the driving of the stepping motor 224, the swing arm 213 rotates in the direction of the staple tray 401, and the hitting roller 214 hits the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet discharged onto the staple tray 401. The sheet is conveyed so that the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the reference fences 410 and 411 by the rotation of the hitting roller 214. Further, the sheet whose rear end is brought into contact with the reference fences 410 and 411 by the hitting roller 214 is further conveyed in the reference fence directions 410 and 411 by the rotation of the return roller 230, and the posture is maintained.

  9 and 10 are explanatory diagrams showing the sheet alignment operation of the jogger fence in the present embodiment, FIG. 9 shows the alignment operation in the sort mode, and FIG. 10 shows the alignment operation in the stipple mode. .

  At the same time as receiving a sheet discharge signal from the image forming apparatus or the like, the jogger fences 402 and 403 move to the receiving position depending on the size of the loaded sheet in the width direction. At this time, the jogger fences 402 and 403 move to the position of the sheet width +15 mm in the shift mode shown in FIG. 9 and to the position of the sheet width +7 mm in the stipple mode shown in FIG. To do.

  Further, the operation in the shift mode shown in FIG. 9 will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D, the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the sheet discharge roller pair 208, and the hitting roller 214 and the return roller 230. Then, one jogger fence 402 as the near side moves 30 mm toward the jogger fence 403 as the reference side, and the sheet side end contacts the reference side jogger fence 403. The sheet is retracted 30 mm again, stopped at the receiving position, waits for the next sheet to be discharged, and the same operation is sequentially repeated on the discharged sheet to align the sheet bundle with the reference-side jogger fence 403.

  Further, after aligning a predetermined number of sheets and discharging (e) the sheet bundle to the sheet discharge tray 301 by the operation of the discharge claw 430, the next sheet is switched between the approach side and the reference side of the jogger fences 402 and 403. As a result, the shifting operation is performed in the opposite direction to the immediately preceding sheet bundle ((f) to (h)). By repeating this a predetermined number of copies, the sheet bundle is shifted and stacked on the paper discharge tray 301. After the predetermined number of copies have been completed, the process returns to the home position and waits (i).

  In addition, the operation timings of the jogger fences 402 and 403 are all controlled by the time management of the control means based on the detection of the passage of the trailing edge of the entrance sensor 206.

  The operation in the stipple mode shown in FIG. 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the discharge roller pair 208 and the tapping roller 214 starts rotating. The jogger fences 402 and 403 move forward by 5 mm and stop at the position of the sheet width +2 mm. Further, when the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the reference fences 410 and 411, the sheet moves forward by 2.5 mm (d), aligns the sheet to the center, moves back to the receiving position, stops, and waits for the next sheet to be discharged (e ) The operation is sequentially repeated for the discharged sheets, and the sheet bundle is aligned at the center.

  When the predetermined number of alignment operations are completed (f), the stapler 420 as a stapling means performs binding processing at a predetermined position near the rear end of the sheet bundle (g), and the paper is discharged by the discharge claw 430 as a hook-shaped lever body. It is discharged onto the tray 301 (h). After the predetermined number of copies are completed, the process returns to the home position and waits (j).

  Further, the operation timings of the jogger fences 402 and 403 are all controlled by the control means by the time management from the detection of the passage of the trailing edge of the entrance sensor 206 as described above.

  FIGS. 11A to 11C are explanatory views showing the configuration and operation of the reference fence portion in the present embodiment.

  The reference fences 410 and 411 are attached so as to be movable in the sheet width direction along guide shafts 412 inserted in the slide guide portions 410a and 411a. One reference fence 410 is attached to the staple tray 401 by a tension spring 413. Force is constantly applied in the center of the. Further, rack portions 410b and 411b are integrally provided on the reference fences 410 and 411, and are connected to each other via a pinion gear 414.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when the stapler 420 moves in the central direction (left direction in the figure) along the sheet width direction by driving the staple drive motor 421, the stapler 420 is hooked by the protrusion 420a. One reference fence 411 is moved together by the force of the tension spring 413, and the reference fence 410 is also moved in the center direction (right direction in the figure) via the rack portion 410b, the pinion gear 414, and the rack portion 411b.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), when the stapler 420 moves and the protrusion 420a keeps moving by hooking the reference fence 410 (in the left direction in the figure), the reference fence 410 has rack portions 410b, 411b, and The pinion gear 414 moves in both end directions (right direction in the figure).

  Accordingly, when the stapler 420 performs the binding process at a desired position of each size sheet, the positions of the reference fences 410 and 411 are always symmetrical with respect to the center in the sheet width direction.

  12 and 13 are explanatory views showing a modification of the configuration of the reference fence portion in the present embodiment. In the modification shown in FIG. 12, a timing belt 417 and a pulley 416 are provided as drive means instead of the rack portions 410b and 411b and the pinion gear 414, and the same operation as described above is performed.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 13, instead of the rack portions 410b and 411b and the pinion gear 414, a wire 415 and a pulley 418 are provided, and the reference fences 410 and 411 fixed to both ends of the wire 415 are the same as described above. I am trying to do the operation.

  Next, the configuration of the paper discharge tray unit will be described.

  14 to 16 are perspective views showing the configuration of the paper discharge tray portion in this embodiment. The paper discharge tray 301 is fixed to support members 302 and 303. The support members 302 and 303 are timing belts 304 and 303, respectively. It is connected to the drive shaft 306 via 305 and a pulley 307. Further, a gear 308 is fitted to the drive shaft 306 and is connected to the DC motor 309 via the gear 308. By the rotation of the DC motor 309, the discharge tray 301 is moved up and down. An end fence 310 is provided substantially vertically at the end of the paper discharge tray 301.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a rotary shaft 312 fitted with a lever 313 is rotatably attached to the end fence 310, and two sheet pressing members 311 can be rotated near both ends of the rotary shaft 312. Has been inserted. Further, the sheet pressing member 311 is provided with a spring (not shown) that pressurizes the front end portion toward the end fence 310. Further, a DC / SOL 315 is fixed in the vicinity of one end of the rotating shaft 312, and the rotating shaft 312 reciprocates at a fixed angle by the operation of the DC / SOL 315, whereby the lever 313 rotates and the sheet presser is rotated. The member 311 is rotated. The end fence 310 is provided with a sheet height detection sensor 314.

  The sheet pressing member 311 is normally stopped at a position where the tip pressing portion 311a protrudes from the sheet alignment surface of the end fence 310 by the pressure spring, and the tip pressing portion 311a is moved to the end fence by the suction operation of the DC / SOL 315. It is rotated from the sheet alignment surface 310 to a position where it is completely buried.

  The detection of the stacked sheet height of the sheet discharge tray 301 is performed by the upper surface of the sheet stacked by raising the sheet discharge tray 301 pushing up the front end pressing portion 311a of the sheet pressing member 311 protruding from the end fence 310. The sheet height detection sensor 314 detects the detection unit provided in a part of the sheet.

  17 and 18 are explanatory diagrams of an operation example of the paper discharge tray portion at the time of sheet discharge in the present embodiment. The operation of the paper discharge tray will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18 and FIGS.

  In both the configuration examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when the sheet is discharged to the sheet aligning portion by the discharge roller pair 208, the standby position of the discharge tray 301 is that the discharge tray 301 is the leading end pressing portion of the sheet pressing member 311. This is the position detected by the sheet height detection sensor 314 by pushing up 311a, or a position raised by a predetermined height from that position. At this position, the sheet bundle aligning operation and stapling operation are performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 17A and 18B, the sheet bundle aligned by the jogger fences 402 and 403 and subjected to the sorting process and the stapling process is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 301 as the discharge claw 430 moves forward. Is done.

  In the example shown in FIG. 17, the DC / SOL 315 sucks and the sheet pressing member 311 is completely removed from the end fence 310 at the same time as the discharge claw 430 moves forward and stops at a predetermined distance before the downstream end of the staple tray 401. It rotates to the position to be buried (b).

  At the same time as the discharge claw 430 starts moving forward, the DC motor 309 starts driving and lowers the discharge tray 301 by a predetermined distance. Immediately after the discharge claw 430 moves forward again and stops at the position where the rear end of the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 301, the DC / SOL 315 is turned off and the sheet pressing member 311 protrudes and is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 301. Press the rear end of the sheet bundle ((c), (d)). After the sheet pressing member 311 presses the rear end of the sheet bundle, the discharge claw 430 moves forward again and returns to the home position and stops ((e) to (g)).

  When the sheet pressing member 311 presses the rear end of the sheet bundle, if the sheet height detection sensor 314 is not detecting, the paper discharge tray 301 is lowered to the detection height of the sheet detection sensor 314 and is at the detection position. Then, it rises again and stops at the alignment position to prepare for the alignment of the next sheet bundle (h).

  In the example shown in FIG. 18, at the same time as the discharge claw 301 moves forward and stops (b), the DC motor 309 starts to drive and lowers the discharge tray 301 by a predetermined distance (c), and the sheet bundle is placed on the discharge tray 301. At the same time as the sheet tray 301 is dropped and stopped after the paper tray 301 is lowered, the DC / SOL 315 sucks and rotates to a position where the sheet pressing member 311 is completely buried from the end fence 310 (d). The SOL 315 is turned off, the sheet pressing member 311 protrudes from the end fence 310 again ((e), (f)), the discharge tray 301 is raised again, and the upper surface of the sheet bundle stacked on the discharge tray 301 Pushes up the sheet presser member 311 and stops at a position detected by the sheet height detection sensor 314 (g), or stops after a predetermined height rise after detection. Pressing the vicinity of the bundle rear end by pressure end portion 311a of the sheet hold-down member 311, ready for the next sheet discharge (h).

19 to 21 are perspective views showing the configuration of the staple tray in the present embodiment, and the central portion of the downstream end of the staple tray 401 is provided with a protruding portion 441 that protrudes 5 mm from both sides thereof. Further, between the plurality of (two in this example) discharge claws 430, a convex portion 443 having a configuration in which the protrusion amount can be changed by 0 mm to 6 mm with respect to the protrusion portion 441 is provided. The central portion of the downstream end portion of the sheet alignment tray in the sheet conveyance direction is provided with a convex portion that protrudes in the direction of the sheet stacking tray from the downstream end portion of the sheet conveyance direction, and the downstream end of the sheet alignment tray in the sheet conveyance direction The central portion of the portion is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes in the direction of the sheet stacking tray from the downstream end portion in the sheet conveying direction, and the protruding portion can protrude further in the direction of the sheet stacking tray than the protruding portion. It has become.

The protruding portion 441 has a curved surface that is continuous with the curved surface 321 a above the sheet trailing edge alignment surface 321 of the end fence 310, and protrudes on both sides thereof, so that the sheet bundle is placed on the discharge tray 301 by the discharge claw 430. In the case where a skew occurs when the sheet is discharged, the both ends of the rear end of the sheet bundle remain at the downstream end of the staple tray 401 to prevent a drop failure and reliably drop onto the discharge tray 301. be able to. As described above, in the sheet processing apparatus of this example, the sheet alignment tray protrudes in the center portion of the downstream end portion in the sheet conveyance direction in the sheet stacking tray direction from both side portions of the sheet alignment tray in the sheet conveyance direction downstream end portion. With this configuration, even when a skew occurs in the sheet bundle during the sheet bundle discharging operation by the discharge claw, the vicinity of both ends of the sheet bundle is pulled to the downstream end in the sheet conveying direction in the sheet alignment tray. The sheet can be reliably discharged onto the sheet stacking tray without being hung.

Further, by adopting a configuration in which the convex portion 443 can be projected and retracted manually with respect to the projecting portion 441, the convex portion 443 is projected, and the rear end of the sheet bundle is fed to the discharge tray 301. It is possible to change the drop position, and it is possible to adjust the drop position on the sheet discharge tray 301 that changes depending on the state of the rear end of the sheet bundle. As a result, it is possible to prevent a discharge failure due to the state of the rear end portion of the sheet bundle (a failure in which the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is caught on the end fence alignment surface 321a and is sandwiched between the discharge claws). As described above, in the sheet processing apparatus of this example, the protruding portion of the sheet aligning tray protrudes with respect to the alignment surface of the fence portion that aligns the sheet trailing end on the sheet stacking tray in the vicinity of both sides of the rotation of the discharge claw. With this configuration, when the sheet bundle curled upward near the trailing edge of the sheet is discharged onto the sheet stacking tray, the trailing edge of the sheet bundle is caught on the alignment surface of the fence section. And can be reliably discharged onto the sheet stacking tray. In addition, the convex portion on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet alignment tray is provided so as to be able to protrude and retract with respect to the sheet alignment tray. With this configuration, the sheet stacking tray at the rear end portion of the sheet bundle depending on the state of the sheet bundle to be processed The upward discharge position can be changed, and the sheet can be reliably discharged onto the sheet stacking tray regardless of the state of the sheet bundle.
Further, in the sheet processing apparatus of this example, as is apparent from FIGS. 19 and 21, one protrusion is provided and two protrusions are provided, and these protrusions are the width of the sheet bundle. The projections are arranged apart from each other in the direction, one projection is arranged between the two projections, two discharge claws are provided, and between one projection and the projection of the two projections The two protrusions and one protrusion are arranged so that one of the two discharge claws passes through and the other discharge nail passes between the other protrusion and the protrusion.

  The present invention is applied to a sheet processing apparatus for performing various post-processing on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the conveyance roller pair and discharge roller pair in this embodiment The perspective view which shows the structure of the paper discharge roller pair in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structural example of the drive part of the lever in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structural example of the drive part of the lever in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the drive side discharge roller in this embodiment The perspective view which shows the related structure of the staple tray which is a sheet alignment tray in this embodiment. Timing chart showing specific operation timing of each part in the sheet post-processing apparatus of this embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the sheet alignment operation | movement of the jogger fence in this embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the sheet alignment operation | movement of the jogger fence in this embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the reference | standard fence part in this embodiment, and its operation | movement. Explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a structure of the reference | standard fence part in this embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the other modification of a structure of the reference | standard fence part in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the paper discharge tray part in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the paper discharge tray part in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the paper discharge tray part in this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the operation example of the paper discharge tray part at the time of sheet discharge in this embodiment Explanatory drawing of the operation example of the paper discharge tray part at the time of sheet discharge in this embodiment The perspective view which shows the structure of the staple tray in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the staple tray in this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the staple tray in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet post-processing apparatus 204 Conveying path 208 Paper discharge roller pair 214 Tapping roller 230 Return roller 301 Paper discharge tray 310 End fence 311 Sheet pressing member 311a Tip pressing part 401 Staple trays 402 and 403 Jogger fences 410 and 411 Reference fence 420 Stipler 430 Discharge claw 441 Projection 443 Projection 230 Return roller

Claims (5)

A sheet alignment tray that receives and stacks the sheets, a transfer member that moves the sheets stacked on the sheet alignment tray one by one, and an end of the sheet that is conveyed by the transfer member in the conveying direction. A rear end fence that performs alignment in the conveying direction, a side end fence that aligns the side surfaces of the sheets aligned by pressing the side end portions of the sheets aligned by the rear end fence, and the aligned sheet bundle to press the sheet In a sheet processing apparatus comprising a sheet discharge member that is transferred onto a sheet stacking tray provided downstream in the sheet conveying direction of the alignment tray,
A rotatable bowl-like shape that pushes the rear end portion of the sheet bundle to push the sheet discharge member onto the sheet stacking tray and drops the rear end portion of the sheet bundle onto the sheet stacking tray. constituted by a discharge claw, the central portion of the sheet conveyance direction downstream end of the sheet align tray that was provided a convex portion than the sheet conveying direction downstream end projecting retractably to said sheet stacking tray direction A sheet processing apparatus. A protruding portion that protrudes in the sheet stacking tray direction from the downstream end portion in the sheet conveying direction is provided at a central portion of the downstream end portion in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet aligning tray, and the protruding portion is further further than the protruding portion. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet processing apparatus can protrude in a sheet stacking tray direction . One protrusion is provided, and two protrusions are provided. These protrusions are arranged apart from each other in the width direction of the sheet bundle, and the one protrusion is between the protrusions. Is arranged, and two discharge claws are provided, and one discharge claw of the two discharge claws passes between one projection part and the convex part of the two projection parts, The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two protrusions and the one protrusion are arranged so that the other discharge claw passes between the other protrusion and the protrusion . The rotation is temporarily stopped at the position where the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is dropped onto the sheet stacking tray with respect to the discharge claw, and the sheet rear end portion is pressed onto the sheet stacking tray by the sheet pressing member. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a control unit that is rotated again and returned to the standby position and stopped after being turned . The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a stipple unit that moves to an end portion in a width direction of the sheet bundle aligned by the rear end fence to perform a stipple process.

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