JP5065770B2 - Insert device, image forming apparatus connected thereto, and post-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, an insert apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, a plurality of sheets on which images have been formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer are stacked, and a bundle of the stacked sheets is bundled and stapled by a stapling apparatus and punched by a punch hole forming apparatus. A post-processing apparatus capable of executing punch hole forming processing or the like is known.

  Further, in the post-processing apparatus as described above, an insert portion is provided on the upstream side in the paper transport direction of post-processing means such as a punch hole forming apparatus and a stapling apparatus disposed in the apparatus main body, or the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus. By disposing an insert device between the processing device, a front cover and a back paper (cover paper) used for bookbinding and an identification slip (insert paper) are used between ordinary papers carried from the image forming apparatus. ) And the like can be realized.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses providing an insert portion in the post-processing apparatus. Patent Document 2 discloses that an insert device is attached to the post-processing apparatus side between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus.
JP 2000-72320 A JP 2003-98778 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, even when the insert function is not required, another problem is that the post-processing apparatus is increased in size and cost because the transport path for the insert function is provided in the post-processing apparatus. have.

  In Patent Document 2, in order to fix the insert device to the side surface of the post-processing device, the insert device has to be removed in order to perform jam processing or staple cartridge replacement from the side surface of the post-processing device. In this case, there is no problem if the specification is such that the post-processing apparatus can be operated from the front side, but there is a problem that the cost becomes higher than the specification that works from the side because the number of parts is increased. .

  As described above, the conventional insert device is expensive and inconvenient. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to improve the degree of freedom of installation and to provide an insert device that can be easily attached and detached, thereby enabling work from the side of the post-processing device and suppressing an increase in cost. It is another object of the present invention to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus to which the insert apparatus is attached / detached.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an insert device disposed between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus, a first coupling unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus can be attached and detached. And a second coupling means.

  In the above-described insert device, it is preferable that the first and second coupling means are provided on the side of the paper carry-in side or the side of the paper discharge side of the insert device. This is because the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus are connected to the side surface of the insert apparatus.

  In the insert device, the first and / or second coupling means may be a hook that engages with a hook hole of a coupling destination or a hook that engages with a hook of a coupling destination in order to facilitate attachment / detachment work. A hole is desirable.

  In the above insert device, the first and / or second coupling means further includes a plate-like portion projecting substantially horizontally from the side surface of the insert device, and a lower portion projecting downward from the lower surface of the plate-like portion. A rod-shaped portion that can be inserted into and removed from the previous slit in the horizontal direction and a protrusion larger than the width of the slit formed at the tip of the rod-shaped portion, or protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the insert device It is desirable to include a plate-like portion and a slit that is formed in the plate-like portion and into which the connecting rod-like portion can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the omission in the up-down direction can be prevented.

  Further, in the above-described insert device, it is desirable to provide a support member that contacts the image forming apparatus or the post-processing device when the insert device is disposed on the side of the paper carry-in side or the side of the paper discharge side of the insert device. This is to prevent wobbling of the insert device and improve installation stability.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which the insert device can be disposed on the side surface, the image forming apparatus includes a third coupling unit that can be attached to and detached from the insert device on the side of the paper discharge side of the image forming device, A hook that engages with a hook hole of an insert device or a hook hole that engages with a hook of an insert device.

  According to this structure, it can connect with the insert apparatus which has a 1st coupling means.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the third coupling unit further includes a plate-like portion that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the image-forming device, and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the plate-like portion, to the slit of the insert device. A plate-like part that has a rod-like part that can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction and a protrusion that is larger than the width of the slit formed at the tip of the stick-like part, or that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the image forming apparatus It is desirable to include a portion and a slit formed in the plate-like portion, in which the rod-like portion of the insert device can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the omission in the up-down direction can be prevented.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, it is desirable to provide a support member that contacts the insert device in a state in which the insert device is disposed on the side of the paper discharge side of the image forming apparatus. This is to prevent wobbling of the connected insert device and improve installation stability.

  Further, the present invention is a post-processing device in which an insert device can be disposed on a side surface, and includes a fourth coupling means that can be attached to and detached from the insert device on a paper carry-in side surface of the post-processing device, It is a hook hole engaging with a hook hole of an insert device or a hook hole engaging with a hook of an insert device.

  According to this structure, it can connect with the insert apparatus which has a 2nd coupling means.

  In the post-processing apparatus, the fourth coupling means further includes a plate-like portion that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the post-processing device, and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the plate-like portion, into the slit of the insert device. A plate-like part that has a bar-like part that can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction and a protrusion part that is larger than the width of the slit formed at the tip of the bar-like part, or that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the post-processing apparatus It is desirable to include a portion and a slit formed in the plate-like portion, in which the rod-like portion of the insert device can be inserted and removed horizontally. Thereby, the omission in the up-down direction can be prevented.

  In the post-processing apparatus, it is desirable to provide a support member that contacts the insert device in a state in which the insert device is provided on the side of the paper carrying-in side of the post-processing device. This is to prevent wobbling of the connected insert device and improve installation stability.

  According to the present invention, the insert device can be easily attached and detached by the first to fourth coupling means. In addition, since the insert device can be separated from the image forming apparatus or separated from the post-processing apparatus, the degree of freedom in installation is improved. Further, depending on which side the insert device is separated from, it is possible to work from the side surface of the image forming apparatus and from the side surface of the post-processing apparatus, so there is no need to make specifications that allow work from the front surface and cost increases. Can be suppressed. If the first to fourth coupling means are employed, the insert device can be connected to various image forming apparatuses and post-processing apparatuses.

  In this embodiment, a copying machine is illustrated as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus other than a copying machine, such as a laser printer or a facsimile machine.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a state in which a copying machine, an insert device, and a post-processing device are connected. An insert device is connected to the left side surface of the copying machine 1, and a post-processing device is connected to the left side surface of the insert device. A connection method will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the copying machine, the insert device, and the post-processing device. The copying machine 1 includes a rectangular parallelepiped copying machine main body 2 in which various devices for image formation described later are mounted, and a document reading device 3 attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. In the apparatus main body 2, a sheet feeding unit 4 disposed at a lower portion, a sheet conveying unit 5 disposed on the side and above the sheet feeding unit 4, and a sheet feeding unit 4 are disposed above the sheet feeding unit 4. An image forming unit 6, a fixing device 7 disposed on the downstream side of the image forming unit 6 in the sheet conveying direction, and an image reading unit 8 disposed above the image forming unit 6 and the fixing device 7. Is provided.

  The paper feed unit 4 is provided with a paper feed cassette 4a provided with a separate feeding means such as a paper feed roller on the downstream side in the paper transport direction, and a bundle of paper P placed on the paper feed cassette 4a. Are fed one by one from the uppermost sheet P to the sheet conveying unit 5 by the rotation operation of the sheet feeding roller. The sheet conveying unit 5 receives the sheet P fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 as Each pair of conveyance rollers 5a conveys the image to the image forming unit 6.

  The image forming unit 6 and the fixing device 7 are elongated in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction inside the apparatus main body 2, and in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 in FIG. The image forming unit 6 and the fixing device 7 are arranged in this order from the right side along the conveyance direction (from right to left) of the paper P.

  The image forming unit 6 forms a predetermined toner image on the paper P by an electrophotographic process. The image forming unit 6 is a photosensitive drum 9 that is an image bearing member that is rotatably supported. A charging device 10, an exposure device 11, a developing device 12, a transfer device 13, a cleaning device 14, and a charge removal device 15 are provided around the periphery along the rotation direction. The fixing device 7 heats and presses the sheet P on which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming unit 6 between a pair of fixing rollers composed of a heating roller 16 and a pressure roller 17, and is undetermined on the sheet P. The received toner image is fixed on the paper P.

  The image reading unit 8 reads image information of a document, and when reading each document by hand, the document reading device 3 is opened and a contact glass 8a provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 is provided. When a document is placed on top and automatically read one by one from the document bundle, the document bundle is placed on the paper feed tray of the document reading device 3 in a closed state. . When the original bundle is placed on the paper feed tray, the originals one by one from the original bundle are automatically fed sequentially onto the contact glass 8a. In either case, the document positioned on the contact glass 8a is irradiated with light from the exposure lamp, and the reflected light is guided to a photoelectric conversion unit including a CCD line sensor or the like via a reflecting mirror.

  The basic operation of the copying machine 1 configured as described above will be described below. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 rotating in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 is uniformly charged by the charging device 10 and subsequently input from the image information read by the image reading unit 8 or a host device such as a personal computer (not shown). Based on the image information, a laser beam from the exposure device 11 (laser device or the like) is irradiated onto the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 9, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9. By supplying toner as a developer from the developing device 12 to the electrostatic latent image, a toner image is formed.

  Next, the sheet P from the sheet feeding unit 4 is conveyed toward the photosensitive drum 9 on which the toner image is formed through the sheet conveying unit 5, where the photosensitive drum 9 is transferred by a transfer device 13 including a transfer roller and the like. The toner image on the surface is transferred onto the paper P. Then, the sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 9 and conveyed toward the fixing device 7, and the toner image is fixed by heat treatment by passing between the heating roller 16 and the pressure roller 17. The The sheet P that has passed through the fixing device 7 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 2 by the conveying roller pair 18.

  Then, the photosensitive drum 9 on which the transfer process of the toner image to the paper P has been completed, the residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface is removed by the cleaning device 14, and then the charge removal process is performed by the charge removal device 15. Thereafter, the peripheral surface is charged again by the charging device 10 and image formation is performed in the same manner.

  Further, in the copying machine 1, an insertion sheet I such as a cover sheet and a back sheet (cover paper) used for bookbinding or an identification slip (insert sheet) is inserted between the sheets P carried from the copying machine 1. An insert device 50 that can be connected is connected.

  FIG. 3 is a front view showing a conveyance path of the insert device. As shown in FIG. 3, the insert device 50 is provided with a relay transport path 51 for transporting the paper P discharged from the copying machine 1 to the post-processing device 20 at the lower portion, and the relay transport path 51 has a relay transport roller 52. Is arranged. In addition, an insertion paper tray 53 on which the insertion paper I is placed is provided at the upper portion, and an insertion conveyance path 54 for conveying the insertion paper I taken from the insertion paper tray 53 to the relay conveyance path 51. Is provided. A take-in mechanism 55 for taking in the insertion sheet I placed on the insertion sheet tray 53 and a pair of conveyance rollers 56 and 57 for conveying the insertion sheet I are arranged in this order from the upstream side along the insertion conveyance path 54. ing.

  A reversing path 58 for reversing the insertion sheet I is connected to the insertion transport path 54 downstream of the transport roller pair 56 and upstream of the transport roller pair 57. A reversing roller 89 is provided. A branch guide 60 for switching the transport direction of the insertion sheet I is disposed at a branch portion between the insertion transport path 54 and the reversing path 58. Further, the relay conveyance path 51 is provided with detection means 61 for detecting the conveyed paper P and the insertion paper I.

  The basic operation of the insert device 50 will be described. The paper P on which an image is formed by the copying machine 1 is transported to the post-processing device 20 via the relay transport path 51. Further, the insertion paper I taken in from the insertion paper tray 53 is, for example, the insertion paper I placed on the insertion paper tray 53 with the surface facing up, and taken in by the take-in mechanism 55 and conveyed through the insertion conveyance path 54. Then, it is guided to the reversing route 58 by the branch guide 60. Then, after being reversed by the reversing roller 59, the surface is turned up via the insertion conveyance path 54, that is, in the same state as the surface on which the image of the paper P is formed, and then passed through the relay conveyance path 51. It is conveyed to the processing device 20.

  Next, the configuration of the post-processing device 20 will be described. The post-processing device 20 is disposed downstream of the insert device 50 in the paper conveyance direction, and performs post-processing such as stapling on the paper on which image forming processing has been performed by the copying machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the post-processing device 20, a punch hole forming device 21 that performs a punching process on the loaded paper and a plurality of the loaded paper are stacked, and the stacked paper bundle is collected. A stapling device 22 for stapling, and a main tray 23 that can be raised and lowered to a position suitable for paper discharge and a sub-tray 24 fixed to the top of the post-processing device 20 on the side surface of the post-processing device 20. Discharge rollers 25 and 26 are provided for discharging the paper to the respective trays.

  The punch hole forming device 21 is disposed on the upper portion of the post-processing device 20, and an intermediate roller pair 27 for transporting paper is disposed on the downstream side of the punch hole forming device 21 in the paper transport direction. Further, a retracting drum 28 for temporarily retracting the sheet transported by the intermediate roller pair 27 is disposed on the downstream side, and the sheet transporting direction around the retracting drum 28 is the sub-tray 24 side and the staple processing device. A branch guide 29 for switching to either the 22 side is provided.

  When there are two or more sheet bundles to be stapled, the retracting drum 28 is a first sheet of the sheet bundle to be discharged after the staple processing and the next sheet bundle newly carried into the post-processing device 20. In order to prevent the sheets from intermingling with each other, the first sheet of the carried-in sheet bundle is wound around the retracting drum 28 and can be temporarily retracted and introduced into the staple processing device 22 together with the second sheet. It is made into the composition. The retraction drum 28 is configured to be rotatable so that the paper can be conveyed toward the discharge roller 26 when the paper is discharged from the discharge roller 26.

  The staple processing device 22 includes a stapler 30 and a processing tray 40. On the processing tray 40, there are provided a first carry-in port 31 into which paper of a predetermined size (here, A4 size) or smaller and a second carry-in port 32 into which paper larger than the predetermined size is carried. In the vicinity of the first and second carry-in ports 31 and 32, hitting members 33 and 34 are provided for hitting the loaded paper in the direction of the processing tray 40 and keeping it along the tray surface. Pressing rollers 35 and 36 for pressing the paper on the processing tray 40 along the tray surface are provided.

  Subsequently, the operation of the post-processing device 20 will be described. When the paper P subjected to the image forming process is carried in, and punch hole formation is instructed, the punch hole is formed at a predetermined position of the paper conveyed by the punch hole forming device 21, and the punch hole formation is performed. If not instructed, it passes through the punch hole forming device 21 as it is, and is conveyed to the retracting drum 28 by the intermediate roller pair 27. If the stapling process is not instructed, it is conveyed by the retracting drum 28, guided to the discharge roller 26 by the branch guide 29, and discharged to the sub-tray 24.

  On the other hand, when the stapling process is instructed, the sheet is guided to the stapling apparatus 22 by the branch guide 29 and is carried onto the processing tray 40 from the first or second carry-in port 31 or 32. When the paper is carried into the processing tray 40, the tapping members 33 and 34 and the pressing rollers 35 and 36 are driven at a predetermined timing, whereby the paper is urged toward the processing tray 40 and is moved to the processing tray 40. Accepted.

  When all the sheets are received, the alignment unit (not shown) performs a plurality of alignment operations to align the sheet bundle, and then inserts the leading end of the sheet bundle into the staple unit 30a. The staple unit 30a staples the sheet bundle. Is done. After stapling the sheet bundle at the stapling unit 30a, a sheet bundle conveying means (not shown) conveys the sheet bundle upward along the processing tray 40, and the sheet bundle is discharged to the main tray 23 by the discharge roller 25. Is done.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet not subjected to the staple process is discharged to the sub-tray 24, and the sheet bundle subjected to the staple process is discharged onto the main tray 23. Thus, it is also possible to configure so that paper that has not been stapled can be discharged to the main tray 23.

  Next, a connection structure between the image forming apparatus 1 and the insert apparatus 50 and a connection structure between the insert apparatus 50 and the post-processing apparatus 20 will be described. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the main part of the insert device 50 and its periphery. FIG. 4 shows a state where the image forming apparatus 1, the insert apparatus 50, and the post-processing apparatus 20 are connected.

  The insert device 50 includes a first coupling unit 70 that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 1 on the right side surface (paper carrying side surface), and is attached to and detached from the post-processing device 20 on the left side surface (paper discharge side surface). Possible second coupling means 75 are provided. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a third coupling unit 80 detachably attached to the first coupling unit 70 of the insert device 50 on the left side surface (side surface of the paper discharge side). Further, the post-processing apparatus 20 includes a fourth coupling unit 85 that can be attached to and detached from the second coupling unit 75 of the insert device 50 on the right side surface (side surface of the paper carry-in side). Here, the first coupling means 70 and the fourth coupling means 85 have the same configuration, and the second coupling means 75 and the third coupling means 80 have the same configuration. The configuration of the connecting means 70 and the third connecting means 80 will be described as an example.

  5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of the insert device 50, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of the image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8A, FIG. 9A is a top view of the third coupling means 80, and FIG. 9B. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first coupling means 70 has two hooks 71, 71 and a shaft 72 that fixes the hooks 71, 71. A shaft 72 passes through a through hole formed in the hooks 71, 71, and the hooks 71, 71 are fixed to the shaft 72 with screws or the like near both ends of the shaft 72. The shaft 72 is horizontally attached to the insert device 50 so as to be rotatable. Thereby, the flange 71a at the tip of the hook 71 is directed downward when the hook 71 is in a horizontal state. As a material of the hooks 71 and 71 and the shaft 72, metal or resin can be used.

  Moreover, the 1st coupling | bonding means 70 has the L-shaped board 73 (refer FIG.5, 6, 8). The L-shaped plate 73 includes a first plate-like portion 73 a along the right side surface of the insert device 50 and a second plate-like portion 73 b that protrudes substantially horizontally from the right side surface of the insert device 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the second plate-like portion 73 b is preferably sized to fit between the hooks 71 and 71 so as not to obstruct the hooks 71 and 71. The L-shaped plate 73 can be formed by bending a single metal plate at a right angle. The L-shaped plate 73 is fixed to the side surface of the insert device 50 with screws or the like.

  Further, the L-shaped plate 73 includes a rod-shaped portion 73c that protrudes downward from near the center of the lower surface of the second plate-shaped portion 73b, and a protrusion 73d that is larger than the thickness of the rod-shaped portion 73c formed at the tip of the rod-shaped portion 73c. With. The rod-like portion 73c and the protruding portion 73d are cylindrical in FIG. 8A, but the shape is not particularly limited, and may be a prismatic shape. The rod-like portion 73c and the protruding portion 73d can be fixed by being integrally molded metal parts and welding or screwing to the second plate-like portion 73b.

  On the other hand, the third coupling means 80 has a J-shaped plate 81 (see FIGS. 5, 7, and 9). The J-shaped plate 81 includes a third plate-like portion 81a along the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 1, a fourth plate-like portion 81b protruding substantially horizontally from the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 1, and a fourth plate-like portion. A fifth plate-like portion 81c extending obliquely downward from the tip of 81b and a sixth plate-like portion 81d extending vertically downward from the lower end of the fifth plate-like portion 81c are provided. The distance from the third plate-like portion 81a to the sixth plate-like portion 81d is longer than the length from the bent portion to the tip portion of the second plate-like portion 73b. This is for the purpose of appropriately overlapping the fourth plate-like portion 81b and the second plate-like portion 73b when the first and third coupling means 70, 80 are coupled. The J-shaped plate 81 can be formed by bending a single metal plate. The J-shaped plate 81 is fixed to the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 with screws or the like.

  Furthermore, the J-shaped plate 81 is formed in the fourth plate-like portion 81b, and the rod-like portion 73c of the first coupling means 70 is formed in the slit 81e that can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction, and the fifth plate-like portion 81c. The projection 73d of the first coupling means 70 includes an opening 81f that can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction. In order to prevent vertical disengagement in the coupled state with the first coupling means 70, the width of the slit 81e is larger than the diameter of the rod-shaped portion 73c and smaller than the diameter of the protruding portion 73d.

  Further, the J-shaped plate 81 is formed in the fourth plate-like portion 81b and includes two hook holes 81g and 81g with which the hooks 71 and 71 of the first coupling means 70 are respectively engaged (see FIG. 9). The size of the hook hole 81g is set such that the hook portion 71a is caught. The hook hole 81g is rectangular in FIG. 9A, but the shape is not particularly limited, and may be circular or other polygonal shapes.

  Further, in order to stabilize the coupling state of the insert device 50, the support members 90 that abut the side surfaces of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 20 on the right and left side surfaces of the insert device 50, respectively, with the insert device 50 disposed. , 90, 91, 91 are provided. As the support members 90 and 91, metal or resin columnar members can be used. From the viewpoint of stabilizing the coupled state, it is desirable to provide the support members 90 and 91 at positions as far as possible from the first and second coupling means 70 and 75. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it may be provided near the lower portion of the insert device 50. Note that the support members 90 and 91 are provided on the side surfaces of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 20, respectively, and the effects are the same even if they are brought into contact with the side surfaces of the insert apparatus 50.

  Next, an attachment / detachment operation between the insert device 50 and the image forming apparatus 1, that is, an attachment / detachment operation between the first coupling unit 70 and the third coupling unit 80 will be described. In order to couple the first coupling unit 70 and the third coupling unit 80, the right side surface of the insert device 50 and the left side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 are opposed to each other, and the hook 71 of the first coupling unit 70, With the 71 lifted up, the insert device 50 is moved horizontally toward the image forming apparatus 1, the rod-like portion 73c of the first coupling means 70 is inserted into the slit 81e in the horizontal direction, and the hooks 71 and 71 are brought into the horizontal state. By returning, the flange portion 71a is engaged with the hook holes 81g and 81g of the third coupling means 80 (state shown in FIG. 5). As a result, the second plate-like portion 73 b of the L-shaped plate 73 is put on the fourth plate-like portion 81 b of the J-shaped plate 81, and the insert device 50 is supported by the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the hook 71 is engaged with the hook hole 81g to prevent horizontal separation, and the second plate 73b and the projection 73d sandwich the fourth plate 74b to prevent vertical separation. It is preventing. In addition, the wobbling of the insert device 50 is prevented by the support member 90 coming into contact with the image forming apparatus 1.

  On the other hand, in order to detach the first coupling means 70 and the third coupling means 80, the hooks 71, 71 of the first coupling means 70 are lifted and the insert device 50 is horizontally moved away from the image forming apparatus 1. The rod-shaped part 73c of the first coupling means 70 is detached from the slit 81e in the horizontal direction through the opening 81f. Thus, the insert device 50 is detached from the image forming apparatus 1.

  The attachment / detachment operation between the insert device 50 and the post-processing device 20, that is, the attachment / detachment operation between the second coupling means 75 and the fourth coupling means 85 is the same. As described above, since the insertion / removal of the insert device 50 is completed simply by horizontally moving the hook 71 in a lifted state, anyone can easily perform it.

  The first coupling means 70 is provided on the image forming apparatus 1 side, the third coupling means 80 is provided on the insert apparatus side, the second coupling means is provided on the post-processing apparatus side, and the fourth coupling means is inserted. You may provide in the apparatus side.

  When the insert device is a self-supporting type, the first coupling means 70 and / or the second coupling means 75 are sufficient to keep the coupling even with the hook 71 or the hook hole 81g.

  Further, the image forming apparatus may be connected to the left side surface of the insert device, and the post-processing device may be connected to the right side surface.

  FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state in which the insert device 50 and the image forming apparatus 1 are detached while the insert device 50 and the post-processing device 20 are connected, and FIG. 12 is a front view showing the insert device 50 and the image forming apparatus 1. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the insert apparatus 50 and the post-processing apparatus 20 with connecting.

  As described above, since the insert device 50 can be separated from the image forming apparatus 1 or separated from the post-processing device 20, the degree of freedom of installation is improved. The work from the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 and the work from the side surface of the post-processing apparatus 20 can be performed depending on which side the insert device 50 is to be detached. Increase in cost can be suppressed. If the first to fourth coupling means are employed, the insert device 50 can be connected to various image forming apparatuses and post-processing apparatuses.

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, an insert apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus.

It is a front view of the state which connected the copying machine, the insert apparatus, and the post-processing apparatus. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of a copying machine, an insert apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus. It is a front view which shows the conveyance path | route of an insert apparatus. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of the main part of an insert apparatus and its periphery. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is a principal part perspective view of an insert apparatus. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an image forming apparatus. (A) is a top view of a 1st coupling | bonding means, (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of Fig.8 (a). (A) is a top view of the 3rd coupling means, (b) is a BB line sectional view of Drawing 9 (a). FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the hook is removed in FIG. 5. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the insert apparatus and the image forming apparatus, connecting the insert apparatus and the post-processing apparatus. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the insert apparatus and the post-processing apparatus, connecting the insert apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 20 Post-processing apparatus 50 Insert apparatus 70 1st coupling means 71 Hook 73a 1st plate-shaped part 73b 2nd plate-shaped part 73c Rod-like part 73d Projection part 75 2nd coupling means 80 3rd coupling means 81a Third plate-like portion 81b Fourth plate-like portion 81c Fifth plate-like portion 81d Sixth plate-like portion 81e Slit 81g Hook hole 85 Fourth coupling means 90, 91 Support member

Claims (3)

In the insert device disposed between the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus,
A first coupling unit detachable from the image forming apparatus and a second coupling unit detachable from the post-processing apparatus ;
The first and / or second coupling means includes
A hook having a pivotable hook that engages with a hook hole to be joined;
Furthermore, a plate-like portion that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the insert device, a rod-like portion that protrudes vertically from the plate-like portion and can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction into the slit of the coupling destination, and a tip of the rod-like portion A protrusion larger than the width of the formed slit, or
Or, a plate-like portion that protrudes substantially horizontally from the side surface of the insert device, and a slit that is formed in the plate-like portion so that the rod-like portion of the coupling destination can be inserted and removed in the horizontal direction,
When the hook is in a horizontal state, the hook is downward,
At the time of a coupling operation , the insert device is characterized in that the hook portion engages with the hook hole after the rod-like portion is inserted into the slit .   2. The insert device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling means are provided on a paper carry-in side surface or a paper discharge side side surface of the insert device, respectively. 3. A support member that contacts an image forming apparatus or a post-processing apparatus in a state in which the insert apparatus is disposed is provided on a side of a paper carry-in side or a side of a paper discharge side of the insert apparatus . Insert device.

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