JP5274898B2 - Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet post-processing device having a holding function capable of preventing breakage of a sheet holding member and enhancing the durability of the device. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet post-processing device comprises a processing tray 29 for receiving sheets discharged from an image forming device, a stack tray 21 provided on the downstream side of the processing tray 29, a post-processing means 31 which is moved in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction to execute the predetermined post-processing to a plurality of sheet bundles stacked on the processing tray 29, a holding means 105 which is retractably moved in the longitudinal direction of the sheet discharging direction in a moving area of the post-processing means 31, and holds the sheet bundle post-processed by the post-processing means 31 and discharges it onto the stack tray 21, and a protective means for preventing any contact with the holding means 105 by the post-processing means 31 when the holding means 105 is in the moving area of the post-processing means 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, for example, sheets sequentially sent from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing apparatus are sequentially received and processed into a bundle, and the edge binding process, punching process, and saddle stitching are performed on the sheet bundle. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as a middle folding process, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  In recent years, for example, the speed of processing in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing apparatus has been increased, and the speed of a sheet post-processing apparatus attached thereto is also demanded. However, as a result of the increased speed, new problems have arisen from the parts that are unavoidably functional or left behind. For example, in the sheet post-processing apparatus as described above, when discharging a post-processed sheet bundle, only the discharge speed is emphasized, and the stacking posture of the sheet bundle on the discharge tray is not considered. For this reason, the discharged sheets are disorderly stacked, and the result is that a user-friendly device is provided in which the user needs to realign and arrange each time.

  Therefore, in recent years, an apparatus that improves the stackability of a sheet bundle by gripping the sheet bundle with a gripping unit when the sheet bundle is discharged is becoming mainstream. In this sheet post-processing apparatus with a gripping function, it is necessary to secure a certain amount of space in order for the gripping member to operate. However, the compactness of the entire apparatus is maintained by using a design in which the operation space of the binding means for performing a plurality of binding processes on the sheet bundle and the operation space of the gripping member are shared.

  However, in the above-described conventional sheet post-processing apparatus with a gripping function, the operating space of the binding unit and the operating space of the gripping member are combined, so that the gripping member is not in the correct standby position or during the operation of the gripping member. When an operation failure that causes the binding means to operate occurs, there is a problem that the gripping member collides with the binding means and the gripping member is damaged.

  Therefore, in view of the above situation, the present invention provides a sheet post-processing apparatus with a gripping function that prevents damage to a sheet gripping member and increases the durability of the apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet post-processing apparatus. For the purpose.

For this reason, the present invention moves to a processing tray that receives sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, a stack tray provided on the downstream side of the processing tray, and a direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the sheets. A post-processing unit that performs predetermined post-processing on the sheets stacked on the tray; and a front-rear direction of the sheet discharge direction , and moves into and out of a movement area of the post-processing unit, and is post- processed by the post-processing unit and gripping means for discharging the stack tray by gripping the sheet bundle, movable in the moving region and out of the post-processing means, when the gripping means is in move within the region of the post section, the to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim between the gripping means of the post means that the contact of the post means and the gripping means provided with anti-tool protection member.

  In addition, the protection member is movable between an action position for post-processing within the movement area of the post-processing means and a retracted position provided in a space below the processing tray. The protective member moves between the operating position and the retracted position in accordance with the movement of the gripping means within the movement area of the post-processing means.

  At this time, it is preferable that the driving means of the gripping means also serves as a driving means for applying a driving force in at least one direction of the protection member that moves in a retractable manner within a movement region of the post-processing means.

  The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and the sheet post-processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the protection means for protecting the gripping means for gripping the sheet can be configured only by adding a simple structure to the conventional apparatus. Here, if the protection means is configured to move following the position movement of the gripping means, the gripping means can be further reliably protected. Further, if this protection means is provided below the processing tray, the dead space can be utilized without taking up a new place, so that the compactness of the apparatus is not hindered. Further, if the driving unit of the protection unit is also used as the driving unit of the gripping unit, further downsizing can be achieved. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the gripping means from being damaged and improve the durability of the apparatus.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming system including an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus B according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a detailed configuration of the post-processing apparatus B, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the principal part.

[Configuration of image forming system]
The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus (sheet processing apparatus; hereinafter the same) B. Then, a carry-in port 23 of the post-processing apparatus B is connected to the paper discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A, and the sheets formed with the image forming apparatus A are stapled by the post-processing apparatus B to stack the stack tray 21 and the saddle tray 22. It is comprised so that it may house.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
The image forming apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus A is configured to send a sheet from the paper feeding unit 1 to the image forming unit 2, print the sheet on the image forming unit 2, and then discharge the sheet from the paper discharge port 3. The sheet feeding unit 1 stores sheets of a plurality of sizes in sheet feeding cassettes 1 a and 1 b, and separates specified sheets one by one and feeds them to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes, for example, an electrostatic drum 4, a print head (laser light emitter) 5, a developing device 6, a transfer charger 7, and a fixing device 8 disposed around the electrostatic drum 4. The image forming apparatus 2 forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 4 by a laser light emitter 5, attaches toner thereto by a developing device 6, transfers the image onto a sheet by a transfer charger 7, and fixes the fixing device In step 8, the image is formed by heating and fixing. The sheets on which images are formed in this way are sequentially carried out from the paper discharge port 3. 9 is a circulation path. A sheet printed on the front side from the fixing device 8 is reversed on the front and back via the switchback path 10 and then fed again to the image forming unit 2 to print on the back side of the sheet. This is the print path. The sheet printed on both sides in this way is turned upside down by the switchback path 10 and then carried out from the paper discharge port 3.

  11 is an image reading apparatus, which scans a document sheet set on a platen 12 with a scanning unit 13 and electrically reads it with a photoelectric conversion element (not shown). The image data is digitally processed by an image processing unit, for example, and then transferred to the data storage unit 14 to send an image signal to the laser emitter 5. 15 is a document feeder, which is a feeder device that feeds document sheets stored in the stack tray 16 to the platen 12.

  The image forming apparatus A having the above configuration is provided with a control unit (controller) 150 shown in FIG. From the control panel 18 of the image forming apparatus A, image forming conditions such as sheet size designation, color / monochrome printing designation, number of copies designated, single-sided / double-sided printing designation, enlarged / reduced printing designation, and the like are set. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus A, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is accumulated in the data storage unit 17. Image data is transferred from the data storage unit 17 to a buffer memory 19, and data signals are sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

  From the control panel 18, post-processing conditions are also input and specified simultaneously with the image forming conditions such as single-sided / double-sided printing, enlargement / reduction printing, and monochrome / color printing described above. As the post-processing conditions, for example, “print-out mode”, “binding finishing mode”, “booklet finishing mode”, or the like is selected.

[Configuration of post-processing equipment]
The post-processing apparatus B receives the sheet on which the image has been formed from the sheet discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A, and (i) whether the sheet is accommodated in the stack tray 21 (the aforementioned “print-out mode”), or (ii) After the sheets from the paper discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, they are stored in the stack tray (first stack tray) 21 (the above-mentioned “binding finish mode”), or (iii) the paper discharge port 3 In order to store the sheets in a saddle tray (second stack tray) 22 (the above-mentioned “booklet finishing mode”), the sheets are aligned in a bundle and stapled at the center, and then folded into a booklet and stored in the saddle tray (second stack tray) 22 as described below. It is configured.

  The casing (exterior cover) 20 of the post-processing apparatus B is provided with a carry-in port 23 a, and this carry-in port 23 a is connected to the paper discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A. The casing 20 is provided with a first processing unit BX1 for aligning and collecting sheets from the carry-in entrance 23a and binding and finishing, and a second processing unit BX2 for collecting and collecting sheets from the carry-in entrance 23a and finishing the booklet. It has been. A first carry-in route P1 is provided between the first processing unit BX1 and the carry-in port 23a, and a second carry-in route P2 is provided between the second process unit BX2 and the carry-in port 23a. These sheets are distributed and guided to the first processing unit BX1 and the second processing unit BX2. The carry-in entrance 23a is provided with a carry-in roller 23, a sheet sensor S1, and a path switching means (flapper member) 24 that distributes sheets to the first or second carry-in paths P1 and P2.

  A “buffer path P3” is provided between the punch unit 60 and the processing tray 29 in the first transport path P1. The buffer path P3 temporarily retains subsequent sheets sent to the sheet carry-in port 23a during the post-processing operation when post-processing such as stapling is performed on the sheet bundle that has been aligned and stacked on the processing tray 29. For this reason, the buffer path P3 is branched and arranged in the vertical direction of the casing 20 on the upstream side of the path to the processing tray 29 in the first transport path P1, as shown in FIG. The sheet from the first conveyance path P1 is switched back and stays in this path. Therefore, when the post-processing (edge binding processing described later) is performed on the sheet bundle that has been collected and aligned on the processing tray 29, the subsequent sheet sent to the carry-in port is temporarily retained, and the processing sheet on the processing tray 29 is unloaded. Thereafter, the succeeding sheet on this path can be transferred to the tray 29.

  The first carry-in path P1 is disposed substantially horizontally in the upper part of the apparatus housing constituted by the casing 20, and the first processing unit BX1 is disposed downstream of the first carry-in path P1, and the stack tray 21 is disposed downstream thereof. Is arranged. The second carry-in path P2 is arranged substantially vertically in the lower part of the casing 20, the second processing unit BX2 is arranged on the downstream side of the second carry-in path P2, and the saddle tray 22 is arranged on the downstream side thereof. ing. In the first carry-in path P1, a punch unit 60 described later is disposed between the carry-in port 23 and the first processing unit BX1. A trimmer unit 90 described later is disposed between the second processing unit BX2 and the saddle tray 22 in the second carry-in path P2.

  The first carry-in path P1 is provided with a paper discharge roller 25 and a paper discharge outlet 25x at the path exit end, and a paper discharge sensor S2 is disposed in the paper discharge outlet 25x, and a sheet passing through the first carry-in path P1. Is detected, and jam detection and the number of passing sheets are counted. Then, the following processing tray 29 is arranged with a step formed downstream of the paper discharge port 25x. Further, a conveyance roller 27 is provided in the second carry-in path P2, and a stacking guide 45 described later is disposed with a step formed on the downstream side thereof.

[Configuration of first processing unit]
The first processing unit BX1 includes a processing tray 29 arranged in the first carry-in path P1, an end binding staple unit 31 arranged in the processing tray 29, and an aligning unit 51.

[Processing tray structure]
The processing tray 29 is formed of a synthetic resin plate or the like and includes a sheet support surface 29a for stacking and supporting sheets. The sheet support surface 29a is disposed with a step formed on the downstream side of the sheet discharge port 25x, and is configured to stack and store sheets from the sheet discharge port 25x. The illustrated sheet support surface 29 a is formed to have a length shorter than the length of the sheet in the sheet discharge direction, supports the rear end of the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 25 x, and the sheet front end is above the uppermost sheet of the stack tray 21. To support (bridge support).

  The processing tray 29 is provided with a sheet end regulating means 32 and abuts and aligns the sheet rear end (or may be the front end) from the sheet discharge outlet 25x. Above the processing tray 29, a switchback roller (first friction rotator; the same applies hereinafter) 26 (movable roller 26a, fixed roller 26b) for transferring the sheet carried on the tray to the sheet end regulating means 32, Lining means 51 and side alignment means 34 are arranged. Each configuration will be described below.

[Configuration of sheet edge regulating means]
The processing tray 29 is provided with sheet end regulating means 32 for positioning one end edge of the leading and trailing ends of the loaded sheet. The sheet end regulating means 32 shown in FIG. 4 includes a stopper member having a sheet end surface regulating surface 32a that regulates butting the trailing edge of the sheet and a sheet upper surface regulating surface 32b that regulates the upper sheet surface of the uppermost sheet. Yes. The sheet end regulating means 32 is disposed at the rear end edge of the processing tray 29 and is set in advance by abutting and regulating the rear end edge of the sheet transferred by a switchback roller 26 and an aligning means 51 described later. The sheet is positioned at a post-processing position (binding position; the same applies hereinafter). At this time, the sheet upper surface regulating surface 32b regulates the warping surface of the sheet with the curled tip, and the sheet end surface regulating surface 32a regulates the position of the sheet edge.

  The illustrated sheet end surface regulating surface 32a and sheet upper surface regulating surface 32b are formed of a stopper member integrally formed of a resin, a metal plate, or the like, but both the regulating surfaces can be formed of individual members. In the illustrated sheet end regulating means 32, a fixed stopper member 32A is disposed at the center in the sheet width direction, and first and second movable stopper members 32B and 32C are disposed at predetermined intervals on the left and right ends of the sheet, respectively. It is comprised with the stopper member. In addition, 32s in the figure is a leaf spring attached to each stopper member in order to correct the curl at the front end of the sheet.

  As described above, the first and second movable stopper members 32B and 32C positioned at the left and right end portions of the sheet are moved according to the sheet size. Therefore, the right slide member 38a and the left slide member 38b are fitted and supported on the bottom wall of the processing tray 29 so as to be movable in the sheet width direction. The first movable stopper member 32B and the second movable stopper member 32C are fixed to the left and right slide members 38a and 38b. The left and right slide members 38a and 38b are connected so as to be interlocked with alignment plates 34L and 34R that align the seat sides as will be described later.

  The sheet end regulating means 32 configured as described above is configured such that at least the sheet upper surface regulating surface 32b can move up and down in the sheet stacking direction. This is because when the sheet bundle on the processing tray 29 is unloaded from the tray by the sheet bundle unloading means 100 described later, the sheet bundle on the tray 29 may be lifted upward by the sheet bundle unloading means 100. This is because the sheet upper surface regulating surface 32b is moved upward following the upward movement.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixed stopper member 32 </ b> A is pivotally supported by the bottom wall of the processing tray 29 so as to be swingable, and is urged and supported by the urging spring 33 downward in the drawing. The first and second movable stopper members 32B and 32C are attached to the left and right slide members 38a and 38b, respectively, so as to be elastically deformable (32α portion in the drawing).

[Configuration of sheet transfer means]
The processing tray 29 is provided with a sheet transfer means (switchback roller) 26 for guiding the sheet carried from the paper discharge outlet 25x to the sheet end regulating means 32 described above. The sheet transporting unit 26 is configured by a friction rotating body such as a roller or a belt that transports a sheet conveyed from the sheet discharge outlet 25x to the processing tray 29 to the sheet end regulating unit 32. This will be described below according to the illustrated switchback roller mechanism.

The switchback roller 26 is disposed above the processing tray 29 as shown in FIG.
The uppermost sheet on the processing tray is configured to be conveyed in the forward and reverse directions. The switchback roller 26 is located between an operating position (FIG. 5C) in contact with the sheet on the processing tray 29 and a standby position spaced above the sheet (state shown in FIG. 5B). The shaft is supported by the lift support arm 28 so as to move up and down. That is, the lifting support arm 28 is supported by an apparatus frame (not shown) so as to be swingable by a swinging rotary shaft 28a. The swinging rotary shaft 28a is supported by a lift motor (arm driving means; hereinafter) via a pinion 28p. Similarly, MY is connected. Note that a position sensor (not shown) is disposed on the lifting support arm 28, and the position of the lifting support arm 28 is detected to control the lifting between the standby position and the operating position.

  The movable switchback roller 26a, which is axially supported by the elevating support arm 28, is connected to a forward / reverse motor (not shown) via a transmission means, and discharges the sheet carried on the processing tray 29 in the paper discharge direction and in the opposite direction. It is designed to reverse forward and backward. Therefore, the roller rotating shaft 26z of the switchback roller 26a is supported by a long groove 28u formed in the lifting support arm 28 as shown in FIG. 5A, and can be moved up and down in the sheet stacking direction (up and down direction in FIG. 5A). It is supported by the shaft. The movable switchback roller 26a is provided with a paper surface contact sensor Ss. Incidentally, 28z shown in the figure is a leaf spring that constantly urges the roller rotation shaft 26z downward, for preventing the malfunction of the paper surface contact sensor Ss by lifting the shaft when the switchback roller 26a is lowered.

"Paper contact sensor"
The switchback roller 26a is provided with a paper surface contact sensor Ss for detecting the position of a roller rotation shaft 26z that moves up and down along the long groove 28u. This paper surface contact sensor Ss is fixedly disposed on the above-described lifting support arm 28, and a roller rotating shaft 26z that moves (moves upward) in the long groove 28u by the contact pressure with which the switchback roller 26a contacts the uppermost sheet on the processing tray is provided. It is configured to detect a position. For this reason, the lift support arm 28 is provided with a sensor lever 30 having a rotation center o1 at a position different from the swing rotation shaft 28a, and a roller rotation shaft 26z is axially connected to the tip of the sensor lever 30. A paper surface contact sensor Ss is configured by a photo sensor that detects a sensor flag 30f formed at the rear end of the sensor lever 30.

  The switchback roller 26a configured as described above is configured such that the lifting support arm 28 is vertically swung by the lifting motor MY, and the standby position above the processing tray (FIG. 5B) and the sheet carried on the processing tray. It moves up and down with respect to the operating position (FIG. 5C) in contact with. Then, it is detected by the paper surface contact sensor Ss disposed on the elevating support arm 28 that the switchback roller 26a comes into contact with the sheet carried on the processing tray 29.

"Configuration of control means"
Therefore, the control means 165 for controlling the lifting motor MY is configured as follows. The ascending control means 165 includes a control CPU 160 described later, and controls the elevation support arm 28 to be raised and lowered between the standby position and the operating position. First, the control means 165 is stopped at a standby position by a position sensor (not shown) disposed on the elevating support arm 28. Then, the leading edge of the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 25x is detected by the sheet sensor S2, and after the expected time when the leading edge of the sheet has passed directly below, the lift motor MY is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Then, the elevating support arm 28 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5A around the swing rotation shaft 28a. As a result, the roller rotating shaft 26z of the switchback roller 26a is supported by the long groove 28u, so that the switch back roller 26a is moved from the standby position (FIG. 5B) to the operating position (FIG. 5C) at substantially the same speed as the lifting support arm 28. To descend. At this time, the sensor lever 30 connected to the switchback roller 26a moves (lowers) in the same direction at the same speed as the lifting support arm 28.

  At this time, the ascending control means 165 makes the descending speed (rotational speed of the ascending / descending motor MY) Va of the ascending / descending support arm 28 equal to the speed (free fall speed) Vr at which the movable switchback roller 26a falls by its own weight in the long groove 28u. Or it is set so as to be later (Va ≦ Vr). This is to prevent the paper surface contact sensor Ss from malfunctioning due to rebound or the like when the descending speed Va of the lifting support arm 28 is made faster than the switchback roller 26a that freely falls in the long groove 28u. That is, the speed Vr at which the switchback roller 26a falls is limited by the speed of the lifting support arm 28 and gently lowered to prevent erroneous detection such as chattering of the paper surface contact sensor Ss.

  Next, when the peripheral surface of the switchback roller 26a abuts on the uppermost sheet on the processing tray 29, the switchback roller 26a stops on the uppermost sheet, but the lifting support arm 28 swings in the same direction. Descend. At this time, in the paper surface contact sensor Ss, the sensor lever 30 swings in the clockwise direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5C) about the center rotation center o1. Then, the paper surface contact sensor Ss detects the sensor lever 30 and is turned “ON”. The lift motor MY is stopped by the detection signal of the paper surface contact sensor Ss. By controlling in this way, the switchback roller 26a always abuts on the uppermost sheet with a constant pressure contact force (for example, its own weight) Pt regardless of the amount of sheets stacked on the processing tray 29 (FIG. 5 ( c)).

  Concurrently with the lowering of the switchback roller 26a to the operating position, the control means 165 drives a forward / reverse motor (not shown) to rotate the switchback roller 26a forward and backward. Then, the sheet carried on the uppermost sheet of the processing tray 29 from the sheet discharge outlet 25x receives a certain conveying force and is transferred in the sheet discharge direction and the sheet discharge opposite direction. In the illustrated apparatus, when the sheet from the sheet discharge port 25x is conveyed in the sheet discharge direction from the sheet discharge port, the switchback roller 26a is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing and the leading end of the sheet is drawn into the processing tray 29. Then, after the rear end of the sheet has passed through the paper discharge port 25x, the switchback roller 26a is reversely rotated and conveyed back to the sheet end regulating means 32 side. During the sheet conveyance process, the sheet and the switchback roller 26a are engaged with a constant pressing force regardless of the amount of sheets stacked on the processing tray, and a predetermined conveying force set in advance is applied to the sheet. .

"Aligning mechanism"
On the processing tray 29, an aligning mechanism (aligning means) 51 for transferring the sheet to the sheet end regulating means 32 is provided together with the switchback roller 26a. As shown in FIG. 6A, the aligning means 51 is disposed immediately below the sheet discharge outlet 25 x and scrapes the rear end of the sheet carried into the processing tray 29 and transfers it toward the sheet end regulating means 32. The friction rotating body 52 is configured.

  The friction rotating body 52 is composed of a rotating body such as a rubber material, sponge (porous foam), other rollers, and a belt, and engages with the uppermost sheet on the tray and transfers it in a predetermined direction by the friction force. The illustrated friction rotator 52 is configured to move up and down according to the amount of sheets stacked on the processing tray 29. For this reason, a friction rotating body (roller) 52 is supported by a support on an elevating support arm 54 that is rotatably supported by an oscillation frame 53 on an apparatus frame (not shown). A driving pinion 53p is attached to the oscillating rotating shaft 53, and a stepping motor MC is connected to the driving pinion 53p. A torque limiter (not shown) is built in between the drive pinion 53p and the swing rotation shaft 53. Therefore, when the friction rotating body 52 attached to the lifting support arm 54 comes into contact with the uppermost sheet on the processing tray 29, the torque limiter is idled by the reaction force, and always engages with the uppermost sheet with a constant pressure. .

  For this reason, regardless of the amount of sheets stacked on the processing tray 29, the friction rotating body 52 engages on the uppermost sheet, and the lifting support arm 54 stops at this position. Then, after the elevating support arm 54 is stopped on the uppermost sheet, a torque limiter (not shown) is idled to apply a predetermined pressing force to the friction rotating body 52. An idle pulley is supported on the swing rotation shaft 53, and a drive motor (not shown) is connected to the pulley. The rotational force of the drive motor is transmitted from the pulley to the friction rotating body 52 by a belt or the like. The friction rotating body 52 configured in this manner rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6 at the operation position shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C and directs the sheet carried on the processing tray toward the sheet end regulating means 32. It is designed to be transported.

  The above-mentioned lifting support arm 54 is provided with a carry-in guide 54 a on the upstream side of the friction rotating body 52 and a carry-out guide 54 b on the downstream side. The carry-in guide 54a is formed in a guide shape for guiding the sheet leading end to the friction rotating body 52, and the carry-out guide 54b is positioned between the friction rotating body 52 and the sheet end regulating means 32. The guide shape is configured to guide each.

"Import guide"
As shown in FIG. 6A, the carry-in guide 54a is integrally formed with the lifting support arm 54 so that the sheet carry-in side is high and the friction rotator side is low so as to guide the sheet leading edge in the circumferential direction of the friction rotator 52. An inclined taper surface 54a1 is provided. Therefore, even if the trailing edge of the sheet fed toward the sheet edge regulating means 32 by the switchback roller 26a is curled and warped, it is guided to the friction rotating body 52 along the tapered surface 54a1. . Since this carry-in guide 54a is integrally formed with the lifting support arm 54, it is lifted upward according to the amount of sheets stacked on the processing tray. The carry-in guide 54a is formed integrally with the friction rotator 52 as described above. When the roller diameter of the rotator is reduced (for miniaturization), the sheet with the trailing edge curled is caught in the roller and jammed. Therefore, when guiding with the carry-in guide, the angular relationship between the guide surface (the taper surface described above) and the roller peripheral surface changes according to the sheet stacking amount, causing jamming. In order to solve such a problem, the friction rotating body 52 and the carry-in guide 54a are integrated so as to move up and down according to the sheet stacking amount.

"Unloading guide"
The carry-out guide 54 b includes a guide surface 54 b 1 that guides the rear end side of the sheet fed by the friction rotating body 52 from above and guides it to the sheet end regulating means 32. Similarly to the carry-in guide 54a, the carry-out guide 54b is integrally formed with the lifting support arm 54 and is configured integrally with the friction rotating body 52. Accordingly, the sheet is moved upward in accordance with the sheet stacking amount on the processing tray.

  Therefore, the carry-in guide 54a and the carry-out guide 54b are set such that the distance (L1) between the carry-in guide 54a and the uppermost sheet with respect to the uppermost sheet of the processing tray 29 is as shown in FIG. (L1> L2) is set larger than the interval (L2).

"Configuration of kicker means"
The carry-in guide 54a guides the sheet from the paper discharge port 25x to the friction rotating body 52 in cooperation with the kicker means 55 arranged on the upstream side. The kicker means 55 will be described. As described above, a step is formed between the paper discharge outlet 25x and the processing tray 29, and the trailing edge of the sheet sent from the paper discharge outlet 25x by the switchback roller 26a falls onto the processing tray 29. Therefore, a kicker means 55 is provided at the paper discharge port 25x.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the kicker means 55 includes a base end swing lever 55a and a front end kick lever 55b attached to the apparatus frame by a rotating shaft 56. A drive motor 57 is connected to the rotating shaft 56 of the base end swing lever 55a by a gear. In addition, the shaft is pivotally connected to the tip of the tip kick lever 55b. 6 (e) and 6 (f), the rotary shaft 56 is swung at a predetermined rotation angle by a drive motor 57, and a shaft fulcrum 55b1 of the tip kick lever 55b is connected to the rotary shaft 56 via a gear and a belt. It is connected. 6 (e), the kicker means 55 at the broken line position (standby position) rotates the drive motor 57 in the clockwise direction in the figure, and the base end swing lever 55a swings in the arrow a direction (counterclockwise direction). . At this time, since the tip kick lever 55b is connected to the rotating shaft 56, the gear, and the belt, the tip kick lever 55b rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow b (clockwise). Accordingly, when the drive motor 57 is rotated forward (clockwise in the drawing), the kicker means 55 is moved from the broken line state to the solid line state in FIG. 6E. At this time, the sheet trailing edge from the sheet discharge outlet 25x is moved to the lower processing tray. Strike 29.

  A control CPU 160, which will be described later, energizes the drive motor 57 at the timing when the sheet trailing edge passes the sheet discharge roller 25 by a detection signal that the sheet trailing edge has passed through the sheet discharge sensor S2 of the sheet discharge outlet 25x, and the sheet trailing edge is set to the tray. Kick it up. The rear end of the sheet dropped by the kicker means 55 is arranged to be guided to the friction rotating body 52 by the carry-in guide 54a.

[Configuration of side alignment means]
The processing tray 29 is provided with side aligning means 34 for aligning and aligning sheets. The side aligning means 34 employs either a center reference that aligns with the center of the sheet carried into the processing tray 29 from the sheet discharge outlet 25x or a side reference that aligns with the left and right side edges of the sheet as a reference. Is done. The operation will be described with reference to the perspective view shown in FIG. 4 and the operation state diagrams shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the side alignment means 34 includes a left alignment plate 34L that engages with the left edge of the sheet on the processing tray 29, and a right alignment plate 34R that engages with the right edge of the sheet. The left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R are fitted and supported in guide grooves (see FIG. 4) formed in the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray, respectively, and can be moved in the sheet width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of pulleys 35 is disposed along the guide groove at the bottom of the processing tray 29, and a belt 36 is bridged over the pulleys 35. The left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R are fixed to the belt 36. Further, shift motors MZ1 and MZ2 are connected to one of the pulleys 35.

  The left alignment plate 34L and the right alignment plate 34R, which are formed as a pair on the left and right sides with such a configuration, are moved to the left and right in the sheet width direction by driving the respective shift motors MZ1 and MZ2. Therefore, the left and right shift motors MZ1 and MZ2 are synchronously driven to rotate in the opposite direction by the same amount, so that the sheets carried on the processing tray can be aligned on the center basis. FIG. 7A shows a state in which large-size sheets are aligned, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which medium-size sheets are aligned. FIG. 8C shows a state in which small-size sheets are aligned. On the other hand, the sheet bundle aligned on the processing tray with the center reference can be offset by rotating the left and right shift motors MZ1, MZ2 in the same direction by the same amount. FIG. 8D shows a case where a large size sheet is offset. Thus, offsetting a large-size sheet by a predetermined amount requires that the post-processing means 31 be moved to the side of the apparatus when the post-processing position is biased toward the sheet corner (corner staple described later), and the apparatus is increased in size. Bring. Thus, post-processing such as corner binding can be performed by offsetting the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray 29 by a predetermined amount. This achieves a compact and compact device.

[Linking mechanism of alignment plate and movable stopper]
The pair of left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R configured as described above are interlocked with the sheet end regulating means 32 described above as follows. The sheet end regulating means 32 includes a left movable stopper (second movable stopper member) 32C and a right movable stopper (first movable stopper member) 32B. The left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C are connected to left and right slide members 38a and 38b fitted and supported on the processing tray 29 so as to be movable in the sheet width direction.

  Therefore, the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C are coupled to the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R by a coupling spring 37 as shown in FIG. That is, the right slide member 38a having the right movable stopper 32B is connected by the connecting spring 37a, and the left slide member 38b having the left movable stopper 32C is connected by the connecting spring 37b. The left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R reciprocate between the strokes LS1 in the sheet width direction. On the other hand, the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C are driven between the strokes LS2. For this reason, stop members (not shown) are arranged on the processing tray 29 side in the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C.

  The strokes LS1 and LS2 are set such that LS1> LS2, and the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C move by the same amount until they hit the stop member in conjunction with the movement of the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R. . The movable stoppers 32B and 32C stop at this position after hitting the stop member, and the alignment plates 34L and 34R further move. At this time, the connecting springs 37a and 37b connecting the two extend (extend). Accordingly, the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R move between strokes LS1 corresponding to the sheet size, and the movable stoppers 32B and 32C move between strokes LS2. The reason why the strokes of the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C are set to be short is that a sheet bundle carrying-out means 100 described later is arranged at the center of the sheet.

  As described above, when the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C constituting the sheet end regulating means 32 are interlocked with the side aligning means 34, and the movement strokes of the both are made different, in the illustrated embodiment, a connection spring 37 is used. As described above, the “sliding transmission mechanism” or “deceleration transmission mechanism” may be used for the left and right alignment plates 34L, 34R and the left and right movable stoppers 32B, 32C.

  In the case of the “sliding transmission mechanism”, the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R and the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C are connected by a sliding friction clutch, and after the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C hit the stop member, the clutch plate Is configured to slide. The “deceleration transmission mechanism” connects the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R and the left and right movable stoppers 32B and 32C with a gear transmission mechanism. At this time, the alignment plates 34L and 34R move with a stroke LS1, and the movable stoppers 32B and 32C. Sets the gear ratio to move with stroke LS2.

  The control of the side alignment means 34 will be described. The left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R are provided with position sensors at preset home positions, and the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R are positioned at the home position when the apparatus is activated. Therefore, the control CPU 160, which will be described later, receives the size information of the sheet on which the image is formed from the image forming apparatus A, and based on this information, the control unit 166 positions the left and right alignment plates 34L, 34R at predetermined standby positions. This standby position is set to a position (a position for forming an alignable moving width) that is a predetermined amount away from the width size of the sheet sent to the processing tray 29. Therefore, the control CPU 160 turns the left and right shift motors MZ1 and MZ2 in the opposite directions after the expected time that the trailing edge of the sheet unloaded from the sheet discharge outlet 25x is loaded onto the processing tray (after the timer time has elapsed from the sheet discharge sensor S2). Synchronously rotate by a predetermined amount. Then, the sheets carried on the processing tray are aligned and aligned.

"Corner staple mode"
The control CPU 160 moves the left and right alignment plates 34L and 34R by a predetermined amount in the sheet width direction when binding a bundle of sheets that are aligned and stacked on the processing tray by a stapling unit (edge binding staple unit) 31, which will be described later. It is configured to be offset. In the case of an apparatus configuration in which the stapling means 31 is moved to this position when binding the sheet corner, the apparatus is enlarged in the sheet width direction. For this reason, the illustrated apparatus offsets the sheet bundle on the processing tray by driving the shift motors MZ1, MZ2 of the left and right alignment plates 34L, 34R in the same direction by the same amount in the corner staple mode.

[Configuration of sheet bundle carry-out means]
The processing tray 29 is provided with a sheet bundle carrying-out means 100 for carrying out the processed sheet bundle to the downstream stack tray 21. The sheet bundle carrying-out means 100 is disposed at the bottom of the processing tray 29, protrudes above the sheet support surface 29a and engages with the sheet bundle, and the sheet engaging member 105. And a carrier member 110 for mounting and supporting the. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a perspective configuration of the sheet bundle carrying-out means 100, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar configuration, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a drive mechanism.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the sheet bundle carrying-out means 100 includes a sheet engaging member 105, a carrier member 110, an engaging member driving means 127, and a carrier member driving means 114. The sheet engaging member 105 includes a movable gripper 105a and a fixed gripper 105b. The carrier member 110 is mounted with the sheet engaging member 105 and is configured to reciprocate from the base end portion (post-processing position) of the processing tray 29 to the front end portion (bundle unloading position). Each configuration will be described below.

"Sheet engaging member"
The sheet engaging member 105 is constituted by an engaging member such as a protruding piece or a gripper that engages with the rear end edge of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, and is a guide formed on the sheet support surface 29 a of the processing tray 29. It arrange | positions in the groove | channel 29G. As shown in FIG. 10, a guide groove 29 </ b> G is formed in the processing tray 29 between the processing position and the stack tray 21 disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray 29. ). In the illustrated example, two guide grooves 29G1, 29G2 are formed at a distance in the sheet width direction, and the sheet engaging member 105 is disposed in each of the left and right guide grooves 29G1, 29G2 as follows.

  The illustrated sheet engaging member 105 includes a gripper mechanism that grips and carries out the trailing edge of the sheet bundle on the processing tray 29. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the movable gripper 105 a and the fixed gripper 105 b are connected to each other by a pivot pin (connection shaft) 106 so as to swing. A biasing spring 107 is provided between the movable and fixed grippers so that the tip nip portion 105ax of the movable gripper 105a and the tip nip portion 105bx of the fixed gripper 105b are always in pressure contact (FIG. 13A). reference).

  Therefore, the fixed gripper 105b is fitted and supported in a guide groove 115 formed in the carrier member 110 so as to be movable in the unloading direction. The rear end of the movable gripper 105a is connected to a traveling belt 116 built in the carrier member 110 by a connecting spring 117. Accordingly, when a traveling belt 116 of the carrier member 110 described later moves to the left in FIG. 13, the fixed gripper 105b and the movable gripper 105a move in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction with the tip nip portions 105ax and 105bx being in pressure contact with each other (FIG. 13 ( a) state). When the traveling belt 116 is fed back to the right side in FIG. 13, the movable gripper 105a swings clockwise around the pivot pin 106, and the tip nip portion 105ax is separated from the tip nip portion 105bx of the fixed gripper 105b to release the nip. (State shown in FIG. 13B).

"Carrier material"
Next, the carrier member 110 for mounting and supporting the above-described sheet engaging member (hereinafter referred to as “gripper member (means)”) 105 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13, the carrier member 110 is composed of an appropriately shaped frame member that supports the gripper member (means) 105, and extends in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction along the guide groove 29 </ b> G formed in the processing tray 29. It is supported movably.

  Explaining the support structure, the rear end portion 110b of the carrier member 110 is supported so as to linearly reciprocate along the slide member 119 shown in FIG. The tip 110a of the carrier member 110 reciprocates in a loop along the loop guide groove 29Ga described below. As a result, the gripper member (means) 105 mounted on the carrier member 110 is moved from the standby position to the carry-out position by an upper path protruding on the process tray, and after the sheet bundle is carried to the stack tray 21, it is placed in the process tray. It returns to the standby position with the lower pass. 111 shown in the figure is a guide pin provided at the tip of the carrier member 110 and is fitted in the loop guide groove 29Ga.

`` Slide member ''
As shown in FIG. 10, the slide member 119 is fitted and supported by a guide rail 121 disposed at the bottom of the processing tray 29, and can reciprocate with a predetermined stroke in the same direction as the guide groove 29G (the vertical direction in FIG. 10). It is supported. A driving rotary shaft 125 is mounted on the slide member 119, and a rear end portion 110 b of the carrier member 110 is axially coupled to the driving rotary shaft 125. FIG. 13 shows the state of this shaft connection. The carrier member 110 is connected so as to reciprocate with a predetermined stroke in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction by the drive rotation shaft 125 of the rear end portion 110b, and at the same time, the front end portion 110a thereof is The drive rotation shaft 125 can be swung around. A drive arm (crank member) 126 described later is connected to the slide member 119, and the drive arm (crank member) 126 reciprocates between predetermined strokes. Further, a driving pulley of a travel belt 116 described later is connected to the driving rotating shaft 125, and an engaging member driving means 127 is connected to the driving rotating shaft 125.

"Loop guide groove"
Loop guide grooves 29Ga facing each other are formed on the left and right side walls of the guide groove 29G (see FIG. 10). A guide pin 111 formed at the tip 110a of the carrier member 110 is fitted and supported in the loop guide groove 29Ga. As shown in FIG. 11, the loop guide groove 29Ga has a loop shape having an upper travel path 113a and a lower travel path 113b along the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray. The guide pin 111 moves from the standby position to the carry-out position along the upper travel path 113a (outward path), and moves from the carry-out position to the standby position along the lower travel path 113b (return path).

  As described above, when the carrier member 110 supported by the slide member 119 and the loop guide groove 29Ga moves from the standby position to the stack tray 21 side as shown in FIG. 11, the guide pin 111 follows the upper travel path 113a and moves to the carrier member. 110 moves in a substantially horizontal posture. When returning from the stack tray 21 to the standby position, the guide pin 111 follows the lower travel path 113b and the carrier member 110 moves in an inclined state.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the guide groove 29G is formed with a loop groove 112 for guiding a guide pin 108 provided on the sheet engaging member (movable gripper member) 105a. The movable gripper 105a and the fixed gripper 105b move along the loop groove 112.

  As will be described later, the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 mounted on the carrier member 110 is a sheet engaging member when the guide pin 111 of the carrier member 110 is guided by the upper travel path 113a and moves in the sheet bundle unloading direction. The joint member (gripper member) 105 has an operating posture protruding above the processing tray 29. When the guide pin 111 is guided to the lower travel path 113b and moves to the standby position, the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 is guided to the guide groove. It is designed to be in a standby position that is immersed inside. This state will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the carrier member 110 configured in this manner is provided with a pair of pulleys 130a and 130b before and after the sheet bundle carrying-out direction, and a traveling belt 116 is bridged between the pulleys. One drive pulley 130b is supported by the drive rotation shaft 125 described above. Therefore, the sheet engagement member (gripper member) 105 is rotated by the rotation of the drive rotation shaft 125 so that the base end storage position (state shown in FIG. 15A described later) overlaps with the carrier member 110 and the sheet bundle carrying-out direction from the carrier member 110. It is configured to be movable between a tip carrying-out position protruding in a state (a state shown in FIG. 17 (h) described later).

"Seat engagement member mounting structure"
The above-described carrier member 110 is disposed at the bottom of the processing tray 29, and a sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 is mounted on the top. As described above, the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 has the movable gripper 105a connected to the upper portion of the fixed gripper 105b by the pivot pin 106. Therefore, the fixed gripper 105b is supported by the carrier member 110 so as to be movable in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction. 115 is a slide guide groove formed in the carrier member 110, and a fixed gripper 105b is fitted and supported in the guide groove 115. The movable gripper 105 a is pivotally supported by the fixed gripper 105 b by a pivot pin 106, but its rear end is connected to a traveling belt 116 built in the carrier member 110 by a connection spring 117. The carrier member 110 and the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 include carrier driving means 114 and engaging member driving means 127, respectively, as shown in FIGS.

"Carrier drive means"
As shown in FIG. 10, the carrier member 110 is connected (coupled) to a slide member 119 with a drive rotating shaft 125. Accordingly, as conceptually shown in FIG. 13, a shaft pin 122 is formed integrally with the slide member 119, and a drive arm 126 is fitted to the shaft pin 122. The drive arm 126 is connected to the drive motor MH so as to swing around a swing shaft 131 supported by the device frame by a crank member. The drive arm 126 and the shaft pin 122 are connected by a slit (long hole). Accordingly, when the drive arm 126 is moved back and forth by a predetermined angle by the drive motor MH, the slide member 119 reciprocates back and forth with a predetermined stroke. By the back and forth movement of the drive arm 126, the rear end portion 110b of the carrier member 110 moves back and forth along a linear locus, and the tip end portion 110a moves back and forth along the loop guide groove 29Ga along the loop locus. As described above, the carrier member 110 includes the carrier driving means 114 that moves the carrier member 110 in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction along the processing tray 29.

"Engagement member drive means"
The fixed gripper 105 b and the movable gripper 105 a constituting the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 are connected to each other by a pivot pin 106. The fixed gripper 105b is supported by the carrier member 110 so as to be movable back and forth in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction along the slide guide groove 115. Further, the rear end portion of the movable gripper 105a is connected to the running belt 116 of the carrier member 110 by a connection spring 117 (see FIG. 13 above). Therefore, as conceptually shown in FIG. 13, a driving motor ME is coupled to the driving pulley 130b of the traveling belt 116 provided on the carrier member 110. The drive motor ME is composed of a motor that can be rotated forward and backward. When the drive motor ME is rotated in the forward direction, the traveling belt 116 moves in the left direction in FIG. Following the movement of the traveling belt 116, the movable / fixed clippers 105a and 105b move along the slide guide groove 115 from the standby position to the unloading position (bundle unloading direction).

  When the drive motor ME is rotated in the reverse direction, the movable / fixed clippers 105a and 105b move from the carry-out position to the standby position (return direction) as shown in FIG. 13B. At the same time, when the traveling belt 116 further moves to the rear side from the standby position, the connection spring 117 moves in the clockwise direction following the drive pulley 130b. With the backward movement of the drive pulley 130b, the connecting spring 117 pulls the rear end portion of the movable gripper 105a downward. At this time, the movable gripper 105a rotates clockwise around the pivot pin 106, and the nip portion 105ax at the tip is expanded upward (see FIG. 13B). As described above, the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 includes the engaging member driving means 127 that moves the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 in the sheet bundle carrying-out direction along the carrier member 110.

"Operation of sheet engaging member"
The operation of the sheet engaging member (gripper member) 105 configured as described above will be described. The structure of the control means of the gripper means (gripper member) 105 will be described later, but “first standby position Gp1” “second standby position Gp2” “nip position Gp3” “bundle unloading position Gp4” “nip release position Gp5” ”And“ first standby position Gp1 ”.

"First standby state"
The control means 167, which will be described later, moves the gripper means (gripper member; the same applies hereinafter) 105 to the first standby position Gp1 shown in FIG. 15A by "initial operation" (described later) when the apparatus is activated. At the first standby position Gp1, the gripper means 105 is in a standby posture immersed in the guide groove 29G of the processing tray 29. The sheet carried on the processing tray 29 in this posture is abutted and aligned with the sheet end regulating means 32 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, in this posture, sheets are aligned and collected from the discharge outlet 25x on the processing tray 29, and post-processing is performed at a preset processing position of the sheet bundle.

"Retraction operation of gripper means"
Upon receiving a job end signal from the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 167 moves the gripper unit 105 backward toward the second standby position Gp2 on the rear side. For this reason, the control means 167 reversely rotates the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 described above by a predetermined amount. In the process of retreating toward the second standby position Gp2, the gripper means 105 moves the guide pin 111 of the carrier member 110 from the lower travel path 113b of the loop guide groove 29Ga to the upper travel path 131a. The movable gripper 105a protrudes above the sheet support surface 29a (see FIG. 15C). At this time, the leading edge of the sheet is pushed upward by the movable gripper 105a. However, the sheet end regulating means 32 is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. This ensures a smooth movement of the gripper means 105.

"Second standby position state"
Next, the control means 167 rotates the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount and then stops it. And the control means 167 rotates the drive motor ME of the drive pulley 130b provided in the carrier member 110 clockwise (refer FIG. 13 (a) (b)). Then, the movable gripper 105a shifts from the nip posture shown in FIG. 15C to the nip release posture shown in FIG. In this state, the gripper means 105 is positioned at the second standby position Gp2.

"Nip operation"
Next, the control means 167 rotates the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 in the forward direction, and moves the carrier member 110 in the bundle carry-out direction. Simultaneously with this drive control, the control means 167 rotates the drive pulley 130b of the carrier member 110 in the clockwise direction (see FIGS. 13A and 13B). At this time, the gripper means 105 can be made stationary by adjusting the moving speed Vb of the traveling belt 116 with respect to the moving speed Vc of the carrier member 110. That is, when the gripper means 105 is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the carrier member 110 with respect to the sheet on the processing tray, the gripper means 105 is stationary when viewed from the sheet. For example, when the speeds Vc and Vb are set to the same speed (Vc = −Vb), the gripper means 105 is stationary. As a result, the gripping operation by the gripper means 105 can be performed reliably.

  Next, the control means 167 continues the forward rotation of the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 and simultaneously rotates the drive pulley 130b of the carrier member 110 in the counterclockwise direction (see FIGS. 13A and 13B). Then, as described with reference to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the connection spring 117 is loosened by the movement of the traveling belt 116, and the movable gripper 105 a is pressed against the fixed gripper 105 b by the biasing spring 107. At this time, the rear end portion of the sheet bundle on the processing tray is nipped. This state is shown in FIG.

`` Move bundle transfer position ''
The control means 167 stops the drive pulley 130b of the carrier member 110 and continues the forward rotation of the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126. Then, the sheet bundle nipped by the gripper means 105 is transferred along the processing tray 29 to the state shown in FIG. The control means 167 rotates the driving pulley 130b of the carrier member 110 counterclockwise with the sheet bundle being transferred to the carry-out position in the state shown in FIG. Then, the fixed / movable grippers 105a and 105b connected to the traveling belt 116 protrude above the processing tray from the carrier member 110 in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the rear end of the sheet bundle is carried out onto the stack tray 21, and the front end is stored on the uppermost sheet on the tray.

"Nip released"
Next, the control means 167 temporarily stops the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126. Then, the carrier member 110 falls in the loop guide groove 29Ga. Then, the gripper means 105 drops onto the uppermost sheet on the tray in the state shown in FIG. Therefore, the control means 167 rotates the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 in the reverse direction. Then, the carrier member 110 returns to the first standby position side along the lower travel path 113b of the loop guide groove 29Ga. At this time, the sheet bundle nipped by the gripper means 105 is blocked by the tray side wall and released from the nip (the state shown in FIG. 17J).

"Return state"
Further, the control means 167 continues the rotation of the drive motor MH of the drive arm 126 to return the carrier member 110 from the bundle carry-out position Gp4 to the first standby position Gp1. Then, the gripper means 105 returns to the state of being submerged in the guide groove 29G of the processing tray 29 in the state of FIG.

[Safety mechanism for tray output]
In the processing tray 29 described above, the following safety mechanism 135 is disposed at an exit end (hereinafter referred to as “tray discharge port”) 29x for carrying the sheet bundle to the stack tray 21. The safety mechanism 135 prohibits the operation of the “foreign matter detecting means 137” disposed at the tray discharge port 29x and the post-processing means (stapling means) 31 based on the detection information from the foreign matter detecting means 137. Means ".

  The foreign matter detection means 137 includes a shielding member 133 that opens and closes the tray discharge port 29x and a position detection sensor St that detects the position of the shielding member 133. First, the shielding member 133 is disposed at the outlet end (tray discharge port) 29x of the processing tray 29 described above, and opens and closes the discharge opening formed above the sheet support surface 29a. The illustrated shielding member 133 is composed of a shutter plate that comes into contact with the uppermost sheet on the tray support surface, and is always in contact with the uppermost sheet by its own weight to shield the opening. Thus, the shielding member 133 is provided at the exit end (tray discharge port) 29x because foreign matters such as office tools enter the post-processing section on the processing tray, or the user inadvertently enters fingers. This is to prevent this.

  This shielding member 133 can be moved up and down so as not to hinder sheet stacking on the processing tray 29 or unloading of sheet bundles for carrying out post-processed sheet bundles to the stack tray 21 (external casing 20 in the figure). Is attached to be movable up and down. The shielding member 133 opens upward when a paper jam (jam) occurs in the sheets stacked on the processing tray 29 or when a malfunction such as a needle jam occurs in the post-processing means (staple means) 31. Then jamming is done.

  As described above, the shielding member 133 configured to move up and down so as to open and close the paper discharge opening of the outer casing 20 is provided with a position detection sensor St for detecting the open / closed state. For this reason, the detection member (sensor flag) 134 is provided on the shielding member 133, and sensor means 138 (micro switch shown in the figure) including a sensor actuator Se that detects the detection portion 134 is arranged on the apparatus frame side. ing. The detection signal of the sensor means 138 is transferred to the control means 168 described later, and the operation of the post-processing means (staple means) 31 is prohibited.

  Therefore, the height of the shielding member 133 differs depending on the sheet stacking amount on the processing tray 29, and is low when the sheet stacking amount is small, and is high when the stacking amount is large. At this time, if the sensor means 138 is configured to detect a certain height position of the shielding member 133 and permit or prohibit the operation of the post-processing means 31, the following problem occurs. If the maximum allowable thickness loaded on the processing tray is set to be large, the height position of the shielding member 133 detected by the sensor means 138 must be set to a high position accordingly. The operation of the post-processing means is prohibited). For this reason, when an abnormal operation for lifting the shielding member 133 upward is performed in a state where several sheets are stacked on the processing tray, the sensor unit 138 does not detect the shielding member 133 and the post-processing unit 31 operates. A malfunction occurs.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the apparatus shown in the figure is configured such that (i) the height of the detection position of the sensor unit 138 is adjusted according to the thickness of the stacked sheet bundle, or (ii) the sensor unit 138 uses a plurality of height positions. Either of the methods is used to determine whether or not to prohibit the post-processing operation according to the thickness of the stacked sheet bundle. Each configuration will be described below.

(I) Embodiment in which the height of the detection position of the sensor unit 138 is adjusted according to the thickness of the stacked sheet bundle. As shown in FIG. 18, the micro switch constituting the sensor means 138 is supported on the apparatus frame 20 by a guide rail (not shown) or the like that can move up and down along the sheet stacking direction. A rack gear 141 is provided on the sensor bracket 140 on which the microswitch is mounted, and a pinion 142 connected to the stepping motor MT is engaged with the rack gear 141. Therefore, by rotating the stepping motor MT, the sensor means 138 can move up and down in the sheet stacking direction, and the actuator Se of the sensor means 138 has a different height position for detecting the detected part 134 disposed on the shielding member 133. Will be.

(Ii) An embodiment in which the sensor means 138 detects a plurality of height positions. As described above, the shielding member 133 configured to be movable up and down in the sheet stacking direction includes a plurality of detected portions 134 having different height positions as shown in FIG. 19, and includes a first flag 134a, a second flag 134b, and a second flag. The three flags 134c are arranged in this order. Then, the control means 168 described later determines whether or not the post-processing operation is prohibited based on the signal from the sensor means 138 that detects the plurality of detected parts 134a to 134c.

"Control means"
The control means 168 includes a control CPU 160 described later. The control unit 168 in the above embodiment (i) acquires the number of sheets stacked on the processing tray 29 from the image forming apparatus A, for example, from an image data. Then, the sheet bundle thickness accumulated on the processing tray 29 is calculated from the preset standard paper thickness. The height position of the sensor means (microswitch) 138 is set according to the thickness of the sheet bundle. The height position of the microswitch supplies a power pulse corresponding to the height position set in the stepping motor MT. Then, the actuator Se of the sensor means 138 detects the detected portion (flag) 134 of the shielding member 133 at a height position corresponding to the thickness of the sheet bundle that is aligned and accumulated on the processing tray 29. .

  With this configuration, when the shielding member 133 is raised beyond the thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 29, the sensor unit 138 detects the detected portion 134. In this case, the height position of the sensor means 138 is set to be slightly higher than the thickness of the sheet bundle to be aligned and accumulated. The control means 168 is configured to prohibit the processing operation of the post-processing means 31 when the sensor means 138 detects the detected part 134 of the shielding member 133.

  In the embodiment (ii), when the sensor unit 138 detects the first flag 134a, the control unit 168 and the bundle thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray and the preset flags 134a to 134a. The height position of 134c is compared, and when the height position of the flag is high, it is determined as “abnormal” and the processing operation of the post-processing means 31 is prohibited. Therefore, the control unit 168 includes a count counter that detects the number of sheets carried out to the processing tray 29 and a calculation unit (not shown) that calculates the sheet bundle thickness from the count number. When the sensor unit 138 detects the first flag 134a, the control unit 168 compares the height position of the first flag set in advance with the bundle thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray. To do. Next, when the sensor unit 138 detects the second flag 134b, the height position of the second flag set in advance and the bundle thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray are compared to determine whether or not there is an abnormality. To determine. Similarly, it is determined whether or not the third flag 134c is abnormal.

  In this case, the “abnormality determination” is performed by comparing the thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray with a preset detection position (height position) of the flag, so that the shielding member 133 has the processing tray. The state of being lifted above the uppermost sheet 29 is determined as “abnormal”. Further, the detection results of the first, second, and third flags 134a, 134b, and 134c are stored in the storage means, and whether the signal from the sensor means 138 is the signal of the first flag or the second and third flags. It is made to identify whether it is a signal.

  With this configuration, when the sensor unit 138 issues the first detection signal from the initial state, the bundle thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray is compared with the height position of the first flag 134a. In the case of the second detection signal, the sheet bundle is sequentially determined as the bundle thickness and the height position of the second flag 134b. As a result, it becomes possible to determine “abnormal” by detecting the open / closed state of the shielding member 133 step by step in accordance with the thickness of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray 29.

[Configuration of edge binding staple unit]
The post-processing means (stapling means) 31 includes a driver 70 and a clincher 75 as shown in FIG. The driver 70 includes a head member 70a for inserting staples into a sheet bundle set at the binding position, a cartridge 71 containing the staples, a drive cam 77, and a staple motor MD for driving the drive cam 77. Has been. The clincher 75 includes a bending groove 75a for bending the tip of the staple needle inserted into the sheet bundle. In the end binding staple unit (post-processing means) 31, the driver 70 and the clincher 75 are integrally attached to the unit frame. The head member 70a is reciprocated by a drive cam 77 in the vertical direction in FIG. 28A, and a former 73 and a bending block 74 are incorporated therein. Since the structure of the former 73 and the bending block 74 is the same as that of the saddle stitching staple unit 40 described later, the structure will be described later with reference to FIG.

[Configuration of punch unit]
In the first carry-in path P1, the punch unit 60 is disposed between the carry-in roller 23 and the paper discharge roller 25, and a file hole is punched in a sheet passing through the first carry-in path P1. The configuration of the punch unit 60 will be described with reference to FIG. The punch unit 60 includes a punch member 62, a blade receiving member (die) 63, a drive cam 64, and a drive motor MX. A plurality of punch members 62 are arranged on the unit frame 61 at intervals in the sheet width direction, and are supported by bearings so as to be vertically movable in the punching direction. Each punch member 62 is engaged with a drive cam 64 (slide groove cam, eccentric rotation cam, etc.), and moves up and down with the drive cam 64 connected to the drive motor MX, thereby punching a file hole. Further, the blade receiving member 63 is disposed to face the punch member 62 with a sheet passing through the first carry-in path P1 interposed therebetween.

  The unit frame 61 is supported by an apparatus frame (not shown) so as to be movable in the seat width direction. This is to align the side edge of the sheet sent to the first carry-in path P1 with the punch position. That is, the sheet sent to the first carry-in path P1 is sent in a dimensional error of the sheet itself, a positional deviation in the width direction (left-right deviation), or a state inclined rightward or leftward (right skew, left skew). At this time, if punch holes are formed regardless of the position of the side edge of the sheet, the sheet edge becomes uneven when filing. Therefore, the following positioning mechanism is required.

[Positioning mechanism]
The positioning mechanism for matching the relative positions of the punch unit (post-processing unit) 60 and the sheet edge is composed of a sheet end detection unit 67 and a positioning unit 68. The sheet end detection means 67 is constituted by sensor means 66 for detecting the side edge of the sheet sent to the processing position, and the positioning means 68 moves the relative position between the sheet and the post-processing means 60 based on the detection information. It is configured as follows.

"Sheet edge detection means"
As shown in FIG. 20, the sheet edge detecting means 67 includes sensor means 66 for detecting the left and right side edges of the sheet sent to the processing position, and the sensor means 66 from the preset initial position in the sheet width direction. And shift means 69 which moves to the position. The sensor means 66 is composed of a pair of light emitting elements 66a and light receiving elements 66b arranged to face each other, and is arranged at a position for detecting the side edge according to the sheet size. In the figure, the A4 detection sensor S4a and the B5 detection sensor S5b are arranged at positions where the sheet side edge is detected because the sheet size is JIS standard A4 size and B5 size. The sensor means 66 is disposed on the unit frame 61 that supports the punch member 62.

"Positioning means"
As described above, the unit frame 61 on which the punch member 62 and the sensor means 66 are mounted is supported by a guide rail (not shown) so as to be movable in the sheet width direction. The unit frame 61 is provided with a rack gear 61R, and a drive motor MX is connected to a pinion 61P that meshes with the rack gear 61R. As a result, the unit frame 61 can move to the right and left of the stepping motor (drive motor) MX in the right and left directions in the sheet width direction.

"Sensor position control means"
The sensor position control means 169 includes a control CPU 160 described later. The sensor position control means 169 is electrically connected to the driver circuit of the stepping motor MX so as to move the unit frame 61 from the preset home position to the left and right in the sheet width direction. Therefore, the sensor position control means 169 moves the sensor means 66 outward in the sheet width direction when the sensor means 66 detects the sheet when the sensor means 66 is at the initial position (home position) (FIG. 21). (C) The position of the sheet edge is detected by moving in the right and left direction). Further, (ii) when the sheet is not detected, the sensor means 66 is moved to the inner side in the sheet width direction (right and left in FIG. 21B) to detect the sheet edge.

  In detecting the position of the sheet edge, when the sensor means 66 changes from “OFF to ON” or “ON to OFF”, this position is determined as the sheet edge, and the unit frame 61 is stopped. Then, the positional relationship between the sensor means 66 and the punch member 62 is set so that the post-processing means (punch member) 62 mounted on the unit frame 61 punches a punch hole at a set distance from the edge of the sheet. Has been.

[Configuration of Second Processing Unit]
As described above, the second processing unit BX2 includes the stacking guide 45 disposed in the second carry-in path P2, the saddle stitching staple unit 40 disposed in the stacking guide 45, and the folding processing mechanism 44. Yes. Hereinafter, the stacking guide 45, the saddle stitching staple unit 40, and the folding processing mechanism 44 will be described in this order.

[Integration guide]
The stacking guide 45 is continuously arranged on the downstream side of the second carry-in path P2, and is configured to sequentially stack and store sheets from the carry-in entrance 23a in a standing posture. In particular, the illustrated accumulation guide 45 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction so as to cut the casing 20 vertically, and is configured to accumulate sheets in a standing position, thereby configuring the apparatus in a compact and compact manner. The illustrated accumulation guide 45 includes a guide plate bent at the center. The accumulation guide 45 is formed in a length shape that accommodates a maximum size sheet therein, and includes a saddle stitching staple unit 40 and a folding processing mechanism 44 described later. It is comprised in the shape curved or bent so that it may protrude to the side which arranges. The stacking guide 45 is provided with a leading end stopper 43 for regulating the leading end of the sheet, and the leading end stopper 43 is moved in accordance with the sheet size (length in the paper discharge direction).

[Saddle Stapling Unit]
A saddle stitching staple unit (hereinafter referred to as a “saddle stitching unit”) 40 is disposed in the stacking guide 45 described above, and staples the center portion of the sheet bundle that is aligned and stacked on the stacking guide 45. The configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 (a) and 29 (b). The saddle stitching staple unit 40 includes a driver 70 and a clincher 75. The driver 70 includes a head member 70a for inserting staples into a sheet bundle set at the binding position, a cartridge 71 containing the staples, a drive cam 77, and a staple motor MD for driving the drive cam 77. Has been. As shown in FIG. 29B, the driver 70 has a driver member 72, a former 73, and a bending block 74 built in the vertical direction in the head member 70a of the frame. The driver member 72 and the former 73 are slidably supported by the head member 70a so as to reciprocate up and down between the top dead center and the bottom dead center, and the bending block 74 has a straight staple. It is fixed to the head member 70a as a mold that can be bent into a letter shape.

  A cartridge 71 containing a staple is mounted inside the frame, and the staple is sequentially supplied to the bending block 74. The driver member 72 and the former 73 are connected to a drive lever 76 that is swingably attached to the frame, and is driven up and down between a top dead center and a bottom dead center. The frame is provided with an accumulating spring (not shown) for driving the drive lever 76 up and down, and a drive cam 77 for accumulating the accumulating spring and a staple motor MD for driving the drive cam 77 are provided. .

  A clincher 75 is disposed at a position facing the above-described driver 70 across the sheet bundle. The illustrated clincher 75 is constituted by a structure separated from the driver 70, and the driver 70 bends the needle tip of the staple needle inserted into the sheet bundle. Therefore, the clincher 75 is provided with a bending groove (anvil) 75a for bending the tip of the staple needle. In particular, the illustrated clincher 75 is provided with a plurality of folding grooves 75a1 and 75a2 at two or more positions in the width direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking guide 45, and a driver 70 moving to this position staples the plurality of positions in the sheet width direction. It is characterized by binding. With this configuration, the left and right portions can be stapled in a state where the clincher 75 is fixed to the sheet bundle supported on the stacking guide 45 without moving.

  In addition, the clincher 75 is provided with a wing member (not shown) that bends the staple tip of the staple needle, and the wing member is oscillated and rotated in synchronization with the needle tip inserted into the sheet bundle by the driver 70. It is also possible to adopt a configuration. In this case, a pair of bent wings are pivotally supported on the frame of the clincher 75 so as to be swingable at positions facing both ends of the U-shaped needle. Then, the pair of folding wings are swung in conjunction with the operation of inserting the staple needle into the sheet bundle by the driver 70. By swinging the pair of wings, the staple tip of the staple needle is bent in a flat state along the back surface of the sheet bundle. In other words, the needle tip is bent into a U-shape (glasses clinching) when bent by the above-described bending groove, and the needle tip is bent linearly (flat clinching) when bent by a wing member described later. Any of the configurations can be adopted in the present invention.

  With such a configuration, the driver member 72 and the former 73 built in the head member 70a rotate the staple motor MD so that the drive cam 77 causes the drive lever 76 to move downward from the top dead center to the bottom dead below. Press to point. As the drive lever 76 is lowered, the driver member 72 and the former 73 connected thereto are moved from the top dead center to the bottom dead center. The driver member 72 is constituted by a plate-like member so as to push down the back portion of the staple needle folded in a U-shape, and the former 73 is constituted by a U-shaped member as shown in FIG. The staple is folded in a U-shape with the block 74. That is, staples are supplied from the cartridge 71 to the bending block 74, and the linear staples are press-formed between the former 73 and the bending block 74 in a U-shape. Next, the driver member 72 vigorously pushes the staple needle folded in a U-shape toward the sheet bundle, thereby inserting the needle into the sheet bundle.

[Folding mechanism]
A folding roll means 46 for folding the sheet bundle and a folding blade 47 for inserting the sheet bundle at the nip position of the folding roll means 46 are provided at the folding position arranged on the downstream side of the saddle stitching staple unit 40 described above. . As shown in FIG. 27, the folding roll means 46 is composed of rolls 46a and 46b that are in pressure contact with each other, and each roll is formed to have a width of approximately the maximum sheet.

  The pair of folding rolls 46a and 46b are formed of a material having a large coefficient of friction such as a rubber roller. This is because the sheet is bent and transferred by a soft material such as rubber, and may be formed by lining the rubber material. The folding rolls 46a and 46b are formed in an uneven shape, and a gap is formed in the sheet value width direction. This gap is arranged so as to coincide with the unevenness of the folding blade 47 described later, and consideration is given so that the tip of the folding blade can easily enter between the roll nips. In other words, the pair of folding rolls 46a and 46b that are in pressure contact with each other are formed in a concavo-convex shape having a gap in the sheet width direction, and the stapled portion of the sheet and the folding blade 47 similarly formed in the concavo-convex shape in this gap. The cutting edge enters.

  Next, the operation of folding the sheet by the folding roll means 46 will be described with reference to FIGS. The pair of folding rolls 46a and 46b are located on the curved or bent protruding side of the accumulation guide 45, and a folding blade 47 having a knife edge is provided at a position facing the sheet bundle supported by the accumulation guide 45. ing. The folding blade 47 is supported by the apparatus frame so as to be able to reciprocate between the standby position in FIG. 27A and the nip position in FIG.

  Therefore, the sheet bundle supported by the stacking guide 45 in the form of a bundle is locked by the leading end stopper 43 in the state shown in FIG. 5A, and the fold position is positioned at the folding position in the stapled state. Upon obtaining this sheet bundle setting end signal, the drive control means (sheet bundle folding operation control section 164d described below; hereinafter the same) turns off the clutch means.

  Accordingly, the drive control means 164d moves the folding blade 47 from the standby position toward the nip position at a predetermined speed. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 27B, the sheet bundle is bent at the fold position by the folding blade 47 and inserted between the rolls. At this time, the folding rolls 46 a and 46 b are driven and rotated continuously with the sheet moved by the folding blade 47. The drive control means 164d stops the blade drive motor (not shown) after the expected time for the sheet bundle to reach the predetermined nip position, and stops the folding blade 47 at the position shown in FIG. Before and after this, the drive control means 164d switches the clutch means to the ON state and drives and rotates the folding rolls 46a and 46b. Then, the sheet bundle is sent out in the feeding direction (left side in the figure). Thereafter, the drive control means 164d moves and returns the folding blade 47 located at the nip position to the standby position in parallel with the feeding of the sheet bundle by the folding rolls 46a and 46b in the state shown in FIG.

  When the sheet bundle thus folded is first engulfed between the pair of folding rolls 46a and 46b, the sheet in contact with the roll surface is not drawn between the rolls by the rotating roll. That is, since the folding rolls 46a and 46b rotate following the inserted (pushed) sheet, only the sheet in contact with the roll will not be wound first. Further, since the roll follows and rotates following the inserted sheet, the roll surface and the sheet in contact with the roll are not rubbed, and the image is not rubbed.

[Trimmer unit]
A sheet transfer path (hereinafter referred to as “paper discharge path”) 85 for guiding the folded sheet to the saddle tray (second stack tray; the same applies hereinafter) 22 is provided on the downstream side of the folding processing mechanism 44. The sheet bundle folded in the form of a booklet is carried out to the saddle tray 22. Therefore, a trimmer unit 90 is disposed in the paper discharge path 85. The trimmer unit 90 cuts and aligns a predetermined amount of the small edge portion of the folded sheet folded by the folding processing mechanism 44. In other words, when a plurality of sheet bundles are folded into a booklet shape at the center by the folding mechanism 44 (magazine folding), the leading end of the folding (small edge) becomes uneven, and the edge of the sheet is cut by cutting a predetermined amount of the small edge. Align and finish.

  Since the structure of the trimmer unit 90 is known in various structures, it will not be described in detail. For example, a cutting blade that cuts the edge of a sheet bundle (a flat cutting blade or a disc-shaped rotating blade, and this cutting blade is driven). The cutter motor and a cutting edge press means for pressing and holding the cutting edge of the sheet bundle are shown, a unit frame 91 is provided in the paper discharge path 85, and a cutting blade 92 and a pressure member ( The cutting blade 92 and the pressure member are positioned in the sheet width direction, and press the sheet bundle when descending from the upper standby position to the lower cutting position. It is configured to press and hold with a member and cut with a cutting blade 92.

  Therefore, the paper discharge path (sheet transfer path) 85 includes a “conveying mechanism” for transferring the folded sheet bundle from the folding processing mechanism 44 to the cutting position of the trimmer unit 90 and a “positioning mechanism for positioning the folded sheet at the cutting position. Is arranged.

"Transport mechanism"
The transport mechanism includes a pair of transport rollers 93 that nip and transport the folded sheet bundle. The conveying roller pair 93 is composed of a pair of rollers that are in pressure contact with each other with a paper discharge path 85 interposed therebetween, one of which is a fixed roller and the other is a movable roller that can be pressed against and separated from each other. As shown in the figure, a pair of transport rollers 93 is provided with a pair of forward transport rollers 93a and a pair of rear transport rollers 93b in the paper discharge path 85. The distance between the front and rear transport roller pairs 93a and 93b is set to be shorter than the length of the folded sheet bundle in the transport direction. The movable rollers 93a1 and 93b1 of both conveying roller pairs are mounted on the same support frame 95, and the support frame 95 is supported by guide rails so as to move up and down with respect to the apparatus frame (not shown) as shown in FIG. Has been. Accordingly, the pair of transport rollers 93a and 93b arranged at the front and rear along the paper discharge path 85 are arranged so that the movable rollers 93a1 and 93b1 are pressed and separated from the fixed rollers 93a2 and 93b2. The illustrated MF is a shift motor that moves the support frame 95 up and down. The movable rollers 93a1 and 93b1 are provided with pressure springs (not shown) and are in pressure contact with the fixed rollers at a predetermined pressure.

"Drive mechanism"
Further, the front conveying roller pair 93a and the rear conveying roller pair 93b are rotated at the same peripheral speed by the driving mechanism shown in FIG. The folding rolls 46a and 46b constituting the folding roll means 46 described above are connected by a transmission belt so that the rotation of the folding rollers 46a and 46b is operated to the pair of rear conveying rollers 93b and the pair of front conveying rollers 93a. The illustrated MG is the drive motor.

"Positioning mechanism"
The positioning mechanism is composed of registration means 96 for positioning and setting a folded sheet bundle conveyed by the above-described pair of conveying rollers 93 at a predetermined cutting position. The registration means 96 is configured as follows to correct the posture of the folded sheet bundle at the same time as positioning. The registration means 96 is configured by a restriction stopper that abuts against the leading edge of the folded sheet bundle and moves backward by a predetermined amount in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction. The illustrated restriction stopper includes a swing arm member 97 that swings back and forth in the sheet conveying direction. The swing arm member 97 is retracted from the sheet discharge path 85 shown in FIG. 22A (standby position), and is configured to retract the folded sheet bundle along the sheet discharge path 85 shown in FIG. It is supported so as to swing between (operating position), and an operating solenoid SL1 is provided at its base end.

  A frame (referred to as a stopper frame) 97U on which the swing arm member 97 and the actuating solenoid S11 are mounted is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable forward and backward in the conveying direction, and a stopper shift motor MJ for moving the position of the stopper frame 97U is provided. It has been. Accordingly, the swing arm member 97 is moved back and forth in the conveyance direction by the rotation control of the stopper shift motor MJ according to the length size of the folded sheet bundle.

"Biasing guide member"
When the folded sheet bundle is moved backward by the swing arm member 97, the conveying roller pair 93 releases the nip of the folded sheet bundle, and the movable rollers 93a1 and 93b1 are controlled to be separated from the folded sheet bundle. (Refer to "Stopper position control means" described later). At this time, the folded sheet bundle in the paper discharge path is in a free state and may be displaced due to the impact of the swing arm member 97. Therefore, an urging guide member 98 is provided in the paper discharge path 85 to apply a forward displacement force to the sheet when the sheet is moved back by a predetermined amount by the swing arm member (regulation stopper) 97. The urging guide member 98 is composed of a plate member, a shoe member, and the like that are in contact with the folded sheet bundle, and exerts a braking action on the folded folded sheet bundle. The illustrated urging guide member 98 is constituted by a guide piece that presses the upper surface of the folded sheet that is pivotally supported by the support frame 95 with its own weight.

"Advanced detection sensor"
The paper discharge path 85 is provided with a leading edge detection sensor Sh for detecting that the folded sheet bundle has reached a predetermined cutting position. The leading edge detection sensor Sh includes a sensor flag 86 that engages with the leading edge of the sheet that moves in the conveyance direction along the paper discharge path 85, and a sensor element 87 that detects the position of the sensor flag 86.

"Stopper position control means"
A control means 170 constituted by a control CPU 160 described later positions the swing arm member 97 in accordance with the length size information (for example, information transferred from the image forming means) of the folded sheet bundle sent from the folding processing mechanism 44. Moving. That is, when the folded sheet bundle is, for example, JIS standard A4 size, it is moved to the “A4” position shown in the figure, and when it is B5 size, it is moved to the “B5” position shown by the stopper shift motor MJ. At this time, the swing arm member 97 is held in a standby posture, and at the same time, the conveying roller pair 93 is held in a pressure contact state (home position).

  Therefore, the control means 170 detects that the folded sheet bundle has reached the cutting position by the leading edge detection sensor Sh, stops the rotation of the conveying roller pair 93 by the detection signal, and simultaneously activates the shift motor MF. Release the nip of the folded sheet bundle. At this time, the biasing guide member 98 maintains a state where the folded sheet bundle is pressed by its own weight.

  Next, the control means 170 activates the actuation solenoid SL1 after a predetermined time has elapsed from the tip detection signal of the tip detection sensor Sh. As a result, the swing arm member 97 rotates clockwise from the standby position shown in FIG. 22A and moves to the operating position shown in FIG. As the swing arm member 97 moves, the folded sheet bundle moves backward. At this time, the folded sheet bundle is subjected to the braking action of the biasing guide member 98, and the leading edge thereof is skew corrected following the swing arm member 97. That is, even if the folded sheet bundle is skewed and sent to the cutting position, the posture is corrected when the folded sheet bundle is positioned at the cutting position.

  Further, in the illustrated apparatus, the positional relationship between the above-described conveyance roller pair 93 and the urging guide member 98 is arranged as follows. A folding processing mechanism 44 that folds a plurality of sheets is disposed in the paper discharge path 85 on the upstream side of the registration means. The folding processing mechanism 44 is configured to transfer the folding end toward the front in the transfer direction. Further, a cutting means (cutting blade) 92 for cutting and aligning the rear end edge of the folded sheet bundle is disposed in the paper discharge path 85. An urging guide member 98, a conveying roller pair 93, and a regulating stopper 97 are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the cutting means 92. Therefore, the conveying roller pair 93 is disposed at a position for pressing the folded end of the folded sheet, and the biasing guide member 98 is disposed at a position for pressing the central portion of the folded sheet. This is because when the folded sheet bundle is trimmed and aligned, the back folded portion is pinched by the roller pair, and at the same time, the pressure guide (previously the urging guide member 98) prevents the central portion of the sheet from coming up.

  The conveying roller pair 93 is configured to be movable between a nip release position separated from the sheet and a nip position where the sheet is nipped. The control means (1) moves the pair of conveying rollers to the nip release position, and (2) moves the stopper member backward to retract the sheet by a predetermined amount. At this time, (3) the sheet is moved by the urging guide. Is biased in the forward direction, and the leading end of the sheet is biased toward the stopper member.

[Storage section]
A stack tray 21 and a saddle tray 22 are arranged vertically on the side wall of the casing 20 as shown in FIG. 2, and the stack tray 21 stores the sheet bundle that has been bound from the first processing unit BX1. 29 on the downstream side. The saddle tray 22 includes a paper discharge port 22x, and is disposed on the downstream side of the stacking guide 45 so as to store a sheet bundle processed in a booklet form from the second processing unit BX2. The stack tray 21 is adjacent to be connected to the outlet end (tray discharge port) 29x of the processing tray 29, and the saddle tray 22 is disposed downstream of the stacking guide 45 via the folding processing mechanism 44 and the trimmer unit 90. Has been.

[Stack Tray Lifting Mechanism]
The configuration of the stack tray 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The stack tray (hereinafter referred to as “elevating tray”) 21 is configured to move up and down according to the amount of stacked sheets. The elevating tray 21 is configured in a tray shape on which sheets are stacked, and is configured to protrude from the side wall of the casing 20 to the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, the tray base end portion 21a is provided with guide rollers 21r at two upper and lower portions, and the guide rollers 21r are fitted and supported by lifting guides 21u provided on an apparatus frame (not shown). .

  A lift motor MS is mounted on the bottom of the lift tray 21, and a drive pinion 21p is connected to the lift motor MS via a speed reduction mechanism. On the other hand, a rack gear 20h is arranged in the sheet stacking direction (vertical direction in FIG. 25) on the apparatus frame provided with the lifting guide 21u, and a drive pinion 21p is engaged with the rack gear 20h. The elevating motor MS is composed of a motor that can be rotated forward and backward, and an encoder (not shown) that detects the amount of rotation is provided on its drive shaft. The elevating tray 21 is provided with a level sensor Sr for detecting the height position of the uppermost sheet stacked. Accordingly, the lifting tray 21 is moved in the sheet stacking direction (vertical direction in FIG. 25) by rotating the lifting motor MS forward and backward by a predetermined rotation. The height position of the elevating tray 21 is detected by the level sensor Sr, and the elevating motor MS is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions based on the detection result. The amount of rotation of the lift motor MS is detected by the encoder.

[Configuration of level sensor]
As shown in FIG. 25, the level sensor Sr is composed of an arm lever 58 and a sensor for detecting the position of the arm lever 58, and an operating solenoid SL2 is connected to the arm lever 58. The lift control means 164 moves the arm lever 58 up and down in response to a paper discharge instruction signal. The sheet discharge instruction signal is output from the sheet discharge sensor S2, for example, the timing after the expected time that this sheet reaches the stack tray 21 from the sheet rear end passage signal, or the operation signal of the bundle unloading means described above. The stack tray 21 is moved up and down by a timing signal after the estimated time when the rear end reaches the stack tray 21.

[Elevation control means]
The lift control means (control CPU 160 described later) 164 for controlling the lift motor MS is configured as follows. First, a description will be given of a control mode for transferring a sheet from the paper discharge port 25x onto the stack tray. The sheet is discharged from the paper discharge port 25x in the “straight paper discharge mode”, the “bridge carry-out mode”, and the “process bundle carry-out mode”. The This carry-out mode is selected when setting the post-processing mode of the image forming apparatus A, for example.

  In the “straight paper discharge mode”, the sheet on which the image is formed is directly carried out from the paper discharge port 25x without post-processing. In this mode, the sheet sent to the carry-in port 23a is sent to the first carry-in path P1, and is conveyed onto the processing tray 29 via the paper discharge roller 25 and the paper discharge sensor S2. On the processing tray 29, the switchback roller 26a is rotated in the paper discharge direction (FIG. 26 (a) clockwise) while being in pressure contact with the driven roller 26b disposed on the sheet support surface 29a. Accordingly, the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 25x is carried out onto the processing tray 29, sent to the lifting tray 21 by the switchback rollers 26a and 26b prepared on the tray, and stacked on the uppermost sheet.

  In the “bridge carry-out mode”, sheets are aligned and collected on the processing tray 29 from the paper discharge outlet 25x in order to perform post-processing on the image-formed sheet. In this mode, the sheet sent to the carry-in port 23a is sent to the first carry-in path P1, and is conveyed to the processing tray 29 via the paper discharge roller 25 and the paper discharge sensor S2. The processing tray 29 is provided with sheet end regulating means 32, switchback roller 26a, aligning means 51, and side aligning means 34. Then, the sheets from the paper discharge outlet 25x are collected in a bundle on the uppermost sheet on the processing tray 29. In the “processing bundle carry-out mode”, the sheet bundle that is aligned and collected on the processing tray and bound by the end binding staple unit 31 is carried out from the processing tray 29 to the lift tray 21. For this reason, the sheet bundle carrying-out means 100 is arranged on the processing tray 29.

  Therefore, the elevation control means 164 sets the height difference H between the uppermost sheet stored in the elevation tray 21 and the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray 29 to the first height position H1 in the “straight sheet discharge mode”. To do. In the “bridge carry-out mode”, the second height position H2 is set. In the “process bundle carry-out mode”, the third height position H3 is set. The height difference H at this time is set so as to increase in the order of the first, second and third height positions (H1 <H2 <H3). As described above, the height position is controlled by detecting the position of the uppermost sheet on the tray by the level sensor Sr, and setting the height difference H by rotating the lifting motor MS by a predetermined amount based on the detection signal.

  The first height position H1 is set so that the height difference between the uppermost sheet and the sheet support surface 29a is substantially zero. That is, the discharge sheet sent to the sheet support surface 29a is set so as to be smoothly carried on the uppermost sheet. At this time, considering that the trailing edge of the uppermost sheet curls up and the uppermost sheet is positioned upward due to a control error, the uppermost sheet is slightly lowered with respect to the sheet support surface 29a. Set.

  At the same time as such consideration, it is difficult to control the processing tray 29 to be lowered by the thickness of one sheet each time a sheet is loaded. Therefore, the normal processing tray 29 is configured so that the above-described level sensor Sr detects that the sheet has been carried out from the paper discharge outlet 25x several times, and the tray is moved down. For this reason, the first height position H1 is set to, for example, 5 mm to 10 mm.

  The second height position H2 is the difference in height between the uppermost sheet and the sheet support surface 29a when the sheets are aligned and stacked on the processing tray 29, or at least equivalent to the bundle thickness of the stacked sheet bundle, Set slightly larger than this. This is because if the height difference between the two is set to be substantially zero, the sheets carried out from the paper discharge outlet 25x are gradually stacked on top of each other. This causes a problem of misalignment. At the same time as the problem of misalignment, when the elevating tray 21 is inclined so that the front side in the paper discharge direction becomes higher (see FIG. 26B), the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 29 is located on the front side in the paper discharge direction. Curved to the state of being pushed up. The trailing edge (binding end) of the sheet that is bundled and bundled in a bundle due to this curvature becomes uneven, and if the binding process is performed in this state, the sheet edge is shifted back and forth and becomes uneven.

  Therefore, the second height position H2 is formed with a height difference larger than the first height position H1, and this height difference is the case where the maximum allowable amount of sheet bundles is stacked on the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray. This is experimentally investigated from the amount of displacement of the processing edge due to the curvature. The illustrated second height position H2 is set to about 10 mm to 30 mm.

  The third height position H3 is set to be sufficiently larger than the thickness equivalent of the allowable maximum amount of sheet bundle, in which the height difference between the uppermost sheet and the sheet support surface 29a is set in advance. In other words, when a sheet bundle that has been aligned and stacked on the processing tray 29 and is subjected to the binding process is carried out onto the lifting tray 21, the height difference H3 between the uppermost sheet and the sheet support surface 29a is at least the maximum allowable amount of sheet bundles. Set larger than the thickness equivalent. In this case, the illustrated apparatus employs a structure in which a sheet bundle is gripped by the gripper member (means) 105 and carried out from the processing tray 29. If the sheet bundle is dropped and stored from the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray 29, the alignment state becomes worse. Therefore, the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is gripped by the gripper member (means) 105, and the grip is released just before the rear end of the sheet is landed on the uppermost sheet on the lifting tray 21, so that the alignment state is maintained. In the illustrated apparatus, the third height position H3 is set to 30 mm to 50 mm.

  When the lifting control means 164 moves the lifting tray 21 from the second height position to the third height position in the “processing bundle carry-out mode”, (i) an operation completion signal of the stapling means 31; Alternatively, by this signal, the lift motor MS is activated and controlled to move from the second height position to the third height position by a timing signal at which the carrier member 110 starts moving in the sheet carry-out direction, or (ii ) From the operation completion signal of the stapling means 31, the bound sheet bundle reaches the lift tray 21, and the lift motor MS is activated immediately before the trailing edge of the sheet falls on the uppermost sheet to start from the second height position. Control to move to the third height position.

  The lifting control means 164 is a process in which the rear end of the sheet bundle drops the grip release means at a height difference (the third height position H3) between the sheet support surface 29a of the processing tray 29 and the lifting tray 21. Thus, the gripper member (means) 105 is controlled to release the grip. Therefore, the sheet bundle is gradually dropped and accumulated on the uppermost sheet with a small drop. As a result, the alignment of the sheets accumulated on the lifting tray 21 can be maintained.

[Description of control configuration]
The control configuration of the above-described image forming system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) 150 of the image forming apparatus A and a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “post-processing control unit”) 160 of the post-processing apparatus B. The main body control unit 150 includes an image formation control unit 151, a paper feed control unit 152, and an input unit 153. Then, “image formation mode” and “post-processing mode” are set from the control panel 18 provided in the input unit 153. As described above, the image forming mode sets the number of printouts, sheet size, color / monochrome printing, enlargement / reduction printing, duplex / single-sided printing, and other image formation conditions. Then, the main body control unit 150 controls the image formation control unit 151 and the paper feed control unit 152 according to the set image forming conditions, and after the image is formed on a predetermined sheet, the sheets are sequentially carried out from the main body discharge port 3. .

  At the same time, the post-processing mode is set by input from the control panel 18. The post-processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding finishing mode”, “sheet bundle folding finishing mode”, or the like. Therefore, the main body control unit 150 transfers the post-processing finishing mode and the number of sheets, the upper number of copies, and the binding mode (one-position binding or two or more bindings) information to the post-processing control unit 160. At the same time, the main body control unit 150 transfers a job end signal to the post-processing control unit 160 every time image formation is completed.

  The post-processing control unit 160 includes a control CPU 161 that operates the post-processing apparatus B according to a designated finishing mode, a ROM 162 that stores an operation program, and a RAM 163 that stores control data. The control CPU 161 includes a sheet conveyance control unit 164a that performs conveyance of the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance 23a, a sheet accumulation operation control unit 164b that performs sheet accumulation operation, and a binding operation control that performs sheet binding processing. A unit 164c and a sheet bundle folding operation control unit 164d that executes a sheet bundle folding operation.

  The sheet conveyance control unit 164a is connected to the control circuit for the drive motor (not shown) of the carry-in roller 23 and the paper discharge roller 25 in the first carry-in path P1 described above, and from the sheet sensor S1 disposed in the carry-in path. The detection signal is configured to be received. The sheet stacking operation control unit 164b is connected to a drive circuit of a forward / reverse rotation motor of the switchback roller 26a and a shift motor of a sheet end regulating member in order to stack sheets on the processing tray 29. Further, the binding operation control unit 164c is connected to a driving circuit of a driving motor MD built in the end binding staple unit 31 of the processing tray 29 and the saddle stitching staple unit 40 of the accumulation guide 45.

  The sheet bundle folding operation control unit 164d is connected to a drive circuit of a drive motor that drives and rotates the folding rolls 46a and 46b and a drive circuit of a clutch unit. The sheet bundle folding operation control unit 164d is connected to a control circuit of shift means for controlling the movement of the conveying roller 27 of the second carry-in path P2 and the leading end stopper 43 of the stacking guide 45 to predetermined positions, and is arranged in these paths. Wired so as to receive a detection signal from the sheet sensor.

The control unit configured as described above causes the post-processing apparatus B to execute the next processing operation.
"Printout mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents from the first page, for example, and sequentially unloads from the main body discharge port 3 face down, and the sheet sent to the first carry-in path P1 is discharged to the discharge roller 25. Led. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the switchback roller 26a of the processing tray 29 based on the signal that the leading edge of the sheet is detected at the paper discharge port 25x, the sheet conveyance control unit 164a moves the switchback roller 26a from the upper standby position onto the tray. The roller is lowered and rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. Then, the sheet that has entered the processing tray 29 is carried out toward the stack tray 21 by the switchback roller 26a and stored on the tray. In this way, the subsequent sheets are sequentially carried out to the stack tray 21 and accumulated and stored on the tray.

  Accordingly, in this printout mode, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A passes through the first carry-in path P1 of the post-processing apparatus B and is accommodated in the stack tray 21, for example, n pages sequentially from page 1 in a face-down posture. It will be loaded and stored in order.

"Staple binding finish mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents from the first page to the nth page in the same manner as in the above-described mode, carries out the document from the main body discharge port 3 in a face-down state, and enters the first carry-in path P1. The fed sheet is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the switchback roller 26a of the processing tray 29 based on the signal that the leading edge of the sheet is detected at the paper discharge port 25x, the sheet conveyance control unit 164a moves the switchback roller 26a from the upper standby position onto the tray. Then, the switchback roller 26a is rotated clockwise in FIG. Next, the sheet conveyance control unit 164a drives the switchback roller 26a to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 after the estimated time when the sheet trailing edge is carried onto the processing tray 29. Then, the sheet that has entered from the paper discharge port 25x is switched back and conveyed onto the processing tray 29. By repeating this sheet conveyance, a series of sheets are stacked on the processing tray 29 in a face-down state.

  Each time the sheets are stacked on the processing tray 29, the control CPU 161 operates the side aligning unit 34 to align the width direction positions of the sheets to be stacked. Next, the control CPU 161 operates the edge-binding staple unit 31 in response to a job end signal from the image forming apparatus A to bind the trailing edge of the sheet bundle accumulated on the processing tray. After this stapling operation, the control CPU 161 moves the sheet bundle carrying-out means 100. Then, the staple-bound sheet bundle is carried out and stored in the stack tray 21. As a result, a series of sheets formed by the image forming apparatus A is stapled and stored in the stack tray 21.

[Gripper protection means]
As described above, the gripping means (gripper member) 105 is configured to be able to appear and retract in the front-rear direction of the sheet discharge direction. In other words, the drive arm 126 is driven so as to reciprocate between the standby position (retracted position) and the operating position. At the standby position (Gp1 in FIG. 15), the gripper member 105 takes a standby posture that is immersed in the guide groove 29G of the processing tray 29. During the operation, it moves to a position protruding from the processing tray 29. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 28B, the stapling means (post-processing means) 31 can reciprocate in the sheet width direction (direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction) at the downstream end of the processing tray 29. Is provided. The gripper member 105 is configured to be movable in the moving area of the stapling means (post-processing means) 31. Here, when the gripper member 105 does not fit in the standby position (dotted line position in FIG. 31) below the processing tray 29 due to a malfunction or the like and is in a position protruding toward the stapling means 31 (solid line position in FIG. 31), There was a risk that the member 105 and the stapling means 31 would collide. In the present invention, since the gripper protection plate 171 (protection member of the protection means) 171 is provided directly below the gripper member 105, the gripper protection plate 171 prevents the staple means 31 from moving, so that the staple means 31 and the gripper member 105 directly collide with each other. There is no longer to do. Therefore, damage to the gripper member 105 can be effectively prevented.

  Here, the gripper protection plate 171 is made of a flat plate member having rigidity, and is fixed immediately below the gripper member 105 and the carrier member 110 as shown in FIG. Further, the gripper protection plate 171 is configured to move following the reciprocation of the gripper member 105. Here, an engaging portion 172 for engaging with the drive arm 126 is provided at the end of the gripper protection plate 171 on the processing tray 29 side, and a biasing spring 173 is provided at the end of the gripper protection plate 171 on the staple means 31 side. Is provided. Therefore, when the gripper member 105 moves to the standby position by the swing of the drive arm 126, the gripper protection plate 171 is processed together with the gripper member 105 according to the movement of the drive arm 126 by the engaging portion 172 engaged with the drive arm 126. Move to a position hidden in the tray 29. The gripper protection plate 171 is urged toward the stapling means 31 by an urging spring 173 having one end fixed to the end of the gripper protection plate 171 on the side of the stapling means 31 and the other end fixed to the apparatus side (not shown). Yes. Therefore, when the gripper member 105 moves to the operating position by the swing of the drive arm 126, the gripper protection plate 171 moves toward the stapling means 31 protruding from the processing tray 29 by the biasing force of the biasing spring 173. The collision between the stapling means 31 and the gripper member 105 is prevented.

  Since it comprised as mentioned above, according to this invention, it becomes possible to comprise the protection means which protects the holding means which hold | grips a sheet | seat only by adding a simple structure to the conventional apparatus. Here, if the protection means is configured to move following the position movement of the gripping means, the gripping means can be further reliably protected. Further, if this protection means is provided below the processing tray, the dead space can be utilized without taking up a new place, so that the compactness of the apparatus is not hindered. Further, if the driving unit of the protection unit is also used as the driving unit of the gripping unit, further downsizing can be achieved. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the gripping means from being damaged and improve the durability of the apparatus.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system according to the present invention. Overall configuration diagram of a post-processing apparatus (sheet handling apparatus) in the system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a main part explanatory view of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a configuration explanatory view of a rear end regulating unit and a matching unit of a processing tray. It is explanatory drawing of the paper discharge mechanism of a process tray, (a) is a structure of a switchback roller, (b) is a standby state of a switchback roller, (c) is an explanation which shows the sheet engagement state of a switchback roller. Figure. It is explanatory drawing of the sheet aligning mechanism of a processing tray, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure, (b) shows a state with a small sheet | seat stacking amount, (c) shows a state with a large sheet | seat stacking amount. (D) is a positional relationship between the carry-in guide and the carry-out guide, (e) shows the configuration of the kick means, and (f) is an explanatory view showing the drive mechanism. The position movement mechanism of the rear end restriction | limiting means in a processing tray is shown, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the regulation state of a large size sheet (b). The position movement mechanism of the rear end regulation means in a processing tray is shown, (c) is an explanatory view showing the regulation state of a small size sheet, and (d) is the offset state of a large size sheet. The perspective view which shows the whole structure of a sheet | seat bundle carrying-out means. Explanatory drawing which shows the planar structure of a sheet bundle carrying-out means. Explanatory drawing of the guide mechanism of a sheet bundle carrying-out means, Explanatory drawing of the drive mechanism of a sheet bundle carrying-out means. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a grip mechanism of a sheet bundle carrying-out means, where FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a state where a sheet bundle is nipped, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the grip mechanism of a sheet bundle carrying-out means, (c) is explanatory drawing of the state which carried out the sheet bundle to the stack tray. 4A and 4B are operation state explanatory views of a sheet bundle carrying-out means, where FIG. 5A shows a first standby position state, and FIG. 5C shows an initial state where the sheet bundle is retracted to a second standby position. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation state of the sheet bundle carrying-out means, where (e) shows a state of the second standby position, (f) shows a state where the sheet bundle is nipped, and (g) shows a state where the sheet bundle is carried out. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation state of the sheet bundle carrying-out means, (h) shows a state where the sheet bundle is transferred onto the stack tray, (i) shows a state where the sheet bundle is carried out onto the stack tray, and (j) shows a sheet bundle. (K) shows a state immediately after being loaded on the stack tray, and FIG. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the safety mechanism of the bundle means carrying-out port in a processing tray, (b) shows the AA sectional view. The explanatory view of embodiment different from FIG. 18 which shows the safety mechanism of the bundle means carrying-out port in a processing tray. Explanatory drawing of the positioning mechanism of the punch unit in the apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the positioning state in the positioning mechanism of the punch unit of FIG. (A) It is explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the trimmer unit in the apparatus of FIG. 3, (b) is explanatory drawing of a drive system. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a positioning state in the trimmer unit of FIG. 22, (a) shows a state where a sheet bundle is conveyed, and (b) shows a state where a pressure roller of the sheet bundle is released. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a positioning state in the trimmer unit of FIG. 22, in which (c) shows a registration correction state for positioning the sheet bundle, and (d) shows a state for cutting the sheet bundle. Explanatory drawing of the raising / lowering mechanism of a stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views of a state in which the stack tray is raised and lowered in the apparatus of FIG. 3, in which FIG. 3A illustrates a state in which sheets are stored from the paper discharge path to the stack tray, and FIG. (C) shows a state where the sheet bundle is carried out from the processing tray onto the stack tray. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a folding roll mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. 2A illustrates a state in which the sheet bundle is accumulated, FIG. 2B illustrates a state in which the sheet bundle is inserted into the folding roll by a folding blade, (D) shows a state in which the sheet bundle is folded by a folding roll. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of an end binding staple unit in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views of saddle stitching stapling means in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control configuration in the image forming system of FIG. 1. The top view which shows the detail of the gripper protection means of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. The perspective view which shows the detail of the gripper protection means of the post-processing apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

20 Casing (exterior cover)
21 Stack tray (elevating tray)
22 Saddle tray 22x Paper discharge port 23a Carry-in port 23 Carry-in roller 25 Paper discharge roller 25x Paper discharge port 26 Switchback roller 26a Movable roller 26b Follower roller 26z Roller rotation shaft 27 Transport roller 28 Lifting support arm 28a Oscillating rotation shaft 29 Processing tray 29a Sheet support surface 29x Exit end (tray exit)
29G guide groove 31 end binding staple unit (post-processing means)
32 Sheet edge regulating means 34 Side alignment means 40 Saddle stitching staple unit (saddle stitching unit)
44 Folding mechanism 45 Accumulation guide 51 Aligning means 55 Kick lever (kicker means)
60 Punch unit 70 Driver 85 Sheet transfer path (paper discharge path)
90 Trimmer unit 95 Support frame 96 Registration means 97 Swing arm member (regulation stopper)
97U Stopper frame 98 Biasing guide member 100 Sheet bundle carrying-out means 105 Sheet engaging member (gripper member) (gripping means)
105a Movable gripper 105b Fixed gripper 106 Pivot pin (connection shaft)
107 urging spring 110 carrier member 111 guide pin 114 carrier driving means 125 driving rotating shaft 126 driving arm (crank member)
127 engaging member driving means 150 control unit (controller) A
161 Control CPU
171 Gripper protection plate 172 Engaging portion 173 Energizing spring

Claims (5)

A processing tray for receiving sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus;
A stack tray provided on the downstream side of the processing tray;
A post-processing unit that moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction and performs a predetermined post-processing on the sheets stacked on the processing tray;
Move in the front-rear direction of the discharge direction of the sheet and inside and outside the movement region of the post-processing means ,
Gripping means for gripping the sheet bundle post-processed by the post-processing means and discharging it to the stack tray;
Provided so as to be movable in and out of the moving area of the post-processing means,
When the gripping means is in move within the region of the post section,
Sheet post-processing apparatus characterized by comprising an anti-tool protection member contact the post means and the gripping means between the post means and the gripping means. 2. The sheet according to claim 1 , wherein the protection member is movable between a working position for post-processing within a moving area of the post-processing means and a retreat position provided in a space below the processing tray. Post-processing device. 3. The sheet post-processing according to claim 2 , wherein the protection member moves between the operating position and the retracted position in accordance with movement of the gripping unit in a movement region of the post-processing unit. apparatus. The drive means of the gripping means, according to claim 1, characterized in that also serves as a driving means for applying a driving force to at least one direction of the protective member to move retractably in the movement area of the post means Sheet post-processing device. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, the sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus constructed in accordance with of any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images