JP5322024B2 - Paper post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely set a carrier which receives a paper sheet tray with paper sheets stacked thereon and moves the tray to a predetermined position in a device. <P>SOLUTION: In the carrier 108, both corners of the tip in a direction inserted into a carrier set space 121 are formed with chamfered parts 108. The carrier 108 is thereby inserted diagonally, and even if the chamfered part 108a of the carrier 108 abuts on a circular shape part 140a of a guide member 140, the inserting direction is corrected to follow the guide member 140, and the carrier 108 is smoothly guided into the carrier set space 121. Furthermore, since a distance x between opposite surfaces of both the guide members 140 is set to be narrower as it goes to a depth side in the carrier set direction in the carrier set space 121, the carrier 108 is surely guided to the depth of the carrier set space 121. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a paper tray on which paper discharged from a host device can be stacked, a paper post-processing device including a carriage for carrying out the paper tray together with the stacked paper, and a paper post-processing unit. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  As described in Patent Document 1, a stacker device that receives a sheet discharged from a facsimile machine or the like with a vertically movable tray is known. In this apparatus, when a predetermined amount of sheets are stacked on the vertically movable tray, the vertically movable tray is lowered by a certain amount, and sheets corresponding to the moving range of the vertically movable tray are sequentially stacked.

  In addition, a paper post-processing device has been proposed in which a carriage is installed in the apparatus body, the vertical movable tray is placed on the carriage, and the vertical movable tray is carried out of the apparatus together with the loaded paper. Yes.

  In the conventional paper post-processing apparatus in which a carriage is installed in the apparatus, the user needs to move the carriage inside and outside the apparatus. And when setting a trolley | bogie in a set position, the operation | work which sets a trolley straightly and correctly with respect to a predetermined setting space is requested | required.

  In this case, as described in Patent Document 2, a guide unit is provided for each of the apparatus to be set and the apparatus for receiving the set, and when the user sets the guide, the guides are set by both guide parts. It is also conceivable to use a configuration in which reliable setting is performed.

  However, in general, a caster that can move in all directions is provided at the lower portion of the carriage to facilitate movement of the carriage. For this reason, if the cart is not set straightly and accurately with respect to the predetermined set space, but is set at a slight angle and stress is applied to the cart, the casters below the cart will rotate in the direction in which the force is applied. .

  For this reason, the carriage is in an oblique position with respect to the set space, and the carriage cannot be set accurately, and the user needs to pull the carriage out of the apparatus again and perform the setting work again. There was a problem that operability was low.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and even if a carriage is installed that moves by receiving a paper tray together with loaded paper, the setting operation of the carriage to a predetermined position is simple and reliable. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a conveying unit that receives and conveys a sheet discharged from a host device, and stacks a plurality of sheets received from the conveying unit. In a paper post-processing apparatus comprising a paper tray capable of receiving a paper, a movable carriage for receiving the paper tray, and a guide member for guiding the carriage to a predetermined set position in the apparatus main body, a front end portion of the carriage to form a chamfered portion or the curved portion, the said guide member so as to respectively face the side walls of the truck provided Rutotomoni, when the carriage is set to the set position, positioning the carriage to the set position and the該台vehicles by magnetic force provided positioning and holding means for holding the said set position, further wherein the curved shape portion is formed on the distal end side of the guide members, and between the opposing guide member Sets the interval to be narrower as it goes to the carriage setting direction inner side in the apparatus main body, the width direction of the carriage perpendicular to the carriage set direction and bogie front end side of the carriage set direction When the carriage is set to be gradually narrowed from the opposite side toward the carriage tip side, and the carriage is set at the set position and positioned and held at the set position, each side wall of the carriage is moved to the guide member. The distance between the guide members and the width of the carriage are set so as not to come into contact with each other. With this configuration, the carriage is smoothly guided by the guide member during the setting operation and is controlled by the guide member. Move to the set position on the back side of the body. In addition, by setting the width of the carriage so that it gradually narrows from the opposite side of the carriage tip side toward the carriage tip side in the carriage set direction, the carriage is surely directed toward the set position during the setting operation. Can be moved in this way.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the guide member extends in the set direction of the carriage to a position where the carriage is regulated at the set position. Thus, the material cost and the like can be reduced by installing the guide member without providing the guide member over the entire set position.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper post-processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, a high slip member is provided on at least a contact surface of the guide member with the carriage. Guide to the carriage by the guide member at the time is performed smoothly and satisfactorily.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the carriage is provided with a lower carriage, and the carriage is moved easily. Can do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet post-processing unit that receives a sheet discharged after image formation and performs post-processing. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is installed as a post-processing section outside or inside the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, during the operation of moving the carriage that receives the paper tray with respect to the predetermined position, the carriage is smoothly guided by the guide member and is regulated by the guide member, while the interior of the apparatus main body is Since it moves to the set position on the side, the user can easily and reliably set the cart to the predetermined position.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a sheet stacking apparatus that is an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the bogie set space in the paper stacking apparatus of this embodiment from a planar state The perspective view which shows the trolley | bogie set space part in the paper stacking apparatus of this embodiment. The top view which shows the state in which the trolley | bogie in this embodiment is set to a trolley | bogie set space. The top view which shows the state in which the trolley | bogie in this embodiment was set to the trolley | bogie set space.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a paper stacking apparatus as an embodiment of a paper post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. A sheet (paper) discharged from an image forming apparatus (not shown) is introduced from the direction of arrow A.

  As a configuration of the image forming apparatus, a publicly known one including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and a sheet discharge unit that discharges the sheet after image formation can be used.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a proof tray, 102 is a shift tray on which sheets are stacked, 103 is an elevator for raising and lowering the shift tray 102, 104 is a timing belt, 105 is a timing pulley, 106 is a worm gear, and 107 is a tray lifting motor. The timing belt 104, the timing pulley 105, the worm gear 106, and the tray lifting / lowering motor 107 constitute lifting / lowering means.

  Reference numeral 108 is disposed below the moving area of the shift tray 102 in the space 120 provided in the sheet stacking apparatus main body 100, receives the shift tray 102, and shifts the sheets stacked on the shift tray 102. It is a cart that is carried out together with the tray 102. In the lower part of the carriage 108, casters (leg carts) 109 that can move in all directions are provided in four places in this example.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a paddle that rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with a paper discharge roller 111 that discharges a sheet to the shift tray 102, 112 a filler for detecting the sheets stacked on the shift tray 102, and 113 a paper discharge. A driven roller 114, which is urged by an elastic means with respect to the roller 111, is an entrance roller as a conveying means for conveying the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus to the inside.

  The paper stacking apparatus can select an operation mode of a proof paper discharge mode, a straight paper discharge mode, and a shift paper discharge mode. In addition, the paper stacking apparatus is equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control unit, and communicates with an image forming apparatus (not shown) to control the operation of each unit in the paper stacking apparatus.

  The paper stacking apparatus main body 100 is provided with a door 130 that can be opened and closed with respect to the outside. A protrusion 130 a protruding from the door 130 detects whether the door 130 is opened or closed by turning on or off a door switch 131 provided on the sheet stacking apparatus main body 100. The paper stacked on the shift tray 102 or jammed paper can be taken out by opening the door 130.

  The proof paper discharge mode is an operation mode in which a sheet is guided and stacked on the proof tray 101 through the sheet conveyance path L1. The straight sheet discharge mode is an operation mode in which the sheet discharge path L2 leads to a post-processing apparatus such as another sheet stacking apparatus provided at the subsequent stage of the sheet stacking apparatus. The shift discharge mode is an operation mode in which sheets are discharged and stacked on the shift tray 102 through the sheet conveyance path L3.

  The shift tray 102 is placed on an elevator 103 that can be raised and lowered. The four corners of the elevator 103 are suspended by a total of four timing belts 104, and each timing belt 104 is wound around four corresponding timing pulleys 105. These timing pulleys 105 are linked by a worm gear 106 and a gear train composed of a plurality of gears, and are rotated synchronously by the driving force of the tray lifting / lowering motor 107 to lift and lower the elevator 103 together with the shift tray 102. Let

  Thus, since the power transmission system is via the worm gear 106, the shift tray 102 can be kept at a fixed position. When the elevator 103 is lowered to the lowest position, the shift tray 102 is placed on the carriage 108, so that the sheets stacked on the shift tray 102 together with the shift tray 102 are transferred by the carriage 108 to the sheet stacking device main body 100. Can be carried outside.

  The paddle 110 rotates counterclockwise in conjunction with the paper discharge roller 111 in the sheet conveyance path L3, hits the rear end portion of the sheet discharged onto the shift tray 102, and presses it downward. The sheets stacked on the shift tray 102 push up the filler 112. Based on the movement of the filler 112, the optical paper surface sensor S3 detects the stacking height of the sheets on the shift tray 102.

  When the paper surface sensor S3 is ON, the shift tray 102 is lowered by the tray lift motor 107, and the tray lift motor 107 is stopped after the paper surface sensor S3 is turned OFF. Accordingly, every time the paper surface sensor S3 is turned on by the sheets stacked on the shift tray 102, the shift tray 102 is lowered by a predetermined distance.

  S1 is a sheet conveyance path sensor (hereinafter referred to as “entrance sensor”) provided at the sheet carry-in entrance for detecting the passage of the sheet. S2 is a paper conveyance path sensor (hereinafter referred to as “paper ejection sensor”) for detecting the passage of the sheet in the sheet conveyance path L3.

  Further, a driven roller 113 urged by an elastic member such as a spring is pressed against the paper discharge roller 111, and a sheet is nipped between these rollers 111 and 113. The sheets carried in are managed by the inlet sensor S1 and the paper discharge sensor S2, and the sheets carried from the image forming apparatus are discharged to the shift tray 102 by the inlet roller 114 and the paper discharge roller 111.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the movable plate, which are the structural features of this embodiment, will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an internal space 120 that is a movement area of the shift tray 102 and is a storage / set position of the carriage 108 is provided inside the sheet stacking apparatus main body 100.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a carriage set space in the sheet stacking apparatus of the present embodiment from a planar state, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a carriage set space portion in the sheet stacking apparatus of the present embodiment.

  2 and 3, a lower part of the internal space 120 of the sheet stacking apparatus main body 100 is a carriage set space 121. Front portions of the carriage set space 121 and the movement area of the shift tray 102 are closed by the door 130 described above. The presence of the door 130 prevents the sheet stacking state from being destroyed by the influence of wind or the like during sheet stacking.

  The periphery of the carriage set space 121 is covered with a main body inner frame portion 100 a except for the installation portion of the door 130. The body frame portion 100a has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that is substantially the same shape as the carriage 108, and a pair of guide members 140 are provided from the entrance side (door installation side) of the carriage 108 to the carriage setting direction (arrow direction). It extends so as to face each other.

  Each guide member 140 has an arcuate portion 140a at the front end side corner on the entrance side, and the interval x between the opposing surfaces of both guide members 140 is set to the back side in the set direction of the carriage set space 121 (from the door installation side). Is set to become narrower as it goes to the opposite side.

Further, the body inner frame portion 100a on the back side in the set direction of the carriage set space 121 is provided with a carriage positioning pin 141 and a plurality of magnets 142, and a carriage 108 in which a pin receiving part and a magnetic body are provided in part. The cart 108 can be regulated to the set position by locking and adsorbing. As described above, the sheet post-processing apparatus has positioning holding means for positioning the carriage 108 at the set position when the carriage 108 is set at the set position and holding the carriage 108 at the set position by magnetic force. It is doing.

  The guide member 140 only needs to extend in the cart setting direction to a position where the cart 108 is regulated at the set position, and the guide member 140 is not necessarily provided in the entire cart setting space 121. As a result, the material cost due to the installation of the guide member 140 can be reduced.

  Further, by providing a highly slippery member on at least the contact surface of the guide member 140 with the carriage 108, the guide member 140 guides the carriage 108 smoothly and satisfactorily during the setting operation.

  When the cart 108 is set in the cart set space 121, the door 130 is opened to open the entrance side of the cart set space 121. Guide members 140 are provided at both ends of the carriage set space 121 so that the carriage 108 can be accurately stored in the interior of the carriage set space 121. As shown in FIG. In some cases, the carriage 108 may not be set straight with respect to 121.

  However, in this embodiment, chamfered portions (which may be curved surfaces) 108a are formed at both corners of the distal end portion in the insertion direction of the carriage 108 into the carriage set space 121, and the carriage 108 is inserted obliquely. In addition, since the front end side corners of both guide members 140 are arc-shaped portions 140a, when the chamfered portion 108a of the carriage 108 abuts against the arc-shaped portions 140a of the guide member 140, the insertion direction is the guide member. 140 so that the pedestal 108 can be smoothly guided into the cart set space 121.

  Further, since the distance x between the opposing surfaces of both guide members 140 is set to become narrower toward the rear side in the cart set direction in the cart set space 121, the cart 108 does not cause unnecessary lateral movement. It is surely guided to the back of the set space 121.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the carriage 108 is set at a predetermined position in the carriage set space 121, and the carriage is constituted by a carriage positioning pin 141 provided on the main body inner frame portion 100 a of the carriage set space 121 and a plurality of magnets 142. 108 is locked and sucked, and the carriage 108 is regulated to the regular set position.

In the carriage 108, chamfers 108a are provided at both corners of the distal end in the insertion direction so that the distal end side in the carriage setting direction is narrower than the opposite side. Can be inserted / moved from the entrance side. The width of the carriage 108 in the direction orthogonal to the carriage set direction is set so as to gradually narrow from the side opposite to the carriage tip side in the carriage set direction toward the carriage tip side. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when the carriage 108 is set at the set position and is positioned and held at the set position, the side walls in the width direction of the carriage 108 do not come into contact with the guide member 140. And the width of the carriage 108 are set.

  In the above-described embodiment, a configuration example in which a sheet stacking device independent from the image forming apparatus is installed outside the image forming apparatus and a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is received has been described. It is also conceivable that the paper stacking device having the above-described configuration is installed so as to be incorporated in the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a sheet post-processing apparatus connected to a multifunction machine thereof, or a sheet post-processing apparatus incorporated in a paper stacking unit in the image forming apparatus. In particular, the present invention is effective when applied to a paper stacking apparatus that stacks a large number of sheets (paper) on a shift tray that can be moved up and down.

100 paper stacking apparatus main body 100a main body frame section 102 shift tray 103 elevator 108 carriage 108a chamfering section 109 caster 120 inner space 121 carriage set space 130 door 130a protrusion 131 door switch 140 guide member 140a arc-shaped portion 141 of guide member carriage positioning pin 142 Magnet

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-165937 JP 2001-199622 A

Claims (5)

Conveying means for receiving and conveying paper discharged from the host device, a paper tray capable of receiving a paper conveyed from the conveying means and stacking a plurality of sheets, and a movable carriage for receiving the paper tray And a sheet post-processing apparatus comprising a guide member for guiding the carriage to a predetermined set position in the apparatus main body,
To form a chamfered portion or the curved portion to the distal end of the carriage, the said guide member so as to respectively face the side walls of the truck provided Rutotomoni, when the carriage is set to the set position, the carriage Positioning and holding means for positioning at the set position and holding the carriage at the set position by magnetic force is provided , and a curved portion is formed on the tip side of each guide member, and the distance between the opposing guide members Is set to become narrower as it goes to the back side in the cart set direction in the apparatus main body, and the width of the cart in the direction orthogonal to the cart set direction is opposite to the cart front end side in the cart set direction. From the side to the tip end side of the carriage, and the carriage is set at the set position and positioned and held at the set position. And time, as each side wall of the carriage does not contact the guide member, the sheet post-processing apparatus characterized by setting the width of gap between the carriage between the guide member.   The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide member extends in a set direction of the carriage until the carriage is regulated at the set position.   The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a high-sliding member is provided on at least a contact surface of the guide member with the carriage. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the carriage is provided with a lower carriage. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet and a sheet post-processing unit that receives a sheet discharged after image formation and performs post-processing.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims as a sheet post-processing unit, installed outside the image forming apparatus main body or incorporated therein.

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