JP6136371B2 - Paper post-processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus or a sheet post-processing apparatus provided in the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is already known a paper post-processing device that temporarily stacks paper conveyed from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine on a stack tray, and sequentially stacks the paper on a paper discharge tray after alignment by an alignment unit and binding processing by a binding unit. It has been.

  An example of a binding means is a stapler that binds with a needle. The stapler can cope with various paper sizes by moving the position of a staple unit as a paper processing unit, or can perform binding processing at two or more places with one staple unit. The movable staple unit only includes a sensor indicating the position of the motor and the internal clinch, a needle clogging detection sensor, and the like. Therefore, in order to perform the needle driving operation of the staple unit, it is necessary to supply electric power for operating a motor, a sensor, and the like, and to output a control signal for notifying the main body of the post-processing apparatus of sensor information in the staple unit. For this reason, a wire harness in which electric wires are bundled is used for power supply and control signal transmission.

  However, since the staple unit moves, the wire harness repeatedly bends and stretches each time the staple unit moves. In particular, if the bending / extension is always performed at the same point and the bending angle is increased, the load repeatedly applied to the electric wire increases, so that the possibility of breakage due to bending fatigue increases. For this reason, we have devised methods such as reducing the bending angle by securing the space in the equipment and increasing the bending radius of the wire harness, devising the method of winding the wire harness, and selecting wires that are resistant to bending. .

  Even if the above-described measures are taken, there is a problem that it takes a lot of development man-hours, for example, an endurance test must be carried out in order to confirm the endurance of the operation after the specified number of operations. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the post-processing device is equipped with a wireless communication means that mounts a power source such as a rechargeable battery in the staple unit to supply power and wirelessly transmits a signal for controlling the motor or a sensor signal. A technique is known that is mounted on a main body and a staple unit and does not require a wire harness (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, there are the following problems when using wireless communication means as means that can be realized without using a wire harness in order to control the position of the staple unit and the operation of the staple motor.

  Infrared communication, which is an inexpensive wireless communication means used for home appliance remote control etc., is greatly affected by distance and shielding objects, and in order to realize stable reception at any position of the staple unit, a transmitter and There is a problem that the installation condition of the receiver becomes severe and the space for it becomes large.

  Radio communication has less impact on distance and shielding than infrared communication, but parts are more expensive than infrared communication, and expensive wireless communication devices and encoding devices are installed in the paper post-processing device and the staple unit, respectively. There is a problem that it must be expensive.

  The present invention aims to solve such problems.

  That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper post-processing apparatus having a paper processing unit that does not require a wire harness and is low-cost and space-saving.

In order to solve the problems described above, the invention described in claim 1 is a sheet post-processing apparatus having a paper processing unit movable with reference to a home position, wherein the paper processing unit is the paper processing unit. Power storage means for storing electric power necessary for operation of the apparatus, and first connection to which power for charging the power storage means is supplied and paper processing information including position information for operating the paper processing unit is input. Means, paper processing start notifying means for detecting paper processing start timing based on the paper processing information, and processing means for performing predetermined paper processing based on the paper processing start timing detected by the paper processing start notifying means. And is electrically connected to the first connecting means at a predetermined position on the movement path of the paper processing unit, and supplies electric power for charging the power storage means. Second connecting means for outputting the paper processing information as well as possess further position indication means for indicating the position on the path of the paper processing unit moves is provided, wherein the paper processing start notification means, said position a detection means for detecting the displaying means, and a timing detection means for detecting the timing of the feeding process initiated based on a detection result of said detecting means, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim and this.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the paper processing unit can operate by supplying power from the power storage means. Further, based on the paper processing information transmitted in advance, the paper processing unit itself can detect the timing of the paper processing start and perform a predetermined paper processing. Therefore, no wire harness is required and no wireless communication is required, so that the cost can be reduced and the space can be saved.

It is a block diagram of the paper post-processing apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a moving mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a simplified configuration of a moving mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a functional block diagram of the process start notification means shown by FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a functional block diagram of the process start notification means of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is the top view which showed the attachment position relationship of the process position detection sensor and light-shielding plate which were shown by FIG. It is a side view of FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operation of the timer circuit shown in FIG. It is a top view of the paper post-processing apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of FIG. It is a top view which shows the time of a cover part moving in the top view shown by FIG. FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13. It is a functional block diagram of the process start notification means of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a positional relationship between the stop detection sensor and the seat illustrated in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a side view of FIG. 16. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. It is the top view which showed the structure of the abnormality notification means and abnormality detection means which were shown by FIG. FIG. 20 is a side view of FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram illustrating a modification of the sheet post-processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 18. It is a top view which shows the example which provided the connector in the other end part.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the moving mechanism of the paper post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the moving mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the paper post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the processing start notifying means shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the process start notifying unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The paper post-processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a paper transport path L, a paper discharge tray 6, a staple tray 9, and a staple unit 14.

  The sheet conveyance path L includes inlet roller pairs 2a and 2b, relay roller pairs 3a and 3b, shift roller pairs 4a and 4b, paper discharge roller pairs 5a and 5b, and sensors S1 and S2. . The inlet roller pair 2a, 2b is a roller pair including an inlet roller 2a and an inlet roller 2b. The pair of entrance rollers 2a and 2b is provided near the entrance of the sheet conveyance path L, and introduces the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus or the like into the sheet conveyance path L. The relay roller pair 3a, 3b is a roller pair including the relay roller 3a and the relay roller 3b. The relay roller pairs 3a and 3b are provided downstream of the inlet roller pairs 2a and 2b in the paper transport path L, and transport the paper to the shift roller pairs 4a and 4b. The shift roller pair 4a, 4b is a roller pair composed of the shift roller 4a and the shift roller 4b. The shift roller pair 4a, 4b shifts the sheet conveyed from the relay roller pair 3a, 3b in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction in the shift discharge mode.

  The paper discharge roller pair 5a, 5b is a roller pair including a paper discharge roller 5a and a paper discharge roller 5b. The paper discharge roller pair 5a, 5b is provided downstream of the shift roller pair 4a, 4b, and discharges the paper shifted by the shift roller pair 4a, 4b to the paper discharge tray 6. The paper discharge roller 5a is configured to be movable in contact with and away from the paper discharge roller 5b. The paper conveyed from the shift roller pair 4a and 4b is nipped (pinch) and discharged to the paper discharge tray 6.

  The sensors S1 and S2 are configured with optical sensors, for example. The sensor S1 is provided between the entrance roller pair 2a, 2b and the relay roller pair 3a, 3b, and the sensor S2 is provided between the relay roller pair 3a, 3b and the shift roller pair 4a, 4b. Sensors S1 and S2 detect the presence or absence of paper in the paper transport path L.

  The paper discharge tray 6 includes a movable tray 6a, a fixed portion 6b, an end fence 7, a paper presser 8, and sensors S3 and S4.

  The movable tray 6a is configured to move substantially in the vertical direction in FIG. 1, and the sheets discharged from the pair of discharge rollers 5a and 5b are stacked thereon. The fixed portion 6b is provided in parallel to the movable tray 6a at the lower end in the moving direction of the movable tray 6a. The end fence 7 is provided so as to be substantially perpendicular to the movable tray 6a and the fixed portion 6b, and aligns the sheets stacked on the movable tray 6a by supporting the rear end in the sheet conveyance direction.

  The paper retainer 8 includes a paper retainer provided so as to protrude from the end fence 7 and a sensor detected portion. The sensor S3 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor. The sensor S3 is in contact with the sensor detected portion of the normal paper presser 8. When the sheet comes into contact with the sheet pressing portion of the sheet pressing unit 8 and presses the sheet, the sensor detected portion is separated from the sensor S3. The sensor S3 detects this and outputs it to the drive unit of the movable tray 6a (not shown) to lower the movable tray 6a.

  The sensor S4 is constituted by an optical sensor, for example, and detects the filler 6s of the movable tray 6a. When the sensor S4 detects the filler 6s, the fact that the movable tray 6a has reached the lower end of the moving range and the paper discharge tray 6 is full is output to the drive unit of the movable tray 6a to stop the movable tray 6a.

  The staple tray 9 has a hitting roller 10, a jogger 11, a reverse roller 12, a reference fence 13, and sensors S5 and S6.

  The staple tray 9 is loaded with sheets on which a binding process is performed by a staple unit 14 described later. The hitting roller 10 is configured to be movable so as to perform a pendulum motion, and pushes back the paper discharged onto the staple tray 9 in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The reverse roller 12 abuts the rear end of the paper loaded on the staple tray 9 against the reference fence 13. The reference fence 13 is a fence for aligning sheets at a reference position for performing binding processing by the staple unit 14, and is provided on the staple unit side of the staple tray 9. The jogger 11 aligns the sheet bundle by performing the alignment process of the sheet width (direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction).

  The sensor S5 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, and detects the presence or absence of paper on the staple tray 9. The sensor S6 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor, and is a sensor that detects the trailing edge of the sheet on the staple tray 9. In the sensor S6, the staple unit 14 performs a binding process when the sensor S6 detects a sheet. By doing so, the staple clogging of the staple unit 14 can be prevented.

  The staple unit 14 includes a stapler (not shown), a motor that operates the stapler, a motor driver, a control circuit, and the like. 2 and 3 show the configuration of the staple unit 14 and the moving mechanism 50 that moves the staple unit 14. In the present embodiment, the staple unit 14 is described as a paper processing unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, any unit that performs predetermined processing while moving with respect to the paper, such as a punch unit that punches holes in the paper or a stacker tray that can stack paper and move in the stacking direction, can be applied. Furthermore, the paper processing unit may be configured to have a plurality of processing functions (such as stapling and punching).

  The moving mechanism 50 includes a rail 15, a staple moving motor 16, gears 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, and 17 d, a roller 17 e, a belt 18, and a sensor 19.

  The rail 15 extends in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, and guides the staple unit 14 in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. The staple moving motor 16 is driving means for moving the staple unit. The gears 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, and 17 d are gear mechanisms that are provided on one end side of the rail and transmit the driving force of the staple moving motor 16 to the belt 18. The roller 17e is a tension roller that is provided on the other end side of the rail and stretches the belt 18 together with the gear 17d.

  The belt 18 is an endless belt that is moved by the driving force of the staple moving motor 16. The belt 18 is stretched and the longitudinal direction is parallel to the rails 17. Further, the staple unit 14 is fixed to the belt 18, and the staple unit 14 linearly moves along the rail 15 by the movement of the belt 18. The sensor 19 is a sensor that is provided at the home position and detects whether or not the staple unit 14 is at the home position. For example, the sensor 19 includes an optical sensor. In the present embodiment, the home position is the other end side of the rail 15, but may be appropriately determined such as one end side or an intermediate position.

  The sheet post-processing apparatus 1 configured as described above can select the operation mode of the shift discharge mode and the staple discharge mode. In the shift paper discharge mode, the received paper is introduced into the paper transport path L by the entrance roller pair 2a, 2b, and then introduced into the shift roller pair 4a, 4b via the relay roller pair 3a, 3b.

  Then, the paper is conveyed to the paper discharge roller pair 5a, 5b. At this time, the paper discharge roller 5a receives the paper with the nip opened. Triggered by the change of the sensor S1 from the paper present state to the no paper state, the shift roller pair 4a, 4b is moved relative to the transport direction at the timing when the rear end of the paper passes through the relay roller pair 3a, 3b after a predetermined time has elapsed. Shifting in the vertical direction shifts the paper in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

  Then, after the paper shift process by the shift roller pair 4a, 4b is completed, the paper discharge roller 5a nips the paper and discharges it to the paper discharge tray 6 by the paper discharge roller pair 5a, 5b.

  In the staple mode, as in the shift paper discharge mode, after the received paper is introduced into the paper transport path L by the entrance roller pair 2a, 2b, the staple tray passes through the relay roller pair 3a, 3b and the shift roller pair 4a, 4b. Drain up to 9. At this time, the paper is received with the pair of paper discharge rollers 5a and 5b opened.

  The paper discharged onto the staple tray 9 is pushed back in the direction of arrow C by the tapping roller 10. Subsequently, the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the reference fence 13 by the reverse roller 12, and the sheet width is aligned by the jogger 11 to align the sheet bundle.

  When the number of sheets designated by the image forming apparatus or the like is stacked on the staple tray 9, the staple unit 14 performs a binding process on the sheet bundle. When the binding process is completed, the paper discharge roller pairs 5a and 5b nip the sheet bundle and discharge it onto the paper discharge tray 6.

  During the binding process, the staple moving motor 16 is driven to linearly move the staple unit 14 along the rail 15, whereby a plurality of binding processes such as end binding and two-point binding can be performed. Further, since the staple unit 14 is returned to the home position immediately after the power is turned on or after the stapling operation is completed, it is possible to determine whether or not the staple unit 14 is at the home position using the output signal of the sensor 19. .

  Next, in the paper post-processing apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the functional block configuration and operation of the staple unit 14 as an example of the paper processing unit will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 includes a main body control unit 101, a power supply unit 102, and a connector 103. Hereinafter, the portion other than the portion that moves as the staple unit 14 is referred to as the main body side. The main body control means 101, the power supply means 102, and the connector 103 are provided on the main body side.

  The main body control means 101 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The main body control unit 101 controls the entire sheet post-processing apparatus 1. The main body control unit 101 controls, for example, the staple moving motor 16 to move the staple unit 14 and transmits / receives various information such as paper processing information to be described later to / from the staple unit 14 via the connector 103. Or

  The power supply unit 102 supplies power for charging a power storage unit such as a secondary battery constituting the power source 201 of the staple unit 14 via the connector 103. In addition, the power supply unit 102 can check the charge amount of the power storage unit of the power supply 201 via the connector 103.

  The connector 103 as the second connecting means is a connector that is provided at a home position as a predetermined position, and electrically connects a connector 200 of the staple unit 14 described later. The connector 103 transmits the power supplied from the power supply unit 102 to the connector 200 and transmits the paper processing information transmitted from the main body control unit 101 to the connector 200. That is, power for charging the power storage means is supplied and paper processing information is output. The installation position of the connector 103 is not limited to the home position. It may be provided at any position on the moving path of the staple unit 14. Of course, it is needless to say that the position can be electrically connected to the connector 200. Further, the movement path of the staple unit 14 is not limited to the position along the rail 15, but includes positions where the staple unit 14 can be electrically connected at both ends of the movement of the staple unit 14. That is, any position that can be electrically connected within the movement range of the staple unit 14 is included in the movement path.

  The staple unit 14 includes a power source 201, a motor driver 202, a DC motor 203, a control signal transmission unit 204, a process start notification unit 205, a sensor 206, and a connector 200.

  The power source 201 is a power source having a rechargeable power storage unit such as a secondary battery or a capacitor, and the power supplied from the power supply unit 102 via the connector 200 is charged to the power storage unit. If the staple unit 14 is not at the home position, the power stored in the power storage means is supplied into the staple unit 14. The capacity of the power storage means may be equal to or greater than the amount of power that can be processed by the paper post-processing device 1 for the maximum number of processing points performed on one sheet of paper. That is, the power necessary for the paper processing unit itself to operate is stored.

  The motor driver 202 outputs a drive signal for driving the DC motor 203 under the control of the control signal transmission means 204.

  The DC motor 203 is a drive source for driving a stapler (not shown) to strike a needle on a sheet, and is driven by a motor driver 202.

  The control signal transmission unit 204 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, similar to the main body control unit 101, and controls the staple unit 14. The control signal transmission unit 204 is based on paper processing information (details will be described later) received from the main body control unit 101 via the connector 200 and signals input from the processing start notification unit 205 and the sensor 206. To control. That is, the control signal transmission unit 204, the motor driver 202, the DC motor 203, and a stapler (not shown) function as processing units.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the processing start notification unit 205 as the paper processing start notification unit includes a selection setting circuit 207, a storage unit 208, and a counter circuit 209.

  A selection setting circuit 207 as a selection unit selects the count setting data stored in the storage unit 208 based on the processing conditions output from the control signal transmission unit 204 and sets the count setting data in the counter circuit 209. That is, the setting value stored in the setting value storage means is selected based on the paper processing information and set in the time-limited circuit. Specifically, this processing condition is based on the paper processing information (processing type, number of processes, processing position (position) acquired by the control signal transmission means 204 from the main body control means 101 when the staple unit 14 is positioned at the home position. Information), paper size information, and the like.

  The storage unit 208 as the set value storage unit is configured by a storage unit such as a memory such as a RAM or a register. The storage unit 208 stores a plurality of count setting data for each processing condition in which the time from when the staple unit 14 starts to move until it arrives at the paper processing position is converted into the count number of the counter circuit 209. That is, a set value indicating the time until the paper process is started is stored according to the processing content. In this count setting data, not only the movement time from the home position but also the relative movement time from the current position to the next position used when there are a plurality of paper processing positions is set. Then, the selection setting circuit 207 selects whether it is the movement time from the home position or the relative movement time depending on whether or not it is the first process.

  The counter circuit 209 as a timed circuit outputs a start signal to the control signal transmission unit 204 after counting the count number of the count setting data set from the selection setting circuit 207. That is, the paper processing start timing is detected based on the paper processing information. In this embodiment, the counter circuit is used as the time-limited circuit. However, other circuit systems may be used as long as the circuit can measure time by setting a set value indicating time.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The sensor 206 is a sensor used for detecting the presence or absence of a needle or the home position of a stapler. The home position detection of the stapler detects, for example, whether the stapler is in the hitting state or whether it is in the home position without hitting. That is, the sensor 206 is not limited to a single sensor and may be composed of a plurality of sensors.

  The connector 200 as the first connecting means is a connector that is electrically connected to the connector 103 when the staple unit 14 is positioned at the home position. The connector 200 outputs the power supplied from the power supply unit 102 via the connector 103 to the power source 201 and outputs the paper processing information transmitted from the main body control unit 101 via the connector 103 to the control signal transmission unit 204. . That is, power for charging the power storage means is supplied, and paper processing information including position information for operating the paper processing unit is input. The connector 200 and the connector 103 are not limited to those in which the terminals of both connectors are in contact with each other, and may be a non-contact type such as an electromagnetic induction method.

  Next, the operation of the staple unit 14 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 starts when the staple unit 14 is at the home position. Further, the power supply 201 of the staple unit 14 is charged by the power supply means 102 when in the home position.

  First, in step S100, when a print job that needs to be subjected to paper processing is started, the main body control unit 101 of the paper post-processing apparatus 1 confirms whether or not the staple unit 14 can be processed (whether needles are present, needles are jammed, etc.). Therefore, the detection result (sensor information) of the sensor 206 of the staple unit 14 is obtained through the connector 103. Further, the main body control unit 101 outputs paper processing information including processing type, number of processings, processing position, paper size information and the like to the staple unit 14 to the control signal transmission unit 204 via the connector 103, and the control signal transmission unit 204. Stores that information.

  Next, in step 101, the main body control unit 101 confirms the charge amount of the power source 201 of the staple unit 14. The main body control unit 101 stores in advance a charge amount serving as a reference for executing processing such as a charge amount necessary for carrying out one paper processing, for example, and compares it with the confirmed charge amount of the power source 201. Determine whether the required amount of paper processing charge is secured. If the charge amount is secured, the process proceeds to step S103, and if not secured, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, the charging amount of the power source 201 is not secured as much as necessary for the processing, so the charging of the power source 201 is continued and the process returns to step S101.

  On the other hand, if the charge amount is secured in step S103, the main body control unit 101 drives the staple moving motor 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) to start the movement of the staple unit 14. At this time, in the processing start notification means 205, the count setting data stored in the storage means by the selection setting circuit 207 is set in the counter circuit 209 based on the paper processing information, and the count starts.

  In step S <b> 104, when the main body control unit 101 moves the staple unit 14 to the paper processing execution position, the processing start notification unit 205 detects this and outputs a start signal to the control signal transmission unit 204. More specifically, after moving to the paper processing execution position, the counter circuit 209 has a set value, and the counter circuit 209 outputs a start signal.

  Next, in step S <b> 105, the control signal transmission unit 204 determines whether to output a control signal to the motor driver 202 from the start signal from the process start notification unit 205 and the sensor information of the sensor 206. When it is determined that output is possible, a control signal is output to the motor driver 202 in combination with the sensor information of the sensor 206. The motor driver 202 outputs a motor drive signal to the DC motor 203 to drive a stapler and the like to start paper processing. That is, predetermined paper processing is performed based on the paper processing start timing detected by the paper processing start notification means. The determination that the output is possible is, for example, that there is no problem when paper processing is performed, such as the remaining amount of the needle or the needle is clogged, and the output is possible when the start signal is input.

  Next, in step S106, after the paper processing is started, the control signal transmission unit 204 keeps confirming the sensor information of the sensor 206 to grasp the completion of the paper processing. When the paper processing is completed, the control signal for stopping the operation is sent to the motor driver. It outputs to 202 and the drive of the DC motor 203 is stopped. Completion of the paper processing may be determined to be complete when the sensor 206 detects that the stapler is in the home position, for example. Then, the number of processing points stored in the main body control unit 101 and the control signal transmission unit 204 is decreased by one.

  Next, in step S107, the main body control means 101 confirms the presence / absence of a remaining portion from the number of stored paper processing locations, and if there is a remaining portion, returns to step S103 and repeats steps S103 to S106. If there is no remaining portion, the process proceeds to step S108. If there is a remaining part, the value corresponding to the relative movement time is selected as the count setting data to the counter circuit 209 in step S103.

  In step S108, since there is no paper processing remaining portion, the main body control unit 101 drives the staple moving motor 16 to return the staple unit 14 to the home position. The stop time of the staple unit 14 at the paper processing execution position is determined in advance, and after a certain time has elapsed since the stop, the main body control means 101 moves the staple unit 14 to the next paper processing execution position or home position. .

  Next, in step S109, after arriving at the home position, the power supply unit 102 starts charging the power source 201.

  According to the present embodiment, the staple unit 14 that can be moved with reference to the home position of the paper post-processing apparatus 1 receives the paper processing information from the power source 201 having the power storage unit, the charging of the power source, and the main body control unit 101. A connector 200, a processing start notification means 205 for detecting the timing of paper processing based on the paper processing information, a control signal transmission means 204 for controlling the motor driver 202 based on the start signal output from the processing start notification means 205, Have In this way, the staple unit 14 can operate by supplying power from the power source 201. Further, based on the paper processing information transmitted in advance, the paper processing start timing can be detected, and predetermined paper processing such as binding processing can be performed. Therefore, a wire harness is unnecessary and wireless communication is not performed, so that the cost can be reduced and the space can be saved.

  Further, the processing start notifying unit 205 is based on the counter circuit 209 that detects the timing of starting paper processing, the storage unit that stores the count setting data to be set in the counter circuit 209 according to the processing content, and the paper processing information. And a selection setting circuit 207 for selecting the count setting data stored in the storage means and setting the count setting data in the counter circuit 209. By doing so, it is possible to detect the timing of the paper processing start within the staple unit 14, and since the thing outside the staple unit 14 is not used to determine the paper processing start position, the staple unit 14 can operate alone. It becomes.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the processing position detection sensor and the light shielding plate shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the operation of the timer circuit shown in FIG.

  The present embodiment is different in the method for detecting the paper processing position in the processing start notification means 205. FIG. 7 shows a functional block configuration of the processing start notification means according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the processing start notification unit 205 includes a processing position detection sensor 210 and a timer circuit 211. The processing position detection sensor 210 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor. The processing position detection sensor 210 changes its output value depending on whether or not light from the light emitting part of the sensor is blocked by the light shielding plate 20 described later.

  8 and 9 show the attachment position relationship between the processing position detection sensor 210 and the light shielding plate 20. 8 is a plan view seen from the top of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, and FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. As described in the first embodiment, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, the sheets 21 are stacked on the staple tray 9, abut against the reference fence 13, and are aligned by the jogger 11. Thereafter, in order to start the binding process, the main body control unit 101 of the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 drives the staple moving motor 16 to drive the belt 18, so that the staple unit 14 is moved from the home position along the rail 15. Move to a position to perform paper processing.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a plurality of light shielding plates 20 are installed along the rail 15. The installation position of the light shielding plate 20 as the position display means is a position (paper processing position) where the staple unit 14 performs paper processing. That is, it is provided along the path along which the paper processing unit moves, and indicates the position (position on the path) where the paper processing unit moves and performs paper processing. As shown in FIG. 9, the light shielding plate 20 is attached to an attachment portion 20 a provided so as to protrude from the main body housing 22 of the paper post-processing apparatus 1. That is, the light shielding plate 20 is provided on the main body side. In addition, since the light shielding plate 20 is installed according to the number of positions where the paper processing is performed, a plurality of light shielding plates 20 are used in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the processing position detection sensor 210 as the detection means has a recess, and when the light shielding plate 20 enters the recess, the light from the light emitting portion of the optical sensor constituting the processing position detection sensor 210 is emitted. It is blocked so that it does not reach the light receiver. That is, when the processing position detection sensor 210 reaches the position of the light shielding plate 20, the output value of the processing position detection sensor 210 changes due to light being blocked, so that the paper processing position can be detected. That is, the processing position display means can be detected.

  A timer circuit 211 as a timing detection unit receives an output signal of the processing position detection sensor 210. When it is detected that the staple unit 14 is in the processing position, electric charge is stored in the capacitor in the timer circuit 211. On the other hand, when not in the processing position, no charge is stored in the capacitor. Then, when the terminal voltage of the capacitor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined set voltage, a start signal is output. That is, the period during which the detection means continuously detects the position display means is counted, and the paper processing start timing is detected when a predetermined time is counted.

  The operations of the processing position detection sensor 210 and the timer circuit 211 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 10 shows an output signal of the processing position detection sensor 210, a capacitor terminal voltage in the timer circuit 211, and a start signal. As shown in FIG. 10, just passing through the processing position causes temporary charge to be stored in the capacitor, but the sensor immediately stops detecting and discharges, so the terminal voltage of the capacitor remains low. However, when the processing position is stopped to perform the paper processing, the processing position detection sensor 210 continues to detect, so that charges are continuously stored in the capacitor and the terminal voltage rises. And if it continues for a fixed time, a terminal voltage will become more than a setting voltage, and a start signal can be output.

  According to the present embodiment, the processing start notification unit 205 includes a processing position detection sensor 210 that detects a position where paper processing is performed, and a timer circuit 211 that measures the detection period of the processing position detection sensor 210. . A light shielding plate that is detected by the processing position detection sensor 210 is provided along a path along which the staple unit 14 moves. Since the timer circuit 211 detects the paper processing start timing when the processing position detection sensor 210 continues to detect for a certain time, the paper processing start position is determined by a simple configuration and control using only the sensor and the timer circuit. It can be realized by the method, and the cost can be further reduced.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state where the cover portion has moved in the plan view shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG.

  In this embodiment, when a paper jam occurs, the paper post-processing device 1 can be slid along the slide rail 23 to access the inside of the paper post-processing device 1. That is, the main body housing 22 of the paper post-processing apparatus 1 is fixed to the cover portion 22a provided with the paper transport path L, the paper discharge tray 6, the staple tray 9, the staple unit 14, and the slide rail 23. And a main body (not shown). The cover portion 22 a is configured to be movable along the slide rail 23.

  The slide rail 23 extends in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the rail 15, that is, the staple unit 14. That is, the cover portion 22a moves in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the staple unit 14. The cover portion 22a has a moving member (not shown) such as a roller that is fixed to the cover portion 22a and can move the rail portion of the slide rail 23.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11 and the like, the plurality of light shielding plates 20 are fixed to a support member 24 that is fixed to the slide rail 23 and extends in a direction parallel to the rail 15. The installation position of the light shielding plate 20 is the paper processing position of the staple unit 14 as in the second embodiment.

  13 and 14 are drawings when the cover portion 22a is moved. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the cover portion 22a moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure, it is provided on the cover portion 22a of the paper transport path L, the paper discharge tray 6, the staple tray 9, the staple unit 14, and the like. The part that is moving also moves in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, the light shielding plate 20 fixed to the support member 24 does not move because the support member 24 is fixed to the slide rail 23. At this time, a cutout portion 22a1 is formed in the cover portion 22a so as not to hinder the support member 24 during movement (see FIGS. 12 and 14).

  That is, the light shielding plate 20 is fixed while the staple unit 14 moves, so that the light shielding plate 20 is relatively separated (retracted) from the staple unit 14 when viewed from the staple unit 14. Therefore, the slide rail 23 and the support member 24 function as a retracting unit that retracts the light shielding plate 20 (processing position display unit) outside the range detected by the processing position detection sensor (detection unit).

  As described above, even if the cover portion 22a, that is, the staple unit 14 moves, the light shielding plate 20 does not move. Therefore, when the staple unit 14 is moved, the processing position detection sensor 210 of the staple unit 14 sets the paper processing position. There is no detection.

  According to the present embodiment, when the cover portion 22a moves, the light shielding plate 20 is fixed to the support member 24 fixed to the slide rail 23 so as to be outside the detection range of the processing position detection sensor 210. . By doing so, the staple unit 14 does not operate when the paper post-processing apparatus 1 is slid or when the door or cover is opened, so that malfunction can be prevented.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the 1st-3rd embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram of processing start notifying means of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the stop detection sensor and the seat shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a side view of FIG.

  The present embodiment is different in the method for detecting the paper processing position in the processing start notification means 205. FIG. 15 shows a functional block configuration of the processing start notification means according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the process start notification unit 205 includes a stop detection sensor 212 and a timer circuit 213. The stop detection sensor 212 is composed of, for example, an optical sensor. The output value of the stop detection sensor 212 changes depending on whether or not light from the light emitting unit of the sensor is blocked by a sheet 25 described later.

  16 and 17 show the positional relationship between the stop detection sensor 212 and the seat 25. FIG. 16 is a plan view seen from the top of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, and FIG. 17 is a side view of FIG. As described in the first embodiment, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, the sheets 21 are stacked on the staple tray 9, abut against the reference fence 13, and are aligned by the jogger 11. Thereafter, in order to start the binding process, the main body control unit 101 of the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 drives the staple moving motor 16 to drive the belt 18, so that the staple unit 14 is moved from the home position along the rail 15. Move to a position to perform paper processing.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the sheet 25 is formed by printing a plurality of black stripes at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction on a transparent sheet. As shown in FIG. 16, the seat 25 is installed along the rail 15 (so that the longitudinal direction is parallel to the rail 15). The sheet 25 indicates a stop position of the staple unit 14 as will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the stop detection sensor 212 has a recess, and is provided so that the sheet 25 enters the recess. Therefore, whether or not the light is blocked depends on whether or not the stop detection sensor 212 detects the black streaks on the sheet 25, and thus the output value changes. That is, the detected means is detected.

  The timer circuit 213 receives the output signal of the stop detection sensor 212. For example, it is assumed that the stop detection sensor 212 outputs a signal whose voltage is Hi level when black streaks of the sheet 25 are detected, and a signal whose voltage is Lo level when a transparent portion is detected. The timer circuit 213 measures the time from the change in the output, and outputs a start signal when there is no change for a certain time. The timer circuit 213 may be any circuit that can measure that a fixed time has elapsed with respect to the change in the output signal of the stop detection sensor 212 being stopped. For example, even if a counter is used, the terminal voltage of the capacitor is used. It may be a thing.

  When the staple unit 14 is moving, the stop detection sensor 212 continues to alternately change the output of Hi and Lo. When the staple unit 14 stops at the paper processing position, the output of the stop detection sensor 212 does not change, so that the paper processing position can be detected by the timer circuit 213 outputting a start signal after measuring for a certain time. That is, the stop of the paper processing unit is detected based on the detection signal of the detection means, and the timing of starting the paper processing is detected when the stop is detected.

  Even when the vehicle is stopped at the home position, the output of the stop detection sensor 212 may not change for a certain period of time. In that case, for example, using the output of the sensor 19 (see FIG. 3) for detecting the home position, if the vehicle stops at the home position, the start signal is output even if the output of the stop detection sensor 212 does not change for a certain time or more Do not output. Alternatively, the paper processing may be prevented from being performed even when the start signal is output. Alternatively, a signal indicating that charging is in progress may be output from the power supply 201 to the control signal transmission means 204, and paper processing may not be performed during charging.

  According to the present embodiment, the processing start notification unit 205 includes a stop detection sensor 212, a sheet 25 on which black stripes are formed, and a timer circuit 213 that measures that there is no change in the signal of the stop detection sensor 212 for a certain period of time. ,have. In this way, the paper processing start position can be determined with a simple configuration using only a sensor and a timer circuit. Further, as compared with the second embodiment, it can be detected that the staple unit 14 has stopped at all the movement paths, so that it can be used in the paper post-processing apparatus 1 in which the paper processing position is not always determined.

  Similarly to the third embodiment, the present embodiment may be configured such that the sheet 25 is fixed to the main body portion, and the staple unit 14 and the like are provided on the cover portion 22a to be movable.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the 1st-4th embodiment mentioned above, and description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the configuration of the abnormality notifying means and abnormality detecting means shown in FIG. 20 is a side view of FIG. FIG. 21 is a functional block diagram showing a modified example of the sheet post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  The present embodiment is different from the functional block diagram of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment in that an abnormality notification unit 214 and an abnormality detection unit 104 are added. The abnormality notifying unit 214 is included in the staple unit 14, and the abnormality detecting unit 104 is provided on the main body side.

  The abnormality notification unit 214 notifies the abnormality detection unit 104 based on the error signal output from the control signal transmission unit 204. The error signal is output by the control signal transmission unit 204 when, for example, an abnormality is detected by the sensor 206 or when the charge amount of the power source 201 is insufficient. That is, the abnormality of the paper processing unit is notified.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the abnormality notifying means 214 is constituted by a light shielding plate that is movable by a driving means such as a solenoid. The abnormality notification means 214 is provided at the lower part of the staple unit 14 and has a shape in which a light shielding plate is attached to the movable iron core of the solenoid. Normally, it is stored in the staple unit 14 and jumps out of the staple unit 14 when an abnormality is notified. That is, the appearance of the staple unit 14 is partially changed.

  The abnormality detection unit 104 detects an abnormality notification from the abnormality notification unit 214 and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the main body control unit 101.

  The abnormality detection means 104 is provided on both side surfaces of the main body housing 22 as shown in FIGS. It is a detecting means for detecting the operation of the light shielding plate of the abnormality notifying means 214. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 104a and the light receiving unit 104b are provided at both ends of the moving path of the staple unit 14 by the optical sensor, and the abnormality notification unit is positioned on the optical path connecting the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. . Therefore, in the normal state, the light from the light emitting unit 104a can be received by the light receiving unit 104b, and when the light shielding plate of the abnormality notifying unit 214 is operated, the light from the light emitting unit 104a is blocked and cannot be received by the light receiving unit 104b.

  When an abnormality such as needle clogging or a shortage of needles occurs in the staple unit 14 or when an insufficient charge amount of the power source 201 is detected, the control signal transmission unit 204 operates the abnormality notification unit 214 to make the abnormality abnormal. The main body control means 101 is notified via the detection means 104. The main body control unit 101 always checks the state of the abnormality detection unit 104 during operation of the staple unit 14 and determines that an abnormality has occurred in the staple unit 14 when an abnormality detection signal is output from the abnormality detection unit 104. Then, the staple unit 14 is retracted to the home position, and predetermined abnormality processing is performed.

  According to the present embodiment, the staple unit 14 includes the abnormality notification unit 214 that notifies the abnormality of the staple unit 14 and the abnormality detection unit 104 that detects the abnormality notified by the abnormality notification unit 214. In this way, when an abnormality occurs in the staple unit 14, the abnormality can be immediately notified to the main body control unit 101 without the need for a wire harness or wireless communication, thereby reducing damage such as a paper processing error. can do.

  In the fifth embodiment described above, an abnormality in the staple unit 14 is detected and notified to the main body control means 101. However, as shown in FIG. 21, the completion of paper processing of the staple unit 14 is notified. It may be. In FIG. 21, the staple unit 14 includes a completion notification unit 215, and the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 includes a completion detection unit 105.

  The completion notifying unit 215 notifies the completion detecting unit 105 of the completion of processing at the paper processing position. The completion notification unit 215 receives a completion signal from the control signal transmission unit 204 using a home position sensor such as a stapler included in the sensor 206. The completion detection unit 105 detects the completion notification from the completion notification unit 215 and outputs a completion detection signal to the main body control unit 101. The specific configurations of the completion notification unit 215 and the completion detection unit 105 may be the same as those shown in FIGS.

  By doing so, it is possible to immediately notify the main body control means that the paper processing has been completed without the need for a wire harness or wireless communication, so that the paper processing unit can be moved immediately after the processing is completed. This reduces paper processing time.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the connector 103 is provided at the home position, that is, at one end of the moving range of the staple unit 14, but may be provided at the other end as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of two connection means are provided, and a plurality of first connection means are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of second connection means. By doing so, the number of connecting means is increased to two, so that the distance to the power feeding position can be shortened even when paper processing is performed at a position away from the home position. Therefore, the moving time of the staple unit 14 is reduced, and a long charging time for the power storage means can be secured. In addition, the period during which paper processing cannot be performed such as waiting for charging is further reduced, leading to an increase in the number of sheets and the number of copies for paper post-processing.

  Further, processing completion information indicating completion or non-completion of each processing is added to the paper processing information stored by the control signal transmission means 204, and the processing completion information is updated after confirming the completion of each processing. Then, when the staple unit 14 returns to the home position, the main body control means 101 may obtain processing completion information from the staple unit 14 via the connector 200 and the connector 103. That is, the control signal transmission unit 204 functions as an information storage unit and an output unit. In this way, since the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 can grasp the success / failure information of the paper processing, when the processing error occurs, the staple unit 14 is caused to start reprocessing or the user is allowed to perform the processing. Notification can be made.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, those skilled in the art can implement various modifications in accordance with conventionally known knowledge without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, such modifications are included in the scope of the present invention as long as the configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention is provided.

1 Paper Post-Processing Device 14 Staple Unit (Paper Processing Unit)
20 Shading plate (position display means)
23 Slide rail (retraction means)
24 Support member (retraction means)
25 sheets (position display means)
103 connector (second connection means)
104 Anomaly detection means 105 Completion detection means 200 Connector (first connection means)
201 Power supply (electric storage means)
202 Motor driver (processing means)
203 DC motor (processing means)
204 Control signal transmission means (processing means, information storage means, output means)
205 Processing start notification means (paper processing start notification means)
207 Selection setting circuit (selection means)
208 storage means (setting value storage means)
209 Counter circuit (timed circuit)
210 Processing position detection sensor (detection means)
211 Timer circuit (timing detection means)
212 Stop detection sensor (detection means)
213 Timer circuit (timing detection means)
214 Abnormality notification means 215 Completion notification means

JP 2011-1111238 A

Claims (8)

In a paper post-processing apparatus having a paper processing unit movable with respect to a home position,
The paper processing unit is
Power storage means for storing electric power necessary for the paper processing unit itself to operate;
A first connecting means to which paper processing information including position information for operating the paper processing unit is input while power to be charged is supplied to the power storage means;
Paper processing start notifying means for detecting a paper processing start timing based on the paper processing information;
Processing means for performing predetermined paper processing based on the paper processing start timing detected by the paper processing start notification means,
The paper processing unit is electrically connected to the first connection means at a predetermined position on the movement path of the paper processing unit, supplies power for charging the power storage means, and outputs the paper processing information. have a second connecting means,
Furthermore, a position display means for indicating a position on a path along which the paper processing unit moves is provided,
The paper processing start notification means
Detecting means for detecting the position display means;
Timing detection means for detecting the timing of the paper processing start based on the detection result of the detection means,
Sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim and this. A position display means is provided along a path along which the paper processing unit moves, and indicates a position where the predetermined paper processing is performed,
The detection means detects the position display means;
The timing detection unit counts a period during which the detection unit continuously detects the position display unit, and sets the detection timing of the paper processing when the predetermined period of time is measured.
The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 . A position display means is provided along a path along which the paper processing unit moves, and indicates a stop position of the paper processing unit;
The detection means detects the position display means;
The timing detection means detects the stop of the paper processing unit based on the detection signal of the detection means, and detects the timing of the paper processing start when the stop is detected;
The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 . Sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a retracting means for retracting said position display means outside the range of the detection unit detects. The paper processing unit has abnormality notification means for notifying abnormality of the paper processing unit;
Sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has an abnormality detector for detecting an abnormality of said abnormality notification means notifies. The paper processing unit has completion notifying means for notifying completion of processing of the paper processing unit;
Sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has a complete detection means for detecting the completion of processing of the completion notification means notifies. A plurality of the second connection means are provided,
A plurality of the first connection means are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of second connection means.
Sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that. The paper processing unit is
Information storage means for storing information indicating completion or incomplete processing corresponding to the paper processing information;
When the first connection unit and the second connection unit are electrically connected, information indicating completion or incomplete processing corresponding to the paper processing information stored in the information storage unit is displayed. Output means for outputting from one connecting means to the second connecting means;
Sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a.

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