JP6237838B1 - Binding apparatus and image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

When a recording material or a recording material bundle enters a pressing area where a first pressing section and a second pressing section face each other, the first pressing section and the second pressing section record more than the pressing area. The influence on the recording material or the recording material bundle given by the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion is reduced as compared with the case where the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion do not retract to the downstream side in the direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters. A binding unit to which the present invention is applied includes a first pressing portion that presses a recording material bundle, and a second pressing portion that is pressed toward the first pressing portion and presses the recording material bundle. And at least one of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion is pressed when the recording material or the recording material bundle enters the pressing area where the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion face each other. Retreat to the downstream side in the direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters from the area. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a binding device and an image processing device.

In Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the sheet bundle subjected to the crimping binding from sticking to the movable crimping member, the movable crimping member contacts the sheet bundle when the movable crimping member moves from the binding position to the retracted position, and the sheet bundle is movable crimped. There is disclosed a sheet binding device in which a separating means for separating from a member is provided within a movable range of a movable pressure-bonding member.
Further, in Patent Document 2, in a sheet binding device that binds a sheet bundle by forming unevenness in the thickness direction on the sheet bundle, the thickness of the sheet bundle is realized in order to realize a binding process according to the thickness of the sheet bundle. A pair of tooth-shaped members that are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction and form unevenness in the thickness direction by sandwiching the sheet bundle, and a pressing force is applied to the pair of tooth-shaped members to form the unevenness and bind the sheet bundle The pressing force applying mechanism increases the pressing force applied to the pair of tooth-shaped members as the thickness of the sheet bundle to be bound increases.
Further, in Patent Document 3 (see FIG. 5), a pair of upper and lower pressure surfaces 31 and 41 is formed by a pressure member (fixed-side pressure) in a pressure-binding device that presses and binds sheets with uneven pressure surfaces that mesh with each other. The movable member 30 is supported by the member 30 and the movable pressure member 40 and is moved from the standby position Wp, which is separated from each other, to the operating position Ap. A cam member 33 is disposed on the movable pressure member 40, and the cam By rotating the connected drive motor DC, the drive motor DC reciprocates between the standby position Wp and the operating position Ap. By controlling the rotation angle of the cam member 33 by the control means, the pressure applied to the pressurizing surfaces 31 and 41 is adjusted in strength.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-67407 JP 2010-189101 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-3118

In a binding device that binds a sheet bundle, a sheet or a sheet bundle is accommodated in a pressing region formed by a first pressing unit that presses the sheet bundle and a second pressing unit that faces the first pressing unit. However, the presence of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion has an effect of causing unnecessary damage to the stored sheet bundle.
An object of the present invention is that when a sheet or a bundle of sheets enters a pressing area where the first pressing section and the second pressing section face each other, the first pressing section and the second pressing section are more paper or paper than the pressing area. The object is to reduce the influence of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion on the sheet or the sheet bundle as compared with the case where the bundle does not retract in the downstream direction.

The invention according to claim 1 has a first pressing part that presses the paper and a second pressing part that is pushed toward the first pressing part and presses the paper, and the first or second pressing part includes: When the paper enters the pressing area where the first pressing part and the second pressing part face each other, the first and second pressing parts are retracted downstream of the pressing area in the direction in which the paper enters. This is a binding device that moves through the same fulcrum and changes a mutual relationship, and the fulcrum moves with a moving direction component of the paper entering the pressing area, and retracts and protrudes.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first pressing part or the second pressing part is more than the pressing area in accordance with an operation in which a distance between the first pressing part and the second pressing part is increased. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the binding device is retracted to the downstream side.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the second pressing portion acts on the second pressing portion at an operating point, and the distance from the starting point serving as the starting point of extrusion to the operating point is changed to cause the second pressing portion to move to the first pressing portion. The second pressing portion is pushed toward the first pressing portion by the pushing portion at the point of action when protruding to the pressing area or after protruding. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein:
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a transport unit that transports a sheet on which an image is formed, a storage unit that stores a bundle of sheets obtained by bundling the sheets transported by the transport unit, and the storage unit A binding unit that binds a bundle of sheets, the binding unit including a first pressing unit that presses the sheet and a second pressing unit that is pushed toward the first pressing unit and presses the sheet. Alternatively, when the sheet enters the pressing area where the first pressing section and the second pressing section face each other, the second pressing section retreats downstream from the pressing area in the direction in which the sheet enters. And the second pressing portion moves through the same fulcrum, thereby changing the mutual relationship, and the fulcrum moves with a component of the moving direction of the paper that enters the pressing area, and retracts and protrudes. An image processing apparatus characterized by this.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the restriction when the recording material or the recording material bundle is accommodated in the pressing area.
According to the invention of claim 2, the opening operation and the retreating operation of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion are simplified by a series of operations.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary for the pushing-out portion that pushes out the second pressing portion to be retracted in conjunction with the retracting operation of the second pressing portion, and the degree of freedom in device design can be increased.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, unnecessary damage to the stored recording material bundle can be reduced.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the recording material processing system to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure explaining the structure of the post-processing apparatus to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure at the time of seeing the binding processing apparatus with which this Embodiment is applied from upper direction. It is a perspective view of the binding unit to which this embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the location which contacts the sheet | seat bundle of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the press structure of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the guide part which guides operation | movement of each structure of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is an exploded view of the binding unit to which this embodiment is applied. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the retracted state of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the binding operation | movement of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the binding operation | movement of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied, and the state where the stopper was lifted.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Recording Material Processing System 500>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording material processing system 500 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied.
The recording material processing system 500 that functions as one of the image processing apparatuses includes an image forming apparatus 1 that forms an image on a recording material (sheet) such as paper P using an electrophotographic method in an image forming unit, A post-processing device 2 that performs post-processing on a plurality of sheets P on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus 1 is provided. The image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 2 also function as one of the image processing apparatuses as a single unit.

<Image forming apparatus 1>
The image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K (also collectively referred to as “image forming unit 100”) that perform image formation based on each color image data. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a laser exposure device 101 that exposes the photosensitive drums 107 provided in the respective image forming units 100 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt 102 onto which the toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 100 are transferred, and the color toner images formed by the image forming units 100 to the intermediate transfer belt. A primary transfer roll 103 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) to 102 is provided. Further, a secondary transfer roll 104 that batch-transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 to the paper P, and a fixing device 105 that fixes each secondary-transferred color toner image onto the paper P. A main body control unit 106 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided.

In each image forming unit 100, charging of the photosensitive drum 107 and formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 107 are performed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed, and a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107.
Each color toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107 is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 by the primary transfer roll 103. Each color toner image is conveyed to a position where the secondary transfer roll 104 is installed as the intermediate transfer belt 102 moves.

Different sizes and types of paper P are stored in the paper storage units 110 </ b> A to 110 </ b> D of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, for example, the paper P is taken out from the paper storage unit 110 </ b> A by the pickup roll 111 and conveyed to the registration roll 113 by the conveyance roll 112.
Then, in accordance with the timing at which each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is conveyed to the secondary transfer roll 104, the opposite transfer portion (secondary transfer portion) where the secondary transfer roll 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 face each other. Thus, the paper P is supplied from the registration roll 113.
Each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is collectively electrostatically transferred (secondary transfer) onto the paper P by the action of the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 104.

Thereafter, the paper P on which the color toner images are transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 102 and conveyed to the fixing device 105. In the fixing device 105, each color toner image is fixed on the paper P by a fixing process using heat and pressure, and an image is formed on the paper P.
The paper P on which the image is formed is discharged from the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 by the transport roll 114 and is supplied to the post-processing apparatus 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
The post-processing device 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 and performs post-processing such as punching and binding on the paper P on which the image is formed.

<Post-processing device 2>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the post-processing device 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing device 2 that functions as one of the image processing devices includes a transport unit 21 connected to a paper discharge unit T of the image forming device 1, and a sheet conveyed by the transport unit 21. A finisher unit 22 that performs a predetermined process on P is provided. Various transport paths of the transport unit 21 and the finisher unit 22 function as one of transport units that transport the recording material on which an image is formed. The conveyance path after image formation of the image forming apparatus 1 also functions as one of the conveyance units.

Further, the post-processing device 2 includes a paper processing control unit 23 that controls each mechanism unit of the post-processing device 2. The paper processing control unit 23 is connected to the main body control unit 106 (see FIG. 1) via a signal line (not shown), and transmits and receives control signals and the like.
Further, the post-processing device 2 includes a stacker unit 80 on which the paper P (paper bundle B) that has been processed by the post-processing device 2 is stacked.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 21 of the post-processing apparatus 2 is provided with a punch function unit 30 that punches (punches) 2 holes or 4 holes.
Further, the transport unit 21 is provided with a plurality of transport rolls 211 that transport the paper P after the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1 toward the finisher unit 22.

  The finisher unit 22 is provided with a binding processing device 600 that performs a binding process on a sheet bundle B as an example of a recording material bundle. The binding processing apparatus 600 according to the present embodiment functions as one of the binding units, entangles the fibers constituting the paper P without using staples (needles), and performs binding processing on the paper bundle B.

  The binding processing apparatus 600 is provided with a paper stacking unit 70 that supports the paper P from below and stacks a required number of sheets P to generate a paper bundle B. The sheet stacking unit 70 functions as one of storage units that store recording material bundles in which the recording materials conveyed by the conveyance unit are bundled. Further, the binding processing apparatus 600 is provided with a binding unit 50 that performs a binding process on the sheet bundle B. The sheet stacking unit 70 functions as one of holding units that hold the sheet bundle B that is a recording material bundle. In the paper stacking unit 70, there is a mode in which the paper P is stored as a paper bundle B in addition to a mode in which the paper P is stored one by one and the paper bundle B is stored.

Further, the binding processing device 600 is provided with an unloading roll 71 and a moving roll 72. The carry-out roll 71 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing and sends the sheet bundle B on the sheet stacking unit 70 to the stacker unit 80.
The moving roll 72 is provided so as to be movable around the rotation shaft 72 a, and is located at a position retracted from the carry-out roll 71 when the sheets P are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 70. Further, when the generated sheet bundle B is sent to the stacker unit 80, it is pressed against the sheet bundle B on the sheet stacking unit 70.

Processing performed in the post-processing device 2 will be described.
In the present embodiment, the main body control unit 106 outputs an instruction signal for executing processing for the paper P to the paper processing control unit 23. When the sheet processing control unit 23 receives this instruction signal, the post-processing device 2 executes processing for the sheet P.

In the processing in the post-processing apparatus 2, first, the paper P on which image formation has been performed by the image forming apparatus 1 is supplied to the transport unit 21 of the post-processing apparatus 2. In the transport unit 21, punching by the punch function unit 30 is performed in response to an instruction signal from the paper processing control unit 23, and then the paper P is transported toward the finisher unit 22 by the transport roll 211.
When there is no punching instruction from the paper processing control unit 23, the paper P is sent to the finisher unit 22 without being punched by the punch function unit 30.

  The paper P sent to the finisher unit 22 is conveyed to the paper stacking unit 70 provided in the binding processing device 600. Then, the sheet P slides on the sheet stacking unit 70 according to the inclination angle given to the sheet stacking unit 70 and hits the sheet regulating unit 74 provided at the end of the sheet stacking unit 70.

  Thereby, the paper P stops moving. In the present embodiment, the sheet P collides with the sheet regulating unit 74, so that the sheet bundle B in a state where the rear end portions of the sheets P are aligned is generated on the sheet stacking unit 70. In the present embodiment, a rotating paddle 73 that moves the paper P toward the paper restricting portion 74 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a view of the binding processing device 600 as viewed from above.
First moving members 81 are provided at both ends of the paper stacking unit 70 in the width direction.
The first moving member 81 is pressed against the side of the paper P constituting the paper bundle B, and aligns the positions of the end portions of the paper P constituting the paper bundle B. The first moving member 81 moves in the width direction of the sheet bundle B and moves the sheet bundle B in the width direction of the sheet bundle B.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the paper P is stacked on the paper stacking unit 70, the first moving member 81 is pressed against the side of the paper P so that the positions of the side of the paper P are aligned.
As will be described later, when the binding position of the sheet bundle B is changed, the sheet bundle B is pressed by the first moving member 81, and the sheet bundle B moves in the width direction of the sheet bundle B.

Furthermore, the second moving member 82 is provided in the binding processing apparatus 600 of the present embodiment.
The second moving member 82 moves in the vertical direction in the drawing, and moves the sheet bundle B in a direction orthogonal to the width direction of the sheet bundle B.
Further, in the present embodiment, a moving motor M1 for moving the first moving member 81 and the second moving member 82 is provided.

As indicated by an arrow 4A in FIG. 3, the binding unit 50 is provided to be movable in the width direction of the paper P. The binding unit 50 performs, for example, binding processing (two-point binding processing) on two points ((A) position and (B) position) located at different locations in the width direction of the sheet bundle B.
Further, the binding unit 50 moves to the position (C) in FIG. 3 and performs a binding process (one-point binding) on the corner portion of the sheet bundle B.
The binding unit 50 moves linearly between the position (A) and the position (B), but the binding unit 50 is, for example, 45 ° between the position (A) and the position (C). Move with rotation.

  The paper restricting portion 74 is formed in a U shape. A restricting portion (not shown) extending upward from the bottom plate 70A is provided on the inner side of the U-shape, and the restricting portion contacts the leading end portion of the conveyed paper P to restrict the movement of the paper P. To do. Further, the sheet regulating portion 74 formed in a U-shape has a facing portion 70C disposed to face the bottom plate 70A. The facing portion 70 </ b> C contacts the uppermost sheet P in the sheet bundle B and restricts the movement of the sheet P in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle B.

In the present embodiment, the binding process by the binding unit 50 is performed at a location where the paper regulation unit 74 and the second moving member 82 are not provided.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, between the sheet restricting portion 74 and the second moving member 82 located on the left side in the drawing and between the sheet restricting portion 74 and the second moving member 82 located on the right side in the drawing. , The binding process by the binding unit 50 is performed. Further, in the present embodiment, the binding process is performed at a location (corner portion of the sheet bundle B) adjacent to the sheet regulation unit 74 on the right side in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 70A is provided with three notches 70D. Thereby, interference between the paper stacking unit 70 and the binding unit 50 can be avoided.
In the present embodiment, when the binding unit 50 moves, the second moving member 82 moves to a position indicated by reference numeral 4B in FIG. Thereby, interference with the binding unit 50 and the 2nd moving member 82 is avoided.

<Structure of the binding unit 50>
Next, the binding unit 50 which is a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described in detail. The binding unit 50 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied functions as a binding device that binds the recording material bundle (paper bundle B) without using a needle. For example, the sheet bundle B is bound by pressing the sheet bundle B of 2 to 10 sheets using the upper teeth and the lower teeth. At this time, in order to satisfactorily bind the sheet bundle B composed of a large number of sheets, a very large pressing force is required. In the binding unit 50 to which the present embodiment is applied, a pressing force of, for example, 10,000 Newtons is realized by the configuration described later. In addition, even a binding device that can obtain such a large pressing force can be downsized as a shape, and can be replaced with a conventional stapler device with a needle and placed in the same place. . Further, in the conventional stapler device with a needle, it is possible to make a large opening at the time of standby, but in a binding device without a needle, it is generally difficult to make the opening large. However, in the binding unit 50 to which the present embodiment is applied, a sufficient opening is secured at the time of standby by using a mechanism as described later.

First, the structure of the binding unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a perspective view of the binding unit 50 to which the present embodiment is applied, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a portion of the binding unit 50 that contacts the sheet bundle, and FIG. 6 illustrates a pressing structure of the binding unit 50. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a guide portion for guiding the operation of each structure of the binding unit 50. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the binding unit 50.
In the following description, the width direction of the sheet bundle B shown in FIG. 3 is simply “width direction”, the thickness direction of the sheet bundle B is simply “vertical direction”, and the conveyance direction of the conveyed sheet bundle B is simply “ This will be described as “transport direction”.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8, the binding unit 50 to which the present embodiment is applied has upper teeth 61 at one end, and an upper for pressing and deforming the sheet bundle B in the thickness direction. The arm 51 has a lower tooth 62 opposite to the upper tooth 61 at one end, and a lower arm 52 for pressing and deforming the sheet bundle B in the thickness direction. A shaft arm 53 that connects the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 is also provided. The upper teeth 61 of the upper arm 51 and the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52 move through the shaft arm 53 which is the same fulcrum, thereby changing the opposing relationship between the upper arm 61 and the shaft arm 53 which is the fulcrum. The sheet P or the sheet bundle B entering the area moves with a conveyance direction (moving direction) component, and is retracted and protruded.

The upper arm 51 functioning as an arm member has one end portion 511 having upper teeth 61 and another end portion 512 that is bent and extends integrally from the one end portion 511. Further, the upper arm 51 has a support portion 513 that supports the upper arm 51 in the vicinity of the bending point between the one end portion 511 and the other end portion 512 that are bent. One end portion 511 of the upper arm 51 functions as a first pressing portion that presses the sheet bundle B.
The other end portion 512 has a link connection hole 515 serving as a starting point for pushing the lower arm 52 toward the upper arm 51 by a push-out link structure (described later). A shaft lever lower 64 (described later) is inserted into the link connecting hole 515. The link connecting hole 515 and the shaft lever lower 64 serve as a starting point for movement of the push-out link structure. Further, the support portion 513 is provided with a rotation center hole 516 serving as the rotation center of the upper arm 51. One end portion 511 having the upper teeth 61 functions as a first pressing portion.

  The upper arm 51 has a substantially uniform thickness in the width direction, and is bent only at one place like a V-shape (or U-shape or L-shape) in the transport direction. More specifically, an imaginary line connecting one end 511 having upper teeth 61 as a first pressing portion and a rotation center hole 516 as a rotation shaft, and a link connection hole 515 provided at the other end 512 as a starting point, An imaginary line connecting the rotation center hole 516 intersects. Further, the upper arm 51 having one end 511 and the other end 512 is formed as an integral member. In the present embodiment, chrome molybdenum steel is adopted as the material of the upper arm 51 which is an integral member. This chromium molybdenum steel has higher strength and hardness than ordinary carbon steel. Moreover, it is a material having an appropriate “bending”.

  The lower arm 52 that functions as an arm structure has one end 521 that has lower teeth 62 that function as a second pressing portion, and the other end 522 that extends substantially in one direction from the one end 521. One end 521 of the lower arm 52 functions as a second pressing portion. On one end 521 side having the lower teeth 62, a recess 523 is provided to oppose an operating point of an extrusion link structure (described later) for pushing the lower arm 52 toward the upper arm 51. A shaft lever upper 63, which will be described later, is provided at the operating point of the push-out link structure. The cross section of the recess 523 forms a curved shape having a diameter equal to or larger than that of the shaft lever upper 63. The lower arm 52 has a lower end 62 substantially vertically below the one end 521. Is provided. The recess 523 and the shaft lever upper 63 are action points of the movement of the push-out link structure.

The other end 522 of the lower arm 52 having an arm structure is provided with a rotation center hole 526 serving as a rotation center of the lower arm 52, and is coaxial with the rotation center hole 516 serving as the rotation center of the upper arm 51. The arm 52 is rotatably held.
That is, the rotation center hole 516 of the upper arm 51 and the rotation center hole 526 of the lower arm 52 are held coaxially by the shaft arm 53. The shaft arm 53 has small-diameter portions 531 at both ends, and the small-diameter portions 531 are provided on guide members (left guide 65 and right guide 66 described later) provided at both ends in the width direction. It is engaged with the elongated hole-shaped notch (arm guides 654 and 664 described later).
As a result, the shaft arm 53 is configured to be movable with a moving component in the transport direction, which will be described later, and is capable of moving the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 in the transport direction (the direction in which the sheet bundle B enters and exits). keeping. The lower arm 52 is provided with a notch 527 that allows the upper arm 51 to move in the vertical direction.

  Next, an extruded link structure that operates starting from a link connecting hole 515 provided in the upper arm 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 8. This extrusion link structure functions as one of the extrusion portions (extrusion structure).

  The push-out link structure in the binding unit 50 moves the lower arm 52 in the vertical direction by the expansion and contraction operation of the lever 56 and the link 57. A spindle 58 is provided at a joint (joint) between the lever 56 and the link 57.

  The lever 56 includes a connecting portion 561 that is connected to the spindle 58 and a main body portion 562 that extends from the connecting portion 561. A contact surface 563 that comes into contact with a cam 54 described later is provided at one end of the main body 562, and a push-up portion 564 that pushes up the lower arm 52 is provided at the other end of the main body 562. A shaft lever upper 63 that contacts the lower arm 52 is attached to the push-up portion 564. The shaft lever upper 63 has a cylindrical shape, and a small-diameter portion 631 having a small diameter is formed at both ends, and a notch (not shown) provided in a guide member (a left guide 65 and a right guide 66 described later). It engages with push-up guides 652 and 662) described later. The shaft lever upper 63 having a cylindrical shape is in contact with the concave portion 523 which is the curved shape of the lower arm 52, and is brought into contact with the cylindrical shape and the curved shape, so that the contact portion has a degree of freedom.

  The link 57 has a connecting portion 571 connected to the spindle 58 at one end, and a starting point connecting portion 572 connected to the link connecting hole 515 of the upper arm 51 by a shaft lever lower 64 (described later) at the other end. . This starting point connection part 572 functions as a starting point part of the extrusion link structure which is an extrusion part. Further, as described above, the shaft lever upper 63 functions as an action point of the push-out link structure that is a push-out portion. The push-out link structure that is a push-out portion pushes the one end 521 of the lower arm 52 toward the one end 511 of the upper arm 51 by changing the distance from the starting point that is the starting point of the push to the action point.

  The spindle 58 has a cylindrical shape, and plate-like portions 581 provided at both ends and having flat portions are notched (spindles described later) provided in guide members (a left guide 65 and a right guide 66 described later). The guides 651 and 661) are engaged.

  A shaft lever lower 64 serving as a starting point of the push-out link structure is provided in the starting point connecting portion 572, and the shaft lever lower 64 is inserted into a link connecting hole 515 provided in the upper arm 51. As a result, the upper arm 51 and the push-out link structure are connected. The cylindrical shaft lever lower 64 is provided with small diameter portions 641 at both ends thereof, and notches (lower guides 653 and 663 described later) provided in guide members (left guide 65 and right guide 66 described later). Is engaged.

  Next, the housing structure of the binding unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8. This housing structure is arranged outside the left guide 65 and the right guide 66 for guiding the movement of each structure of the binding unit 50, and the left guide 65 and the right guide 66, and the left housing 67 for fixing them. And a right casing 68.

  The left guide 65 and the right guide 66 include spindle guides 651 and 661 for guiding the movement of the plate-like portion 581 of the spindle 58 and push-up guides 652 and 662 for guiding the movement of the small diameter portion 631 of the shaft lever upper 63. ing. Further, lower guides 653 and 663 for guiding the movement of the small diameter portion 641 of the shaft lever lower 64 and arm guides 654 and 664 for guiding the movement of the small diameter portion 531 of the shaft arm 53 are provided. Further, cam rotation shaft holes 655 and 665 for rotatably supporting a rotation shaft 59 of a cam 54 described later, and stopper rotation shaft holes 656 and 666 for rotatably supporting a rotation portion of a stopper 55 described later are provided. Yes.

  The spindle guides 651 and 661, the push-up guides 652 and 662, the lower guides 653 and 663, and the arm guides 654 and 664 have an elongated hole shape, and allow movement in the direction along the elongated hole shape. Each elongated hole has a component in the conveyance direction and / or a component in the vertical direction, but the spindle guides 651 and 661 and the arm guides 654 and 664 particularly permit the movement of the component in the conveyance direction, and push-up guides 652 and 662. The lower guides 653 and 663 particularly allow the movement of the vertical component.

  Next, the drive structure of the binding unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. The binding unit 50 includes a motor 691 serving as a driving source and gears 692 that transmit driving. In addition, the binding unit 50 includes a cam 54 for generating a non-uniform motion, and a rotating shaft 59 that transmits a driving force obtained from the motor 691 via the gears 692 to the cam 54. In the present embodiment, the cam arm 54 is in contact with the shaft arm 53, the contact surface 563 of the lever 56, and a stopper 55, which will be described later, and these perform a predetermined motion according to the shape of the cam 54. .

  In the cam 54, two eccentric cams (first cam and second cam) having different outer diameter shapes in the width direction (the thickness direction of the cam 54) are formed on the same axis. The first cam and the second cam have a cam valley portion 541 having a common eccentric amount, and a first cam peak portion 542 and a second cam peak portion 543 having different eccentric amounts. The cam valley portion 541 is in contact with the shaft arm 53, the first cam peak portion 542 is in contact with the shaft arm 53 and the stopper 55, and the second cam peak portion 543 is in contact with the contact surface 563 of the lever 56.

  The stopper 55 presses the shaft arm 53 toward the cam 54. The stopper 55 has a function of fixing the position of the shaft arm 53 when the contact surface 563 of the lever 56 contacts the cam 54. The stopper 55 has a front end portion 551 that comes into contact with the shaft arm 53 and a rear end portion 552 that rotatably supports the stopper 55. The tip portion 551 has a concave portion 554, a retraction slide surface 556, a lock slide surface 558, and a lifting slide surface 559 on the lower surface in the vertical direction, and is pressed from above by a spring (not shown). Is done. The recess 554 has a curved shape, and its inner diameter is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the shaft arm 53.

<Operation of the binding unit 50>
Next, the operation of the binding unit 50 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied will be described in detail.
The operation of the binding unit 50 is performed by the movement of the cam 54 that receives the drive of the motor 691 through the gears 692 under the control of the paper processing control unit 23. In the present embodiment, the binding unit 50 can be moved by the rotation of the single cam by the cam 54. As will be described later, the cam 54 swings at least one of the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion in a direction in which the sheet bundle B is pressed, and the swinging pressing portion is moved to the pressing region of the sheet bundle B. On the other hand, the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion function as a moving mechanism that moves the paper P or the paper bundle B in the direction in which the paper bundle B enters and exits the pressing area of the paper bundle B.
The following description is based on the inflection point of the cam 54. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9-1 to 9-3, the inflection points of the first cam crest 542 are A and B, the inflection points of the cam trough 541 are C and D, and the second cam crest Let the inflection points of 543 be E and F. Further, the surface belonging to the first cam peak 542 is “AB plane”, the surface belonging to the cam valley 541 is “CD plane”, and the surface belonging to the second cam peak 543 is “EF plane”. Will be described.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining the retracted state of the binding unit 50. 9-1 (a) shows a state where the binding unit 50 is retracted most, and FIG. 9-1 (b) shows a stage where the binding unit 50 is shifted to a protrusion. The binding unit 50 protrudes to the pressing area where the binding operation is performed. Note that when the paper P enters the pressing area formed in the paper stacking unit 70, the binding unit 50 is in the retracted state of FIG. 9-1 (a), and the downstream of the conveyance direction in which the paper P enters the pressing area. Evacuate to the side.
9B and 9D are diagrams for explaining the binding operation of the binding unit 50. FIG. FIG. 9-2 (c) shows a state where the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 of the binding unit 50 approach each other in the pressing area, and FIG. 9-2 (d) shows that the binding unit 50 starts binding in the pressing area. The start state is shown.
9E and 9F are diagrams for explaining the binding operation of the binding unit 50 and the state in which the stopper 55 is lifted. FIG. 9-3 (e) shows the maximum state of the binding force in the binding unit 50, and FIG. 9-3 (f) shows the state where the stopper 55 is lifted and the recess 523 of the lower arm 52 is released from the shaft lever upper 63. Show.

  The cam 54 rotates counterclockwise as the rotating shaft 59 rotates. In FIG. 9A, the A-B surface of the cam 54 is in contact with the shaft arm 53. At this time, the small diameter portion 531 of the shaft arm 53 is pressed against one end of the arm guides 654 and 664 of the left guide 65 and the right guide 66 by the AB surface of the cam 54. One end of the arm guides 654 and 664 is on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction (the leftmost side in FIG. 9-1 (a)), and the shaft arm 53 is located on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction. The upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 are supported by the shaft arm 53 by the support portion 513 and the other end portion 522, and the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 are also in a retracted state at the most downstream position.

  At this time, at the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51, the shaft lever lower 64 is pressed against one end of the lower guides 653 and 663 of the left guide 65 and the right guide 66. This one end is located on the most downstream side in the conveying direction of the lower guides 653 and 663 and is located at the uppermost end in the vertical direction. As a result, the other end of the link 57 having the shaft lever lower 64 is also located at the most downstream side in the transport direction and at the top end in the vertical direction. At this time, one end of the link 57 provided with the spindle 58 is located at the lowest end in the vertical direction, and the shaft lever upper 63 attached to the lever 56 is located below in the vertical direction. At this time, the shaft lever upper 63 and the recess 523 of the lower arm 52 are not in contact with each other. Further, the retracting slide surface 556 of the stopper 55 is pressed against the shaft arm 53 by a spring (not shown), and the shaft arm 53 is in close contact with the cam 54.

  Thereafter, the rotation of the cam 54 changes the contact position between the cam 54 and the shaft arm 53 from the A-B plane to the B-C plane as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9B, the shaft arm 53 moves along the arm guides 654 and 664 to the upstream side in the transport direction. By the movement of the shaft arm 53, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move in the upstream direction (the right side in FIG. 9-1 (b)). As the lower arm 52 moves, the distance between the shaft lever upper 63 and the recess 523 of the lower arm 52 approaches.

As the cam 54 rotates, the shaft arm 53 moves away from the cam 54, and the lever 56 contacts the cam 54. The state shown in FIG. 9-1 (b) is shifted to the state shown in FIG. 9-2 (c). At this time, the operating location of the cam 54 shifts from the first cam peak portion 542 having an A-B surface to the second cam peak portion 543 having an EF surface.
As shown in FIG. 9C, when the DE surface of the cam 54 comes into contact with the tip of the contact surface 563 of the lever 56, the lever 56 starts to swing upward in the vertical direction by the cam 54. .

  In this state, the CD surface of the cam 54 does not come into contact with the shaft arm 53, so that the shaft arm 53 is released from the binding of the cam 54. Since the shaft arm 53 is constantly applied with a force to the downstream side in the transport direction via the stopper 55 by a spring (not shown), the shaft arm 53 moves to the upstream side in the transport direction along the arm guides 654 and 664. . By the movement of the shaft arm 53, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move in the upstream direction (the right side in FIG. 9-2 (c)).

  As the lower arm 52 moves in the upstream direction, the distance between the shaft lever upper 63 and the concave portion 523 of the lower arm 52 becomes closer to the vertical position. Thereafter, the recess 523 of the lower arm 52 covers the shaft lever upper 63, and the lower arm 52 receives the upward movement of the shaft lever upper 63 at the recess 523. The lower teeth 62 attached to the lower arm 52 are pushed out toward the upper teeth 61 as the shaft lever upper 63 moves upward.

Thereafter, when the cam 54 further rotates, the contact surface 563 of the lever 56 starts to contact the EF surface of the cam 54, as shown in FIG. 9-2 (d). When the lever 56 is pushed against the E-F surface of the cam 54, the link 57 is pushed via the spindle 58, and the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51 is lowered downward in the vertical direction via the shaft lever lower 64. Pressed. As a result, the one end 511 of the upper arm 51 moves, and the upper teeth 61 attached to the one end 511 are pushed out toward the lower teeth 62. FIG. 9D shows the start state of pressing on the sheet bundle B by the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62.
The shaft arm 53 receives a force from the stopper 55 and is pressed against the most upstream side in the transport direction of the arm guides 654 and 664. Then, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 attached to the shaft arm 53 protrude on the most upstream side in the transport direction (the right side in FIG. 9-2 (d)).

  Thereafter, the cam 54 further rotates, and the contact surface 563 of the lever 56 is further pushed by the EF surface of the cam 54. As a result, the link 57 via the spindle 58 is further strongly pressed, and the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51 via the shaft lever lower 64 is further strongly pressed downward in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 9C, when the contact surface 563 of the lever 56 contacts the point F of the cam 54, the pressing force on the sheet bundle B by the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 is maximized. . By shifting from FIG. 9-2 (d) to FIG. 9-3 (e), the lever 56 and the link 57 are connected between one end and the other end of the upper arm 51 bent in a V shape (or U shape). Are extended like a jack structure, and a strong pressing force applied to the sheet bundle B by the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 is received by the “bending” of the member of the upper arm 51. As a result, for example, a pressing force of about 1 t is applied to the sheet bundle B.

  When the cam 54 is further rotated after the binding operation for the sheet bundle B is completed in this way, the F-C surface of the cam 54 comes into contact with the contact surface 563 of the lever 56 and the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 are pressed. Is gradually released. Thereafter, when the cam 54 continues to rotate, the stopper 55 is lifted by the A-B surface of the cam 54 as shown in FIG. 9-3 (f), and the downstream movement of the shaft arm 53 is allowed. Is done. Then, the shaft arm 53 moves downstream in the conveying direction along the D-A surface of the cam 54. By the movement of the shaft arm 53, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 connected to the shaft arm 53 are retracted to the downstream side in the transport direction. Then, the retracted state shown in FIG. 9-1 (a) is entered, the sheet bundle B (paper P) is accommodated, and the process waits until the start of the binding operation. At this time, as the distance between the one end portion 511 having the upper teeth 61 as the first pressing portion and the one end portion 521 of the lower arm 52 as the second pressing portion moves away from the pressing region, Retreat downstream.

  Thus, the one end portion 521 of the lower arm 52 that functions as the second pressing portion functions as the first pressing portion at the shaft lever upper 63 that is the action point when protruding into the pressing region or after protruding. It pushes toward the one end part 511 of the upper arm 51 to perform.

  In the above-described embodiment, the retracting operation of the binding unit 50 has been described by retracting to the downstream side when the paper P enters the paper stacking unit 70. However, this retracting operation is also performed when the binding unit 50 moves to change the binding position. More specifically, after the sheet bundle B is stored in the sheet stacking unit 70 that is a storing unit, at least one of the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit is retracted from the pressing region, the sheet stacking unit 70 is Change position.

  Further, the push-out link structure (push-out portion) in the binding unit 50 is formed of a member different from the second press portion, and pushes the second press portion toward the first press portion. The second pressing portion is supported so as to be able to move relative to the extrusion link structure, and presses the sheet bundle B by the extrusion force by the extrusion link structure. Then, the second pressing portion is pushed in the pushing direction by the pushing link structure in the pushing area to push the sheet bundle B, and moves and retracts in a direction intersecting the pushing direction by an operation different from the pushing link structure. However, when pressing, it moves in a direction intersecting the extrusion direction by an operation different from the extrusion link structure and moves to the pressing area.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Post-processing apparatus, 21 ... Transport unit, 22 ... Finisher unit, 50 ... Binding unit, 51 ... Upper arm, 511 ... One end part, 512 ... Other end part, 513 ... Support part, 515 ... Link connection hole, 516 ... Rotation center hole, 52 ... Lower arm, 521 ... One end, 522 ... Other end, 53 ... Shaft arm, 54 ... Cam, 55 ... Stopper, 56 ... Lever, 57 ... Link, 70 ... Sheet stacking unit, 100 ... image forming unit, 600 ... binding processing apparatus, 300 ... label group sheet

Claims (4)

  A first pressing portion that presses the paper, and a second pressing portion that presses against the first pressing portion and presses the paper. The first or second pressing portion includes the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. When the sheet enters the pressing area facing the pressing section, the sheet is retracted downstream of the pressing area in the direction in which the sheet enters, and the first and second pressing sections move through the same fulcrum. A binding device that retreats and protrudes by changing a mutual relationship between the fulcrum and moving the fulcrum with a moving direction component of the paper entering the pressing area. The first pressing portion and the second pressing portion, characterized in that with the operation distance confrontation with the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion is separated, retracted to the downstream side of the pressing region The binding device according to claim 1. A push-out portion that acts on the second pressing portion at the point of action and changes the distance from the starting point that is the starting point of extrusion to the point of action to push the second pressing portion toward the first pressing portion. Have
3. The binding according to claim 1, wherein the second pressing portion is pushed toward the first pressing portion by the pushing portion at the point of action when the second pressing portion protrudes into the pressing region or after protruding. apparatus. A transport unit for transporting the paper on which the image is formed;
A storage unit that stores a bundle of sheets obtained by bundling the sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A binding unit that binds a bundle of sheets stored in the storage unit;
With
The binding portion includes a first pressing portion that presses the paper and a second pressing portion that is pushed toward the first pressing portion and presses the paper. The first or second pressing portion is the first pressing portion. When the sheet enters the pressing area where the section and the second pressing section face each other, the sheet is retracted downstream of the pressing area in the direction in which the sheet enters, and the first and second pressing sections have the same fulcrum. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that a mutual relationship is changed by moving through, and the fulcrum retracts and protrudes by moving with a moving direction component of the paper entering the pressing area.

Images