JP6415644B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to binding sheets by different types of binding means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventional image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, laser beam printers, facsimile machines, and multi-function machines include a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing such as binding on a sheet on which an image is formed. As a binding means for binding a plurality of sheets, there is a needle binding means for binding a sheet bundle using a metal binding needle, and a needle for binding the sheet without using a binding needle by partially processing the sheet itself Two types of binding means are known.

  For example, when the sheet is cut with a shredder or reused, the sheet is bound by a needleless binding unit that performs a binding process without using a binding needle. Thus, by binding the sheet by the stapleless binding means, the trouble of removing the binding needle from the sheet can be omitted. Further, when the processed sheet is stored for a long period of time or when the number of sheets to be bound increases, a binding device with a needle that binds using a binding needle is used.

By the way, in a conventional sheet processing apparatus, there is one in which a stapleless binding unit and a stapled binding unit are juxtaposed in the sheet conveying direction to bind sheets stacked on an intermediate processing tray (see Patent Document 1). The sheet bundle bound in the intermediate processing tray is discharged in the bundle discharge direction.

JP 2004-167700 A

However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, since the downstream end of the intermediate processing tray in the sheet bundle discharge direction is bound, the apparatus becomes large .

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object thereof is to provide a small sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a first stacking unit on which a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is stacked, and a sheet stacked on the first stacking unit are used with a needle. A first binding means for binding the sheets stacked on the first stacking means, a second binding means for binding the sheets stacked without using a needle, and a second stacking means for stacking the sheets, A sheet processing apparatus in which a sheet bundle on the first stacking unit bound by the first binding unit or the second binding unit is conveyed in a sheet bundle conveyance direction toward a second stacking unit, A regulating unit that regulates a position of the sheet by contacting an upstream end of the sheet stacked on the first stacking unit in the sheet bundle conveyance direction; and a sheet stacked on the first stacking unit. In the transport direction Has a width aligning means for aligning in the width direction of the interlinked sheet, the said stacked on the first stacking means, said regulating means and the sheet bundle positioned at the first stapling position using said width adjusting means The first binding means can bind one corner of the upstream end in the sheet bundle conveying direction, and is stacked on the first stacking means, using the regulating means and the width aligning means. The second binding means can bind one corner of the upstream end of the sheet bundle positioned at the second binding position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction, and the first binding position and the second binding can be bound. position is offset in the sheet bundle conveying direction and the width direction, when binding the sheet bundle by the second binding unit Zhou said regulating means is at a position of the sheet bundle conveying direction corresponding to the second stapling position Then, the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit is stacked on the first stacking unit, and then the width aligning unit moves the sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking unit to the second binding position. make, characterized in that.

The present invention can provide a small sheet processing apparatus .

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining schematic structure of the finisher which is the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the structure of the intermediate process tray provided in the said finisher. The figure explaining the structure of the binding part provided in the said finisher. The figure explaining the structure of the needleless binding unit provided in the said binding part. The figure explaining operation | movement of the needleless binding unit provided in the said binding part. The figure explaining the shape of the lower tooth and upper tooth of the said needleless binding unit. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the finisher. The figure explaining the sheet | seat binding process operation | movement of the said finisher. The flowchart explaining the needleless binding control of the finisher. The figure explaining the staple-less binding operation | movement of the said finisher. The figure explaining the position of the sheet | seat bundle in the case of the said needleless binding operation | movement. The figure explaining the structure of the binding part provided in the sheet processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart for explaining needleless binding control of the sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the position of the sheet | seat bundle in the case of the said needleless binding operation | movement.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 900 denotes an image forming apparatus, 900A denotes an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body), and 900B denotes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet. Reference numeral 950 denotes an image reading apparatus provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 900A and provided with a document conveying apparatus 950A. Reference numeral 100 denotes a finisher which is a sheet processing apparatus disposed between the upper surface of the apparatus main body 900A and the image reading apparatus 950. is there.

  Here, the image forming unit 900B irradiates the photosensitive drums a to d that form toner images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and irradiates a laser beam on the photosensitive drum based on the image information. An exposure device 906 for forming an electrostatic latent image is provided. The photosensitive drums a to d are driven by a motor (not shown), and a primary charger, a developing device, and a transfer charger (not shown) are arranged around the process drums 901a to 901a. It is unitized as 901d.

  Further, the image forming unit 900B includes an intermediate transfer belt 902 that is rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow, a secondary transfer unit 903 that sequentially transfers a full-color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 902 to the sheet P, and the like. Then, a transfer bias is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 902 by the transfer chargers 902a to 902d, whereby each color toner image on the photosensitive drum is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 902 in a multiple transfer manner. As a result, a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt.

  The secondary transfer unit 903 includes a secondary transfer counter roller 903b that supports the intermediate transfer belt 902, and a secondary transfer roller 903a that contacts the secondary transfer counter roller 903b via the intermediate transfer belt 902. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 909 denotes a registration roller, 904 denotes a paper feed cassette, and 908 denotes a pickup roller that feeds the sheet P stored in the paper feed cassette 904. A CPU circuit unit 200 is a control unit that controls the apparatus main body 900A and the finisher 100.

  Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 900 configured as described above will be described. When the image forming operation is started, the exposure device 906 first irradiates a laser beam based on image information from a personal computer (not shown), and the surface of the photosensitive drum a is uniformly charged with a predetermined polarity and potential. The surfaces of -d are sequentially exposed to form electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums a-d. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner and visualized.

  For example, the photosensitive drum a is first irradiated with laser light based on the image signal of the yellow component color of the original document through a polygon mirror of the exposure device 906 to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum a. The yellow electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner from a developing device and visualized as a yellow toner image. Thereafter, the toner image arrives at the primary transfer portion where the photosensitive drum a and the intermediate transfer belt 902 come into contact with the rotation of the photosensitive drum a. When the toner image arrives at the primary transfer portion in this way, the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 902 by the primary transfer bias applied to the transfer charger 902a (1 Next transfer).

  Next, when the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 902 carrying the yellow toner image moves, the magenta toner image formed on the photosensitive drum b by the same method as described above is transferred from the yellow toner image to the intermediate transfer belt. Transferred to 902. Similarly, as the intermediate transfer belt 902 moves, the cyan toner image and the black toner image are transferred onto the yellow toner image and the magenta toner image, respectively, in the primary transfer portion. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 902.

  In parallel with this toner image forming operation, the sheets P stored in the paper feed cassette 904 are sent out one by one by the pickup roller 908. Then, the sheet P reaches the registration roller 909, the timing is adjusted by the registration roller 909, and then conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 903. Thereafter, in the secondary transfer portion 903, the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 902 are collectively transferred onto the sheet P by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 903a serving as a transfer unit. (Secondary transfer).

  Next, the sheet P on which the toner image has been transferred is guided from the secondary transfer unit 903 to the conveyance guide 920 and conveyed to the fixing unit 905, and when passing through the fixing unit 905, the toner image is received by heat and pressure. It is fixed. Thereafter, the sheet P on which the toner image is fixed in this manner passes through a discharge passage 921 provided downstream of the fixing unit 905, and is then discharged by the discharge roller pair 918 and conveyed to the finisher 100.

  Here, the finisher 100 sequentially takes in the sheets discharged from the apparatus main body 900A, aligns the plurality of taken-in sheets and binds them into one sheet bundle (hereinafter referred to as sheet bundle), and binds the bundled sheet bundle. Perform binding processing. As shown in FIG. 2, the finisher 100 includes a processing unit 139 that performs binding processing as necessary, and discharges and stacks sheets on the stacking tray 114. The processing unit 139 includes an intermediate processing tray 107 that is a sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets to be bound, and a binding unit 110A that binds the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3A, the intermediate processing tray 107 restricts (aligns) both side end positions in the width direction (depth direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107. A pair of front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b are provided to face each other. The front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b are independently driven by an alignment motor M253 shown in FIG. 9 to be described later and move in the width direction. Further, the intermediate processing tray 107 is provided with a rear end assist 112 which is a sheet bundle conveying means for extruding a sheet bundle accommodated in the intermediate processing tray 107 and discharging it to the stacking tray 114 so as to be movable in the sheet bundle conveying direction.

  In FIG. 3B, 109A has front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b, and is alignment means for aligning the position in the width direction of the sheet. This alignment means 109A is provided with HP sensors S109a and S109b that detect the home positions of the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b. Before the sheet is processed, the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b stand by at home positions at both ends in the width direction of the intermediate processing tray 107, respectively. Note that the home positions of the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b are positions that do not come into contact with the sheet when the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the intermediate processing tray 107 is a sheet bundle conveying unit that pushes out the sheet bundle stored in the intermediate processing tray 107 together with the rear end assist 112 and discharges it to the stacking tray 114. Discharge claws 113a and 113b are provided. The discharge claws 113a and 113b are attached to discharge belts 251a and 251b that rotate along the sheet bundle conveyance direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction, and move in the sheet bundle conveyance direction by the rotation of the discharge belts 251a and 251b. It is possible.

  The discharge belts 251 a and 251 b are wound around pulleys 258, 259 and 260, respectively, and the pulley 258 is fixed to the connecting shaft 256. Then, the connecting shaft 256 is rotated by the driving of the bundle conveying motor M254 transmitted from the leading pulley 254a of the bundle conveying motor M254 via the timing belt 252. As a result, the pulley 258 rotates and the discharge claws 113a and 113b move in the sheet bundle conveyance direction together with the discharge belts 251a and 251b.

  Then, after the processing such as the binding process for the sheet bundle is completed, the bundle conveying motor M254 is driven to move the discharge claws 113a and 113b in the sheet bundle conveying direction, whereby the sheet bundle accommodated in the intermediate processing tray 107 is moved. The paper is discharged to the stacking tray 114. The intermediate processing tray 107 is provided with an HP sensor S254 as detection means for detecting the home positions of the discharge claws 113a and 113b, and a flag 255 is fixed to the connecting shaft 256. When the HP sensor S254 detects the flag 255, the discharge claws 113a and 113b stop at a home position that does not protrude upward from the intermediate processing tray 107. Note that the discharge claws 113a and 113b are moved at the time of stapleless binding described later, and the movement amounts of the discharge claws 113a and 113b are controlled based on the detection information of the HP sensor S254.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a pull-in paddle 106 is disposed above the intermediate processing tray 107 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The pull-in paddle 106 obstructs the discharged sheet by a paddle lift / bundle presser motor M252 driven based on detection information of a paddle HP sensor S243 shown in FIG. 9 described later before the sheet is carried into the processing unit 139. It will be in the state where it waited in the upper part which does not become.

  Further, when the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107, the pull-in paddle 106 moves downward by a reverse drive of the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 and is counterclockwise at an appropriate timing by a paddle motor (not shown). Rotate in the direction. By this rotation, the sheet is pulled in and the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the rear end stopper 108. Here, in the present embodiment, the pull-in paddle 106, the rear end stopper 108, and the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b constitute an alignment unit 130 that aligns the sheets stacked on the intermediate processing tray 107. The For example, when the inclination of the intermediate processing tray 107 is large, the sheet can be brought into contact with the trailing edge stopper 108 without using the pull-in paddle 106 or the knurled belt 117 described later.

The finisher 100 includes an inlet roller pair 101 and a paper discharge roller 103 for taking a sheet into the apparatus, and the sheet P discharged from the apparatus main body 900A is first delivered to the inlet roller pair 101. At this time, the sheet delivery timing is also detected by the entrance sensor S240. Then, the sheet P delivered to the entrance roller pair 101 is sequentially conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107 by the paper discharge roller 103 which is a sheet conveying unit, and thereafter, the sheet P is transferred by the rotating members such as the drawing paddle 106 and the knurled belt 117. It is abutted against the end stopper 108. Thereby, alignment of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction is performed, and a sheet bundle subjected to alignment processing is formed.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 105 denotes a trailing edge drop, and the trailing edge drop 105 is pushed up by the sheet P passing through the sheet discharge roller 103 as shown in FIG. Then, when the sheet P passes through the paper discharge roller 103, the trailing edge dropping 105 drops by its own weight and pushes the trailing edge of the sheet P downward from the upper side as shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a static elimination needle, and reference numeral 115 denotes a bundle presser. The bundle presser 115 is rotated by a paddle lifting / lowering motor M252 shown in FIG. 9 to be described later, thereby pressing a sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 114. S242 is a tray lower limit sensor, and S245 is a bundle presser HP sensor. S241 is a tray HP sensor. When the sheet bundle shields the tray HP sensor S241, the stacking tray 114 is lowered by the tray lifting motor M251 shown in FIG. 9 until the tray HP sensor S241 is in a transmissive state. Determine the page position.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the binding unit 110 </ b> A includes a staple unit 110 that is a first binding unit that performs a binding process on a sheet with a needle, and a second binding unit that performs a binding process on a sheet without using a needle. And a needleless binding unit 10. Here, the stapleless binding unit 10 is provided on the back side in the depth direction of the apparatus main body 900A (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus main body back side) with respect to the staple unit 110. In other words, the stapleless binding unit 10 is disposed at a position shifted in the width direction from the region R on the intermediate processing tray (on the sheet stacking unit) through which the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit passes.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the needleless binding unit 10 includes an upper arm 1009 that supports the upper teeth 1010 and a lower arm 1012 that supports the lower teeth 1014 as a pair of support members. Yes. Further, the needleless binding unit 10 is provided with a needleless binding motor M, gears 1001 and 1005, step gears 1002 to 1004, a rotating shaft 1006, and the like.

  Then, the rotation of the needleless binding motor M is transmitted to the gear 1005 attached to the rotary shaft 1006 via the gear 1001 and the step gears 1002 to 1004, whereby the rotary shaft 1006 rotates. Here, a cam 1007 positioned between the upper arm 1009 and the lower arm 1012 is attached to the rotating shaft 1006 to which the rotational force is given by the needleless binding motor M as shown in FIG. Accordingly, when the rotation shaft 1006 rotates, the cam 1007 moves the upper arm 1009 from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG.

  An upper tooth 1010 is attached to the lower end of the end of the upper arm 1009 opposite to the cam 1007, and a lower tooth 1014 is attached to the upper end of the end of the lower arm 1012 opposite to the cam 1007. It has been. Thereby, when the cam side end portion of the upper arm 1009 rises, the end portion of the upper arm 1009 opposite to the cam 1007 descends, and accordingly, the upper teeth 1010 descend and between the lower teeth 1014, The sheet is sandwiched and pressurized.

  And when pressed in this way, the sheet is stretched to expose the fibers on the surface, and further pressed to entangle the fibers of the sheets with each other. That is, when performing the binding process on the sheet bundle, the upper arm 1009 is swung, and the sheet bundle is sandwiched and pressed by the upper teeth 1010 of the upper arm 1009 and the lower teeth 1014 of the lower arm 1012. The seat is fastened. FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6B viewed from the direction of the arrow, and the lower teeth 1014 and the upper teeth 1010 have concave and convex portions that mesh with each other. Note that, in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the upper arm 1009 is swung when the sheet is bound is described. However, the lower arm 1012 is swung, or both the upper arm 1009 and the lower arm 1012 are swung. You may do it.

  FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus 900. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 200 denotes a CPU circuit unit disposed at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body 900A as shown in FIG. The CPU circuit unit 200 includes a CPU 201, a ROM 202 that stores control programs and the like, an area for temporarily storing control data, and a RAM 203 that is used as a work area for operations associated with control.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 209 denotes an external interface between the image forming apparatus 900 and an external PC (computer) 208. When the external interface 209 receives print data from the external PC 208, the external interface 209 expands the data into a bitmap image and outputs it as image data to the image signal control unit 206.

  Then, the image signal control unit 206 outputs this data to the printer control unit 207, and the printer control unit 207 outputs the data from the image signal control unit 206 to an exposure control unit (not shown). An image of a document read by an image sensor (not shown) provided in the image reading device 950 is output from the image reader control unit 205 to the image signal control unit 206, and the image signal control unit 206 outputs this image output. Output to the printer control unit 207.

  The operation unit 210 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. Then, a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key by the user is output to the CPU circuit unit 200, and corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 200.

  The CPU circuit unit 200 controls the image signal control unit 206 according to the control program stored in the ROM 202 and the setting of the operation unit 210, and controls the document conveyance device 950 </ b> A (see FIG. 1) via the document conveyance device control unit 204. Control. Further, the image reading device 950 (see FIG. 1) via the image reader control unit 205, the image forming unit 900B (see FIG. 1) via the printer control unit 207, and the finisher 100 via the finisher control unit 220, respectively. Control.

  In the present embodiment, the finisher control unit 220 is mounted on the finisher 100 and performs drive control of the finisher 100 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 200. Note that the finisher control unit 220 may be disposed integrally with the CPU circuit unit 200 on the apparatus main body side, and may control the finisher 100 directly from the apparatus main body side.

  FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of the finisher 100 according to the present embodiment. The finisher control unit 220 includes a CPU 221, a ROM 222, and a RAM 223. The finisher control unit 220 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 200 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side via the communication IC 224 to exchange data. Then, based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 200, various programs stored in the ROM 222 are executed to control the drive of the finisher 100.

  Further, the finisher control unit 220 drives a transport motor M250, a tray lifting / lowering motor M251, a paddle lifting / lowering motor M252, an alignment motor M253, a bundle transporting motor M254, and an STP (staple) motor M256 via a driver 225. Further, the finisher control unit drives the needleless binding motor M and the like via the driver 225. Further, an inlet sensor S240, a tray HP sensor S241, a tray lower limit sensor S242, a paddle HP sensor S243, a bundle transport HP sensor S244, a bundle presser HP sensor S245, a sheet discharge sensor S246, and the like are connected to the finisher control unit. Then, the finisher control unit 220 drives the needleless binding motor M and the like based on the detection signals from these sensors.

  Here, the processing mode (Job) performed by the finisher 100 includes a sort mode for sorting a plurality of copies, a needle binding mode for binding a plurality of sheets by the staple unit 110, a needleless binding mode for binding by the stapleless binding unit 10, and the like. is there. These modes are set by the operation unit 210.

  Here, when the needleless binding mode is set, the finisher control unit 220 first detects the cam position by a sensor (not shown). Before the needleless binding is performed, the rotation of the needleless binding motor M is controlled so that the cam 1007 is positioned at the bottom dead center as shown in FIG. When the cam 1007 is positioned at the bottom dead center in this way, a receiving portion G that enables sheet reception is formed between the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014. In FIG. 5A, reference numeral 1012a denotes an upstream end in the sheet bundle discharge direction at the intersection of the upper arm 1009 and the lower arm 1012 of the receiving portion G when the needleless binding unit 10 is disposed obliquely. Is shown.

  Further, during the binding operation, the needleless binding motor M is rotated, and the upper arm 1009 is pivoted clockwise about the shaft 1011 by the cam 1007. When the cam 1007 is located at the top dead center as shown in FIG. 6B, a plurality of sheets are sandwiched and pressed between the upper teeth 1010 of the upper arm 1009 and the lower teeth 1014 of the lower arm 1012. The Thereby, the plurality of sheets that have entered the receiving portion G are fastened.

  When the cam 1007 further rotates after being located at the top dead center, the bending portion 1009a provided on the upper arm 1009 bends so that the roller 1008 can get over the top dead center of the cam 1007. When the roller 1008 gets over the top dead center of the cam 1007, the upper arm 1009 moves in a direction in which the upper teeth 1010 are separated from the lower teeth 1014. Thereafter, when the cam 1007 further rotates and reaches the bottom dead center again, a sensor (not shown) detects the cam 1007, whereby the finisher control unit 220 stops the rotation of the needleless binding motor M.

  Next, the sheet binding processing operation of the finisher 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 900 is delivered to the inlet roller pair 101 driven by the conveyance motor M250 as shown in FIG. At this time, the leading edge of the sheet P is simultaneously detected by the entrance sensor S240.

  Next, the sheet P delivered to the entrance roller pair 101 is delivered from the entrance roller pair 101 to the paper discharge roller 103 and conveyed while lifting the trailing edge 105 at the leading end, and at the same time by the static elimination needle 104. It is conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107 while being neutralized. The sheet P conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107 by the paper discharge roller 103 is pressed from above by the weight of the trailing edge drop 105, so that the time for the trailing edge of the sheet P to fall on the intermediate processing tray 107 is shortened. .

  Next, the finisher control unit 220 performs control in the intermediate processing tray 107 based on the signal at the trailing edge of the sheet P detected by the paper discharge sensor S246. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B described above, the pull-in paddle 106 is lowered to the intermediate processing tray 107 side by the paddle raising / lowering / bundle holding motor M252 and brought into contact with the sheet P. At this time, since the drawing paddle 106 is rotated counterclockwise by the conveyance motor M250, the sheet P is conveyed by the drawing paddle 106 toward the rear end stopper 108 in the right direction in the drawing, and thereafter, the sheet P The rear end is transferred to the knurled belt 117. When the rear end of the sheet P is transferred to the knurled belt 117, the paddle lifting / bundling presser motor M252 is driven in the upward direction. When the paddle HP sensor S243 detects that HP has been reached, the finisher control unit 220 stops driving the paddle lifting / lowering motor M252.

  The knurled belt 117 always urges the sheet P toward the trailing edge stopper 108 by conveying the sheet P conveyed by the drawing paddle 106 to the trailing edge stopper 108 and then rotating while slipping with respect to the sheet P. become. Since the rear end position of the sheet P conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107 is not constant, the knurled belt 117 rotates excessively so that the rear end of the sheet reliably hits the rear end stopper 108, but the rear end hits. After that, slip on the upper surface of the seat to prevent buckling. By this slip conveyance, the skew of the sheet P can be corrected by reliably abutting the rear end, which is one end in the conveyance direction of the sheet P, against the rear end stopper 108.

  Next, after the sheet P is abutted against the trailing end stopper 108 in this way, the finisher control unit 220 drives the alignment motor M253 to move the alignment plate 109 in the width direction, and aligns the position of the sheet P in the width direction. To do. By repeating this series of operations for a predetermined number of sheets to be bound, a sheet bundle PA aligned on the intermediate processing tray 107 is formed as shown in FIG.

  Next, after such an alignment operation is performed, when the binding mode is selected, the binding process by the binding unit 110A is performed. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10B, the rear end assist 112, which is a sheet bundle conveying means driven by the bundle conveying motor M254, and the discharge pawl 113 push the rear end of the sheet bundle PA, so that the intermediate processing tray The sheet bundle PA on the sheet 107 is discharged onto the stacking tray 114.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 10C, in order to prevent the sheet bundle PA stacked on the stacking tray 114 from being pushed out in the conveying direction by the sheet bundle subsequently discharged, 115 rotates counterclockwise and presses the rear end of the sheet bundle PA. If the sheet bundle PA blocks the tray HP sensor S241 after the bundle pressing operation by the bundle presser 115 is completed, the stacking tray 114 is lowered by the tray lifting / lowering motor M251 until the tray HP sensor S241 is in the transmission state. To determine the page position. By repeating the series of operations so far, a required number of sheet bundles PA can be discharged onto the stacking tray 114.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the binding unit 110A includes the staple unit 110 and the needleless binding unit 10 as shown in FIG. 4 described above. Then, when selecting the binding mode, the user selects a staple mode in which the sheets are bound by the binding needle or a stapleless binding mode in which the sheets are bound by the stapleless binding.

  For example, when the user selects the staple mode, first, the sheet conveyed to the intermediate processing tray 107 by the paper discharge roller 103 is returned to the rear end stopper 108 by the drawing paddle 106. Thereafter, the alignment motor M253 moves the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b in the width direction to align the position of the sheet P in the width direction. By repeating this series of operations, a sheet bundle aligned on the intermediate processing tray 107 is formed, and then the sheet bundle is bound by the staple unit 110 located at the position shown in FIG. Apply.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the staple unit 110 has a receiving unit (not shown) that can receive a sheet. When aligning sheets, the stapling unit 110 is arranged on the binding unit side of the sheet. One corner (back side) of the end portion enters. Further, the staple unit 110 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the sheet bundle conveying direction which is the moving direction of the discharge claws 113a and 113b.

  Accordingly, one corner of the rear end that is the end on the rear end stopper 108 side (regulating means side) of the sheet can be bound using the needle. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the back side of the sheet bundle PA is bound by the staple unit 110, but the staple unit 110 is moved in the width direction by a moving mechanism (not shown). If this is the case, two-point binding and front-end binding can be performed.

  On the other hand, when the user selects the stapleless binding mode, the stapleless binding unit 10 performs stapleless binding on the sheet bundle aligned on the intermediate processing tray 107. Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the stapleless binding unit 10 is disposed downstream of the staple unit 110 in the sheet bundle conveyance direction and outside of the staple unit 110 in the width direction.

  When stapleless binding is performed by the stapleless binding unit 10 arranged at a position different from the staple unit 110 as described above, the sheet bundle aligned on the intermediate processing tray 107 is moved in the direction of the stapleless binding unit 10. It is necessary to let In other words, when performing stapleless binding, the sheet bundle PA is positioned downstream of the first binding position by the staple unit 110 in the sheet bundle conveyance direction and outside the first binding position in the width direction by the first stapleless binding unit 10. It is necessary to move to the second binding position.

  Next, the control operation when the user selects the needleless binding mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The finisher control unit 220 starts the job for stapleless binding by selecting the stapleless binding mode on the operation unit 210. In this case, the finisher control unit 220 first determines whether image forming processing (printing) has been started in the image forming apparatus 900 (S801).

  When it is determined that printing has started (Y in S801), the finisher control unit 220 drives the discharge roller 103, the pull-in paddle 106, and the like to discharge the printed sheet to the intermediate processing tray 107, and the trailing edge stopper 108 is reached. To regulate the rear end position of the sheet. When the discharge of the sheet to the intermediate processing tray 107 is completed (Y in S802), the sheet alignment process (width alignment process) in the width direction by the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b is performed (S803).

  Next, the finisher control unit 220 determines whether the discharged sheet is the final sheet in the sheet bundle (S804). If it is determined that the sheet is not the final sheet (N in S804), S801 to S803 are repeated. When it is determined that the sheet is the final sheet (Y in S804), the bundle conveying motor M254 is driven, and the rear end assist 112 at the position shown in FIG. The sheet is moved to the alignment position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction when performing stapleless binding (S805).

  An alignment position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as a sheet bundle conveyance direction alignment position) when performing stapleless binding is a downstream position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction from a receiving unit (not shown) of the staple unit 110. For this reason, when the rear end assist 112 is moved to the alignment position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction, at least the sheet bundle PA moves to the downstream side in the sheet bundle conveyance direction from the receiving unit (not shown) of the staple unit 110. Accordingly, when the sheet bundle PA is moved in the width direction, the sheet bundle PA can be moved in the width direction without being caught by the staple unit 110.

  Next, the finisher control unit 220 moves the rear alignment plate 109b, which is one alignment member on the needleless binding unit side (second binding means side), in the direction of arrow G shown in FIG. Then, the back alignment plate 109b is moved to the alignment position in the width direction when performing needleless binding by the needleless binding unit 10 (reference position of the second binding position), and then the back alignment plate 109b is stopped. Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the front alignment plate 109a, which is the other alignment member, is moved in the direction of arrow I to bring the sheet bundle PA into contact with the stopped alignment plate 109b. Thereby, the sheet bundle PA is moved from the first alignment position in the width direction by the staple unit 110 to the second alignment position in the width direction in the stapleless binding (hereinafter referred to as the stapleless binding width direction alignment position). Can do.

  Here, the stapleless binding unit 10 is disposed obliquely with respect to the sheet bundle conveyance direction so that the receiving portion G opens obliquely with respect to the sheet bundle conveyance direction. When arranged obliquely in this way, as shown in FIG. 13A, the lower arm 1012 of the needleless binding unit 10 is the upstream end in the sheet bundle conveying direction of the receiving portion G (hereinafter referred to as the receiving portion upstream end). ) 1012a protrudes inward of the apparatus by X with respect to the alignment position in the staple-less binding width direction. Therefore, when the sheet bundle PA is moved in the width direction, the rear end assist 112 causes the sheet bundle PA to be moved to a position H shown in FIG. 12 so that the side end of the sheet bundle PA does not interfere with the receiving portion upstream end 1012a. Transport to. This position is a position where the rear end (regulation means side end) of the sheet bundle PA is downstream of the receiving portion upstream end 1012a in the sheet bundle conveyance direction.

  Then, by conveying the sheet bundle PA to such a position, the front alignment plate 109a can move the sheet bundle PA to the stapleless binding width direction alignment position without interfering with the receiving portion upstream end 1012a. That is, even if the receiving portion upstream end 1012a protrudes to the inside of the apparatus with respect to the stapleless binding width direction alignment position, the sheet bundle PA is conveyed to the position H shown in FIG. It can be moved to the alignment position in the width direction.

  Next, after the sheet bundle PA is moved by the front alignment plate 109a to the alignment position where it abuts on the back alignment plate 109b to perform alignment in the width direction (S806), the finisher control unit 220 uses the stapleless binding unit 10 to perform the needle alignment. A binding process for non-binding is performed (S807). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10C described above, the sheet bundle discharge processing for discharging the sheet bundle PA onto the stacking tray 114 is performed by the discharge claws 113a and 113b (S808). Thereafter, the bundle presser 115 is rotated counterclockwise to press the rear end portion of the sheet bundle PA.

  When such a sheet bundle discharge process is completed, the finisher control unit 220 determines whether the discharged sheet bundle is the final sheet bundle (S809). If it is not the final sheet bundle (N in S809), the next printing starts. Wait for. This operation is repeated until the final sheet bundle, and if it is the final sheet bundle (Y in S809), the job is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the oblique binding process is performed by the stapleless binding unit 10, the sheet bundle PA is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the receiving portion upstream end 1012a by the rear end assist 112. I try to move it. Then, by moving the sheet bundle PA to such a position, it is possible to move the sheet bundle PA to the stapleless binding width direction alignment position by the front alignment plate 109a. That is, as in the present embodiment, when performing the oblique binding process, the sheet bundle PA is moved in the width direction after the sheet bundle PA is moved to a position where the rear end of the sheet bundle PA is downstream of the receiving portion upstream end 1012a. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately perform the needleless binding that is oblique to the sheet bundle. Further, with this configuration, the stapleless binding unit 10 and the staple unit 110 can be disposed obliquely, and the space of the apparatus can be saved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the binding unit provided in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  Here, in the present embodiment, before the sheet is conveyed to the intermediate processing tray, as shown in FIG. 14, the rear end assist 112 is made to wait in a state where it is moved to the sheet bundle conveying direction alignment position. ing. Further, the front alignment plate 109a is kept waiting at a position retracted by a predetermined amount from the alignment position of stapleless binding so as not to hinder the conveyance of the sheet to the intermediate processing tray. Furthermore, the back alignment plate 109b is kept waiting at the alignment position in the stapleless binding width direction. As a result, after being delivered to the intermediate processing tray, the sheet P conveyed in the direction of the arrow J by the pull-in paddle 106 is abutted against the rear end assist 112 that has been moved to the binding position in advance, and aligned in the sheet conveyance direction. Is done.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the trailing edge assist 112 is moved in advance to the sheet bundle conveying direction alignment position, and the sheet P is abutted against the trailing edge assist 112, thereby aligning the sheet in the sheet conveying direction. This is performed at the direction alignment position. Further, after the sheets are aligned in the sheet conveyance direction in this way, the front alignment plate 109a is conveyed toward the back alignment plate 109b waiting at the alignment position in the stapleless binding width direction.

  Next, the control operation of the needleless binding mode in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The finisher control unit 220 starts the job for stapleless binding by selecting the stapleless binding mode on the operation unit 210. In this case, the finisher control unit 220 first determines whether image forming processing (printing) has been started in the image forming apparatus 900 (S901).

  When it is determined that printing has started (Y in S901), the finisher control unit 220 uses the above-described rear end assist 112 at the position shown in FIG. 4A as the sheet bundle shown in FIG. 4B. Move to the transport direction alignment position (S902). Thereafter, the printed sheet is discharged to the intermediate processing tray 107. When the discharge of the sheet to the intermediate processing tray 107 is completed (Y in S903), the sheet alignment process (width alignment process) in the width direction by the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b is performed (S904). In other words, the sheet bundle is moved in the direction of the back alignment plate 109a by the front alignment plate 109a, and the width alignment process is performed by the front and back alignment plates 109a and 109b.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 16, the rear end assist 112 has moved to a position where the rear end of the sheet bundle PA is downstream of the receiving portion upstream end 1012a in the sheet bundle discharge direction. Thereby, when the sheet bundle PA is moved in the width direction, the side end of the sheet bundle PA does not interfere with the receiving portion upstream end 1012a.

  Next, the finisher control unit 220 determines whether the discharged sheet is the final sheet in the sheet bundle (S905). If it is determined that the sheet is not the final sheet (N in S905), S901 to S904 are repeated. If it is determined that the sheet is the final sheet (Y in S905), the finisher control unit 220 uses the needleless binding unit 10 to perform stapleless binding on the sheet bundle that has been moved to the stapleless binding width direction alignment position. The binding process is performed (S906).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10C described above, the sheet bundle discharge processing for discharging the sheet bundle PA onto the stacking tray 114 is performed by the rear end assist 112 and the discharge claws 113a and 113b (S907). Thereafter, the bundle presser 115 is rotated counterclockwise to press the rear end portion of the sheet bundle PA. When such a sheet bundle discharge process is completed, the finisher control unit 220 determines whether the discharged sheet bundle is the final sheet bundle (S908). If it is not the final sheet bundle (N in S908), the next printing starts. Wait for. This operation is repeated until the final sheet bundle, and if it is the final sheet bundle (Y in S908), the job is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when performing the oblique binding process, the rear end assist 112 is set in advance to a position where the sheet does not interfere with the receiving portion upstream end 1012a before the sheets are aligned. I try to move it. Then, after the trailing edge assist 112 is moved in advance as described above, the sheet bundle PA is aligned by the front alignment plate 109a by aligning the sheet bundle PA. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to perform an appropriate oblique binding process on the sheet.

  In the description so far, the staple-less binding width direction alignment position is set to a position where needleless binding can be applied to a part of the corner portion of the sheet bundle PA as shown in FIG. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the stapleless binding width direction alignment position can be bound across the corners of the sheet bundle PA by setting the alignment position in the apparatus to the inner side of the position shown in FIG. Further, although the rear end assist 112 and the discharge claw 113 are used as the sheet bundle conveying unit, both the movement of the sheet bundle PA to the alignment position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction and the discharge onto the stacking tray 114 are performed. Also good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Needleless binding unit, 100 ... Finisher, 107 ... Intermediate processing tray, 108 ... Rear end stopper, 109a, 109b ... Front and back alignment plates, 109A ... Alignment means, 110 ... Staple unit, 110A ... Binding unit, 113a, Reference numeral 113b: discharge claw, 139: processing unit, 200: CPU circuit unit, 220: finisher control unit, 900: image forming apparatus, 900A: image forming apparatus main body, 900B: image forming unit, 1009: upper arm, 1010: lower arm 1012a: upstream end of sheet receiving direction of receiving unit, G: receiving unit, M254: bundle conveying motor, P: sheet, PA: sheet bundle, S254: HP sensor

Claims (9)

Sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet;
A first stacking unit on which the sheets conveyed by the sheet conveying unit are stacked;
First binding means for binding sheets stacked on the first stacking means using a needle;
A second binding means for binding sheets stacked on the first stacking means without using a needle;
Second stacking means on which sheets are stacked,
A sheet processing apparatus in which a sheet bundle on the first stacking unit bound by the first binding unit or the second binding unit is conveyed in the sheet bundle conveyance direction toward the second stacking unit. ,
Regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet by contacting an upstream end of the sheets stacked on the first stacking means in the sheet bundle conveying direction ;
Width alignment means for aligning the sheets stacked on the first stacking means in the width direction of the sheet perpendicular to the sheet bundle conveying direction ,
One corner of the upstream end of the sheet bundle loaded in the first stacking unit and positioned at the first binding position using the regulating unit and the width aligning unit in the sheet bundle conveyance direction, The first binding means can bind;
One corner of the upstream end of the sheet bundle loaded in the first stacking unit and positioned at the second binding position using the regulating unit and the width aligning unit in the sheet bundle conveyance direction, The second binding means can bind;
The second binding position and the first stapling position is shifted in the sheet bundle conveying direction and the width direction,
When the sheet bundle is bound by the second binding unit, the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit in a state where the regulation unit is in the sheet bundle conveyance direction corresponding to the second binding position is the first bundle. The sheet processing apparatus , wherein the width aligning unit moves the sheet bundle stacked on the first stacking unit and then stacked on the first stacking unit to the second binding position . By rotating while in contact with the upper surface of the sheets stacked on the first stacking means, in the direction of opposition from said sheet bundle conveying direction, the sheet end portion of the upstream side in the sheet bundle conveying direction leading end Having a rotating member to convey,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit includes a contact unit that contacts a leading end of a sheet conveyed by the rotating member. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the contact unit includes a first contact unit that positions a sheet bundle at a position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction corresponding to the first binding position. . The restricting means is movable in the sheet bundle conveying direction, and contacts the upstream end in the sheet bundle conveying direction to position the sheet at a position in the sheet bundle conveying direction corresponding to the second binding position . The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 , comprising two contact means. When binding the sheet bundle by the second binding means, the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the rotating member is a standby position for positioning the sheet at a position in the sheet bundle conveyance direction corresponding to the second binding position. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sheet processing apparatus is abutted against the second abutting means waiting. It said abutment means, the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second positioning the stapling position of the sheet bundle, it is characterized. The second binding means, of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that bind the sheet bundle by crimping sandwiching the sheet bundle between the second teeth first tooth and irregularities are formed which irregularities are formed The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the regulating means for conveying the sheet bundle toward the second stacking means in a direction feeding the sheet Taba搬, characterized in that. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , which processes a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images