JP6562654B2 - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that crimps a sheet bundle, and relates to an improvement of a pressurizing mechanism having uneven surfaces facing each other.

  A processing apparatus that crimps this type of sheet bundle is known as a binding processing apparatus that performs binding processing on the aligned sheet bundle or an apparatus that embosses a plurality of sheets. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a post-processing apparatus that stacks sheets sent from an image forming apparatus on a processing tray and performs a crimping process.

  In this document, a mechanism is disclosed in which a pair of tooth molds having concave and convex surfaces meshing with each other is moved from a standby position to a working position for crimping, and a sheet bundle inserted between both tooth molds is crimped and bound. Yes. Patent Document 2 proposes that a part of a member that supports an uneven surface (tooth surface) is formed by a member that can be elastically deformed to follow the other tooth surface that does not have elasticity. .

  Also, a binding mechanism that crimps the sheet bundle between the front and back sides with a pressing surface having a concavo-convex surface, and presses between the sheets. There is also known a pressurizing mechanism for attaching a movable tooth mold to the tip of the arm.

JP 2010-208854 A JP 2014-177319 A

  As described above, a mechanism for attaching a fixed tooth to an appropriate fixed side frame member, attaching a movable tooth to the movable side frame member, and crimping the sheet bundle is already known. Further, the tooth surface for binding the sheet bundle forms a binding processing portion by arranging a plurality of concave and convex surfaces in a predetermined length.

  Thus, when the sheet bundle is bound by moving the pair of tooth dies to a position where they are pressed against each other, good meshing accuracy of the tooth dies is required, and the poor meshing accuracy causes a binding process failure. Therefore, Patent Document 2 describes an invention in which a part of a mechanism that supports the uneven surface of the tooth mold is configured by a member that can be elastically deformed, and the meshing accuracy is improved by the elasticity regardless of processing accuracy and assembly accuracy. Yes.

The sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for pressing a sheet bundle by sandwiching a sheet bundle between a first binding portion and a second binding portion in which a plurality of concave and convex surfaces meshing with each other are arranged, and the first binding portion and the second binding portion. A peristaltic rotation shaft for peristally moving at least one of the binding portions; a moving means for peristating the peristaltic rotation shaft as a center to press-contact the first binding portion and the second binding portion; and the first binding portion A support means for supporting the first binding portion, a fixing means for fixing the first binding portion to the support means, and the first binding portion when the first binding portion is not fixed to the support means by the fixing means. A guide member that guides one binding portion with respect to the support means so that the position of the binding portion can be moved, and an arrangement direction of the concave and convex surfaces of the first binding portion and the second binding portion is a rotation center line of the peristaltic rotation shaft Inclined at a predetermined acute angle with respect to Is, the guide member, the first binding portion is a support surface to be supported is formed, the first binding portion is movable along the support surface, characterized in that.

The sheet can be bound at a predetermined acute angle with respect to the rotation center line of the peristaltic rotation shaft .

Explanatory drawing of the post-processing apparatus incorporating the sheet processing apparatus concerning this invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram of the sheet processing apparatus of FIG. 1. The sheet processing apparatus of FIG. 2 is shown, (a) is explanatory drawing of the meshing state of a 1st binding tooth and a 2nd binding tooth, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of an uneven surface. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a configuration of a first frame, a first block member, and first binding teeth, and a configuration of a second frame, a second block member, and second binding teeth in the sheet processing apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure in the sheet processing apparatus of FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing of the internal structure of a 1st frame, a 1st block member, and a 1st binding tooth, (a) shows a plane structure, (b) shows the cross-section of a 1st block member. Explanatory drawing of the fixed state of the 1st block member in another Example.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a post-processing apparatus B that arranges the sheets formed on the downstream side of the image forming apparatus and performs the binding process. This apparatus incorporates a binding processing unit C (sheet processing apparatus; the same applies hereinafter).

[Post-processing equipment]
Next, the post-processing apparatus B shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The illustrated post-processing apparatus B includes a binding processing unit C (crimp binding means 23; the same applies hereinafter), and is configured as a terminal device of the image forming system.

  In FIG. 1, the post-processing apparatus B includes an apparatus housing 10, a sheet conveyance path 12 disposed in the housing, and a processing tray 14 (sheet support means; the same applies hereinafter) disposed on the downstream side of the path discharge port 13. The stack tray 25 is arranged on the downstream side thereof.

  A sheet carry-in means 24 for carrying the sheet S into the processing tray 14 and a position regulation means for positioning the carried sheet S at a predetermined post-processing position P (binding position) (side edge alignment with a sheet end regulating member 16 described later) A member 17) is arranged. In the processing tray 14, a sheet processing apparatus (binding processing unit C; pressure binding means 23) for binding the sheet bundle S is disposed. The configuration of the crimp binding means 23 will be described later.

  The illustrated processing tray 14 is provided with staple binding means 21 for binding sheets S together with the crimp binding means 23, and the sheets S accumulated on the processing tray are crimped or stapled by designated means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus housing 10 is provided with a sheet conveying path 12 having a carry-in port 11 and a path discharge port 13. The illustrated one receives the sheet S from the horizontal direction and conveys it in a substantially horizontal direction. Then, it is configured to be carried out from the route discharge port 13. The sheet conveyance path 12 includes a conveyance mechanism (such as a conveyance roller) that conveys the sheet S.

  The transport mechanism is composed of a pair of transport rollers at a predetermined interval according to the path length. A pair of carry-in rollers 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the carry-in entrance 11, and a pair of paper discharge rollers 19 is disposed in the vicinity of the path discharge port 13. . The carry-in roller pair 18 and the paper discharge roller pair 19 are connected to the same drive motor (not shown) and convey the sheet S at the same peripheral speed. A sheet sensor Se <b> 1 that detects at least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet S is disposed in the sheet conveyance path 12.

  A processing tray 14 is arranged at the downstream side of the sheet discharge path 13 of the sheet conveying path 12 so as to form a step t. The processing tray 14 includes a paper loading surface 14 a that supports at least a part of the sheets S so that the sheets S sent from the path paper discharge port 13 are stacked upward and stacked in a bundle. The processing tray 14 collects the sheets S sent from the path discharge port 13 in a bundle shape, aligns them in a predetermined posture, performs a binding process, and carries out the processed sheet bundle to the downstream stack tray 25. Is configured to do.

  A sheet carry-in means 24 (paddle rotator) is disposed at the path sheet discharge port 13 and conveys the sheet S to a predetermined position on the processing tray 14. Further, the processing tray 14 is provided with a scraping and conveying means 22 for guiding the trailing edge of the sheet to the sheet edge regulating member 16.

  The scraping and conveying means 22 is disposed on the upstream side of the sheet end regulating member 16, and the illustrated one is constituted by a ring-shaped belt member. The belt member 22v engages with the uppermost sheet S on the paper loading surface and rotates in the direction in which the sheet S is conveyed toward the sheet end regulating member (position regulating means) 16.

  A sheet end regulating member 16 for positioning the sheet S is provided at the front end of the processing tray 14 (the rear end in the paper discharge direction in the drawing). Then, the sheet S carried in by the scraping conveyance means 22 from the path paper discharge port 13 is abutted and regulated. The sheet end regulating member 16 aligns the sheets S collected on the processing tray at a predetermined processing position.

  Further, a side edge alignment member 17 that positions the width direction of the sheet S positioned on the sheet end regulating member 16 on the reference line is disposed on the processing tray 14. The illustrated side edge aligning member 17 aligns and aligns the sheet S sent from the path sheet discharge port 13 and positioned by the sheet end regulating member 16 in the sheet discharge orthogonal direction. The side edge aligning member 17 includes a pair of left and right aligning plates, and positions the sheet S on a predetermined reference line (center reference or side reference).

  The processing tray 14 is provided with a crimp binding unit 23 and a staple binding unit 21 for binding the sheet S that is regulated against the sheet end regulating member 16 and positioned in the width direction by the side edge alignment member 17.

  Since the sheet binding processing mechanism and the binding processing operation by the staple binding means 21 are already well known, description thereof will be omitted. Further, the processing tray 14 is provided with a crimp binding means 23 for binding the bundle of sheets stacked together with the staple binding means 21. The illustrated crimp binding means 23 is a binding processing unit (sheet processing apparatus C) that performs a stapleless binding process on a plurality of sheets (bundles).

[Crimping binding means]
The crimping and binding means 23 (sheet processing apparatus C; hereinafter the same) according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The crimping and binding unit 23 pressurizes and deforms a plurality of sheets stacked in a bundle so as to mesh with each other. For this reason, the crimping and binding means 23 is configured by a mechanism that sandwiches a plurality of sheets with opposing binding teeth and crimps them.

  The crimp binding means 23 supports a pair of first binding teeth 31 and second binding teeth 41 for pressing the sheet bundle S, a first block member 32 for supporting the first binding teeth 31, and the second binding teeth 41. The second block member 42, the first frame 33 (33a, 33b, 33c) that supports the first block member 32, and the second frame 44 (44a, 44b, 44c) that supports the second block member 42. Has been.

  The first frame 33 and the second frame 44 have an operating posture (pressurizing posture) in which the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 are pressed from a separated standby posture (non-pressurizing posture; Wp state in FIG. 1). ; Ap state in FIG. 2) is attached to the apparatus frame so that the position can be shifted. The illustrated first frame 33 is fixed to an apparatus frame 50 (unit frame), and a second frame 44 is rotatably connected to the first frame 33 by a swinging rotation shaft 51.

  A first block member 32 is attached to the distal end portion of the first frame 33 that is slidably connected by the oscillating rotation shaft 51, and a second block member 42 is attached to the distal end portion of the second frame 44. . Then, by the swinging motion of the first frame 33 and the second frame 44, the first block member 32 and the second block member 42 are brought into pressure contact with each other from the standby position Wp (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) separated from each other. Shift to (state of FIG. 2).

  The first block member 32 holds the first binding teeth 31 and the second block member 42 holds the second binding teeth 41, which are fixed by press-fitting. FIG. 3A shows a perspective shape of the first block member 32 and the second block member 42, and FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional shape.

  The first binding teeth 31 held by the first block member 32 and the second binding teeth 41 held by the second block member 42 are provided with a plurality of uneven surfaces. The first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 are arranged in rows and columns with concave and convex shapes that mesh with each other at a predetermined pitch (tooth interval) and a predetermined length (L).

  The tooth width (w), length (L), and meshing depth (d) of the first binding tooth 31 and the second binding tooth 41 are set according to the maximum thickness of the sheet bundle to be bound and the sheet material. To do. Further, when the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 have the same shape, it is possible to improve the meshing accuracy between the tooth molds, and the processing becomes easy. Therefore, in the following embodiments, the uneven surface shape of the first binding teeth 31 and the uneven surface shape of the second binding teeth 41 are the same shape.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first binding tooth 31 and the second binding tooth 41 are orthogonal to the swinging movement direction (direction of arrow A in the figure) of the first block member 32 and the second block member 42. The direction (arrow B direction in the figure; the axial direction of the oscillating rotation shaft 51) and the predetermined acute angle θ (0 ≦ θ <90 degrees) are inclined (arrow C direction in the figure). This is because the corner portion of the sheet bundle to be bound is bound at a predetermined angle (for example, 60 degrees; θ = 30 degrees). Thus, with respect to the movement direction (shift direction) of the first block member 32 and the second block member 42, the row direction of the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 is an arbitrary acute angle direction (0 degree ≦ θ <90 degrees) can be set.

  The second frame 44 has a drive mechanism 49 (moving means) for moving the second binding teeth 41 from the standby position Wp where the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 are separated from each other to the operating position Ap. Drive means; the same applies hereinafter). The drive mechanism 49 includes a cam mechanism 52 and a drive motor DC.

  In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 49 is used as the moving means, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, with the moving means as the swing rotation shaft 51, the user moves at least one of the first frame 33 and the second frame 44, and from the standby position Wp where the first binding tooth 31 and the second binding tooth 41 are separated from each other. You may comprise so that the 2nd binding tooth 41 may be moved to the operation position Ap which press-contacts.

[Drive mechanism]
The first frame 33 and the second frame 44 described above are pivotally supported by the rotation axis of the swing rotation shaft 51 so as to swing. The illustrated first frame 33 is fixed to the apparatus frame 50, and the second frame 44 is attached to the first frame 33 fixed to the apparatus frame 50 so as to be swingable by the swinging rotary shaft 51 as described above. .

Therefore, the second frame 44 is supported so as to be able to swing with respect to the first frame 33. In this embodiment, one of the first frame 33 and the second frame 44 is fixed to the apparatus frame 50 and the other is movably supported on the apparatus frame. A structure in which both 33 and the second frame 44 are movably supported on the apparatus frame 50 may be employed.

  The drive mechanism 49 of the second frame 44 will be described. The second frame 44 is provided with a second binding tooth 41 at a distal end portion thereof and a cam follower 53 (follower roller) at a proximal end portion thereof via a swinging rotation shaft 51. The second binding teeth 41 and the follower rollers 53 provided at the distal end are formed to have a lever length through which the action of the lever (a booster mechanism) works via the swinging rotation shaft 51.

  A cam member 52 (cylindrical cam in the drawing) is disposed at the base end portion of the first frame 33. The cam member 52 is supported by a cam shaft 54, and the cam shaft 54 is rotatably supported by the first frame 33, and the cam member 52 and the follower roller 53 are disposed in a positional relationship to be engaged with each other. Further, the rotation of the drive motor DC is transmitted to the cam shaft 54 through the transmission means 55, and the cam member 52 is connected so as to be rotated forward and backward by forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor DC.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive motor DC is mounted on an apparatus frame 50 (for example, a frame of the post-processing apparatus), and the rotation of the drive shaft 56 is performed by transmission gears G2, G3, G4, and G5 that constitute the transmission means 55. The rotation is transmitted to the cam shaft 54. The cam member 52 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the gear G1 connected to the cam shaft 54.

  In the above-described embodiment, the cam follower 53 is disposed on the second frame 44 and the cam member 52 is disposed on the first frame 33. However, the cam member 52 is disposed on the second frame 44 and the cam follower 53 is disposed on the first frame 33. It is also possible to arrange them. In this case, it is preferable to transmit the driving force from the driving motor DC installed in the apparatus frame 50 to the rotating shaft of the cam member (rotating cam).

  In the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the first frame 33 is formed of a sheet metal having a U-shaped cross section, and the second frame 44 is swingably supported by the swing rotation shaft 51 between the opposing side walls 33a and 33b. ing. As described above, the second frame 44 is guided by the side walls 33 a and 33 b of the first frame 33 and swings around the swinging rotation shaft 51. The second frame 44 is provided with a return spring 43 for returning to the standby position Wp. The return spring 43 is disposed between the apparatus frame 50 (or the first frame 33).

  The first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 described above are formed in a row with concave and convex surfaces that mesh with each other, and this meshing state is such that one binding tooth is meshed with the other binding tooth to follow the other binding tooth. Adjust the position and then fix it. Hereinafter, the case where the second binding teeth 41 are fixed and the positions of the first binding teeth 31 are adjusted so as to follow the first binding teeth 31 and then fixed by fixing means (screw members) will be described with reference to FIGS. In contrast to the present embodiment, the position of the second binding teeth 41 may be adjusted and fixed while the first binding teeth 31 are fixed.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the binding processing mechanism, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the cross-sectional structure of the main part thereof. The first frame 33 is formed of a hollow member having opposing side walls, such as a U-shaped cross section (3 sides) and a rectangular cross section (4 sides).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrated first frame 33 is made of a steel material having a substantially U-shaped cross section having a right side wall 33a, a left side wall 33b, and a front side wall 33c, and is surrounded by a plurality of sides. The first block member 32 that holds the first binding teeth 31 is attached to the space Ar1 (first block member attachment portion; hereinafter referred to as “first attachment space Ar1”). In the present embodiment, the first binding teeth 31 are press-fitted into the first block member 32 and fixed.

  The second frame 44 is formed of a member having side walls 44a and 44b facing each other such as a U-shaped cross section (3 sides) and a rectangular cross section (4 sides). The illustrated second frame 44 is made of a steel material having a substantially U-shaped cross section having a right side wall 44a, a left side wall 44b, and a rear side wall 44c, and is a space Ar2 (second block member mounting portion; Hereinafter, the second block member 42 having the second binding teeth 41 is attached to the second attachment space).

  The second block member 42 is formed in a shape that fits into the space Ar2 (second mounting space), and is fixed in this space. Various fixing methods such as screwing, press-fitting, welding connection, and rivet connection can be selected as the fixing method. In the illustrated one, the second block member 42 is fixed to the second mounting space Ar2 by a second fixing screw 45.

  Next, the relationship between the first frame 33 and the first block member 32 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The first block member 32 is mounted in the first mounting space Ar1 so that its position can be adjusted. This adjusts the position of the first block member 32 so that the first binding teeth 31 are meshed with the second binding teeth 41 held by the second block member 42 firmly attached to the second frame 44. .

  Between the opposing side walls (the right side wall 33a and the left side wall 33b), a guide member 35 (hereinafter referred to as “support shaft”) that slidably supports the first block member 32 is provided. 33b is provided through. The support shaft 35 is fixed to the opposing side walls 33a and 33b, and is processed into an elliptical cross section, a D-cut shape, and the like, and the contact surface 35a that contacts the first block member 32 forms a smooth surface by chamfering or the like. Thus, a surface that hardly causes frictional resistance with the first block member 32 is formed.

  In FIG. 6B, the first block member 32 fitted in the first mounting space Ar1 has a clearance CL1 between the left side wall 33b and a clearance CL2 between the right side wall 33a. The state supported by the support shaft 35 is shown. The first block member 32 is movable in the axial direction of the support shaft 35 within the range of movement by the clearances CL1 and CL2 on the left and right of the support shaft 35 (arrow X direction) and the adjustment slot 34x formed in the front side wall 33c. Built in.

  Then, the screw member 34 is screwed into the screwing hole 34y formed in the first block member 32 through the adjustment elongated hole 34x, and the first block member 32 is fixed to the front side wall 33c.

  That is, the first binding member 31 and the second binding tooth 41 are arranged in the first binding space Ar1 of the first frame 33 and fixed to the second binding tooth 41 whose position is fixed. The first block member 32 is moved after the meshing, and the position of the first block member 32 is adjusted and then fixed.

  In the position adjustment, the second frame 40 is swung by, for example, an operator (operator) operation at the time of assembly or readjustment, and the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 are moved from the standby state in FIG. In this way, the support shaft 35 is moved in the axial direction so that the uneven surface of the first binding tooth 31 matches the uneven surface of the second binding tooth 41 that is fixed. It becomes possible.

  In the present embodiment, the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 intersect with the axial direction of the support shaft 35 (the left-right direction in FIG. 5) at an angle θ. On the other hand, the second frame 44 swings around the swing rotation shaft 51, and the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 move from the standby position Wp to the operating position Ap. Therefore, the first binding tooth 31 and the second binding tooth 41 are arranged in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5 so that the uneven surface at the left end in FIG. 7 closest to the swing rotation shaft 51 is engaged first and the uneven surface at the right end in FIG. Bite. This meshing order (phase difference) is represented as an angle α in FIG. At the same time, the first binding teeth 31 and the second binding teeth 41 are inclined at an acute angle θ with respect to the axial direction of the support shaft 35. The length (adjustment allowance) of the adjustment long hole 34x is the inclination angle. Is set to a length that takes into account.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment, in which a very small space is formed between the first block member 32 and the support shaft 35 after the position of the first binding tooth 31 and the second binding tooth 41 is adjusted. The case where it is done is shown typically. In this state, the screw member 34 can be slightly rotated around the screw member 34 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. For this reason, the contact surface 35a of the support shaft 35 and the first block member 32 only swing around the screw hole 34y of the screw member (fixing means) 34 even if a rotational force is applied to the tooth pattern row. Therefore, the engagement accuracy is maintained because the support shaft 35 does not move in the axial direction.

C binding processing unit 23 pressure binding means 31 first binding teeth 32 first block member 33 first frame 33a right side wall 33b left side wall 33c front side wall 34 screw member (fixing means)
34x adjustment slot 34y screwing hole 35 guide member (support shaft)
35a Contact surface 41 2nd binding tooth 42 2nd block member 44 2nd frame 44a Right side wall 44b Left side wall 44c Rear side wall DC Drive motor Ar1 1st installation space (1st block member attachment part)
Ar2 second mounting space (second block member mounting portion)

Claims (5)

An apparatus for clamping a sheet bundle between a first binding portion and a second binding portion in which a plurality of concave and convex surfaces meshing with each other are arranged,
A peristaltic rotation shaft for peristally moving at least one of the first binding portion and the second binding portion;
A moving means that swings about the peristaltic rotation axis and presses the first binding portion and the second binding portion;
A support means for supporting the first binding portion;
Fixing means for fixing the first binding portion to the support means;
A guide member for guiding the first binding portion so as to be movable with respect to the support means when the first binding portion is not fixed to the support means by the fixing means;
With
The arrangement direction of the concavo-convex surfaces of the first binding portion and the second binding portion is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined acute angle with respect to the rotation center line of the peristaltic rotation shaft ,
The guide member has a support surface on which the first binding portion is supported,
The first binding portion is movable along the support surface.
A sheet processing apparatus. The support means includes a pair of walls for fitting the first binding portion at a predetermined interval,
The guide member is a sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that provided between the pair of walls. Said fixing means, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it is constituted by a screw member disposed in a different wall and the pair of walls. It said moving means, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a cam mechanism. Wherein the second binding portion and the first binding portion is a sheet processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the binding processing of the sheet bundle by crimping a plurality of sheets each other in any one of the 4.

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