JP6638047B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system using the same - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet binding processing apparatus that performs binding processing on sheets sent from an image forming apparatus, and sorts and accumulates sheets on which images have been formed, selects one of different binding processing units, and performs binding processing. Regarding improvement.

  In general, this type of binding processing device guides a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus onto a processing tray from a sheet carry-in path, collects and accumulates the sheet, forms a sheet bundle, and performs a binding process with a staple. There is known a sheet binding apparatus that stacks a sheet bundle that has been subjected to the binding processing on a stack tray.

  In recent years, there has been a demand in the market for a sheet binding processing apparatus that uses a plurality of binding processing units. For example, in addition to performing binding processing on a sheet bundle with staples, a high pressure is applied to the sheet bundle without using staples. A new sheet binding processing apparatus using a so-called non-staple unit that performs binding processing on a sheet bundle by a technique such as the above is also known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a new sheet binding processing apparatus in which a staple unit and a non-staple unit are both provided so as to be movable with respect to a sheet bundle accumulated on a processing tray, and a predetermined binding position is set. Discloses a sheet binding processing device configured to perform a binding process.

JP 2012-027118 A

  The apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is configured such that both units are placed at a preset binding position in a state where the edges of the sheet bundle are led into each of the opening of the staple unit and the opening of the non-staple unit for performing the binding process. It is configured to move and perform the binding process. For this reason, when the binding process is performed on the sheet bundle by one unit, the opening of the other unit interferes with the sheet, and the posture of the sheet bundle is broken.

  Such a defect such as the collapse of the sheet bundle is particularly remarkable when a binding processing unit having a low binding processing capacity and a narrow opening is arranged among a plurality of binding processing units. Further, when there is a difference in processing capacity between the binding processing units, the number of processed sheets of the binding processing unit having a high processing capacity in the number of processed sheets is limited to a small number of processed sheets of the binding processing unit having a low binding processing capacity. There was a problem that the processing ability could not be exhibited.

  According to the present invention, in a sheet binding processing apparatus having a plurality of binding processing units, when one binding processing unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle, another binding processing unit interferes with the sheet and changes the posture of the sheet bundle. The task is to prevent collapse. It is another object of the present invention to prevent a binding processing unit having a low processing capacity from limiting the number of sheets to be bound by a binding processing unit having a high processing capacity.

In order to solve the above problems, a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a stacking unit on which a sheet conveyed in a conveying direction by the conveying unit is stacked, and a sheet stacked on the stacking unit. All the sheet bundle by contacting an end portion in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the sheet bundle, a first regulating means you regulate the direction of the position of the intersection, the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means, by contacting the end portion in the transport direction, of the sheet bundle, and a second regulating means you regulating a position in the transport direction, the other side from one side of the sheet processing apparatus by moving the crossing direction And an end of the sheet bundle on one side, in contact with the first regulating means, and the second regulating means. A first binding unit that binds a corner portion of the sheet bundle using a staple, including an end portion of the sheet bundle in the conveying direction that is in contact with the sheet bundle, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first pressing unit and the second pressing unit press the sheet bundle when binding the sheet bundle, and the end of the one side sheet bundle contacted by the first regulating unit. A second binding unit that binds, without using a staple, a corner portion of the sheet bundle, including an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, which is in contact with the second regulating unit, and a control unit. And the second binding unit is configured such that the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit are integrally movable, and the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit an opening is formed between the stacking means are integrated are those binding the sheet bundle located in the opening, punished The processing capacity is lower than that of the first binding means with respect to the number of sheets, and the control means includes an end portion of the one side of the sheet bundle contacted by the first restriction means, and the second restriction means When the corner portion of the sheet bundle, including the end portion of the sheet bundle in the conveyance direction, which is in contact with the sheet bundle, is bound by the first binding unit, the second binding unit is moved in an area outside the sheet bundle. Wherein the sheet bundle is located at a position not located at the opening, the first regulating means is in contact with the end of the one side sheet bundle, and the second regulating means is in contact with the transport direction. When the corner portion of the sheet bundle is bound by the second binding means, the corner portion of the sheet bundle including the end portion of the sheet bundle in the first direction is set to be smaller than the one end portion of the sheet bundle. Side, and the other than the second binding means Located on one side.

  With this configuration, when the first binding unit binds the sheet bundle, the second binding unit does not interfere with the sheet bundle and does not disturb the posture of the sheet bundle. Further, the number of sheets to be bound by the first binding means is not limited by the binding processing capacity of the second binding means having a low processing capacity.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a post-processing device in the image forming system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of a route of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The movement locus of the staple unit and the eco-binding means. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship between an alignment position and a staple unit in the apparatus of FIG. 2. Binding mechanism slide mechanism diagram FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of a differential unit in the device of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of a second embodiment of the differential means in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet bundle unloading mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a configuration of a staple unit, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an eco-binding unit; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a binding processing discharge operation. A jog sorting discharge mode in the apparatus of FIG. 1A shows a paper discharging operation mode in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 1A shows a bookbinding processing paper discharging mode, and FIG.

[Image forming system]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to the illustrated preferred embodiments. The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus B for performing binding processing, folding processing, and other post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus A, and an image forming system including the same.

  The image forming apparatus A forms an image on a sheet based on image data read from a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer device, a printing device, or the like or image data transferred from the outside. That is, the image forming apparatus A is configured as an image forming unit such as an output terminal of a computer network, a copying machine system, a facsimile system, etc., and is configured to form an image on a sheet based on data read by an image reading unit in the system (stand-alone). Configuration) and a configuration (network configuration) of forming an image on a sheet based on image data created or read in a computer network. The image forming apparatus A and the sheet post-processing apparatus B will be described in order of FIG. 1 showing the network configuration.

[Image forming apparatus]
The image forming apparatus A in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The illustrated image forming apparatus A shows an electrostatic printing mechanism, and includes an image forming unit A1, a scanner unit A2, and a feeder unit A3. The apparatus housing 1 is provided with installation legs 25 installed on an installation surface (for example, a floor surface). Further, inside the apparatus housing, a paper feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper discharging unit 4, and a data processing unit 5 are incorporated.

  The paper feeding unit 2 includes cassette mechanisms 2 a to 2 c that store a plurality of sizes of sheets on which images are to be formed, and feeds out sheets of a size designated by the main body control unit 90 to the paper feeding path 6. For this reason, a plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c are detachably arranged in the apparatus housing 1, and each cassette has a built-in separation mechanism for separating the internal sheets one by one and a paper feed mechanism for feeding out the sheets. The paper feed path 6 is provided with a transport roller 7 for feeding the sheets supplied from the plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c to the downstream side, and a pair of registration rollers 8 at the end of the path to align the leading ends of the sheets. .

  Note that the large-volume cassette 2d and the manual feed tray 2e are connected to the above-described paper feed path 6, and the large-capacity cassette 2d is configured by an optional unit that stores sheets of a large size to be consumed. A special sheet, such as a cardboard sheet, a coating sheet, or a film sheet, which is difficult to separate and feed, can be supplied.

  The image forming unit 3 shows an electrostatic printing mechanism as an example, and includes a photosensitive member 9 (drum, belt), a light emitting device 10 that emits an optical beam to the photosensitive member, a developing device 11 (developer), and a cleaner (non-conductive). (Shown) is disposed around the rotating photoconductor. The illustrated one shows a monochrome printing mechanism, in which a latent image is optically formed on a photosensitive drum 9 by a light emitting device, and toner ink is attached to the latent image by a developing device 11.

  Then, the sheet is fed from the paper feed path 6 to the image forming unit 3 to transfer the image onto the sheet by the transfer charger 12 at the timing of forming an image on the photoreceptor 9, and the fixing unit (roller) ) Fix at 13. A paper discharge roller 15 and a paper discharge port 16 are arranged in the paper discharge path 14, and convey a sheet to a sheet post-processing apparatus B described later.

  The above-described scanner unit A2 includes a platen 17 on which an image document is placed, a carriage 18 reciprocating along the platen, a light source mounted on the carriage, and reflected light from the document on the platen to the photoelectric conversion unit 19. It comprises a reducing optical system 20 (combination of mirror and lens) for guiding. Reference numeral 21 denotes a second platen (running platen), which reads an image of a sheet sent from the feeder unit A3 by the carriage 18 and the reduction optical system 20 described above. The photoelectric conversion unit 19 electrically transfers the image data to the image forming unit 3 after the photoelectric conversion.

  The feeder unit A3 is composed of a paper feed tray 22, a paper feed path 23 for guiding sheets sent from the paper feed tray to the traveling platen 21, and a paper discharge tray 24 for storing documents read by the platen.

  The image forming apparatus A is not limited to the above-described mechanism, and may employ a printing mechanism such as an offset printing mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, and an ink ribbon transfer printing mechanism (thermal transfer ribbon printing, sublimation type ribbon printing, etc.).

[Sheet post-processing device]
The sheet post-processing device B is a device that post-processes a sheet conveyed from the sheet discharge port 16 of the image forming apparatus A. (1) A function of stacking and storing an image-formed sheet (first and third processing units B1) , B3; printout mode); (2) a function of storing the sheets on which images are formed separately (third processing unit B3; jog sorting mode); and (3) a function of collecting and stacking the sheets on which images are formed. A function of performing binding processing (first processing unit B1; binding processing mode); and (4) a function of aligning and binding images formed sheets and then performing folding processing and bookbinding finishing (second processing unit B2; bookbinding). Processing mode).

  In the present invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus B does not need to have all the functions described above, and may be appropriately configured according to the apparatus specifications (design specifications). Also in this case, a processing unit (first processing unit B1) for aligning and stacking sheets, a first binding unit (a staple binding unit 47 to be described later) having a high processing capability with respect to the number of processed sheets in this processing unit, and a first binding unit It is necessary to have a stack configuration that includes a second binding unit (a staple-less binding unit 51 described later) having a lower processing capacity with respect to the number of sheets to be processed than the binding unit, and stores the sheets after the binding process is performed by the selected binding unit.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus B. The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes a carry-in port 26 connected to the sheet discharge port 16 of the image forming apparatus A, and a storage unit (a first stack tray 49 and a second stack tray 61 described later) after post-processing the sheet carried in from the carry-in port. , In the third stack tray 71). The illustrated apparatus transfers the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path 28 from the first processing unit B1 to the first stack tray 49.
(Hereinafter referred to as a “first tray”) from the second processing unit B2 to the second stack tray 61.
(Hereinafter, referred to as “second tray”) from the third processing section B3 to a third stack tray 71 (hereinafter, referred to as “third tray”).

The first processing section B1 is disposed at a path exit (sheet discharge port) 35 of the sheet carry-in path 28, and after collating and stacking sequentially fed sheets and performing binding processing, a first stack tray (first storage section). Store in 49. The second processing unit B2 is disposed at a path exit 62 (end of a second switchback path described below) branched from the sheet carry-in path 28, sorts and accumulates sequentially fed sheets, performs binding processing, and then performs folding processing. It is stored in a two-stack tray (second storage section) 61. The third processing unit B3 is incorporated in the sheet carry-in path 28, and stores the sheets to be conveyed in a third stack tray (third storage unit) 71 after offsetting the sheets by a predetermined amount in the orthogonal direction.
Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

"Equipment housing"
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet post-processing apparatus B includes an apparatus housing 27, a sheet carry-in path 28 which is built in the apparatus housing, and has a carry-in port 26 and a paper discharge port 35, and a sheet fed from this path. A first processing unit B1, a second processing unit B2, a third processing unit B3, and first, second, and third trays 49, 61, and 71 for storing sheets sent from each processing unit are provided. ing. The illustrated apparatus housing 27 is disposed at substantially the same height as the housing 1 of the image forming apparatus A located on the upstream side, and the discharge port 16 of the image forming apparatus A and the carry-in port 26 of the sheet post-processing apparatus B are viewed from the installation surface. Are linked.

"Sheet loading path"
The sheet carry-in path 28 is configured by a straight path that traverses the apparatus housing 27 in a substantially horizontal direction, and has a carry-in port 26 that is continuous with the paper discharge port (main body discharge port) 16 of the image forming apparatus A, and a device through the carry-in port. It has a paper discharge port 35 located on the opposite side across. The sheet carry-in path 28 includes a conveying roller 29 (sheet conveying means such as a roller and a belt) for conveying the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the paper discharge port 35, and a paper discharge roller 36 disposed in the paper discharge port 35. (May be a belt), an entrance sensor S1 for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the sheet conveyed into the route, and a paper discharge sensor S2 for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the sheet at the route paper outlet.

  The above-described sheet carry-in path 28 is connected so as to distribute and transfer the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the first processing section B1 and the second processing section B2, and the second processing section B2 is located on the upstream side in the path sheet discharging direction. The first processing unit B1 is connected to the side. The substantially straight-shaped sheet carry-in path 28 is branched so that the sheet from the carry-in port 26 is transported toward the second processing unit B2, and is then disposed on the downstream side of the path discharge port 35. The route is configured to guide to the processing unit B1.

  Further, a third discharge path (printout discharge path) 30 for guiding a sheet not subjected to post-processing in the first and second processing units B1 and B2 to the third tray 71 is connected to the above-described sheet carry-in path 28. The sheet is guided to a third tray (overflow tray) 71. A third processing section B3 is built in the sheet carry-in path 28, and this processing section sorts the sheets conveyed on the path by offsetting in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction. That is, the third processing section B3 is built in the sheet carry-in path 28, and the sheets that have been jog-sorted in this processing section are stored in the third tray 71.

  In the sheet carry-in path 28, as shown in FIG. 2, downstream of the carry-in entrance 26, a "third discharge path 30," a "second discharge path 32," and a "first discharge path 31" are arranged in this order. The first path switching means 33 and the second path switching means 34 are arranged at the illustrated positions. Further, the second paper discharge path 32 and the first paper discharge path 31 are configured as switchback paths that reverse the sheet conveyance direction and guide each sheet to each processing unit.

  The third paper discharge path 30 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in port 26 to the third tray, and the second paper discharge path 32 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in port 26 to the second tray 61, and The paper ejection path 31 guides the sheet discharged from the entrance 26 to the first tray 49. The sheet guided to the third tray 71 is subjected to jog sorting in the third processing unit B3 in the carry-in path, and the sheet guided to the second tray 61 is subjected to bookbinding in the second processing unit B2. Is subjected to binding processing in the first processing unit B1.

  The first path switching means 33 is composed of a flapper guide for changing the sheet conveyance direction, and is connected to a driving means (an electromagnetic solenoid, a mini motor, or the like) not shown. The switching unit 33 selects whether to guide the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the third discharge path 30 or the first and second discharge paths 31 and 32. The second path switching means 34 selects whether to guide the sheet sent from the carry-in port 26 to the second processing section B2 or to guide the sheet to the first processing section B1 on the downstream side. Drive means (not shown) is also connected to the second path switching means 34. A punch unit 50 for punching a punched hole in the conveyed sheet is disposed in the sheet conveyance path 28.

"First processing unit"
The first processing unit B1 includes a processing tray 37 disposed downstream of the sheet carry-in path 28 for collating and stacking the sheets sent from the paper discharge port 35, and a binding processing mechanism for binding and processing the stacked sheet bundle. Is done. As shown in FIG. 2, a step is formed in the sheet discharge port 35 of the sheet carry-in path 28, and a processing tray 37 is disposed below the sheet discharge port 35, and a sheet is conveyed between the sheet discharge port 35 and the processing tray from the sheet discharge port. A first paper discharge path (switchback path) 31 that guides the sheet on the tray by reversing the direction is formed.

  A sheet carrying mechanism for carrying a sheet from the paper outlet to the tray between the paper outlet 35 and the processing tray 37; a positioning mechanism for positioning the sheet at a predetermined binding position in the processing tray 37; A sheet bundle unloading mechanism that unloads the bound sheet bundle to the first tray 49 on the downstream side is arranged. Each configuration will be described later.

  Note that the processing tray 37 shown in FIG. 2 bridge-supports the sheet sent from the paper discharge port 35 with the first tray 49 on the downstream side. In other words, the sheet sent from the paper discharge port 35 is configured to bridge and support the leading end on the uppermost sheet of the first tray 49 on the downstream side and the rear end on the processing tray 37. I have.

"Second processing unit"
In the above-described sheet carry-in path 28, a second paper discharge path (second switchback path) 32 is branched and connected to the upstream side of the first paper discharge path (first switchback path) 31. To guide the sheet to the second processing section B2. The second processing unit B2 sorts and accumulates the sheets sent from the sheet carry-in path 28, binds the central portion, and performs inward folding (hereinafter, referred to as "magazine finishing"). A second tray 61 is arranged downstream of the second processing section B2, and stores a sheet bundle subjected to bookbinding processing.

  The second processing unit B2 includes a guide member 66 for stacking sheets in a bundle, a regulating stopper 67 for positioning the sheet at a predetermined position on the guide member (the leading end regulating stopper shown in the drawing), and a stopper for positioning. A stapling device 63 (saddle stapling unit) for binding the central portion of the sheet thus formed, and a folding mechanism (folding roll pair 64 and folding blade 65) for folding the sheet bundle at the central portion after the binding process. .

  As described in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644, and the like, the saddle-stitched staple unit 63 has a sheet center portion (line) in which a sheet bundle is sandwiched between a head unit and an anvil unit. ), And a mechanism for performing the binding process by moving the position along the line is adopted. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the folding mechanism adopts a configuration in which the fold of the sheet bundle is inserted into the folding roll pair 64 pressed against each other by the folding blade 65 and folded by rolling the roll pair. Such a mechanism is also disclosed in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644, and the like.

  The illustrated first processing unit B1 and the sheet carry-in path 28 are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and the second paper discharge path 32 that guides the sheet to the second processing unit B2 is arranged in the vertical direction, and aligns and accumulates the sheets. The guide member 66 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction. By arranging the sheet carry-in path 28 in the direction crossing the apparatus housing 27 and arranging the processing paths (parts) 32 and B2 in the vertical direction, the apparatus can be made slimmer.

  A second tray 61 is disposed downstream of the second processing unit B2, and stores a sheet bundle folded in a magazine. The illustrated second tray 61 is disposed below the first tray 49. In this case, the first tray 49 is set at a height position at which the sheets on the tray can be easily taken out, because the use frequency of the first tray 49 is higher than the use frequency of the second tray 61.

"Third processing unit"
In the sheet carry-in path 28, a third paper discharge path 30 is formed upstream of the first paper discharge path 31 and the second paper discharge path 32, and guides sheets from the carry-in port 26 to the third tray 71. A roller shift mechanism (not shown) for offsetting a sheet to be conveyed by a predetermined amount in the orthogonal direction is disposed in a path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the third tray 71 (a carry-in path or a third paper discharge path). ing.

  Then, the posture of the sheet to be carried out to the third tray 71 is shifted (offset) in the orthogonal direction so that the sheet is separated into sets from the carry-in entrance 26 and stored on the tray. Since various mechanisms are known for this jog sorting mechanism, the description thereof is omitted.

"Configuration of the first processing unit"
The configuration of the sheet loading mechanism, the sheet positioning mechanism, the binding processing mechanism, and the sheet bundle unloading mechanism of the first processing unit B1 will be described.

"Sheet loading mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, between the discharge port 35 and the processing tray 37, reverse transport mechanisms 41 and 42 for switch-back transporting the sheet from the discharge port in the discharge direction and the opposite direction to the discharge, and the sheet tray. A guide mechanism (sheet guide member) 44 for guiding the sheet to the side and a squeezing rotary member 46 for guiding the sheet to the leading end regulating means are arranged.

  The reversing transport mechanism includes an elevating roller 41 that moves up and down between an operating position for engaging with a sheet carried in on the processing tray and a standby position that is separated, and a paddle rotator 42 that transports the sheet in a direction opposite to the sheet ejection. The lifting roller 41 and the paddle rotating body 42 are attached to a swing bracket 43.

  A swinging bracket 43 is arranged on the apparatus frame 27a so as to be swingable about a rotating shaft 36x (in the drawing, a discharge roller shaft), and the lifting shaft 41 and the rotating shaft of the paddle rotating body 42 are bearing-supported by this bracket. ing. An elevating motor (not shown) is connected to the swing bracket 43, and moves up and down between an operating position where the mounted elevating roller 41 and the paddle rotator 42 are engaged with the sheet and a standby position separated from the sheet.

  A drive motor (not shown) is connected to the elevating roller 41 and the paddle rotator 42, and the drive is transmitted so that the elevating roller 41 rotates in the forward / reverse rotation direction and the paddle rotator 42 rotates in the reverse rotation direction (opposite to the paper discharge). ing. A driven roller 48 that is in pressure contact with the elevating roller 41 is disposed on the processing tray 37, and nips a single sheet or a bundle of sheets to carry it out downstream.

  A guide mechanism for guiding the rear end of the sheet conveyed onto the processing tray toward the regulating means 38 is disposed between the elevating roller 41 and a squeezing rotary member 46 described later. A sheet guide member 44 which moves up and down from the dotted line to the solid line is retracted to the position indicated by the dotted line when the sheet is carried out from the sheet discharge port 35, and the rear end of the sheet passes through the sheet discharge port 35. Later, the trailing edge of the sheet is guided onto the processing tray. For this reason, a drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the sheet guide member 44 and moves up and down in accordance with the timing at which the sheet trailing end is guided from the sheet discharge port 35 onto the processing tray.

"Seat positioning mechanism"
Positioning mechanisms 38 and 39 for positioning the sheet at a predetermined binding position are disposed on the processing tray 37, and the illustrated one is a sheet edge regulating means 38 which abuts and regulates the trailing edge of the sheet, and a sheet side edge is a reference ( It comprises side edge aligning means 39 for positioning at the center reference and one side reference position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet end regulating means 38 is constituted by a stopper member which abuts and regulates the rear end of the sheet. Although the side edge alignment member 39 will be described later with reference to FIG. 5, the illustrated apparatus discharges the sheet from the sheet carry-in path 28 on the basis of the center, and positions the sheet on the basis of the same center depending on the binding mode, or on the basis of one side. Position.

"Side alignment means"
As shown in FIG. 5, the side edge alignment plates 39F and 39R protrude upward from the paper loading surface 37a of the processing tray 37, have a regulating surface 39x that engages with the side edge of the sheet, and are disposed so as to face a pair of left and right sides. I do. The pair of side edge aligning means 39 is arranged on the processing tray 37 so as to be able to reciprocate at a predetermined stroke. This stroke is set based on the size difference between the maximum size sheet and the minimum size sheet and the offset amount by which the aligned sheet bundle is moved (offset conveyed) in one of the left and right directions.

  That is, the moving stroke of the left and right side edge aligning means 39F and 39R is set by the moving amount for aligning different size sheets and the offset amount of the sheet bundle after the alignment. In the offset movement of the side edge alignment plates 39F and 39R, the sheet conveyed on the basis of the center is shifted by a predetermined amount to the right in the case of the right corner binding and to the left in the case of the left corner binding in the case of the corner binding. This offset movement is performed either when the sheets are carried into the processing tray 37 one by one (for each carry-in sheet), or when the sheets are moved in bundles to perform the binding process after aligning the sheets in a bundle. Is adopted.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the side edge alignment member 39 includes a right edge alignment member 39F (apparatus front side) and a left edge alignment member 39R (apparatus rear side). The regulating surfaces 39x engaged with the ends are supported by the processing tray 37 so as to move in the approaching direction or the separating direction. The processing tray 37 is provided with a slit groove (not shown) penetrating the front and back sides, and a side edge aligning means 39 having a regulating surface 39x engaged with a sheet side edge is slidably fitted on the upper surface of the tray from the slit. ing.

  Each side edge alignment member 39F, 39R is slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 80 (may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and a rack 81 is integrally formed. Alignment motors M1 and M2 are connected to the left and right racks 81 via pinions 82. The left and right aligning motors M1 and M2 are formed of stepping motors, and the position sensors (not shown) detect the positions of the left and right side edge aligning members 39F and 39R. , And can be moved by a designated movement amount.

  Instead of using the illustrated rack-pinion mechanism, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the side edge alignment members 39F and 39R are fixed to a timing belt and connected to a motor that reciprocates the belt by a pulley.

  In such a configuration, the control unit 95 described later moves the left and right side edge alignment members 39F and 39R to a predetermined standby position (sheet width size + α position) based on sheet size information provided from the image forming apparatus A or the like. Wait. Then, in the case of “multiple binding”, the sheet is carried into the processing tray 37, and the aligning operation is started at a timing when the sheet end hits the rear end regulating means 38. In this alignment operation, the left and right alignment motors M1 and M2 are rotated in the opposite direction (approaching direction) by the same amount.

  Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 37 are positioned with reference to the sheet center and are stacked in a bundle. The sheets are aligned and stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 37 by repeating the sheet loading operation and the aligning operation. At this time, sheets of different sizes are positioned with reference to the center. Further, in the case of "corner binding", the sheet is carried into the processing tray 37, and the aligning operation is started at a timing when the sheet end abuts on the rear end regulating means 38. This alignment operation makes the amount of movement of the alignment plate on the side of the binding position different from that of the alignment plate on the side opposite to the binding position. Then, the moving amount is set so that the sheet corner is located at a preset binding position.

"Binding mechanism"
In the processing tray 37, binding processing mechanisms 47 and 60 that perform binding processing of a sheet bundle accumulated on the paper loading surface 37a are arranged. The processing tray 37 is positioned at a predetermined binding position on the paper loading surface 37a by a positioning mechanism (sheet end regulating means 38 and side edge aligning means 39). The binding processing mechanisms 47 and 51 include a first binding unit 47 (first binding means; the same applies to “staple unit” and the like hereinafter) that binds a sheet bundle with staples, and a second binding unit 51 (second binding) that binds without staples. (E.g., “eco-binding unit” and the like hereinafter) are selectively arranged at the binding position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the processing tray 37 is provided with binding processing mechanisms 47 and 51 for binding the rear end of the sheet conveyed from the paper discharge port 35, and the binding mechanism includes the processing tray 37 as shown in FIG. The stapling unit (first binding unit) 47 and the eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 that can move along the rear end of the paper mounting surface 37a.

  FIG. 4 shows a staple unit (first binding unit) 47 and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 arranged on the processing tray. In the illustrated apparatus, a binding position Cp1 is set at a sheet corner located on the left side in the drawing. The first binding unit 47 and the second binding unit 51 reciprocally move to the binding position Cp1.

  Therefore, the first binding unit 47 moves at a predetermined stroke SL1 along the first traveling rail 53 and the second traveling rail 54 formed on the device frame 27b, and the second binding unit 51 is similarly disposed on the device frame 57. The first guide rod 56a and the second guide rod 56b (see FIG. 10) are arranged so as to move with a stroke SL2 along the first guide rod 56a and the second guide rod 56b (see FIG. 10).

  FIG. 5 shows the sheet carried into the processing tray 37 and the movement strokes of the first and second binding units 47 and 51. Sheets of different sizes from the maximum size sheet to the minimum size sheet are carried into the processing tray 37 on a center basis. A pair of left and right side edge aligning members 39F and 39R align the sheet based on the binding side edge (the left side edge in the figure) of the sheet (so that sheets of different sizes match). Therefore, the left and right alignment members 39F and 39R are connected to different drive motors M1 and M2, respectively, and a control unit 95 described later sets the amount of movement of the left and right alignment members 39F and 39R according to the sheet size.

  Note that the control means 95, which will be described later, aligns sheets based on a center in a binding process other than the binding process of a sheet corner, for example, in a multi-binding mode which will be described later. In this case, the right and left aligning members 39F and 39R move the sheet by the same amount from the standby position toward the sheet center to position the sheet at the binding position.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the first binding unit 47 is in the first stroke SL1 between the standby position Wp1 (first standby position) and the binding position Cp1, and the second binding unit 51 is in the standby position Wp2 (second standby position). And the second stroke SL2 between the first position and the binding position Cp1. That is, the first binding unit 47 reciprocates between the standby position Wp1 and the binding position Cp1 along the traveling rails 53, 54 (guide grooves, guide rods, etc.), and the second binding unit 51 guides the guide rods 56a, 56b ( Along the guide groove) between the standby position Wp2 and the binding position Cp1.

Then, the binding position Cp1 is set at the sheet corner (hereinafter, referred to as "set binding position"), and the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 satisfy the following relationship with this position.
(1) The first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 are set on opposite sides of the set binding position Cp1.
(2) The first standby position Wp1 is outside the maximum size sheet to be stapled on the processing tray, or a stapling processing position farthest from the set stapling position Cp1 on the processing tray (a multi-stitch position Ma or a manual stapling position described later). Mp; maximum remote binding position).
(3) The second standby position Wp2 is set outside the sheet side edge that matches the set binding position (outside the sheet placement area on the sheet placement surface).
(4) The first stroke length SL1 between the first standby position Wp1 and the set binding position Cp1 is set to be longer (longer) than the second stroke length SL2 between the second standby position Wp2 and the set binding position Cp1. I do.

  By setting the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 on opposite sides of the set binding position Cp1 as described above, when one unit approaches, the other unit moves away (reciprocal retreat approach). motion). By setting SL1> SL2, the binding processing position of the first binding unit 47 (multiple binding position Ma described later) can be set relatively freely. On the other hand, the second binding unit 51 performs a binding process only at a preset binding position. Thus, the total movement stroke length of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be set small, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

  When the first binding unit 47 is at the set binding position Cp1, the control unit 95 determines that the second binding unit is at the standby position Wp2, and when the second binding unit 51 is at the set binding position Cp1, the first binding unit is at the standby position Wp1. The two units are reciprocally moved to position. That is, when a sheet is bound by one binding unit, the position of the other binding unit is set to the outside (outside) of the sheet carry-in area of the sheet carried into the processing tray 37 (the sheet bound by the one binding unit), that is, the processing tray. 37 is set to the outside of the sheet (the state where the sheet bound by one binding unit has not entered the opening of the other binding unit). With such a configuration, when the first binding unit 47 performs the binding process, the opening of the second binding unit 51 does not interfere with the sheet bundle, and the posture of the sheet bundle does not change. Further, the number of sheets to be bound by the first binding unit 47 is not limited by the binding processing capacity of the second binding unit 51 having a low processing capacity.

  The reciprocal position movement of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be performed by either (1) making the rotation amounts different according to the movement strokes by independent drive motors, or (2) making the first binding unit use the same drive source. Either the moving amount of the second binding unit 51 or the moving amount of the second binding unit 51 is made different.

  FIG. 6 shows a mode in which the first binding unit 47 and the second binding unit 51 are moved by the same driving source and have different moving amounts. A pair of left and right pulleys 58a and 58b are arranged on the device frame 27b along the movement area of the first unit (the left and right direction in FIG. 6), and a timing belt 59 (a toothed belt) is stretched between both pulleys. A drive motor M3 (stepping motor) is connected to the pulley 58a.

  A transmission pinion 75 is connected to the other pulley 58b via a differential means (transmission means) 74, and a rack 76 fixed to the frame of the second binding unit 51 is engaged with this pinion. The differential means 74 is provided with a gear mechanism (a first embodiment described below) or a slip clutch mechanism (a second embodiment described below) having a transmission ratio that matches the stroke difference between the first and second strokes SL1 and SL2. It is composed of a combination of these two mechanisms.

"First Embodiment of Differential Means"
FIG. 7 shows a first embodiment of the differential means 74. When the drive motor M3 rotates by a predetermined amount in the transmission mechanism shown in a perspective view in FIG. 6, the first binding unit 47 rotates the first stroke SL1 by the rotation amount. The transmission ratio is changed so that the second binding unit 51 reciprocates linearly and reciprocates linearly in the second stroke SL2.

  For example, in the illustrated device, the second stroke length SL2 is set to one fifth of the first stroke length SL1, so that the gear ratio of the gear G1 connected to the drive motor M3 and the gear ratio The gear ratio of the gear G3 meshing with the rack via G2 is set to 5 times. In FIG. 7B, a transmission gear G1 is provided on a pulley (driven pulley) 58b connected to the drive motor M3, and the driven gear G2 is coaxial with the rack 76 and the gear G3 meshed with the rack 76. They are connected so as to rotate integrally. The gear ratio between the gear G1 and the gears G2 and G3 is set so as to match the stroke ratio between the first and second stroke lengths SL1 and SL2.

  Therefore, when the drive motor M3 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the first binding unit 47 moves between the first strokes SL1, and at the same time, the second binding unit moves between the second strokes SL2. The moving direction is set to the same direction.

"Second embodiment of differential means"
As shown in a perspective view in FIG. 6, the timing belt 59 of the first binding unit 47 is connected to the drive motor M3. At this time, as described above, the movement stroke SL1 of the first binding unit 47 is set longer than the movement stroke SL2 of the second binding unit 51. Therefore, in the differential means 77 shown in FIG. 8, a slip clutch means 78 is arranged in the transmission means of the second binding unit 51 having a short moving distance.

  FIG. 8A shows an example of the slip clutch mechanism. A transmission gear G4 is provided integrally with the pulley shaft 58x of the timing belt 59 which is connected to the drive motor M3 and reciprocates the first binding unit 47. A gear G5 meshing with this gear is integrally attached to the transmission rotation shaft 79. Have been. A transmission pinion G6 is rotatably fitted around the transmission rotation shaft 79 so as to be rotatable. A rack 76 fixed to the second binding unit 51 is connected to the transmission pinion G6 so as to mesh with the transmission pinion G6.

  The load torque transmitted to the transmission pinion G6 by the clutch spring 73 between the transmission rotation shaft 79 connected to the drive motor M3 and the transmission pinion G6 loosely fitted to this rotation shaft exceeds a predetermined value. Sometimes it is provided such that a sliding movement occurs between the transmission rotary shaft 79 and the transmission pinion G6.

  As shown in FIGS. 8B, 8C, and 8D, the free ends 73a and 73b of the clutch spring 73 engage with projections G6a and G6b provided on the transmission pinion G6 side. The clutch spring 73 and the transmission rotation shaft 79 are frictionally engaged. The friction relationship is such that when the load torque of the transmission pinion G6 exceeds a predetermined value, the spring relaxes and slippage occurs between the transmission rotation shaft 79 and the transmission pinion G6, and when the load torque is equal to or less than the predetermined value, as shown in FIG. The rotation is transmitted in the state of b). When the load torque acting on the second binding unit 51 exceeds a predetermined value, a slip occurs between the transmission rotation shaft 79 and the transmission pinion G6 during rotation in the directions of the arrows in FIGS. 8C and 8D.

  In such a configuration, when the first binding unit 47 is moved from the set binding position Cp1 to the standby position Wp1 by the rotation of the drive motor M3, the clutch spring 73 causes the second binding unit 51 to operate in conjunction with the state shown in FIG. It moves from the standby position Wp2 to the set binding position Cp1. When the second binding unit 51 reaches the set binding position Cp1 and hits a locking stopper (not shown), a load torque close to infinity acts on the transmission pinion G6. When the load torque is exceeded, the clutch spring 73 forms a gap with the transmission rotation shaft 79 and slides. Then, the first binding unit 47 moves toward the standby position Wp1 by the rotation of the drive motor M3 thereafter.

  The transmission rotation and the sliding rotation by the clutch spring 73 perform the same interlocking operation when the first binding unit 47 is moved from the standby position Wp1 to the set binding position Cp1 (rotation in the opposite direction of the motor). As described above, the first binding unit 47 reciprocates between the first strokes SL1 by the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor M3, and interlocks the second binding unit 51 at the initial stage of the movement to reciprocate between the second strokes SL2. After that, the rotation of the drive motor M3 is transmitted only to the first binding unit 47.

"Staple unit moving mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, a staple unit 47 is mounted on a device frame (chassis frame) 27b so as to be movable by a predetermined stroke. A first traveling rail 53 and a second traveling rail 54 are arranged on the device frame 27b. A running rail surface 53x is formed on the first running rail 53, and a running cam surface 54x is formed on the second running rail 54. The running rail surface 53x and the running cam surface 54x cooperate with each other to form a staple unit 47 (hereinafter referred to as this item). In this case, the “moving unit” is supported so as to be able to reciprocate at a predetermined stroke, and at the same time, its angular posture is controlled.

  The first traveling rail 53 and the second traveling rail 54 are formed with a rail surface 53x and a traveling cam surface 54x so as to reciprocate within the moving range of the moving unit (see FIG. 5). A timing belt 59 connected to a drive motor (running motor) M3 is fixed to the moving unit 47 (staple unit). The timing belt 59 is wound around a pair of pulleys 58a and 58b pivotally supported by the apparatus frame 27b, and one of the pulleys is connected to the drive motor M3. Accordingly, the staple unit 47 reciprocates with the stroke SL1 by the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor M3.

  The running rail surface 53x and the running cam surface 54x are spaced at a parallel interval (span I1), a narrow swing interval (span I2), and a narrower swing interval (span I3). Is formed. Then, the relationship of span I1> span I2> span I3 is established. The swing angle is changed so that the unit is in a posture parallel to the rear edge of the sheet in span I1, the unit is in a posture inclined left or right in span I2, and the unit is in a further inclined posture in span I3.

  The moving unit 47 is engaged with the first and second running rails 53 and 54 as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the moving unit 47 includes a first rolling roller 83 (rail fitting member) that engages with the traveling rail surface 53x, and a second rolling roller 84 (which engages with the traveling cam surface 54x). A cam follower member) is provided. At the same time, the moving unit 47 has sliding rollers 85 (ball-shaped sliding rollers 85a and 85b are formed at two locations) which engage with the support (support) surface of the frame 27b. The moving unit 47 is formed with a guide roller 86 that engages with the bottom surface of the bottom frame portion frame to prevent the moving unit 47 from floating from the bottom frame frame 27b.

  From the above configuration, the moving unit 47 is movably supported by the sliding roller 85 and the guide roller 86 on the bottom frame 27b. At the same time, the first rolling roller 83 travels along the rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x while rotating along the traveling cam surface 54x while the first rolling roller 83 rotates along the traveling rail surface 53x.

  Therefore, as for the interval between the traveling rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x, a parallel interval portion (span I1) is formed at the above-described multiple binding positions Ma1, Ma2 and the manual binding position Mp. In the span I1, as shown in FIG. 4, the moving unit 47 is held in a posture orthogonal to the sheet edge without swinging. Therefore, at the multi-binding position and the manual binding position, the sheet bundle is bound with staples parallel to the sheet edge.

  Regarding the distance between the running rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x, the swinging interval (span I2) is formed at the right corner binding position Cp2 and the left corner binding position Cp1. As shown in FIG. 4, the moving unit 47 is held in a right tilt angle posture (for example, right 45 degree inclination) and a left inclination angle posture (for example, left 45 degree inclination).

  As for the interval between the running rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x, a swing interval (span I3) is formed at the needle loading position. The span I3 is formed at a shorter interval than the span I2, and in this state, the moving unit 47 is held in a right-tilt angle posture (for example, a 60-degree tilt) as shown in FIG. The reason why the angle of the moving unit 47 is changed at the needle loading position is to make the unit attitude coincide with the angle direction in which the needle cartridge 52 is mounted on the unit, and the angle is set in relation to the open / close cover arranged on the outer casing.

  When the angular posture of the moving unit is deflected by the traveling rail surface 53x and the traveling cam surface 54x, a second traveling cam surface is provided or a stopper cam surface is provided to shorten the traveling length. It is preferable from the compactness of the layout that the angle is deflected in coordination with the above.

  The illustrated stopper cam surface will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom frame 27b includes a right corner binding position Cp2 on the front side of the apparatus and a part of the moving unit (the sliding roller 85 is shown) for changing the unit posture at the manual binding position Mp. The engaging stopper surfaces 27c and 27d are arranged at the positions shown in the figure. As a result, it is necessary to correct the inclination of the unit inclined at the needle loading position at the manual binding position Mp. However, changing the angle only with the cam surface and the rail surface makes the movement stroke redundant.

  Therefore, when the moving unit 47 is engaged with the stopper surface 27c and is advanced to the manual binding side, the unit returns from the inclined state to the original state. When the moving unit 47 is returned from the manual binding position in the opposite direction, the stopper surface 27d inclines the unit (forcibly) and directs the unit to the corner binding position.

"Staple Unit Configuration"
The configuration of the above-described staple unit (first binding unit) will be described with reference to FIG. The staple unit 47 is configured separately from the sheet post-processing apparatus B. A box-shaped unit frame 47a, a drive cam 47d pivotally supported by the frame, and a drive motor M4 for rotating the drive cam are mounted on the unit frame 47a.

  The drive cam 47d has a staple head 47b and an anvil member 47c opposed to the binding position, and the staple head 47b is biased by the drive cam 47d with an urging spring (not shown) from the upper standby position to the lower staple position (anvil member). ). A needle cartridge 52 is detachably mounted on the unit frame.

  A linear blank needle is stored in the needle cartridge 52, and the needle is supplied to the staple head 47b by a needle feed mechanism. The staple head portion 47b contains therein a former member for bending straight needles into a U-shape and a driver for pressing the bent needles into a sheet bundle. With such a configuration, the drive cam 47d is rotated by the drive motor M4 to accumulate energy in the urging spring. When the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the staple head portion 47b vigorously descends toward the anvil member 47c. With this operation, the staple is bent into a U-shape and then inserted into the sheet bundle with a driver. The tip is bent by the anvil member 47c and stapled.

  Further, a needle feed mechanism is built in between the needle cartridge 52 and the staple head 47b, and a sensor (empty sensor) for detecting the absence of a needle is arranged in the needle feed section. Alternatively, a cartridge sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the needle cartridge 52 is inserted is disposed in the unit frame 47a.

  The illustrated needle cartridge 52 has a structure in which staple needles connected in a band shape to a box-shaped cartridge are stacked and stored in a stacked manner, and a structure in which staples are stored in a roll shape. The unit frame 47a is provided with a circuit for controlling the above-described sensors and a circuit board for controlling the drive motor M4. When the staple cartridge 52 is not stored or the staples are empty, a warning signal is issued. It has become. Further, the staple control circuit controls the drive motor M4 so as to execute the stapling operation by the staple signal, and when the staple head moves from the standby position to the anvil position and returns to the standby position again, the "operation end signal" Is transmitted.

"Structure of stapleless binding unit"
The configuration of the above-described second binding unit (stapleless binding unit) 51 will be described with reference to FIG. As a stapleless binding means for binding a sheet bundle without using metal needles, means for pressing the sheet bundle from the front and back with a pressing member having an uneven surface that meshes with each other to bind the sheets together (press-bind binding device) Means for forming a slit-shaped cut in the sheet bundle to fold and bind the sheets together (cut-folding device; see JP-A-2011-256008); and means for binding with a vegetable resin string ( A resin string binding device) and the like are known. These binding methods are known as eco-binding methods because they are bound using a sheet bundle without using metal needles. Hereinafter, a press binding mechanism will be described as an example.

  As a press binding mechanism, unevenness is formed on the pressing surfaces 51b and 51c which can be pressed and separated from each other, and the sheets are deformed and bound by pressing the sheet bundle from both sides. FIG. 9 (b) shows a press bind unit 51, in which a movable frame member 51d is pivotally supported on a base frame member 51a so as to be swingable, and both frames swing with a support shaft 51x so as to be able to press and separate. A follower roller 60 is disposed on the movable frame member 51d, and the follower roller is engaged with a drive cam 68 disposed on the base frame member 51a.

  A drive motor M5 disposed on the base frame member 51a is connected to the drive cam 68 via a speed reduction mechanism. The drive cam 68 rotates by the rotation of the motor, and the cam surface (the eccentric cam shown in the figure) moves the movable frame. It is configured to swing the member 51d.

  The lower pressing surface 51c is disposed on the base frame member 51a, and the upper member pressing surface 51b is disposed on the movable frame member 51d. A biasing spring (not shown) is arranged between the base frame member 51a and the movable frame member 51d, and biases the two pressing surfaces in a direction away from each other.

  As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8B, the upper pressing surface 51b and the lower pressing surface 51c are formed with a protrusion on one side and a concave groove on the other side. The protrusions and the concave grooves are formed in a ridge (rib) shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper pressing surface 51b and the lower pressing surface 51c is deformed into a corrugated plate shape and comes into close contact with each other. A position sensor (not shown) is disposed on the base frame member 51a (unit frame), and is configured to detect whether the upper and lower pressing surfaces 51b and 51c are at the pressing position or the separated position.

  The press bind unit (eco-binding unit; second binding unit) 51 configured as described above can be moved to the first and second guide rods 56a and 56b (may be grooves) arranged on the device frame 57. And reciprocates between the set binding position Cp1 and the second standby position Wp of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 37 as described above.

"Sheet bundle unloading mechanism"
A sheet bundle unloading mechanism that unloads the bound sheet bundle toward the first tray 49 on the downstream side is disposed in the processing tray 37 described above. As means for conveying the sheet bundle to the downstream side, there are a method of conveying the sheet bundle by a pair of rollers which press against each other (a discharge roller means), and a conveyor for extruding the rear end of the sheet by an extruding member moving from the upstream side to the downstream side along the tray surface. Means are known. The illustrated device employs both means.

  FIG. 10 shows the sheet bundle unloading mechanism. The push-out protrusion 38 is transferred from the binding position (processing position) located on the upstream side along the processing tray 37 to the stack tray (first tray) 49 on the downstream side, and the push-out protrusion is moved. Conveyor means is constituted by the conveyer belt 38v and the drive motor M6. A driven roller 48 is disposed on the processing tray 37 at the carry-out port (boundary between the paper loading surface 37a and the first tray 49), and the elevating roller 41 that is in pressure contact with the driven roller is disposed to face the above-described configuration. The unloading roller means is constituted by 48 and the lifting roller 41.

  Accordingly, the processing tray 37 is provided with the conveyor means 38 and 38v for transferring the sheet bundle so as to push the sheet bundle from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the discharge roller means 48 and 41 for nipping and discharging the sheet bundle. . FIG. 10A shows a state in which the sheet bundle is located at the binding position on the processing tray. At this time, the conveyor means 38 and 38v and the unloading roller means 48 and 41 are in an operating state. FIG. 6B shows a state in which the sheet bundle is being transferred from the processing position to the downstream side, and the sheet bundle is sent to the downstream side by the movement of the position of the extrusion protrusion 38 and the rotation of the carry-out roller means 48 and 41. FIG. 9C shows a state immediately before the sheet bundle is carried out to the first tray 49 on the downstream side. The sheet bundle on the processing tray is gradually (low-speed) moved downstream by the rotation of the carry-out roller means 48 and 41. At). At this time, the extrusion protrusion 38 waits at the illustrated position, and returns (retreats) to the initial position.

"Configuration of folding roll means"
A folding roll unit 64 for folding the sheet bundle and a folding blade 65 for inserting the sheet bundle at the nip position of the folding roll unit are provided at the folding position Y disposed downstream of the second processing unit B2. .

  The pair of folding rolls 64a and 64b are formed of a material having a relatively large coefficient of friction such as a rubber roller. This is for transferring the sheet in the rotating direction while bending the sheet with a soft material such as rubber, and may be formed by lining the rubber material.

  The pair of folding rolls 64a and 64b are located on the curved or bent protruding side of the guide member 66, and a folding blade 65 having a knife edge is provided at a position facing the sheet bundle supported by the guide member. .

"Sheet Bundle Finishing Mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image on a sheet, and the sheet post-processing apparatus B finishes the booklet. The sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path 28 is guided to the sheet discharge roller 36, where the control CPU 95 discharges the sheet at the timing when the sheet rear end has passed the path switching piece based on the signal that the sheet sensor S1 has detected the sheet rear end. The roller 36 is stopped. Then, the paper discharge roller 36 is reversed. Then, the sheet that has entered the sheet carry-in path 28 is reversed in the conveying direction, and is guided to the second sheet discharge path 32 from the path switching piece. Then, the sheet is guided to the guide member 66 by the conveying rollers arranged in this path.

  The control CPU 95 moves the regulating stopper 67 at the timing when the sheet is carried into the guide member 66 from the second discharge path 32. Then, the entire sheet is supported by the guide member 66.

  Therefore, when receiving the job end signal, the control CPU 95 moves the regulating stopper 67 to position and set the center of the sheet at the binding position. Then, the control CPU 95 operates the saddle stapling stapling device 63 to staple one or more places in the center of the sheet. In response to the completion signal of this operation, the control CPU 95 moves the regulating stopper 67, positions and sets the center of the sheet at the folding position Y, performs folding processing on the sheet bundle, and carries out the sheet bundle to the second stack tray 61.

[Description of control configuration]
A control configuration in the image forming system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming system illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus A (hereinafter, referred to as “main body control unit”) and a control unit 95 of the sheet post-processing apparatus B (hereinafter, referred to as “binding processing control unit”). . The main body control section 90 includes a print control section 91, a paper feed control section 92, and an input section 93 (control panel).

  Then, an “image forming mode” and a “post-processing mode” are set from the input unit 93 (control panel). In the image forming mode, mode settings such as color / monochrome printing, double-sided / single-sided printing, and image forming conditions such as sheet size, sheet quality, number of printouts, enlargement / reduction printing, and the like are set. The “post-processing mode” is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding mode”, “eco-binding mode”, “jog sorting mode”, or the like. The illustrated apparatus is provided with a “manual binding mode”, in which the sheet bundle binding processing operation is executed offline separately from the main body control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus A.

  Further, the main body control unit 90 transfers the post-processing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies, the sheet thickness information of a sheet on which an image is to be formed, and the like to the binding process control unit 95. At the same time, the main body control unit 90 transfers a job end signal to the binding processing control unit 75 each time image formation is ended.

  The above-described post-processing mode will be described. In the “print-out mode”, the sheet from the paper output port 35 is stored in the stack tray 49 via the processing tray 37 without performing the binding process. In this case, the sheets are stacked and stacked on the processing tray 37, and the stacked sheet bundle is carried out to the stack tray 49 by a jog end signal from the main body control unit 90.

  In the “staple binding processing mode”, the sheets from the paper discharge port 35 are collected and aligned on a processing tray, and the bundle of sheets is bound and then stored in a stack tray 49. In this case, the sheet on which an image is to be formed is specified by the operator as a sheet having the same paper thickness and the same size in principle. In this staple binding processing mode, one of “multiple binding”, “right corner binding”, and “left corner binding” is selected and designated. Each binding position is as described above.

  The “jog sorting mode” is divided into a group in which sheets formed by image formation in the image forming apparatus A are offset and stacked, and a group in which sheets stacked without offset are stacked. And a sheet bundle that is not offset is stacked.

"Manual binding mode"
The outer casing is provided on the front side of the apparatus with a manual setting portion for setting a sheet bundle to be bound by an operator. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is disposed on the setting surface of the manual feed setting unit, and a binding processing control unit 95 described later moves the stapler unit 47 to a manual binding position based on a signal from the sensor. When the operator presses the operation switch, the binding process is executed.

  Therefore, in the manual binding mode, the binding processing control unit 95 and the main body control unit 90 are controlled offline. However, when the manual binding mode and the staple binding mode are executed at the same time, the mode is set so that one of them has priority.

[Binding control unit]
The binding processing control unit 95 operates the sheet post-processing device B according to the post-processing mode set by the image formation control unit 90. The illustrated binding processing control unit 95 includes a control CPU (hereinafter simply referred to as control means). The control CPU 95 is connected to a ROM 96 and a RAM 97, and executes a paper discharge operation described later using a control program stored in the ROM 96 and control data stored in the RAM 97. Therefore, the control CPU 95 is connected to the drive circuits of all the drive motors described above, and controls the start, stop, and forward / reverse rotation of each motor.

[Output mode]
The control section (main body control section) 90 of the image forming apparatus A sets a post-processing (finishing processing) mode of an image-formed sheet simultaneously with the image forming conditions. The illustrated apparatus is set to “staple binding mode”, “eco binding mode”, “jog sorting mode”, “bookbinding finishing mode”, “printout mode”, “interruption mode”, and “manual binding mode”. The operation of each mode will be described below.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow of stapling or eco-binding a sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 37 of the first processing unit B1 and storing the bundle in the first tray 49 on the downstream side. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet discharge mode in which sheets are jog-sorted for each set. The sheet is offset in the sheet discharge orthogonal direction by a jog mechanism (roller shift mechanism; not shown) of the third processing unit (sheet carrying path) B3. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow of storing the sheet on the downstream third tray 71 later. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a bookbinding processing discharge mode in which sheets are bound and finished in the second processing unit B2.

"Staple binding mode and eco-binding mode in the first processing unit"
Referring to FIG. 12, the post-processing mode is set on the control panel 93 of the image forming apparatus A (St01). The control unit 95 of the sheet post-processing apparatus moves the binding unit when the staple binding processing is designated based on the post-processing mode setting information (St04). Also, when the eco-binding process is denied, the binding unit is moved (St05).

  When performing the staple binding process, the first binding unit 47 is moved to the set binding position Cp1, and the second binding unit is moved to the second standby position Wp2. When this unit position is set as the home position, each unit is moved after confirming whether it is home.

  Next, the image forming apparatus A forms an image and discharges the sheet (St07, St08). The sheet post-processing apparatus B receives the image forming sheet sent to the carry-in port 26, and conveys it to the downstream side (St09). At this time, when the punching process is designated (St10), the control means 95 temporarily stops the sheet at the punching position (St11). Then, the punch unit 50 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper ejection, and a side edge of the sheet is detected by a sensor to determine a predetermined punching position. After that, the punch unit 50 is stopped to perform a punching operation (St13).

  When the punching process is not specified, the control means 95 receives the carry-in side sheet and conveys the sheet to the path paper discharge port. Then, it is carried into the processing tray 37 and positioned at a predetermined position by the positioning means (St15). The control means 95 stacks and stores the sheets sent to the sheet discharge port 35 on the sheet loading surface of the processing tray 37 (St07 to St15). Then, when the jog end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St16), the control unit 95 transmits a binding processing instruction signal to the first binding unit 47 or the second binding unit 51. Then, the first binding unit 47 or the second binding unit 51 executes a binding process (St17).

  Upon receiving the binding processing end signal from the first (or second) binding unit 47 or 51, the control means 95 stores the sheet bundle bound by the sheet bundle discharge means in the first tray 49 on the downstream side (St18). . Then, the stacking height is detected by a sheet-level detection sensor (not shown) arranged on the first tray 49, and when it exceeds a predetermined angle, the first tray 49 is moved down (St20). Next, the control unit 95 determines whether there is a next job (St21), and completes the operation.

  The jog sorting / discharge mode will be described with reference to FIG. The control means 95 temporarily stops the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance 26 of the sheet carry-in path 28 at the punching position when the punching process is designated (St25). Then, the punch unit 50 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet ejection, the side edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor, a predetermined punching position is determined, and then the punching unit 50 is stopped to perform the punching operation (St27).

  Next, the control means 95 rotates the roller unit in the paper discharging direction to carry out the sheet from the third paper discharging path 30 to the third tray 71 (St30). When the sheet is an even-numbered page, the roller unit is stopped (St33), and the sheet is moved by a preset offset amount in the sheet discharge orthogonal direction while the sheet is nipped (St34). Thereafter, the control means 95 rotates the roller unit again in the sheet discharging direction (St35). At this time, the first path switching unit 33 shifts the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the third discharge path 30 in the guiding direction, and the sheet is stacked on the third tray 71 (St36).

  The bookbinding discharge mode will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet on which an image has been formed in the same manner as described above is guided to the sheet carry-in path 28. The sheet is guided from the carry-in port 26 to the second processing unit B2, and is abutted and regulated by the leading end regulating stopper 67. At this time, the control means 95 receives the information on the size of the sheet in the sheet discharging direction from the image forming apparatus A and sets the position of the leading end regulating stopper 67 in advance.

  The sheets stacked in the second processing unit B2 are subjected to the binding process by moving the binding unit (saddle binding unit) to the center of the sheet in response to the job end signal from the image forming apparatus A. When the binding process is completed at one or two places, the sheet bundle is moved to the folding position, and the folding roll 64 is rotated. The folding blade 65 is advanced in the folding direction, and the folding blade 65 is retracted when the folding roller 64 is rotated by a predetermined amount. Then, the folded sheet is sent out in the sheet discharging direction by the sheet discharging roller 69 on the downstream side, and is stored in the second tray 61.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention has been described using a sheet post-processing apparatus B including a stapler unit (first binding unit) 47 and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 having different binding processing capacities in the number of sheets to be processed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a sheet post-processing apparatus including a plurality of binding processing units having the same binding processing capability in the number of sheets to be processed.

  The present embodiment is directed to a sheet post-processing apparatus including a stapler unit that performs binding processing on a sheet bundle using staples and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) that performs binding processing on a sheet bundle without using staples. Although the present invention has been described using the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to a sheet post-processing apparatus including two or more stapler units having different numbers of sheets that can be stapled.

A image forming apparatus B sheet post-processing apparatus B1 first processing section B2 second processing section B3 third processing section 26 carry-in entrance 28 sheet carry-in path 30 printout discharge path (third discharge path)
31 1st switchback path (1st paper ejection path)
32 Second switchback path (second paper discharge path)
35 paper discharge port 36 paper discharge roller 37 processing tray 38 sheet edge regulating means 39 side edge aligning means 41 elevating roller (reversing transport mechanism)
42 paddle rotating body (reversal transport mechanism)
47 stapler unit (first binding means)
48 driven roller 49 first stack tray (first storage section)
51 Eco-binding means (second binding means) (second binding unit)
53 first travel rail 54 second travel rail 56a first guide rod 56b second guide rod 61 second stack tray (second storage section)
71 Third stack tray (third storage section)
74 Differential means (transmission means)

Claims (10)

A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet , comprising:
Conveying means for conveying the sheet,
Loading means on which sheets conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveying means are stacked;
A first regulating means you regulation of the sheet bundle, the position of the intersecting direction by contacting the end portion in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means,
Of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means, by contacting the end portion in the transport direction, a second regulating means you regulation of the sheet bundle, the position of the conveying direction,
The one side of the sheet processing apparatus is configured to move from one side to the other side and to move from the other side to the one side by moving in the intersecting direction, and to contact the first regulating unit. A first binding unit that binds, using a staple, a corner of the sheet bundle, including an end of the sheet bundle, and an end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, which is in contact with the second regulating unit. ,
A first pressing unit and a second pressing unit configured to hold the sheet bundle by the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit when binding the sheet bundle; A corner portion of the sheet bundle including the end portion of the sheet bundle on one side contacted by the regulating unit and the end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating unit, Second binding means for binding without using
Control means,
The second binding unit is configured such that the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit are integrally movable, and an opening is provided between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit. Is formed, the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking unit and bound at the opening, and has a lower processing capacity than the first binding unit with respect to the number of sheets to be processed.
The control means includes:
A corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the one side sheet bundle contacted by the first regulating portion and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating portion. In the case of binding by the first binding means, the second binding means is located in an area outside the sheet bundle, where the sheet bundle is not located at the opening,
A corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the one side sheet bundle contacted by the first regulating portion and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating portion. Is bound by the second binding unit, the first binding unit is located on the other side of the one end of the sheet bundle and on the other side of the second binding unit. ,
A sheet processing apparatus, characterized in that:   2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first binding unit is capable of binding an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, which is in contact with the second regulating unit, at a plurality of locations. 3. .   The control unit includes an end of the sheet bundle on the one side contacted by the first regulation unit, and an end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulation unit; When the corner portion of the sheet bundle is bound by the second binding portion, the first binding portion is positioned on the other side of the sheet bundle from the other end portion of the sheet bundle. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The second binding means is configured to move in the intersecting direction,
The control unit includes an end of the sheet bundle on the one side contacted by the first regulation unit, and an end of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulation unit; When the corner portion of the sheet bundle is bound by the first binding portion, the second binding portion is arranged on the one side more than the one end portion of the sheet bundle, and is formed on the one side more than the first binding portion. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is positioned on one side.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance that the first binding unit can move is longer than a distance that the second binding unit can move.   The second regulating means regulates the position of the sheet bundle in the transport direction by contacting an upstream end of the sheet bundle stacked on the loading means in the transport direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a discharging unit configured to move the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit in the transport direction and discharge the sheet bundle from the stacking unit. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The first restricting unit has a contact portion that contacts the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit,
The binding position at which the second binding unit binds the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking unit is located upstream of the contact unit in the transport direction with respect to an upstream end in the transport direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
Loading means on which sheets conveyed in the conveying direction from the image forming means are stacked;
A first regulating means you regulation of the sheet bundle, the position of the intersecting direction by contacting the end portion in the direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means,
Of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means, by contacting the end portion in the transport direction, a second regulating means you regulation of the sheet bundle, the position of the conveying direction,
The one side is configured to move from one side to the other side of the image forming apparatus by moving in the intersecting direction and to move from the other side to the one side, and the first regulating unit is in contact with the image forming apparatus. A first binding unit that binds, using a staple, a corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the sheet bundle and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, which is in contact with the second regulating unit. ,
A first pressing unit and a second pressing unit configured to hold the sheet bundle by the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit when binding the sheet bundle; A corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the sheet bundle on one side contacted by the regulating device and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating device. Second binding means for binding without using
Control means,
The second binding unit is configured such that the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit are integrally movable, and an opening is provided between the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit. Is formed, the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking unit and bound at the opening, and has a lower processing capacity than the first binding unit with respect to the number of sheets to be processed.
The control means includes:
A corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the one side sheet bundle contacted by the first regulating portion and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating portion. In the case of binding by the first binding means, the second binding means is located in an area outside the sheet bundle, where the sheet bundle is not located at the opening,
A corner portion of the sheet bundle including an end portion of the one side sheet bundle contacted by the first regulating portion and an end portion of the sheet bundle in the transport direction contacted by the second regulating portion. Is bound by the second binding means, the first binding means is positioned on the other side of the one end of the sheet bundle and on the other side of the second binding means. ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet,
A sheet processing apparatus for stacking and binding sheets sent from the image forming apparatus,
An image forming system, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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