JP6950027B2 - Sheet processing device and image formation system using it - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet processing device for binding an image-formed sheet.

Generally, this type of sheet post-processing device is known as a device that temporarily holds an image-formed sheet connected to a paper ejection port of an image forming device, post-processes the sheet, and then stores the sheet in a stack tray, and serves as a post-processing mechanism. Known are a binding mechanism for binding a bundle of sheets, a punching mechanism for punching punch holes, a folding mechanism for folding, a stamping mechanism for stamping, and the like.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a sheet connected to a paper ejection port of an image forming apparatus and image-formed is guided to a processing tray from a carry-in route, collected in a bundle, bound, and then stored in a stack tray on the downstream side. The device is disclosed. In the same document, a punch unit that punches holes in the sheet is placed in the carry-in route, and the sheet sent to the carry-in port is temporarily stopped and punched, and then from the paper ejection port to the processing tray or stack tray. A punch mechanism to guide is proposed.

Further, in the sheet post-processing device, at the same time as performing post-processing (binding processing) on the sheet carried in from the upstream side, a manual binding mechanism is provided in the outer casing to bind the sheet bundle set by the operator. The equipped device is proposed, for example, in Patent Document 2.

Japanese Patent No. 5010526 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-096392

An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a sheet processing apparatus having a punch unit.

The present invention is a sheet processing device for processing a sheet, and one side of the sheet processing device in a transport path for transporting the sheet and a sheet width direction orthogonal to the transport direction in which the sheet is transported in the transport path. The opening formed in the cover arranged in the sheet processing apparatus, the set surface supporting the lower surface of the sheet bundle inserted through the opening from the outside of the sheet processing apparatus, and the sheet bundle inserted through the opening. A set portion having a regulation surface that regulates the position of the sheet bundle by abutting the end portions, a loading means that is arranged at a position different from the set portion and that loads the sheets conveyed from the transfer path. A binding means capable of binding a sheet bundle set in the sheet set area, which is an area in which the sheet bundle is set in the set portion, and a sheet bundle loaded on the loading means, and a binding means capable of binding the sheet bundle loaded on the loading means. It has a punch unit that is arranged in the transport path and is configured to be movable in position in the sheet width direction, and has a punch member that punches the sheet transported in the transport path, and the punch unit has the sheet. The end portion of the punch unit on the one side in the sheet width direction overlaps with the sheet set area in the sheet width direction in the state of being most moved to the one side in the width direction.

The present invention enables miniaturization of a sheet processing apparatus having a punch unit.

Explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the image formation system which concerns on this invention. The explanatory view of the whole structure of the sheet post-processing apparatus in the image formation system of FIG. The enlarged view of the route main part of the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manual feed set portion in the sheet post-processing device of FIG. The whole perspective view of the punch unit in the apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the shift mechanism of a punch unit. FIG. 5 is a state diagram in which the punch unit is moved from the state shown in FIG. 6 to the front side of the device. The movement trajectory of the staple unit and eco-binding means. The explanatory view which shows the arrangement relationship between the alignment position and the staple unit in the apparatus of FIG. The explanatory view of the differential means of the binding means in the apparatus of FIG. The explanatory view of the elevating mechanism of the stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. It is an operation explanatory drawing of the sheet bundle unloading means, (a) shows the state which a sheet bundle is located at the binding position on a processing tray, and (b) is the state which is in the process of transferring a sheet bundle from a processing position to the downstream side. (C) shows the state immediately before the sheet bundle is carried out to the stack tray on the downstream side. The configuration of the binding means according to the present invention is shown, (a) is a configuration explanatory view of a staple unit, and (b) is a configuration explanatory diagram of an eco-binding unit. The block diagram which shows the control structure in the apparatus of FIG. The binding processing paper discharge operation flow diagram in the apparatus of FIG. Operation flow diagram of jog division paper ejection mode. The flow of the paper ejection mode in the apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown, FIG. 1A shows a bookbinding processing paper ejection mode, and FIG. 1B is an operation flow chart of a printout paper ejection mode.

[Image forming device]
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 is composed of an image forming unit A1, a scanner unit A2, and a feeder unit A3. The device housing 1 is provided with an installation leg 25 to be installed on an installation surface (for example, a floor surface). Further, a paper feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper ejection unit 4, and a data processing unit 5 are built in the device housing.

The paper feed unit 2 is composed of cassette mechanisms 2a to 2c for storing sheets of a plurality of sizes for forming an image, and feeds a sheet of a size designated by the main body control unit 90 to the paper feed path 6. For this reason, a plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c are detachably arranged in the device housing 1, and each cassette has a built-in separation mechanism for separating the internal sheets one by one and a paper feeding mechanism for feeding out the sheets. The paper feed path 6 is provided with a transport roller 7 for feeding sheets supplied from a plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c to the downstream side, and a resist roller pair 8 for aligning the tips of the sheets at the end of the path. ..

The large-capacity cassette 2d and the manual feed tray 2e are connected to the above-mentioned paper feed path 6, the large-capacity cassette 2d is composed of an optional unit for storing a large amount of sheets, and the manual feed tray 2e is composed of an optional unit. It is configured to be able to supply special sheets such as cardboard sheets, coating sheets, and film sheets that are difficult to feed separately.

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

Then, the sheet is sent from the paper feed path 6 to the image forming unit 3 at the timing of forming an image on the photoconductor 9, the image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 12, and the fixing unit (roller) arranged in the paper ejection path 14 ) 13 is fixed. A paper ejection roller 15 and a paper ejection port 16 are arranged in the paper ejection path 14, and the sheet is conveyed to the sheet post-processing device B described later.

The scanner unit A2 described above transfers the platen 17 on which the image document is placed, the carriage 18 that reciprocates along the platen, the light source mounted on the carriage, and the reflected light from the document on the platen to the photoelectric conversion means 19. It is composed of a reduction optical system 20 (combination of a mirror and a lens) for guiding. FIG. 21 is a second platen (running platen), and an image of the sheet sent from the feeder unit A3 is read by the carriage 18 and the reduction optical system 20 described above. Although the photoelectric conversion means 19 has been photoelectrically converted, the image data is electrically transferred to the image forming unit 3.

The feeder unit A3 is composed of a paper feed tray 22, a paper feed path 23 for guiding the sheet fed from the paper feed tray to the traveling platen 21, and a paper output tray 24 for storing a document whose image has been read by the platen.

The image forming apparatus A is not limited to the above-mentioned mechanism, and a printing mechanism of an offset printing mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, and an ink ribbon transfer printing mechanism (thermal transfer ribbon printing, sublimation type ribbon printing, etc.) can be adopted.

[Sheet post-processing device]
The sheet post-processing device B serves as a device for post-processing the sheet carried out from the paper ejection port 16 of the image forming device A, and (1) has a function of loading and accommodating the image-formed sheet (first and third processing units B1). , B3; printout mode), (2) a function to store image-formed sheets separately (third processing unit B3; jog sorting mode), and (3) image-formed sheets are aligned and integrated. The function of binding processing (first processing unit B1; binding processing mode) and (4) the function of aligning the image-formed sheets, binding the sheets, and then folding and finishing the binding (second processing unit B2; binding). Processing mode) and.

In the present invention, the sheet post-processing device B does not need to have all the above-mentioned functions, and may be appropriately configured according to the device specifications (design specifications). Also in this case, a processing unit (first processing unit B1) for aligning and accumulating sheets and first and second binding means (needle binding unit 47 and needleless binding unit 51, which will be described later) are provided in this processing unit. A stack configuration is required in which the stack is stored after being bound by the selected binding means.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the sheet post-processing device B. The sheet post-processing device B has a carry-in port 26 connected to the paper ejection port 16 of the image forming device A, and a storage unit (first stack tray 49, second stack tray 61, which will be described later) after post-processing the sheets carried in from the carry-in port. , Stored in the third stack tray 71).

In the illustrated device, the sheets sent to the sheet carry-in route 28 are transferred from the first processing unit B1 to the first stack tray 49 (hereinafter referred to as “first tray”), and from the second processing unit B2 to the second stack tray 61 (hereinafter referred to as “first tray”). It is transferred from the third processing unit B3 to the third stack tray 71 (hereinafter referred to as the “third tray”) to the “second tray”).

The first processing unit B1 is arranged at the route outlet (paper ejection port) 35 of the sheet carry-in route 28, and after the sequentially sent sheets are aligned and accumulated and bound, the first tray (first storage unit; hereinafter; (Same as above) Store in 49. The second processing unit B2 is arranged at the route outlet 62 (the end of the second switchback path described later) branched from the sheet carry-in route 28, and the sheets to be sequentially fed are aligned, accumulated, bound, and then folded. It is stored in 2 trays (second storage unit; the same applies hereinafter) 61. The third processing unit B3 is incorporated in the sheet carry-in path 28, and the sheet to be conveyed is crossed with the transfer direction (the transfer direction of the sheet conveyed to the sheet carry-in path 28) (in the present embodiment, the direction orthogonal to each other). After sorting by offsetting a predetermined amount, the trays are stored in the third tray (third storage unit; the same applies hereinafter) 71. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

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

The housing 27 of the device shown in FIG. 2 is composed of a device frame 70 and an exterior cover 73. The device frame 70 forms a frame of a box-shaped device as shown in the figure, and in the state of FIG. 1, the front side frame frame 70f located on the front side, the rear side frame frame 70r located on the back side, and It is composed of stay members 70s (connecting reinforcing members) that connect the frames on both sides. A sheet carry-in route 28, a processing tray 37, a stack tray 49, and the like, which will be described later, are attached between the left and right side frame frames.

The exterior cover 73 includes a front cover 73f that covers the front side frame frame 70f and a rear cover 73r that covers the rear side frame frame. The device housing 27 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure and has a suitable shape in terms of design. Of course, the device frame 70 is not limited to the left and right side frames and the connecting stay structure, and various frame structures such as a monocoque structure can be adopted. Is.

"Sheet delivery route"
The sheet carry-in route 28 is composed of a straight path that crosses the device housing 27 in a substantially horizontal direction, and is connected to a paper discharge port (main body paper discharge port) 16 of the image forming apparatus A and a carry-in inlet 26, and the device is connected from this carry-in port. It is provided with a paper ejection port 35 located on the opposite side across the board. The sheet carry-in route 28 includes a transport roller 29 (sheet transport means such as a roller and a belt) for transporting the sheet from the carry-in port 26 toward the paper discharge port 35, and a paper discharge roller 36 arranged at the paper discharge port 35. (It may be a belt), an inlet sensor S1 for detecting the front and rear ends of the sheet carried into the path, and a paper discharge sensor S2 for detecting the front and rear ends of the sheet at the path discharge port are arranged.

The above-mentioned sheet carry-in route 28 is connected so as to distribute and transfer the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 to the first processing unit B1 and the second processing unit B2, and the second processing unit B2 is downstream on the upstream side in the route paper ejection direction. The first processing unit B1 is connected to the side. The substantially linear sheet carry-in route 28 is route-branched so as to transfer the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 toward the second processing unit B2, and then is arranged on the downstream side of the route output port 35. The route configuration is such that the route is guided to the processing unit B1.

Further, a third paper ejection pass (printout paper ejection pass) 30 for guiding the sheet not to be post-processed by the first and second processing units B1 and B2 to the third tray 71 is connected to the above-mentioned sheet carry-in route 28. The sheet is guided to the third tray (overflow tray) 71. A third processing unit B3 is built in the sheet carry-in route 28, and this processing unit sorts the sheets that carry the route by offsetting them in the direction orthogonal to the paper discharge. That is, a third processing unit B3 is built in the sheet carry-in route 28, and the sheets jog-sorted by this processing unit are stored in the third tray 71.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet carry-in route 28 is arranged in the order of "third paper discharge pass 30", "second paper discharge pass 32", and "first paper discharge pass 31" on the downstream side from the carry-in entrance 26. The first path switching means 33 and the second path switching means 34 are arranged at the positions shown in the drawing. Further, the second paper ejection pass 32 and the first paper ejection pass 31 are composed of switchback passes that reverse the sheet transport direction and guide the sheets to each processing unit.

The third paper ejection pass 30 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in entrance 26 to the third tray, and the second paper ejection pass 32 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in entrance 26 to the second tray 61. The paper ejection pass 31 guides the sheet from the carry-in entrance 26 to the first tray 49. Then, the sheet guided to the third tray 71 is jog-sorted by the third processing unit B3 in the route, and the sheet guided to the second tray 61 is bound by the second processing unit B2 to the first tray 49. The guided sheet is bound by the first processing unit B1.

The first path switching means 33 is composed of a flapper guide that changes the seat transport direction, and is connected to a drive means (electromagnetic solenoid, minimotor, etc.) (not shown). The switching means 33 selects whether to guide the sheet from the carry-in entrance 26 to the third paper ejection pass 30 or to the first and second paper ejection passes 31 and 32. The second route switching means 34 selects whether to guide the sheet sent from the carry-in inlet 26 to the second processing unit B2 or to the first processing unit B1 on the downstream side thereof. A driving means (not shown) is also connected to the second path switching means 34. Further, in the sheet carry-in route 28, a punch unit 100 for punching a punch hole in the carried-in sheet is arranged.

[First processing unit]
The first processing unit B1 includes a processing tray 37 arranged on the downstream side of the sheet carry-in path 28 for aligning and accumulating sheets sent from the paper ejection port 35, and a binding processing mechanism for binding the accumulated sheet bundles. Will be done. As shown in FIG. 2, a step is formed in the paper ejection port 35 of the sheet carry-in route 28, and the processing tray 37 is arranged below the step, and the paper is conveyed between the paper ejection port 35 and the processing tray from the paper ejection port. A first paper ejection pass (first switchback pass) 31 is formed in which the direction is reversed to guide the sheet onto the tray.

Between the paper ejection port 35 and the processing tray 37, a sheet loading mechanism for loading the sheet from the paper ejection port onto the tray, a positioning mechanism for positioning the sheet at a predetermined binding position on the processing tray 37, and a positioning mechanism. A sheet bundle unloading mechanism for carrying out the bound sheet bundle to the first tray 49 on the downstream side is arranged. Each configuration will be described later.

The processing tray 37 shown in FIG. 2 bridge-supports the sheet sent from the paper ejection port 35 with the first tray 49 on the downstream side. That is, the sheet sent from the paper ejection port 35 is configured to bridge and support the front end portion on the uppermost sheet of the first tray 49 on the downstream side and the rear end portion on the processing tray 37. There is.

[Second processing unit]
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 the above-mentioned sheet carry-in route 28, and this paper discharge path is connected. Guides the sheet to the second processing unit B2. The second processing unit B2 aligns and accumulates the sheets sent from the sheet carry-in route 28, binds the central portion, and performs an inward folding process (hereinafter referred to as "magazine finish"). A second tray 61 is arranged on the downstream side of the second processing unit B2 to store the bound sheet bundle.

The second processing unit B2 is positioned by a guide member 66 that collects sheets in a bundle, a regulation stopper 67 that positions the sheet at a predetermined position on the guide member (the one shown in the figure is a tip regulation stopper), and the stopper. It is composed of a staple device 63 (saddle stitch staple unit) that binds the central portion of the sheet, and a folding processing mechanism (folding roll pair 64 and folding blade 65) that folds the sheet bundle at the central portion after the binding process. ..

As disclosed in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644, etc., the saddle-stitched staple unit 63 has a sheet center portion (line) with a sheet bundle sandwiched between a head unit and an anvil unit. ) Is used to move the position and perform binding processing. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the folding processing mechanism adopts a configuration in which the folds of the sheet bundle are inserted into the folding roll pairs 64 which are pressed against each other by the folding blade 65 and folded by the rolling of the roll pairs. Such a mechanism is also disclosed in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644 and the like.

The first processing section B1 and the sheet carry-in path 28 shown in the figure are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and the second paper discharge path 32 that guides the sheet to the second processing section B2 is arranged in the vertical direction to align and accumulate 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 device housing 27 and arranging the processing paths (parts) 32 and B2 in the vertical direction in this way, the device can be slimmed down.

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

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

Then, the sheets to be carried out to the third tray 71 are displaced (offset) in the orthogonal direction and stored on the tray so that the sheets are divided into parts from the carry-in entrance 26. Since various mechanisms are known for this jog sorting mechanism, the description thereof will be omitted.

[Structure of manual feed set part]
In the device housing 27, a sheet processing mechanism unit that guides the sheet from the sheet carry-in path 28 to the processing tray 37, performs post-processing, and then stores the sheet in the stack tray 49, and an externally created sheet bundle are inserted into the outer cover 73. A manual feed set unit 77 is provided for binding. It is convenient that the manual feed setting unit 77 is provided with a binding processing mechanism on the exterior of the sheet post-processing device B when, for example, the operator bundles and binds the image-read document sheets. For this reason, the operator sets a bundle of sheets aligned in a part of the casing, and is equipped with a mechanism for binding with a staple device or other binding processing device built in the casing.

The manual feed set portion 77 arranged for the above purpose is composed of a slit-shaped opening 77a, a set surface 77b, and a regulation surface 77c, and a binding processing unit for binding a sheet bundle set on the set surface is arranged inside the apparatus. Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 4, a slit-shaped opening 77a is arranged in the front cover 73f, and a set surface 77b and a regulation surface 77c are arranged in the side frame frame 70f so that the sheet bundle S can be inserted from the outside. .. The illustrated device is arranged at a position that supports the sheet bundle at positions adjacent to each other on the same plane as the processing tray 37 described with reference to FIG.

This is a sheet in which the binding processing unit 47 (stapler unit) whose position can be moved along the edge of the processing tray 37, which will be described later, is manually set by moving the position to the setting surface 77b arranged at a position adjacent to the processing tray 37. This is for binding the bundle. Therefore, the set surface 77b is arranged so as to form the same plane as the paper mounting surface 47a of the processing tray described above.

The slit-shaped opening 77a is formed in the front cover 73f so that the sheet bundle can be inserted into the set surface 77b (the same plane as the processing tray). The front cover 73f (whole or part) on which the slit-shaped opening 77a is formed is hinged to the device frame 70 so as to be openable and closable.

The sheet bundle S manually inserted through the slit-shaped opening 77a is inserted at the binding position along the set surface 77b, and the end face is abutted against the regulation surface 77c at the binding position to be restricted. As a result, the sheet bundle S inserted from the outside is positioned at a predetermined binding position by supporting the lower surface thereof on the set surface 77b and abutting the end surface thereof against the regulation surface 77c to regulate the sheet bundle S. A staple device (binding unit) 47 is built in the set surface 77b and the regulation surface 77c, and the device shown can be moved between the binding position of the processing tray 37 described above and the binding position of the set surface 77b. It is supported by a guide rail and moves its position by a drive mechanism equipped with a shift motor.

[Binding processing operation of the manual feed set part]
The binding processing operation will be described below. The control means 95, which will be described later, waits for the binding unit 47 at or near the manual binding position in the operation mode in which the processing tray 37 is not bound (such as the post-processing in the second and third processing units B2 and B3 described above). Let me. In the illustrated device, the home position of the binding unit 47 is set to the manual binding position Mp whose binding position is located on the front side of the side frame frame 70f.

[Punch unit]
The punch unit 100 which is arranged in the sheet carry-in path 28 and punches a punch hole in the sheet sent from the carry-in inlet 26 will be described. The punch unit 100 arranges a plurality of punch members 101a to 101e at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the sheet carry-in path 28, and punches a selected number of holes in the sheet.

FIG. 5 shows the overall configuration of the punch unit 100. The punch unit 100 includes a unit frame 102, a plurality of punch members 101a to 101e movably arranged on the unit frame, a drive cam 103 that moves each punch member up and down (reciprocating in the drilling direction), and the punch unit 103. It is composed of a drive motor M7 that drives a drive cam.

FIG. 104 is a waste box, which is arranged below the punch member 101 and stores a piece of perforated waste paper. The waste box 104 is slidably attached to a guide rail 105 on a device frame 70 (different from the unit frame). FIG. 106 is a rotation operation member, and when a jam occurs in the punch member 101 or an abnormality occurs in the drive motor M7, the drive cam 103 is forcibly rotated to separate (peel off) the punch member 101 that has bitten into the seat. ). Therefore, the rotation operation member 106 is composed of a manual rotation knob connected to the rotation shaft 107 of the drive cam 103.

As shown in FIG. 6, the unit frame 102 is composed of an upper frame 102a and a lower frame 102b having a predetermined length in a direction orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the carry-in route 28. A plurality of punch members 101a to 101e are arranged on the upper frame 102a in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction (hereinafter referred to as "transporting orthogonal direction") so as to be reciprocating (movable up and down) in the drilling direction at predetermined intervals. .. A drilling hole (die) is formed in the lower frame 102b at a position facing each punch portion 101. A drive rotation shaft 107 is arranged on the unit frame 102, and a drive cam 103 that moves each punch member 101 up and down is attached to the rotation shaft. A drive motor M7 is connected to the drive rotation shaft 107 via a transmission mechanism.

The illustrated drive cam 103 is formed of a cylindrical cam member pivotally attached to the drive rotation shaft 107 and corresponding to a plurality of punch members 101, and each punch member is connected to the cam member by a connecting pin. Then, the punch member 101 moves up and down in the drilling direction by rotating the drive rotation shaft 107 at a predetermined angle. At this time, the first groups 101b and 101d (for example, two-hole drilling) of the plurality of punch members move up and down in the drilling direction at the first rotation angle of the drive rotation shaft 107, and the second groups 101a and 101c at different second rotation angles. 101e (for example, 3-hole drilling) moves up and down in the drilling direction.

Therefore, when the drive rotation shaft 107 is reciprocally rotated in a preset angle range, the control means 95 described later causes the punch members 101b and 101d of the first group to perform a drilling motion, and when the drive rotation shaft 107 is reciprocated in a different angle range, the punch members 101a of the second group are reciprocated. , 101c, 101e can be perforated.

The waste box 104 is arranged below the punch member 101, is supported by a guide rail 105 provided on the device frame, and is attached to and detached from the device front side (the one shown is the front cover 73f). That is, the above-mentioned front cover 73f is hinged to the device frame 70 so as to be openable and closable, and the waste box 104 is taken out of the device with the front cover opened.

Further, the drive motor M7 is connected to the drive rotation shaft 107 described above via a reduction mechanism (gear transmission mechanism), and the rotation shaft 107 is rotated so that the operator can manually rotate the shaft 107. The member is arranged on the front side of the side frame frame 70f through the opening 70x provided in the side frame frame 70f. The front cover 73f described above is arranged on the front side of the device so as to be openable and closable, and the rotation operation member 106 can be operated in the opened state. In this cover open state, the drive power is not supplied (cut off) to the drive motor M7.

[Punch unit shift mechanism]
The punch unit 100 described above is attached to the device frame 70 so as to be movable in position. For example, the upper frame 102a of the unit frame slides on the guide rail 108 through the opening 70x provided in the side frame frame 70f, which is attached to the stay member 70s connecting both side frame frames 70f and 70r of the device frame 70. It is fitted so that it can be moved. Then, the rack 109 is integrally formed on a part of the upper frame 102a, and the entire unit frame is moved from the state of FIG. 6 to the state of FIG. 7 by the shift motor M8 mounted on the device frame side and the drive pinion 110.

In this way, the punch unit 100 is configured so that the position can be moved in the direction orthogonal to the transport. Due to this, the position is displaced in the direction orthogonal to the transport. If punch holes are punched without correcting this amount of misalignment, the finished quality will be significantly inferior. In order to correct the misalignment of the carry-in sheet, it is necessary for the punch unit 100 to either move the position in the transport orthogonal direction or move the sheet in the orthogonal direction.

In the present invention, the punch unit 100 is moved in the position orthogonal to the transport in accordance with the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path 28, and the moving direction is the same as the manual feed set portion 77 described above (on the front side of the device). It is characterized in that it is set and the arrangement relationship is such that the moving area of the punch unit 100 and the sheet setting area of the manual feed setting unit 77 overlap each other in the transport orthogonal direction.

[Punch unit shift control]
The punch unit 100 described above moves to a position of a perforated hole that conforms to the side edge of the sheet that has entered the carry-in path 28. This is to prevent the perforated hole position from being displaced for each sheet due to the dimensional error of the sheet and the positional deviation of the sheet carried into the carry-in port as described above. The method is as follows: (1) A sensor array that submits the side edge of the sheet is arranged in the carry-in route 28, and the movement amount of the unit is obtained from the sheet size information sent from the image forming apparatus A and the array signal that detects the edge of the sheet. And move the position. Alternatively, (2) the unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the edge on the sheet side, and the unit is moved in the direction orthogonal to the transport at the timing when the sheet enters the carry-in path, and the edge on the sheet side is detected by the sensor. Then, the movement amount of the unit is calculated from the detection signal and the sheet size information, and the position is moved. Alternatively, (3) a plurality of sensors corresponding to the seat size are arranged in the unit, and the unit is moved in the transport orthogonal direction at the timing when the seat enters to detect the side edge of the seat. The sheet size is determined from the sensors detected at the same time, and the unit is moved in the orthogonal direction.

The illustrated device employs the method (3) described above. As a result, the amount of movement of the unit can be set to the minimum, and the device can be made compact. Therefore, sensors S3 (for example, JISB5 vertical), S4 (A4 vertical), S5 (B5 horizontal), and S6 (A4 horizontal, A3 vertical) that detect the side edge of the seat are arranged in the unit frame 102 for each size. Has been done. FIG. S1 is an inlet sensor arranged in the sheet carry-in path 28, and S2 is an exit sensor (paper discharge sensor). The illustrated HpS is a home position sensor attached to the unit frame 102.

The control means 95, which will be described later, detects the timing when the tip of the sheet enters the carry-in path 28 by the inlet sensor S1, and moves the punch unit 100 from the home position in a predetermined direction by the detection signal. Then, the detection signal of the sensor that has detected the sheet side edge is received, it is determined by which sensor the signal is transmitted, the sheet size and the side edge are recognized, and the drilling position according to the size is determined. Then, the punch unit 100 is moved to the drilling position. Therefore, the shift motor M8 has an encoder for detecting the amount of rotation connected to the rotation shaft or is composed of a stepping motor.

In particular, the illustrated control means 95 moves the punch unit 100 to the outside of the sheet (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7) based on the signal obtained by detecting the tip of the sheet by the inlet sensor S1 and detects the side edge of the sheet. Next, the unit is overrun by a predetermined amount, stopped, and moved to the seat center side (arrow B direction). Then, the side edge of the sheet is detected again, and the unit is moved to the seat center side by a predetermined amount based on the detection signal and positioned at the drilling position. In this way, the punch unit 100 is moved to the outside of the seat (from the small size to the large size) and then moved to the seat center side to detect the edge on the seat side. As a result, the position error due to the back crash in the drive mechanism can be eliminated.

Therefore, in the present invention, the distance between the transport orthogonal direction movement region of the punch unit 100 (FIG. 6; Px) and the sheet set region (FIG. 6; Sx) of the set surface 77a of the manual feed set portion is before and after the sheet transport direction of the carry-in route 28. Place in different positions separated by. At the same time, the moving region Px of the punch unit 100 and the set region Sx of the set surface are arranged at different positions forming the step Y.

That is, the region Px and the region Sx are arranged at different positions (interval X) in the sheet transport direction, and at the same time, are arranged at different positions (step Y) in the height direction orthogonal to the transport direction. At the same time, the region Px and the region Sx are arranged at positions where they overlap each other in the sheet width direction (overlap amount z). As a result, the device becomes compact and compact by the amount of overlap.

"Structure of the first processing unit"
Each 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 described above will be described.

"Sheet loading mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, between the paper ejection port 35 and the processing tray 37, the reversing transport mechanisms 41 and 42 that switch back the sheet from the paper ejection port in the direction opposite to the paper ejection direction and the sheet are trayed. A guide mechanism (seat guide member) 44 that guides the seat to the side and a scraping rotating body 46 that guides the seat to the tip regulating means are arranged.

The reversing transfer mechanism includes an elevating roller 41 that moves up and down between an operating position that engages with a sheet carried onto the processing tray and a standby position that is separated from the sheet, and a paddle rotating body 42 that transfers the sheet in the opposite direction of paper ejection. The elevating roller 41 and the paddle rotating body 42 are attached to the swing bracket 43.

A swing bracket 43 is arranged on the device frame 27a so as to be swingable around a rotary shaft 36x (the one shown is a paper discharge roller shaft), and the rotary shafts of the elevating roller 41 and the paddle rotating body 42 are supported by bearings on this bracket. ing. A lifting motor (not shown) is connected to the swing bracket 43, and the lift roller 41 mounted and the paddle rotating body 42 move up and down between the operating position where the paddle rotating body 42 engages with the seat and the standby position separated from the seat.

Further, a drive motor (not shown) is connected to the paddle rotating body 42 to rotate the elevating roller 41, and the drive is transmitted so that the elevating roller 41 rotates in the forward / reverse direction and the paddle rotating body 42 rotates in the reverse direction (the direction opposite to the paper discharge). ing. Further, in the processing tray 37, a driven roller 48 that is in pressure contact with the elevating roller 41 is arranged, and the sheet is carried out to the downstream side by niping a single sheet or a bundled sheet.

A guide mechanism for guiding the rear end of the sheet carried onto the processing tray toward the regulating means 38 is arranged between the elevating roller 41 and the scraping rotating body 46 described later, and the illustrated one is shown in FIG. It is composed of a sheet guide member 44 that moves up and down from a dotted line state to a solid line state, and this guide member 44 retracts to a dotted line position when the sheet is carried out from the paper ejection port 35, and the rear end of the sheet passes through the paper ejection port 35. Later, the rear edge of the sheet is guided onto the processing tray. Therefore, a drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the sheet guide member 44, and moves up and down according to the timing of guiding the rear end of the sheet from the paper ejection port 35 onto the processing tray.

"Sheet positioning mechanism"
Positioning mechanisms 38 and 39 for positioning the sheet at a predetermined binding position are arranged on the processing tray 37, and the one shown in the drawing is based on the sheet edge regulating means 38 that abuts and regulates the rear edge of the sheet and the side edge of the sheet. It is composed of side edge matching means 39 for positioning at a center reference, one side reference) position.

As shown in FIG. 3, the seat edge regulating means 38 is composed of a stopper member that abuts and regulates the rear edge of the seat. Further, the side edge matching member 39 will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, but in the illustrated device, the sheet is ejected from the sheet carry-in path 28 based on the center, and the sheet is positioned based on the same center according to the binding mode, or the side edge matching member 39 is positioned based on one side. Position.

"Side edge matching means"
As shown in FIG. 9, the side edge matching plates 39F and 39R have a regulation surface 39x that projects upward from the paper mounting surface 37a of the processing tray 37 and engages with the side edge of the sheet, and is arranged so as to face each other in pairs on the left and right. do. Then, the pair of side edge matching means 39 is arranged on the processing tray 37 so as to be reciprocating with a predetermined stroke. This stroke is set by the size difference between the maximum size sheet and the minimum size sheet and the offset amount for moving the position (offset transfer) of the sheet bundle after matching in either the left or right direction.

That is, the moving strokes of the left and right side edge matching means 39F and 39R are set by the moving amount for matching different size sheets and the offset amount of the sheet bundle after matching. The offset movement of the side edge matching plates 39F and 39R moves the sheet carried out based on the center reference at the time of corner binding to the right side at the time of right corner binding and to the left side at the time of left corner binding. This offset movement is performed one by one each time a sheet is carried into the processing tray 37 (for each carried-in sheet), or is moved for each bundle for binding processing after aligning the sheets into a bundle. Is adopted.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the side edge matching means 39 is composed of a right edge matching member 39F (device front side) and a left edge matching member 39R (device rear side), and the side edge matching member has a seat side. The regulation surface 39x that engages with the end is supported by the processing tray 37 so as to move in the approaching direction or the separating direction from each other. The processing tray 37 is provided with a slit groove (not shown) penetrating the front and back surfaces, and the side edge matching means 39 having a regulation surface 39x that engages with the sheet side edge is slidably fitted to the upper surface of the tray from this slit. ing.

The side edge matching members 39F and 39R are slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 80 (which may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and the rack 81 is integrally formed. Matching motors M1 and M2 are connected to the left and right racks 81 via pinions 82. The left and right matching motors M1 and M2 are composed of stepping motors, and position detection of the left and right side edge matching members 39F and 39R is performed by a position sensor (not shown), and each matching member is placed in either the left or right direction based on the detected value. , It is configured so that the position can be moved by the specified movement amount.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which each side edge matching member 39F, 39R is fixed to a timing belt and the belt is connected to a motor that reciprocates left and right by a pulley without using the rack-pinion mechanism shown in the figure.

With such a configuration, the control means 95, which will be described later, sets the left and right side edge matching members 39F and 39R to predetermined standby positions (sheet width size + α position) based on the sheet size information provided by the image forming apparatus A or the like. Make it wait. Then, in the case of "multi-binding", the sheet is carried onto the processing tray 37, and the matching operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge hits the rear end regulating means 38. In this matching operation, the left and right matching motors M1 and M2 are rotated by the same amount in opposite directions (approaching directions).

Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 37 are positioned with reference to the seat center and stacked in a bundle. By repeating the loading operation and the matching operation of the sheets, the sheets are aligned and accumulated in a bundle on the processing tray 37. 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 onto the processing tray 37, and the matching operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge abuts on the rear end regulating means 38. This matching operation causes the moving amount of the matching plate on the binding position side and the matching plate on the opposite side of the binding position to be different. Then, the movement amount is set so that the sheet corner is located at the preset binding position.

"Binding processing mechanism"
The processing tray 37 is provided with binding processing mechanisms 47 and 60 for binding the sheet bundles accumulated on the paper mounting surface 37a. The processing tray 37 is positioned on the paper mounting surface 37a at a predetermined binding position by a positioning mechanism (sheet edge regulating means 38 and side edge matching means 39). The binding processing mechanisms 47 and 51 include a first binding unit 47 (first binding means; the same applies to the "staple unit" and the like) for needle binding of sheet bundles with staples, and a second binding unit 51 (second binding) for stitchless binding. Means: The "eco-binding unit" (the same applies hereinafter) is configured to be 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 ends of the sheets carried in from the paper ejection port 35, and the binding mechanism is the processing tray 37 as shown in FIG. It is composed of a staple unit (first binding unit) 47 and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 that can move in position along the rear end of the paper mounting surface 37a.

FIG. 8 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 device, the binding position Cp1 is set at the seat 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 along the first traveling rail 53 and the second traveling rail 54 formed on the device frame 27b with a predetermined stroke SL1, and the second binding unit 51 is similarly arranged on the device frame 57. It is arranged so as to move with the stroke SL2 along the first guide rod 56a and the second guide rod 56b (see FIG. 12).

FIG. 9 shows the sheets carried into the processing tray 37 and the moving strokes of the first and second binding units 47 and 51. Sheets of different sizes are carried into the processing tray 37 from the maximum size sheet to the minimum size sheet on a center basis. A pair of left and right side edge matching members 39F and 39R align the sheets with reference to the binding side edges of the sheets (the left edge in the figure) (so that sheets of different sizes match). Therefore, the left and right matching members 39F and 39R are connected to different drive motors M1 and M2, respectively, and the control means 95 described later sets the amount of movement of the left and right matching members 39F and 39R according to the seat size.

The control means 95, which will be described later, aligns the sheets with reference to the center in a binding process other than the sheet corner binding process, for example, in the multi-binding mode described later. In this case, the left and right matching members 39F and 39R position the sheet at the binding position by moving the same amount from the standby position toward the seat center.

Explaining according to FIG. 9, the first binding unit 47 is the first stroke SL1 between the standby position Wp1 (first standby position) and the binding position Cp1, and the second binding unit 51 is the standby position Wp2 (second standby position). It moves in the second stroke SL2 between the binding position Cp1 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 and 54 (guide grooves, guide rods, etc.), and the second binding unit 51 moves back and forth between the guide rods 56a and 56b (guide rods 56a and 56b). It reciprocates between the standby position Wp2 and the binding position Cp1 along the guide groove).

The binding position Cp1 is set at the seat corner (hereinafter referred to as "set binding position"), and the following relationship is established between the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 with respect to this position.
(1) Setting The first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 are set to be located on opposite sides of the binding position Cp1.
(2) The first standby position Wp1 is the binding processing position farthest from the set binding position Cp1 on the outside of the maximum size sheet to be bound on the processing tray or on the processing tray (multi-binding position Ma or manual binding position described later). Set to any of Mp (maximum remote binding position).
(3) The second standby position Wp2 is set to the outside of the sheet side edge (outside the sheet mounting area on the paper mounting surface) that matches the set binding position.
(4) The first stroke length SL1 between the first standby position Wp1 and the set binding position Cp1 is set to be larger (longer) than the second stroke length SL2 between the second standby position Wp2 and the set binding position Cp1. do.

By setting the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 on opposite sides with respect to the set binding position Cp1 in this way, when one unit approaches, the other unit moves in the direction away from each other (reciprocal evacuation approach). motion). Further, by setting SL1> SL2, the binding processing position (multi-binding position Ma described later) of the first binding unit 47 can be set relatively freely. On the other hand, the second binding unit 51 performs binding processing only at a preset binding position. As a result, the total movement stroke length of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be set small, and the device can be miniaturized.

Then, in the control means 95 described later, when the first binding unit 47 is at the set binding position Cp1, 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. Move both units reciprocally so that they are located at.

The reciprocal position movements of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be performed by either (1) using independent drive motors to change the amount of rotation according to the movement stroke, or (2) using the same drive source to move the first binding unit. Either method is adopted in which the movement amounts of the 47 and the second binding unit 51 are different.

FIG. 10 shows a mode in which the first binding unit 47 and the second binding unit 51 are moved differently with the same drive source. A pair of left and right pulleys 58a and 58b are arranged on the device frame 27b along the moving region of the first unit (horizontal direction in FIG. 10), and a timing belt 59 (toothed belt) is bridged between the two pulleys. A drive motor M3 (stepping motor) is connected to the pulley 58a of the above.

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 meshes with this pinion. The differential means 74 is composed of a gear mechanism having a transmission ratio suitable for the stroke difference between the first and second strokes SL1 and SL2, a slip clutch mechanism, or a combination of both mechanisms.

"Staple movement mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, the staple unit is formed in the staple device frame (chassis frame) 27b which is fixed to the side frame frames 70f and 70r through the opening 70x provided in the side frame frame 70f of the device frame 70. 47 is mounted so as to be movable with a predetermined stroke. A first traveling rail 53 and a second traveling rail 54 are arranged on the device frame 27b. A traveling rail surface 53x is formed on the first traveling rail 53, and a traveling cam surface 54x is formed on the second traveling rail 54. The traveling rail surface 53x and the traveling cam surface 54x cooperate with each other to form a staple unit 47 (hereinafter referred to as this item). The "moving unit") is supported so that it can reciprocate with 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 the drive motor (traveling 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 axially supported by the device frame 27b, and a drive motor M3 is connected to one of the pulleys. Therefore, the staple unit 47 reciprocates with the stroke SL1 by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor M3.

The moving unit 47 is engaged with the first and second traveling 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 (rail fitting member) that engages with the traveling cam surface 54x. A cam follower member) is provided. At the same time, the moving unit 47 is formed with ball-shaped sliding rollers 47x (two locations in the figure) that engage with the support surface of the frame 27b. Further, the moving unit 47 is formed with a guide roller 47y 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 bottom frame frame 27b by the sliding roller 47x and the guide roller 47y. At the same time, the first rolling roller 83 travels on the traveling rail surface 53x, and the second rolling roller 84 travels along the traveling cam surface 54x while traveling along the rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x.

"Stack tray lifting mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 11, the sheet aftertreatment device B is provided with the first tray 49 on the exterior cover 73. The first tray 49 is configured to move up and down according to the load capacity of the seats. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, guide rollers 85 are provided at two upper and lower positions at the base end of the first tray 49, and the guide rollers are fitted and supported by the elevating guides 86 provided on the device frame 27. .. The base end portion of the first tray 49 is connected to the elevating belt 87, and the elevating belt is supported by a pair of upper and lower pulleys 88a and 88b. An elevating motor M4 is connected to one of the pulleys (drive side pulley) 88a. Therefore, by controlling the rotation of the elevating motor M4, the first tray 49 moves up and down according to the load capacity of the seats.

"Sheet bundle unloading mechanism"
The processing tray 37 is provided with a sheet bundle unloading mechanism for carrying out the bound sheet bundle toward the first tray 49 on the downstream side. As a means for transporting the sheet bundle to the downstream side, a method of transporting the sheet bundle by a pair of rollers that are in pressure contact with each other (delivery roller means) and a conveyor that pushes out the rear end of the sheet by an extrusion member that moves from the upstream side to the downstream side along the tray surface. The means are known. The device shown employs both means.

FIG. 12 shows the sheet bundle unloading mechanism, and moves the extrusion protrusion 38 and the extrusion protrusion to be 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. Conveyor means is composed of a conveyor belt 38v and a drive motor M6 thereof. A driven roller 48 is arranged on the processing tray 37 at the carry-out port (the boundary between the paper loading surface 37a and the first tray 49), and the elevating roller 41 that presses against the driven roller is arranged so as to face each other in the above-described configuration. The unloading roller means is composed of the 48 and the elevating roller 41.

Therefore, the processing tray 37 is provided with conveyor means 38, 38v for transferring the sheet bundle so as to push it from the upstream side to the downstream side, and unloading roller means 48, 41 for niping and carrying out the sheet bundle. .. FIG. 12A shows a state in which the sheet bundle is located at the binding position on the processing tray, and at this time, the conveyor means 38, 38v and the unloading roller means 48, 41 are placed in the operating state. FIG. 3B 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 moving the position of the extrusion protrusion 38 and rotating the unloading roller means 48 and 41. FIG. 3C shows a state immediately before the sheet bundle is carried out to the first tray 49 on the downstream side, and the sheet bundle is gradually moved downstream (low speed) by the rotation of the carry-out roller means 48 and 41 on the processing tray. Will be sent. At this time, the extrusion protrusion 38 waits at the indicated position and returns to the initial position (backward movement).

"Structure of staple unit"
The configuration of the above-mentioned staple unit will be described with reference to FIG. 13 (a). The staple unit 47 is configured as a unit separately from the sheet post-processing device B. A box-shaped unit frame 47a, a drive cam 47d swingably supported by the frame, and a drive motor M4 that rotates the drive cam are mounted on the unit frame 47a.

The staple head 47b and the anvil member 47c are arranged on the drive cam 47d so as to face each other at the binding position. ) Moves up and down. A needle cartridge 52 is detachably attached to the unit frame.

A straight blank needle is housed in the needle cartridge 52, and the needle is supplied to the staple head 47b by the needle feed mechanism. The staple head portion 47b contains a former member that bends a straight needle in a U shape and a screwdriver that press-fits the bent needle into a sheet bundle. With such a configuration, the drive motor M4 rotates the drive cam 47d and stores it in the urging spring. Then, when the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the staple head portion 47b vigorously descends toward the anvil member 47c. In this operation, the staple needle is bent into a U shape and then inserted into the sheet bundle with a screwdriver. 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 portion. Alternatively, a cartridge sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the needle cartridge 52 is inserted is arranged on the unit frame 47a.

The illustrated needle cartridge 52 employs 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 the staple needles are stored in a roll shape. Further, the unit frame 47a is provided with a circuit for controlling each of the above-mentioned sensors and a circuit board for controlling the drive motor M4, and emits a warning signal when the needle cartridge 52 is not housed or when the staple needle is empty. It has become. Further, this staple control circuit controls the drive motor M4 so as to execute the staple operation by the staple needle 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 displayed. Is configured to be transmitted.

"Structure of needleless binding unit"
The configuration of the needleless binding unit 51 described above will be described with reference to FIG. 13 (b). As a needleless binding means for binding a bundle of sheets without using a metal needle, a means for binding the bundles of paper from the front and back with a pressure member having an uneven surface that meshes with each other (press bind binding device). A means for forming a slit-shaped notch in the sheet bundle and folding and binding the paper sheets to each other (cut-and-fold binding device; see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256008) and a means for binding with a vegetable resin string (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256008). Resin string binding device) and the like are known. These binding methods are known as eco-binding binding methods because they are bound using a sheet bundle without using a metal needle. The press binding mechanism will be described below as an example.

As a press-binding mechanism, uneven surfaces are formed on the pressure surfaces 51b and 51c that can be pressure-contacted and separated from each other, and the sheet bundles are pressed from the front and back to deform and bind the paper sheets to each other. FIG. 13B shows a press bind unit 51, in which a movable frame member 51d is swingably supported on a base frame member 51a, and both frames swing so as to be pressure-welded and separated by a support shaft 51x. A follower roller 60a is arranged on the movable frame member 51d, and a drive cam 60b arranged on the base frame member 51a is engaged with the follower roller.

A drive motor M5 arranged on the base frame member 51a is connected to the drive cam 60b via a reduction mechanism, the drive cam 60b rotates with the rotation of the motor, and the movable frame is on the cam surface (the one shown is an eccentric cam). The member 51d is configured to swing.

The lower pressing surface 51c is arranged on the base frame member 51a, and the upper pressing surface 51b is arranged on the movable frame member 51d at positions facing each other. Although not shown, an urging spring is arranged between the base frame member 51a and the movable frame member 51d, and the pressing surfaces are urged in a direction in which they are separated from each other.

As shown in the enlarged view shown in FIG. 13B, the upper pressurizing surface 51b and the lower pressurizing surface 51c are formed with protrusions on one side and recessed grooves compatible with the protrusions on the other side. The protrusions and recessed grooves are formed in a ridge (rib) shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper pressure surface 51b and the lower pressure surface 51c is deformed into a corrugated sheet shape and comes into close contact with each other. A position sensor (not shown) is arranged on the base frame member 51a (unit frame), and is configured to detect whether the upper and lower pressurizing surfaces 51b and 51c are in the pressurizing position or the separated position.

The press-bind unit (eco-binding unit; second binding unit) 51 configured in this way is the first and second guide rods 56a and 56b (grooves) arranged on the device frame 57 attached to the side frame frame 70r. The sheet is movably arranged (may be present) and is arranged on the processing tray 37 located between the side frame frames 70f and 70r as described above. It reciprocates to and from the second standby position Wp where it is located.

[Explanation of control configuration]
The control configuration in the image forming system of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming system shown in FIG. 14 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 device B (hereinafter referred to as “binding processing control unit”). .. The main body control unit 90 includes a print control unit 91, a paper feed control unit 92, and an input unit 93 (control panel).

Then, the "image formation mode" and the "post-processing mode" are set from the input unit 93 (control panel). The image formation mode sets mode settings such as color / monochrome printing and double-sided / single-sided printing, and image formation conditions such as sheet size, sheet quality, number of printouts, and enlarged / reduced printing. Further, the "post-processing mode" is set to, for example, "printout mode", "staple binding processing mode", "eco-binding processing mode", "jog sorting mode" and the like. The device shown in the figure 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 data such as a post-processing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, and the paper thickness information of the sheet for forming an image to the binding processing control unit 95. At the same time, the main body control unit 90 transfers the job end signal to the binding processing control unit 95 each time the image formation is completed.

Explaining the post-processing mode described above, in the “printout mode”, the sheets from the paper ejection port 35 are accommodated in the stack tray 49 via the processing tray 37 without binding processing. In this case, the sheets are stacked on the processing tray 37 and stacked, and the stacked sheet bundle is carried out to the stack tray 49 by the jog end signal from the main body control unit 90.

In the "staple binding processing mode", the sheets from the paper ejection port 35 are collected on the processing tray, aligned, and the sheet bundle is bound and then stored in the stack tray 49. In this case, as a general rule, the sheet to be image-formed is designated by the operator as a sheet having the same paper thickness and the same size. This staple binding processing mode is specified by selecting one of "multi-binding", "right corner binding", and "left corner binding". Each binding position is as described above.

The above-mentioned "jog sorting mode" is divided into a group in which the sheets image-formed by the image forming apparatus A are offset and accumulated, and a group in which the sheets are accumulated without being offset, and the stack tray is alternately offset. Sheet bundles that are not offset are stacked.

"Manual binding mode"
The exterior cover is provided on the front side of the device with a manual feed set portion for setting a bundle of sheets to be bound by the operator. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is arranged on the set surface of the manual feed setting unit, and the binding processing control unit 95, which will be described later, moves the stapler unit 47 to the manual binding position by a signal from this sensor. Then, when the operator presses the operation switch, the binding process is executed.

Therefore, in this 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 processing 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 is composed of a control CPU (hereinafter, simply referred to as a control means). The ROM 96 and the RAM 97 are connected to the control CPU 95, and the paper ejection operation described later is executed by the control program stored in the ROM 96 and the 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 each motor is controlled to start, stop, and forward / reverse.

[Paper ejection operation mode]
The control unit (main body control unit) 90 of the image forming apparatus A sets a post-processing (finishing processing) mode of the image-formed sheet at the same time as the image forming conditions. The illustrated device is set to "staple binding mode", "eco binding mode", "jog sorting mode", "bookbinding finishing mode", "printout mode", "interrupt mode", and "manual binding mode". The operation of each mode will be described below.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow in which the sheet bundles accumulated in the processing tray 37 of the first processing unit B1 are staple-bound or eco-bound and stored in the first tray 49 on the downstream side. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the paper ejection mode in which the sheet is jog-divided for each section, and is offset in the paper ejection orthogonal direction by the jog mechanism (roller shift mechanism; not shown) of the third processing unit (sheet carry-in path) B3. It is explanatory drawing of the operation flow which is stored in the 3rd tray 71 on the downstream side later. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a bookbinding processing paper ejection mode in which the sheet is bound and finished by the second processing unit B2.

"Staple binding mode and eco-binding mode in the first processing unit"
Explaining according to FIG. 15, the post-processing mode is set on the control panel 93 of the image forming apparatus A (St01). The control means 95 of the sheet post-processing device B moves the second binding unit 51 (St05) when the eco-binding process is specified, based on the post-processing mode setting information (St02). Further, when the staple binding process is specified, the first binding unit 47 is moved (St06).

When the staple binding process is executed, the first binding unit 47 is moved to the set binding position Cp1, and the second binding unit 51 is moved to the second standby position Wp2. When this unit position is set as the home position, it is confirmed whether or not each unit is home and the unit moves.

Next, the image forming apparatus A forms an image and ejects the sheet (St07, St08). The sheet post-processing device 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 specified (St10), the control means 95 temporarily stops the sheet at the drilling position (St11). Then, the punch unit 100 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the paper ejection, the side edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined punching position, and then the punching unit 100 is stopped to execute the punching operation (St13).

When the punching process is not specified, the control means 95 accepts the carry-in inlet side sheet and conveys it to the route 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 paper ejection port 35 on the paper mounting 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 means 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 the binding process (St17).

When the control means 95 receives the binding processing end signal from the first (or second) binding units 47 and 51, the control means 95 stores the sheet bundle processed by the sheet bundle unloading means in the first tray 49 on the downstream side (St18). .. Then, the load height is detected by a paper level detection sensor (not shown) arranged on the first tray 49, and when the predetermined angle is exceeded, the first tray 49 is moved down (St20). Next, the control means 95 determines whether or not there is a next job (St21), and completes the operation.

The jog sorting / discharging mode will be described with reference to FIG. The control means 95 temporarily stops the sheets (St22 to St24) sent to the carry-in inlet 26 of the sheet carry-in route 28 at the drilling position when the punching process is specified (St25) (St26). do. Then, the punch unit 100 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the paper ejection (St27), the side edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined punching position, and then the punching unit 100 is stopped to execute the punching operation (St28). )

The control means 95 then rotates the roller unit in the paper ejection direction (St30) in order to carry the sheet from the third paper ejection pass 30 to the third tray 71 (St29). Then, when the sheet has an even number of pages (St31, St32), the roller unit is stopped (St33), and the sheet is moved in a position by a preset offset amount in the paper ejection orthogonal direction with the sheet nipped (St34). After that, the control means 95 rotates the roller unit again in the paper ejection direction (St35). At this time, the first path switching means 33 is shifted in the direction of guiding the sheets from the carry-in entrance 26 to the third paper ejection path 30, and the sheets are accumulated in the third tray 71 (St36).

The bookbinding process paper ejection mode will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet in which the image is formed in the same manner as described above is guided to the sheet carry-in route 28. This sheet is guided from the carry-in entrance 26 to the second processing unit B2, and is abutted against the tip regulation stopper 67 to be regulated. At this time, the control means 95 receives information from the image forming apparatus A about the size of the sheet in the paper ejection direction and sets the position of the tip regulation stopper 67 in advance.

The sheets accumulated in the second processing unit B2 move the binding unit (saddle stitching unit) to the center of the sheet in response to the job end signal from the image forming apparatus A to perform the binding process. 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 retracted when the folding blade 65 is inserted in the folding direction and the folding roller 64 is rotated by a predetermined amount. Then, the folded sheet is sent out in the paper ejection direction by the paper ejection roller 69 on the downstream side and stored in the second tray 61.

26 Carry-in entrance 27 Device housing 28 Sheet transport path 37 Processing tray 47 Binding means 49 Stack tray 70 Device frame 70f Side frame frame (front side)
70r side frame frame (rear side)
73f Front cover (open / close cover)
73r Rear cover 77 Manual feed set 77a Slit-shaped opening 100 Punch unit 101 Punch member (101a-101e)
102 Unit frame 103 Drive cam 104 Waste box 105 Guide rail 106 Rotation operation member 107 Rotation shaft 108 Guide rail 109 Rack 110 Pinion M7 Drive motor M8 Shift motor (shift means)

Claims (11)

A sheet processing device that processes sheets
The transport route for transporting the sheet and
An opening formed in a cover arranged on one side of the sheet processing device in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the transport direction in which the sheet is transported in the transport path, and insertion from the outside of the sheet processing device through the opening. A set portion having a set surface that supports the lower surface of the sheet bundle and a regulation surface that regulates the position of the sheet bundle by abutting the end portions of the sheet bundle inserted through the opening.
A loading means for loading a sheet transported from the transport path, which is arranged at a position different from the set portion.
A binding means capable of binding a sheet bundle set in the sheet set area, which is an area in which the sheet bundle is set in the set portion, and a sheet bundle loaded on the loading means, and a binding means capable of binding the sheet bundle loaded on the loading means.
It has a punch unit that is arranged in the transport path and is configured to be movable in position in the sheet width direction, and has a punch member that punches the sheet transported in the transport path.
When the punch unit is most moved to the one side in the sheet width direction, the end portion of the punch unit on the one side in the sheet width direction overlaps with the sheet set area in the sheet width direction.
A sheet processing device characterized by the fact that. It has a detecting means for detecting the edge of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet.
The punch unit moves to a punching position for punching the sheet based on the detection result of the detection means at the end of the sheet transported in the transport path in the sheet width direction.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The binding means is configured to be movable at a first position for binding the sheet bundle set in the set portion and a second position for binding the sheet bundle loaded on the loading means.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. It has a jam release member that is operated when the jam release operation is executed.
The jam release member is arranged so as to overlap the seat set area of the set portion in the seat width direction.
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized in that. The punch member has a moving means for reciprocating by rotating in a drilling direction when punching a sheet and a direction opposite to the drilling direction.
The jam release member is a member that rotates the moving means.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4. The cover is an openable / closable opening / closing cover that makes the jam release member operable in the open state.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5. It has a waste storage portion that can store perforated waste, which is arranged below the punch member.
The waste storage unit is configured so that the opening / closing cover can be taken out of the sheet processing device when the opening / closing cover is in the open state.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6. It has a waste storage portion that can store perforated waste, which is arranged below the punch member.
The cover is an open / close cover that can be opened and closed.
The waste storage unit is configured so that it can be taken out of the sheet processing device when the opening / closing cover is open.
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized in that. A sheet bundle manually inserted from the outside of the sheet processing device through the opening is set in the set portion.
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8. When the punch unit is most moved to the other side in the sheet width direction, the end portion of the punch unit on the one side in the sheet width direction does not overlap with the sheet set area in the sheet width direction.
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized in that. An image forming device that forms an image on a sheet,
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
An image forming system characterized by having.

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