JP7049597B2 - Sheet loading device, sheet processing device and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet loading device, a sheet processing device and an image forming system.

Conventionally, a sheet loading device including a sheet loading unit for loading a sheet and a sheet detecting means for detecting a moving sheet moving on the sheet loading unit is known.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a moving amount detection sensor (sheet detecting means) is used to image the surface of paper (moving sheet) moving along a loading portion at predetermined time intervals, and the front and back in time series are captured. Described is to compare the imaging data to obtain the amount of movement of the paper.
This Patent Document 1 describes that the movement amount detection sensor preferably keeps a constant distance from the paper, and the position of the movement amount detection sensor can be adjusted according to the number of papers loaded on the loading unit. There is.

However, Patent Document 1 does not describe a specific configuration that allows the position of the movement amount detection sensor to be adjusted. The structure becomes complicated depending on the specific configuration.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention moves in the loading direction in a sheet loading device including a sheet loading unit for loading a sheet and a sheet detecting means for detecting a moving sheet moving on the sheet loading unit. It is possible to include a surface contact member that comes into contact with the surface of the moving sheet, and the sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member, so that the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion is aligned. The surface contact member includes a matching member, and is characterized in that the surface contact member is a transport member that transports the moving sheet toward the matching member .

According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that a constant distance can be maintained between the moving sheet and the sheet detecting means with a simple configuration.

The schematic explanatory view near the reference fence of the edge binding part which concerns on Example 1. FIG. Schematic diagram of an image forming system equipped with a paper post-processing device. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the staple tray at the end binding portion. Explanatory drawing of the tapping roller mechanism. Explanatory drawing of paper loading operation in staple mode. Explanatory drawing of the method of detecting the trailing edge of moving paper. The schematic explanatory view of the edge binding part where the attachment angle of the image pickup part is different from FIG. Explanatory drawing of the method of detecting the rear end of the moving paper in which a toner image was formed. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the staple tray in the end binding portion according to the second embodiment. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the staple tray in the end binding portion according to the third embodiment. The schematic explanatory view near the reference fence of the edge binding part which concerns on Example 4. FIG. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the reference fence of the end binding portion according to the fifth embodiment. Schematic diagram of the vicinity of the reference fence of the end binding portion according to the sixth embodiment. The schematic explanatory view of the paper feed apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming system including a paper post-processing device as a sheet processing device to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration described below. For example, the present invention can be applied as a single sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of an image forming system 2 provided with a paper post-processing device 6 which is a sheet processing device.
The image forming system 2 shown in FIG. 2 has a printer unit 4 which is an image forming apparatus, and a paper post-processing device 6 arranged on the paper ejection side of the printer unit 4. The printer unit 4 is a known electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by an exposure means is visualized by a developing means based on image information, and a visualized toner image is finally obtained. It has a structure in which it is transferred to a recording medium and fixed by a fixing means. The image forming apparatus such as the printer unit 4 is not limited to the electrophotographic type, and any device capable of forming an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium may be used, and for example, an inkjet type image forming apparatus can be used. The paper post-processing device 6 may be integrally formed with the printer unit 4, or may be detachably connected to the printer unit 4.

An image of the paper P, which is a recording medium, is formed by the printer unit 4, and the image-formed paper P discharged from the printer unit 4 is used in the first transport path 10 of the paper post-processing device 6 via the connection port 8. Enter into. An inlet roller pair 12 and an inlet sensor 14 are arranged in the first transport path 10, and the inlet sensor 14 detects that the paper P has been carried into the paper post-processing device 6.

A drilling unit 16 for drilling holes in the paper P is arranged downstream of the inlet roller pair 12, and a pre-branch transfer roller pair 18 is arranged downstream of the drilling unit 16. The downstream side of the pre-branch transport roller pair 18 is branched into a second transport path 20 extending upward and a third transport path 22 as an extension of the first transport path 10. A first branch claw 24 is provided at a branch portion between the second transport path 20 and the third transport path 22, and the control unit controls the rotation of the first branch claw 24 to transport the paper P to both sides. You will be selectively guided to one of the roads.

The paper P guided to the second transport path 20 is transported by the upper transport roller pair 26, and is discharged to the proof tray 30 by the upper paper discharge roller pair 28. The fourth transport path 32 branches from the third transport path 22, and the paper P is selectively guided to the fourth transport path 32 by controlling the rotation of the second branch claw 34. The paper guided to the fourth transport path 32 is conveyed by the prestack roller pair 36.
In the third transport path 22, an intermediate transport roller pair 40 for transporting the paper P to the end binding portion 38 is arranged. An intermediate transfer sensor 42 for detecting the paper P is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the intermediate transfer roller pair 40.
The paper P is discharged onto the staple tray 44 as the loading tray of the end binding portion 38 by the intermediate transfer roller pair 40.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of the vicinity of the staple tray 44 in the end binding portion 38.
In the following description, among the paper P, the one loaded on the staple tray 44 and stopped is called the loading paper P0, and the one moving on the staple tray 44 or the loading paper P0 is referred to as the moving paper P1. Call.

Above the staple tray 44, a tapping roller mechanism 46 having a rotating roller 46a as a roller member that comes into contact with the moving paper P1 and applies a conveying force is arranged. A reference fence 48 as a rear end position regulating member is arranged on the upstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of the staple tray 44 in the paper transport direction. Further, it includes a paper position detection sensor 100 on a tray having an image pickup unit 101 and a light source unit 102. The light source unit 102 of the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray is located on the side opposite to the staple tray 44 with the reference fence 48 interposed therebetween, and the image pickup unit 101 is located above the staple tray 44 in the vicinity of the reference fence 48.

The tapping roller mechanism 46 brings the rotating roller 46a, which is one of the matching transport members, into contact with the moving paper P1 and rotationally drives the rotating roller 46a to cause the moving paper P1 discharged onto the staple tray 44. It switches back the direction of movement and transports it toward the reference fence 48.

In the edge binding unit 38, the control unit 200 measures the distance from the rear end (right end portion in FIG. 3) of the moving paper P1 to the reference fence 48 based on the image acquired by the image pickup unit 101. The required transport distance by the tapping roller mechanism 46 is calculated. The rear end of the moving paper P1 is the rear end in the transport direction when transporting from the intermediate transport roller pair 40 toward the staple tray 44 (the portion indicated by "A" in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 (d) described later). Means.

The tapping roller mechanism 46 has a configuration in which the rotating roller 46a is brought into contact with and separated from the moving paper P1 in a state where the rotating roller 46a is rotated, and by controlling the contact time of the rotating roller 46a with the moving paper P1, the rotating roller 46a is formed. It is possible to control the time for the 46a to apply the conveying force to the moving paper P1.
The control unit 200 calculates the required contact time between the rotating roller 46a and the moving paper P1 from the distance from the rear end of the moving paper P1 to the reference fence 48 and the rotation speed of the rotating roller 46a, and the calculated contact time. The contact / separation operation of the tapping roller mechanism 46 is controlled according to the above.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of the tapping roller mechanism 46, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the rotary roller 46a is separated from the moving paper P1, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the rotary roller 46a is separated from the moving paper P1. It shows the state of being in contact with.
The rotary roller 46a is rotatably supported by the roller support holder 95 about the roller rotation shaft 46c, and the roller support holder 95 is centered on the holder swing shaft 91 with respect to the paper aftertreatment device 6 main body. It is supported so that it can swing. By swinging the roller support holder 95 around the holder swing shaft 91, the rotary roller 46a is brought into contact with and separated from the moving paper P1.

The tapping roller mechanism 46 includes a roller raising spring 96 that urges the rotating roller 46a upward. The upper end of the roller raising spring 96 is fixed to the main body of the paper post-processing device 6, and the lower end of the roller raising spring 96 is fixed to the side of the roller rotating shaft 46c with the holder swing shaft 91 of the roller support holder 95 interposed therebetween. .. As shown in FIG. 4A, the rotating roller 46a is maintained in a state of being pulled upward by the urging force indicated by the arrow “F” in FIG. 4A of the roller raising spring 96.

When the control unit 200 drives the roller contact / detachment motor 94 composed of the stepping motor from the state of FIG. 4A, the contact / detachment output gear 94a rotates in the direction of the arrow “B1” in FIG. 4A. Due to this rotation, the gear 93 with a cam connected to the contact / detachment output gear 94a rotates around the gear rotation shaft 93a with a cam in the direction of the arrow "B2" in FIG. The dynamic cam 92 pushes up the end of the roller swing lever 95a.
The roller swing lever 95a is fixed to the roller support holder 95 and can swing around the holder swing shaft 91. When the end of the roller swing lever 95a is pushed up, the roller rotation shaft 46c side of the roller support holder 95 resists the urging force of the roller rising spring 96, as shown by the arrow "B3" in FIG. 4 (a). Go down. As a result, the rotary roller 46a supported by the roller support holder 95 also descends to the state shown in FIG. 4B, and the rotary roller 46a can be brought into contact with the moving paper P1.

Further, by rotationally driving the roller contact / detachment motor 94 in the reverse direction from the state shown in FIG. 4 (b), the roller swing cam 92 is lowered and the force for pushing up the roller swing lever 95a is lost, so that the roller rise spring. The urging force of 96 raises the rotary roller 46a and separates it from the moving paper P1.

In this way, the roller swing cam 92 is rotated by the rotational drive of the roller contact / detachment motor 94, and by pushing the roller swing lever 95a, the rotary roller 46a swings. Further, the contact pressure between the rotating roller 46a and the moving paper P1 changes depending on the swing amount, and the swing amount is changed based on the paper information (number of sheets, paper type, etc.) sent from the printer unit 4.

A roller drive input pulley 81 is fixed to the rotary roller 46a, and the roller drive input pulley 81 is connected to a roller rotary motor 83 including a stepping motor via a timing belt 82, a roller drive output pulley 46b, and the like. .. The roller drive output pulley 46b is rotatably supported around the holder swing shaft 91, and the roller drive output pulley 46b is rotatable around the holder swing shaft 91, and the rotary output of the roller rotation motor 83. A pulley rotary gear that meshes with the gear 83a is fixed. The rotation of the rotary output gear 83a is transmitted to the roller drive output pulley 46b by the pulley rotary gear.

When the control unit 200 drives the roller rotation motor 83, the rotation output gear 83a rotates in the direction of the arrow "C1", and the roller drive output pulley 46b rotates in the direction of the arrow "C2". As a result, the timing belt 82 stretched on the roller drive output pulley 46b and the roller drive input pulley 81 rotates in the direction of the arrow "C3", and the rotary roller 46a to which the roller drive input pulley 81 is fixed is indicated by the arrow "C4". Rotate in the direction. By driving the roller contact / detachment motor 94 while driving the roller rotation motor 83, the rotary roller 46a can come into contact with the moving paper P1 while rotating, and the moving direction of the moving paper P1 can be switched. Further, after driving the roller contact / detachment motor 94, the roller rotary motor 83 is driven, and after the rotary roller 46a comes into contact with the moving paper P1, the rotary roller 46a is rotated to switch the moving direction of the moving paper P1. May be.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end binding portion 38 is provided with a return roller 50 as a butt member, which is another matching transport member, on the side of the reference fence 48 with respect to the tapping roller mechanism 46. The return roller 50 can be brought into contact with and detached from the loading surface of the staple tray 44. The moving paper P1 conveyed by the tapping roller mechanism 46 is further conveyed by the return roller 50, and its rear end is abutted against the reference fence 48. As a result, the positions of the stack of the loaded paper P0 loaded with the moving paper P1 in the transport direction (vertical direction) are aligned.

Further, the staple tray 44 advances and retreats in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, is discharged on the staple tray 44, and is in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the paper bundle of the loaded paper P0. A pair of jogger fences 52 that are aligned are provided.
By performing the operation of aligning the vertical positions using the tapping roller mechanism 46 and the return roller 50 and the operation of aligning the horizontal positions using the jogger fence 52, the paper is discharged onto the staple tray 44 and loaded. The stacks of the loaded paper P0 are aligned and stacked. In the staple mode, the stapler 54 moves in the width direction of the paper to bind the aligned paper bundle at an appropriate position on the lower edge of the paper bundle.

The bound paper bundle is conveyed toward the paper output tray 60 by the belt conveying mechanism 56, which is a conveying means after the binding process. The belt transport mechanism 56 includes a first support roller 56a, a second support roller 56b, and a transport belt 56c stretched on the first support roller 56a and the second support roller 56b. Further, the paper bundle discharge claw 58 fixed to the transport belt 56c and moved by the rotation of the transport belt 56c is provided. When the paper bundle discharge claw 58 moves in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, the paper bundle discharge claw 58 is caught at the rear end of the paper bundle, and further, the paper bundle discharge claw 58 moves to move the paper bundle. It is conveyed toward the output tray 60. When the paper bundle is ejected to the paper ejection tray 60, the paper bundle is stably ejected while being sandwiched between the paper ejection driving roller 62 and the paper ejection driven roller 64.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the paper loading operation in the staple mode.
As described above, the tapping roller mechanism 46 has a rotary roller 46a, and can swing the rotary roller 46a so as to move in the vertical direction with the holder swing shaft 91 as a fulcrum. The swing and rotation drive of the rotary roller 46a are arbitrarily controlled by the control unit 200.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the image-formed moving paper P1 conveyed from the printer unit 4 passes through the intermediate transfer roller pair 40 and is conveyed above the staple tray 44. The tapping operation by the tapping roller mechanism 46 is started at the timing when the rear end of the moving paper P1 is detected by the intermediate transfer sensor 42. By driving the roller contact / detachment motor 94 with the roller rotary motor 83 stopped, the rotary roller 46a is centered on the holder swing shaft 91 while the rotary roller 46a does not rotate, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). In addition, it swings downward toward the loading surface of the staple tray 44. Here, the loading surface means the upper surface of the staple tray 44 itself when the loading paper P0 is not present on the staple tray 44, and the upper surface of the highest loading paper P0 when the loading paper P0 is present.

As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the rotary roller is placed on the upper surface of the moving paper P1 that has been conveyed by the swinging operation of the tapping roller mechanism 46 in which the rotary roller 46a swings around the holder swing shaft 91. 46a comes into contact. The rotating roller 46a comes into contact with the moving paper P1 while rotating, and further swings downward to come into contact with the loading surface via the moving paper P1, and the moving paper P1 with which the rotating roller 46a comes into direct contact is switchback. Then, the movement direction is switched.

As shown in FIG. 5D, the moving paper P1 rotates after the rotating roller 46a abuts on the loading surface via the moving paper P1, that is, after the moving paper P1 is loaded on the loading surface. It is conveyed by the rotation of the roller 46a. The rotating roller 46a conveys the moving paper P1 toward the reference fence 48. After that, the paper P is abutted against the reference fence 48 by the transfer by the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50, and the positions in the transfer direction are aligned. Each time the paper P is conveyed by the intermediate transfer roller pair 40, the above-mentioned loading operation is repeated with reference to FIG.
The timing at which the transfer by the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 is completed depends on the distance from the rear end of the paper P calculated from the detection result of the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray to the reference fence 48, and the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50. It can be calculated based on the transport speed.

Next, a specific detection method for the rear end of the paper P will be described with reference to FIG.
The paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray, which is a detection means for detecting the position of the paper P, includes a light source unit 102 and an image pickup unit 101 that irradiate light toward the paper P.

The image pickup unit 101 is arranged at a position between the rotating roller 46a in contact with the moving paper P1 and the reference fence 48, and is further arranged so that the center line of the image pickup area intersects the staple tray 44 substantially vertically. The image of the imaging area is acquired.
The light source unit 102 is arranged behind the reference fence 48 (on the right side in FIG. 3), and the control unit 200 causes the light source unit 102 to emit light when detecting the position of the moving paper P1 to be rear of the paper P. Light is emitted toward the rear end surface (P1e, P0e), which is the surface in the thickness direction of the end.
The rear end surface (P1e) of the moving paper P1 that is moving toward the reference fence 48 by applying the conveying force to the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 is the front in the moving direction, and the light source unit 102 moves on the loading surface. This is a state in which light is emitted from the front of the moving paper P1 in the moving direction.

In FIG. 3, the reference fence 48 appears to be located between the light source unit 102 and the paper P (P1, P0), but the light emitted from the light source unit 102 is emitted by different positions in the width direction. The paper P can be irradiated. Further, in FIG. 3, the return roller 50 appears to be located between the image pickup unit 101 and the paper P (P1, P0), but the light source unit 102 irradiates the light source unit 102 by making the position in the width direction different. The image pickup unit 101 can receive the reflected light reflected by the paper P.

Further, the image pickup unit 101 is provided with an area sensor in which a light receiving element of an image sensor (imaging element) such as a CCD or CMOS is two-dimensionally arranged to acquire an image. The arrangement of the image pickup unit 101 is preferably a location where the reflected light can be obtained when the light source unit 102 irradiates the rear end surface of the paper P with light. This makes it possible to efficiently detect overexposure, which will be described later, using the image pickup unit 101.
As shown in FIG. 3, the light source unit 102 is located at a position slightly tilted with respect to the moving direction of the paper P on the staple tray 44, and the image pickup unit 101 is in the moving direction of the paper P on the staple tray 44. It is in a position orthogonal to the. The positional relationship between the light source unit 102 and the image pickup unit 101 may be such that the light emitted from the light source unit 102 is reflected on the end surface of the paper P and the image pickup unit 101 can receive the reflected light.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method of detecting the rear end of the moving paper P1. FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective explanatory view of the moving paper P1 and the loading paper P0 in the vicinity of the reference fence 48, and FIG. 6B is a region shown by a broken line “D” in FIG. 6A. The brightness graph is shown.

In the image acquired by the image pickup unit 101, the loaded paper P0 and the moving paper P1 moving on the uppermost surface of the loaded paper P0 are shown. Since the light source unit 102 irradiates light toward the moving rear end surface P1e which is the rear end surface of the moving paper P1 and the loading rear end surface P0e which is the rear end surface of the loading paper P0, the moving rear end surface P1e and after loading The end face P0e is projected in white.

The horizontal axis of the graph shown in FIG. 6B indicates the position of the moving paper P1 moving along the loading surface in the moving direction. The origin (0,0) of the graph is an arbitrary point in this moving direction. Since the end face portion of the paper P in the captured image is overexposed, the luminance value becomes high. Therefore, by obtaining the position of each peak by image processing by the image processing unit, the position of the rear end face P0e after loading is ". "X1" and the position "X2" of the moving rear end surface P1e can be calculated. Based on this calculation result, the position of the moving rear end surface P1e in the staple tray 44 in the moving direction can be accurately detected, and the position of the moving paper P1 in which the moving rear end surface P1e is the front end in the moving direction can be determined in the staple tray 44. Accurate detection is possible.

In the paper post-processing apparatus 6 of the present embodiment, the moving paper P1 transported from the intermediate transport roller pair 40 to the staple tray 44 is tapped by the tapping roller mechanism 46 and placed on the loading surface. Then, the transfer direction of the moving paper P1 is switched back by the rotation of the rotating roller 46a, and the moving paper P1 is conveyed toward the reference fence 48. The moving paper P1 conveyed by the rotary roller 46a reaches a position in contact with the return roller 50, and is subsequently conveyed by the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50.

The image pickup unit 101 detects the moving rear end surface P1e of the moving paper P1 moving on the loading surface. At this time, the position of the reference fence 48 can be simultaneously detected by receiving the light emitted from the light source unit 102 and reflected by the reference fence 48 by the image pickup unit 101, from the moving rear end surface P1e of the moving paper P1 to the reference fence 48. The distance can be calculated.
The remaining rotation speeds of the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 are calculated based on the calculated distance, and the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 are separated from the moving paper P1 at the timing when the moving rear end surface P1e reaches the reference fence 48. And stop the transportation.

Even if the landing position of the moving paper P1 transported to the intermediate transport roller pair 40 varies in the staple tray 44, the distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48 can be known, so that the rotating roller 46a And the transport distance by the return roller 50 can be known. Therefore, the moving paper P1 can be conveyed toward the reference fence 48 without excess or deficiency.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the moving paper P1 from bending or being damaged due to the influence of the paper transport deviation due to the difference in the paper type and environment of the paper P and the strong abutting force against the reference fence 48. Therefore, the moving paper P1 can be conveyed so that the rear end position of the paper P is stable at the position where it abuts on the reference fence 48, and as a result, the alignment accuracy of the paper bundle on the staple tray 44 and the post-processing accuracy are improved. do.

As the paper P is loaded on the staple tray 44 and the number of the loaded paper P0 increases, the timing at which the rotary roller 46a comes into contact with the loading surface also changes. When the transport time is controlled by the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 based only on the detection of the moving paper P1 by the intermediate transport sensor 42, the paper bundle on the staple tray 44 is deviated due to the timing difference when the rotary roller 46a abuts on the loading surface. It is possible that the alignment accuracy of the paper is reduced.
On the other hand, in the paper post-processing apparatus 6 of the present embodiment, the image pickup unit 101 receives the reflected light from the moving rear end surface P1e of the moving paper P1 and measures the distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48. As a result, the transport distance between the rotating roller 46a and the return roller 50 can be known. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the variation in the timing at which the rotary roller 46a comes into contact with the loading surface due to the change in the number of loaded sheets, and the alignment accuracy of the paper bundle is improved.

To measure the distance between the rear end of the moving paper P1 and the reference fence 48, the position of the edge is detected by the brightness difference of the image that can be acquired from the image pickup unit 101, and the distance is calculated by converting the image into pixels. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the image pickup unit 101 is installed so that the center line of the image pickup area intersects the staple tray 44 substantially perpendicularly, thereby reducing the pixel conversion error. can.

FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view of the end binding portion 38 in which the attachment angle of the imaging unit 101 with respect to the staple tray 44 is different from that in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, even if the image pickup unit 101 is arranged at an angle from the staple tray 44, the correction value according to the angle is input at the time of pixel conversion when calculating the distance, so that the rear end of the moving paper P1 and the reference can be obtained. It is possible to calculate the distance to the fence 48.

The rotation timing of the rotating roller 46a may be before the contact with the moving paper P1, or the moving paper P1 is hit and placed on the loading surface, and the rotation is performed after the distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48 is calculated. The rotation of the roller 46a may be started. By detecting the position of the rear end of the moving paper P1 before rotating the rotating roller 46a, the remaining transport distance of the moving paper P1 can be known. After that, the control unit 200 can control the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 to accurately align the rear end of the moving paper P1 with the reference fence 48.
Examples of the control of the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 include the rotation time and the rotation speed obtained from the transport distance to the reference fence 48.

As a sheet processing device such as a paper post-processing device 6, paper is conveyed and aligned, stapled, and ejected. There is known a technique for detecting the position of paper in a paper loading section such as a staple tray for transport timing, alignment, stapling operation, and the like.
In the paper loading section, the newly loaded paper moves on the loaded paper bundle. The position of the paper moving on this bundle of paper detects the switching between the state in which the paper blocks the optical path and the state in which the paper does not block the optical path, such as a transmissive type or reflective type sensor that detects the position of the paper in the paper transport path. It cannot be detected by a sensor that detects the passage of paper. This is because the previously loaded paper exists below the moving paper.

In the prior art, the passing timing of the paper edge of a single sheet of paper (one sheet of paper) is detected during transfer to the paper loading section, and the position of the paper in the paper loading section is calculated based on the elapsed time from the detection timing. are doing. Therefore, there arises a problem that the position of the paper moving on the bundle of paper loaded on the paper loading unit cannot be accurately detected.

It is a configuration for performing the loading operation described with reference to FIG. 5, and is not provided with the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and is directed toward the reference fence 48 based on the detection result of the intermediate transfer sensor 42. The following problems may occur in the configuration for controlling the transfer of the moving paper P1.
That is, in this configuration, the intermediate transfer sensor 42 detects the passage of the rear end of the moving paper P1, and after a lapse of a certain period of time, the tapping roller mechanism 46 swings. Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed, the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 are separated from the moving paper P1 to stop the transfer.

In the configuration without the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray as described above, the passing timing of the end portion (front end or rear end) of the moving paper P1 alone being conveyed upstream of the staple tray 44 is detected. Then, since the position of the paper P is calculated from the feed amount by the transport member (46, 50) from the detected timing, the position of the moving paper P1 on the loaded paper P0 loaded on the staple tray 44 is determined. There is a problem that cannot be detected accurately.

The rotating roller 46a comes into contact with the moving paper P1 due to the swinging motion of the tapping roller mechanism 46, and the moving paper P1 hit by the rotating roller 46a lands on the loading surface. The distance from P1e to the reference fence 48 also varies. If the transport of the moving paper P1 by the rotating roller 46a and the return roller 50 is stopped at a fixed timing despite the variation in this distance, there is an excess or deficiency in the transport of the moving paper P1 toward the reference fence 48. It may occur. For example, when the distance is long, the transport time by the rotating roller 46a and the return roller 50 is insufficient, and the transport of the moving paper P1 is completed in front of the reference fence 48. Further, when the distance is short, the transport time by the rotating roller 46a and the return roller 50 becomes excessive, the moving paper P1 is excessively pushed into the reference fence 48, and the moving paper P1 buckles. In either case, the operation of aligning the vertical positions of the bundles of paper P on the staple tray 44 cannot be performed accurately.

On the other hand, in the paper post-processing device 6 of the present embodiment, the distance from the moving rear end surface P1e of the moving paper P1 after landing on the loading surface to the reference fence 48 after landing on the loading surface is calculated by using the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray, and the rotation is performed. The transport time by the roller 46a and the return roller 50 is controlled. As a result, the remaining transport distance "X [mm]" of the moving paper P1 after being hit by the hitting roller mechanism 46 can be detected, and the surface moving speed "V [mm] of the rotating rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 can be detected. / S] ”is constant, the time to reach the reference fence 48 can be calculated.
As a result, the operation of accurately aligning the vertical positions of the bundles of paper P on the staple tray 44 can be performed, accurate binding processing can be performed, and the paper P of the bundle of paper P cannot be aligned. It is possible to prevent the deterioration of the binding quality due to this.

In the present embodiment, by detecting the position of the moving paper P1 on the loaded paper P0, the detection accuracy of the position of the conveyed moving paper P1 can be improved. Further, by appropriately controlling the transfer of the moving paper P1 toward the reference fence 48 based on this detection result, the position of the end portion of the moving paper P1 can be accurately aligned with the reference fence 48. It is possible to improve the alignment accuracy of the loaded paper P0 on which a plurality of sheets P are loaded.

The distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48 using the detection result of the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray is calculated multiple times or continuously while the moving rear end surface P1e is being conveyed by the rotating roller 46a. You may go to the target. Thereby, the remaining distance and the remaining transport time can be calculated based on the time between the plurality of detection timings and the distance traveled between them. By performing such control, even if the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 deteriorate and the transport capacity of the rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 changes due to slipping or the like, the rotation roller 46a or the return roller 50 is directed toward the reference fence 48. The moving paper P1 can be conveyed without excess or deficiency.

Further, the rotation speed of the rotating roller 46a may be changed depending on the calculated distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48.
In the paper post-processing apparatus 6 of the present embodiment, since the paper P is continuously conveyed from the printer unit 4, it is desirable that the time interval between the papers P is substantially constant. However, if the moving paper P1 that has passed through the intermediate transport roller pair 40 flies too much (when it goes far to the left in FIG. 5C), the transport distance becomes longer than usual and the transport speed becomes higher. If it is constant, the time interval between the paper and the previous moving paper P1 becomes long. In such a case, by increasing the rotation speed of the rotating roller 46a and the return roller 50 to increase the conveying speed, the time interval between the paper with the front moving paper P1 is shortened, and the paper with the rear moving paper P1 is shortened. It is possible to prevent the time interval between them from being shortened and suppress the occurrence of paper jam.

As a method of calculating the distance from the moving rear end surface P1e to the reference fence 48, even if the distance between the rear end of the moving paper P1 and the reference fence 48 is obtained, the rear end of the moving paper P1 and the rear end of the loading paper P0 are calculated. You may find the distance. In either case, the moving paper P1 can be conveyed toward the reference fence 48 in just proportion, and the vertical positions of the bundles of paper P on the staple tray 44 can be aligned.

As a configuration for detecting the position of the moving paper, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-031623 irradiates the dynamic test surface (the surface of the moving paper) with light using a laser light source to detect the position of the moving paper. A measuring device that guides the detected light to an image pickup sensor and acquires a speckle pattern is described. In this measuring device, at least one of the moving amount and the moving speed of the dynamic test surface is obtained by using the image data of the speckle pattern. However, depending on the paper characteristics (for example, smoothness and printing state), the speckle pattern may not appear clearly depending on the state of the surface of the sheet, so that the position of the sheet may not be accurately detected.

On the other hand, in the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray of the present embodiment, the light source unit 102 irradiates the end surface of the moving paper P1 in the thickness direction with light, and the image pickup unit 101 receives the reflected light of the emitted light. The position of the peak brightness is calculated from the detection result, and the position of the end face of the moving paper P1 is calculated.
The amount of reflected light of the light emitted toward the end face is larger in the reflected light from the end face of the moving paper P1 than in the reflected light from the surface of the moving paper P1, and the brightness of the end face is sufficiently higher than the brightness of the surface. Becomes larger. Therefore, by obtaining the position of the peak of the luminance, the position of the end face of the paper P, that is, the position of the end portion of the paper P can be detected.

Then, in a state where the reflectance of the surface of the moving paper P1 is lowered, such as when an image is formed on the surface of the moving paper P1, the difference in brightness between the surface of the moving paper P1 and the end face is widened, and the peak position of the brightness is increased. The detection accuracy of is not reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detection accuracy of the position of the end portion of the moving paper P1 from being lowered depending on the state of the surface of the moving paper P1, and it is possible to accurately detect the position of the moving paper P1 on the staple tray 44 on which the paper P is loaded.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a method of detecting the rear end of the moving paper P1 on which the toner image is formed. FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective explanatory view of the moving paper P1 and the loading paper P0 in the vicinity of the reference fence 48, and FIG. 8B is a region shown by a broken line “D” in FIG. 8A. The brightness graph is shown.

The paper P conveyed to the staple tray 44 is not limited to blank paper, and the toner image T may be formed on the paper surface as shown in FIG. 8A. In the method of detecting the position of the rear end of the moving paper P1 in the present embodiment, the portion corresponding to the moving rear end surface P1e and the loading paper P0 in the captured image is detected by overexposure, so that the toner image is detected. It is possible to detect the rear end of the paper P regardless of the state of the paper surface such as the presence or absence of the paper P. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, even when the toner image is printed on the paper surface of the paper P, the portion corresponding to the moving rear end surface P1e and the loading rear end surface P0e in the captured image is overexposed, so that the paper P is overexposed. A sufficient difference (contrast) from the brightness level of the paper surface can be obtained. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the position of the rear end of the paper P (“X1” and “X2” in FIG. 8 (b)) can be accurately detected.
The method of detecting the position of the end face is not limited to the configuration of detecting the overexposed part, and the end face is the part where sufficient contrast (difference in brightness) is obtained with other parts even if the overexposure is not performed. Can be detected as.

Further, the thickness of the bundle of sheets loaded on the sheet loading section such as the staple tray 44 increases as the conveyed sheets are sequentially loaded. Therefore, if the position of the sheet detecting means such as the imaging unit 101 with respect to the sheet loading portion is fixed, the distance between the moving sheet to be detected and the sheet detecting means may change, and the position of the moving sheet may not be detected accurately. be. For example, in a configuration such as the image pickup unit 101 that acquires image information of a moving sheet, the distance from the detection target changes, so that the focus is lost and the position of the moving sheet may not be accurately detected.

Patent Document 1 describes that a movement amount detection sensor is provided for the purpose of determining the movement amount of paper in the stack device, and the position of the movement amount detection sensor can be adjusted for focusing at the time of imaging. There is. However, a specific configuration for adjusting the position of the movement amount detection sensor is not described. As a specific configuration, a configuration is conceivable in which a load capacity detecting means for detecting the load capacity of the seat in the seat loading section and a movement control means for moving the movement amount detection sensor based on the detection result are provided. Becomes complicated.

The paper post-processing device 6 of the present embodiment comes into contact with the outermost surface of the loading paper P0, which is a loading sheet, or the surface of the moving paper P1 which is a moving sheet, and is loaded according to the thickness of the paper bundle of the loading paper P0. A surface contact member that moves in a direction is provided.
The sheet detecting means such as the image pickup unit 101 moves with the movement of the surface contact member. Since the sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member, the loading amount detecting means and the movement controlling means become unnecessary, and the sheet detecting means can be easily configured in the loading direction according to the thickness of the loaded paper bundle. Can be moved to. As a result, the distance between the moving sheet and the sheet detecting means can be kept constant, and the position of the moving sheet in the transport direction orthogonal to the loading direction can be accurately detected.

[Example 1]
Hereinafter, the first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “Example 1”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
1A and 1B are schematic explanatory views of the vicinity of the reference fence 48 of the edge binding portion 38 according to the first embodiment, FIG. 1A shows a state in which the number of sheets of loading paper P0 is small, and FIG. It shows a state where the number of sheets of P0 is large. In the first embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the return roller 50.

As described above, on the staple tray 44, the moving paper P1 is sequentially conveyed by the rotating roller 46a and the returning roller 50 of the tapping roller mechanism 46 so as to abut the rear end of the moving paper P1 against the reference fence 48. , Will be loaded. The rotary roller 46a and the return roller 50 are configured to swing in contact with and detachable from the staple tray 44.
The tapping roller mechanism 46 has a rotating roller 46a that comes into contact with the loading surface, and is connected to the holder swing shaft 91 that is the swing center via the roller support holder 95 that is the swing link, and the staple tray 44. It is configured to swing so that it can be touched and separated from the other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the return roller mechanism 150 provided with the return roller 50 has a return roller 50 in contact with the loading surface, and is attached to the return roller swing shaft 152 via the return roller 50 and the return roller swing link 151. It is connected. Then, the return roller swing link 151 swings around the return roller swing shaft 152, so that the return roller 50 comes into contact with and separates from the staple tray 44.

As shown in FIG. 1, the angle formed by the virtual straight line connecting the return roller swing shaft 152 and the rotation axis of the return roller 50 and the staple tray 44 (“θ1” in FIG. 1) is the number of loaded sheets. The angle is large when there are few. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the angle of the angle indicated by "θ1" becomes smaller as the number of loaded sheets increases.

The return roller 50 is in a state of being pressurized toward the staple tray 44 by its own weight and the urging force of the return roller contact spring 153, and is always in contact with the loading surface or the surface of the moving paper P1 to increase or decrease the number of loaded sheets. It moves in the loading direction as the contact surface is displaced due to the displacement. Therefore, the distance between the return roller 50 and the loading surface is always kept constant.

Then, the image pickup unit 101 is held by the return roller swing link 151 which is a holding member of the return roller 50, and the image pickup unit 101 also moves in the loading direction as the return roller 50 moves. Therefore, the distance between the image pickup unit 101 and the loading surface is kept substantially constant, and the distance between the moving paper P1 moving on the loading surface and the image pickup unit 101 can also be kept substantially constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent the position of the moving paper P1 from being unable to be accurately detected due to a change in the distance between the moving paper P1 to be detected and the image pickup unit 101, and the moving paper P1 moves even if the number of loaded sheets increases or decreases. It is possible to accurately detect the position of the paper P1.

In the first embodiment, the return roller 50 and the image pickup unit 101 are held by the return roller swing link 151, which is a common holding member. Since it is held by an integral member, the image pickup unit 101 is mechanically interlocked when the return roller 50 moves in the loading direction, and the image pickup unit 101 also moves in the loading direction as the return roller 50 moves.
Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described later, the image pickup unit 101 moves in the loading direction as the transport member that applies the transport force to the moving paper P1 such as the return roller 50 and the rotary roller 46a moves in the loading direction. It is a composition. With this configuration, the stacking direction of the stack of loading paper P0 can be moved in the loading direction without adding a new surface contact member that comes into contact with the outermost surface of the stack of paper P0 or the surface of the moving paper P1. It is possible to realize a configuration in which the image pickup unit 101 moves in the loading direction according to the thickness of the image pickup unit 101.

The return roller 50, which is the surface contact member of the first embodiment, comes into contact with both the loading paper P0 and the moving paper P1. On the staple tray 44, which is a sheet loading section, the return roller 50 contacts the outermost surface of the paper bundle of the loaded paper P0 until the moving paper P1 reaches the contact position where the return roller 50 contacts the paper P. Then, when the conveyed moving paper P1 reaches the contact position, it moves in the loading direction by the thickness of the moving paper P1 and comes into contact with the surface of the moving paper P1. As described above, the return roller 50, which is the surface contact member of the first embodiment, moves in the loading direction by the thickness of the reached moving paper P1 each time the moving paper P1 reaches the staple tray 44.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as “Example 2”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view of the vicinity of the staple tray 44 in the end binding portion 38 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the rotating roller 46a.
In the first embodiment described above, the return roller swing link 151 of the return roller mechanism 150 provided with the return roller 50 is configured to hold the image pickup unit 101, but as shown in FIG. 9, the roller support holder of the tapping roller mechanism 46 is configured. 95 may be configured to hold the image pickup unit 101.

The rotary roller 46a, which is the surface contact member of the second embodiment, hits the moving paper P1 discharged from the intermediate transport roller pair 40 toward the staple tray 44 and puts it on the mounting surface. Since they are separated from each other, they do not come into contact with the loaded paper P0, but only with the moving paper P1. In the second embodiment, every time the transferred moving paper P1 is contacted and placed on the mounting surface, the moving paper on the loading paper P0 is moved by the thickness of the conveyed moving paper P1 in the loading direction. Contact P1.
As described above, the rotary roller 46a, which is the surface contact member of the second embodiment, moves in the loading direction by the thickness of the reached moving paper P1 each time the moving paper P1 reaches the staple tray 44.

In the second embodiment, the rotary roller 46a and the imaging unit 101 are held by the roller support holder 95, which is a common holding member. Since it is held by an integral member, the image pickup unit 101 is mechanically interlocked when the rotary roller 46a moves in the loading direction, and the image pickup unit 101 also moves in the load direction as the rotary roller 46a moves.

[Example 3]
Next, a third embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “Example 3”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory view of the vicinity of the staple tray 44 in the end binding portion 38 according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray, and the surface contact member is the rotating roller 46a.

The light emitting means such as the light source unit 102 and the sheet detecting means such as the image pickup unit 101 which is the light receiving means are provided separately as in the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 and in the first and second embodiments. However, the light emitting means and the sheet detecting means may be integrated.
In the configuration of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the roller support holder 95 of the tapping roller mechanism 46 holds the line sensor as the sheet detecting means and the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray in which the light emitting means is integrated. It has become.
In the third embodiment, a close contact type line sensor is used as a line sensor constituting the sheet detection means (light receiving means) of the paper position detection sensor 100 on the tray. The line sensor is a linear sensor in which light receiving elements of an image sensor (imaging element) such as a CCD or CMOS are arranged linearly, and generally, a line sensor integrated as a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) can be used.

[Example 4]
Next, a fourth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “Example 4”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
11A and 11B are schematic explanatory views of the vicinity of the reference fence 48 of the edge binding portion 38 according to the fourth embodiment, FIG. 11A shows a state in which the number of loaded sheets P0 is small, and FIG. 11B shows a state in which the number of loaded sheets P0 is small. It shows a state where the number of sheets of P0 is large. In the fourth embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the return roller 50.

In the fourth embodiment, the image pickup unit 101 including the area sensor is held by the return roller mechanism 150 having the configuration of the parallel crank mechanism.
As shown in FIG. 11, in the fourth embodiment, the return roller swing link 151 that rotatably holds the return roller 50 is used as the driving node, and the parallel crank is formed by the fixed node 156, the first driven node 154, and the second driven node 155. It constitutes a mechanism. Further, the second driven node 155, which keeps the fixed node 156 parallel to the fixed node 156, holds the image pickup unit 101.

The return roller 50 of the return roller mechanism 150 moves in the loading direction according to the loading surface of the paper P that is sequentially conveyed onto the staple tray 44 and is loaded. The return roller mechanism 150 is composed of a parallel crank mechanism in which the first driven section 154 and the second driven section 155 move with the movement of the return roller 50, and the image pickup unit 101 is held by the second driven section 155. There is. Therefore, the shortest distance of the image pickup unit 101 with respect to the staple tray 44 is always kept constant, and the posture of the image pickup unit 101 with respect to the staple tray 44, that is, the image pickup angle is also kept constant. By keeping the imaging angle constant, it is not necessary to correct the detection result due to the difference in angle, and the detection accuracy can be improved. Is improved.

[Example 5]
Next, a fifth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “Example 5”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
12A and 12B are schematic explanatory views of the vicinity of the reference fence 48 of the edge binding portion 38 according to the fifth embodiment, FIG. 12A shows a state in which the number of loaded sheets P0 is small, and FIG. 12B shows a state in which the number of loaded sheets P0 is small. It shows a state where the number of sheets of P0 is large. In the fifth embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the paper pressing sheet 104.

The staple tray 44 of the fifth embodiment is provided with a paper holding sheet 104 that comes into contact with the loading surface for the purpose of holding the paper P and preventing buckling of the paper P. The paper pressing sheet 104 is an elastic sheet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like, and is configured to abut against the loading surface of the paper P which is sequentially conveyed and loaded, like the return roller 50.

The paper presser sheet 104 is a member whose one end 105 is fixed to the presser sheet support shaft 103 and is elastically deformable, and is deformable according to the loaded paper P. The connecting link 107 is connected to the vicinity of the other end 106 of the paper pressing sheet 104, and the imaging unit link 108 is connected to the connecting link 107 and the pressing sheet support shaft 103 to hold the imaging unit 101. As a mechanism for holding the paper holding sheet 104, a parallel crank mechanism may be used as in the fourth embodiment.

[Example 6]
Next, a sixth embodiment (hereinafter referred to as “Example 6”) of the sheet detecting means and the surface contact member according to the present embodiment will be described.
13 is a schematic explanatory view of the vicinity of the reference fence 48 of the edge binding portion 38 according to the sixth embodiment, FIG. 13A shows a state in which the imaging unit 101 is located at the detection position, and FIG. 13B shows a state in which the imaging unit 101 is located at the detection position. The state in which the image pickup unit 101 is located at the retracted position is shown. In the sixth embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the return roller 50.

Example 6 has the same configuration as that of Example 1 except that the image pickup unit 101 is movable with respect to the return roller mechanism 150.
In the sixth embodiment, the image pickup unit 101 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 13).

Further, the image pickup unit 101 is held by the sensor locking portion 159 in the return roller swing link 151 of the return roller mechanism 150 so that the return roller 50 moves in the loading direction at the time of detection, and the image pickup unit 101 detects. It is located in a position. The image pickup unit evacuation mechanism 110 is provided so that the image pickup unit 101 can be retracted from the detection position during a processing operation other than the detection operation, for example, a staple operation.

The control unit 200 can drive the sensor arm 112 by the evacuation motor 111 of the image pickup unit evacuation mechanism 110, and the sensor arm 112 can scoop up the connecting portion formed in the image pickup unit 101. In the sixth embodiment, the image pickup unit 101 retracts in the loading direction (direction perpendicular to the staple tray 44), which is the thickness direction of the paper bundle, but similarly, the paper transport direction parallel to the staple tray 44 (secondary). It may be retracted in the scanning direction) or the width direction (main scanning direction).

The end binding portion 38, which is the sheet loading device of the above-described embodiment, includes a surface contact member such as a return roller 50, a rotary roller 46a, or a paper presser sheet 104, and a sheet detection means such as an image pickup unit 101 is used for the thickness of the sheet bundle. It is configured to move together with the surface contact member that moves according to the above. This configuration eliminates the need for a load capacity detecting means for detecting the load capacity of the sheets in the sheet loading section and a movement control means for moving the sheet detecting means based on the detection result, and the moving sheet and the sheet detection with a simple configuration. It is possible to keep a certain distance from the means.

In the above-described embodiment (Examples 1 to 6), a configuration in which the configuration of the sheet loading device according to the present invention is applied to the end binding portion 38 has been described. The end binding portion 38 is a portion for loading and aligning the paper P, but the sheet loading device according to the present invention can also be applied to a stack portion such as a paper feed for transporting the loaded paper.
The configuration of the sheet loading device according to the present invention can similarly accurately detect the position of the paper even when it is applied to the paper feeding device that conveys the loaded paper toward the image forming unit. In the case of a paper feed device, there is a pickup roller that comes into contact with the topmost paper surface, and the paper detection sensor can be configured to be possible together with the pickup roller.

[Second embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment in which the sheet loading device according to the present invention is applied to the paper feeding unit of the printer unit 4 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory view of the paper feed device 300 of the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 14, the paper feed device 300 includes a paper feed tray 301, a bottom plate 302, an end fence 303, a paper feed roller 304, a separation pad 305, and a pickup roller mechanism 120.

The pickup roller mechanism 120 includes a pickup swing shaft 123, a pickup holder 122 that can swing around the pickup swing shaft 123, and a pickup roller 121 that is rotatably held by the pickup holder 122. By driving the pickup swing motor included in the paper feed device 300, the pickup holder 122 swings, and the pickup roller 121 comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the paper bundle of the paper P loaded on the paper feed tray 301. Further, by driving the pickup rotation motor included in the paper feed device 300, the pickup roller 121 is rotationally driven, and a conveying force is applied to the paper P with which the pickup roller 121 contacts, and the paper is conveyed toward the paper feeding roller 304. .. At this time, the paper P to which the conveying force is applied moves on the uppermost surface of the loaded paper P0 as the moving paper P1.

The paper feed tray 301 is a housing that forms an accommodating portion for accommodating a bundle of paper P. The bottom plate 302 can swing with respect to the paper feed tray 301 so that the end portion on the downstream side in the paper feed direction moves up and down, and the bottom plate 302 is urged upward by the bottom plate rising spring 306 to cause the bottom plate 302 to move upward. The uppermost surface of the bundle of paper P loaded on the paper comes into contact with the paper feed roller 304.

When used in a stacking section such as a paper feed tray 301 for transporting the loaded paper P, light is emitted from the rear in the transporting direction of the moving paper P1 and the reflected light is received by the imaging unit 101. As a result, the portion corresponding to the rear end surface of the moving paper P1 is overexposed, and the position of the end portion of the moving paper P1 can be accurately detected.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the light source unit 102 irradiates light from the upstream side (right side in FIG. 14) of the pickup roller mechanism 120, and the image pickup unit 101 receives the reflected light to obtain an image. The portion corresponding to the rear end surface of the moving paper P1 is overexposed. This makes it possible to accurately detect the position of the moving rear end surface P1e of the moving paper P1 conveyed by the pickup roller 121.

In such a configuration, for example, when slip occurs in the pickup roller 121, the transfer defect can be detected by reducing the moving distance of the rear end of the paper P with respect to the transfer time of the pickup roller 121.
Further, in the case of double feeding in which the paper P under the paper P to be conveyed is also conveyed at the same time, the "position where the brightness reaches the peak value" indicating the end of the paper P moved from the loaded position is set. Since there are a plurality of them, it is possible to detect double feed by counting the number of peak values.

In the second embodiment, the sheet detecting means is the image pickup unit 101, and the surface contact member is the pickup roller 121.
The pickup roller 121 swings and moves up and down by being driven by the pickup swing motor, but when the pickup roller 121 applies a conveying force to the paper P, it always comes into contact with the loading surface. Then, the position of the pickup roller 121 when applying the conveying force to the paper P moves in the loading direction as the contact surface is displaced due to the increase or decrease in the number of loaded sheets. Therefore, the distance between the pickup roller 121 and the loading surface is always kept constant.

Then, the image pickup unit 101 is held by the pickup holder 122 which is a holding member of the pickup roller 121, and the image pickup unit 101 also moves in the loading direction as the pickup roller 121 moves when the conveying force is applied. Therefore, when the pickup roller 121 applies the conveying force to the paper P, the distance between the image pickup unit 101 and the loading surface is kept substantially constant, and the distance between the moving paper P1 moving on the loading surface and the image pickup unit 101. Can be kept almost constant. As a result, it is possible to prevent the position of the moving paper P1 from being unable to be accurately detected due to a change in the distance between the moving paper P1 to be detected and the image pickup unit 101, and the moving paper P1 moves even if the number of loaded sheets increases or decreases. It is possible to accurately detect the position of the paper P1.

As described above, the sheet loading device according to the present invention can also be applied to a device such as a paper feeding device that transports sheets such as paper from a loading unit. When applied to a paper feed device, it detects the end of the paper being conveyed while being sandwiched by the pickup roller or paper feed roller (or paper feed belt), and detects the end of the paper being conveyed, and then detects the end of the paper being conveyed by the pickup roller or paper feed roller (or paper feed belt). By controlling the drive time of the belt), it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam.

In the paper feed device, if the pickup roller or paper feed roller (or paper feed belt) deteriorates or the adhering paper dust causes variation in the time until the paper is delivered to the next transport roller, it is a cause of jam. Become.
On the other hand, in the paper feed device having the configuration of the sheet loading device according to the present invention, the position of the rear end of the paper being conveyed while being sandwiched by the pickup roller or the paper feed roller (or the paper feed belt) is set. To detect. Then, by controlling the drive time of the pickup roller and the paper feed roller (or the paper feed belt), it is possible to prevent the occurrence of jam.

The sheet loading device according to the present invention can also be applied to a configuration for transporting a sheet to a loading section such as a staple tray 44 or a paper output tray, or a configuration for transporting a sheet from the loading section such as a paper feeding device.

The sheet detecting means included in the sheet loading device according to the present invention is an image pickup element that receives the reflected light of the light emitted by the light source unit 102, which is a light emitting means, toward the end face of the paper P, and the end face of the paper P is another. The position of the moving paper P1 is detected by utilizing the fact that the brightness is higher than that of the portion.
The sheet detecting means is not limited to the one that detects the position of the moving paper P1 by using the difference in brightness (contrast) detected by the image pickup element, and may be the one that detects the spectrum pattern by the image pickup element. Further, it may be detected by ultrasonic waves. If the sheet loading device is provided with a sheet detecting means of a detection method that may not be able to perform accurate detection due to a change in the distance to the detection target, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to the sheet loading device on the loading sheet. It becomes possible to accurately detect the position of the moving sheet to be moved.

Further, in the case of an optical sheet detecting means such as an image pickup device, it is desirable that the member is a separate member from the light emitting means that irradiates the detection target with light, but the optical sheet detecting means and the light emitting means are integrated. It may have the same configuration.

The "sheet" to be loaded on the sheet loading unit according to the present invention includes paper, coated paper, transparencies, label papers, films, fabrics and the like. Further, the "sheet" is a resin sheet, protective paper on the front and back surfaces, a metal sheet, a metal foil such as a copper foil, an electronic circuit board material subjected to plating treatment, a special film, a plastic film, a prepreg, and an electronic circuit board. Includes sheets for use. The prepreg is a sheet-like material in which carbon fibers and the like are impregnated with a resin in advance. As an example of prepreg, a fibrous reinforcing material such as carbon fiber or glass cloth is impregnated with a thermosetting resin or the like mixed with additives such as a curing agent and a colorant, and heated or dried to a semi-cured state. Includes sheet-shaped reinforced plastic molding material.

What has been described above is an example, and has a unique effect in each of the following aspects.
(Aspect 1)
An edge binding unit 38 including a sheet loading unit such as a staple tray 44 for loading a sheet such as paper P and a sheet detecting means such as an image pickup unit 101 for detecting a moving sheet such as moving paper P1 moving on the sheet loading unit. In a sheet loading device such as, which is movable in a loading direction such as a thickness direction and is provided with a surface contact member such as a return roller 50, a rotary roller 46a, or a paper presser sheet 104 that comes into contact with the surface of the moving sheet, the surface contact member. The sheet detecting means moves with the movement.
According to this, as described with respect to the above-described embodiment, each time the moving sheet reaches the sheet loading portion, the surface contact member moves in the loading direction by the thickness of the reached moving sheet. Therefore, the surface contact member moves in the loading direction according to the thickness of the bundle of seats loaded on the seat loading portion. Therefore, even if the position of the outermost surface of the bundle of sheets loaded on the sheet loading portion is displaced in the loading direction, the distance between the moving sheet moving on the outermost surface and the surface contact member is maintained.
As a specific configuration that makes it possible to adjust the position of the seat detecting means, a loading amount detecting means for detecting the loading amount of the seat in the seat loading section and a movement control means for moving the movement amount detecting sensor based on the detection result. However, the structure becomes complicated.
In aspect 1, the sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member. Therefore, the load capacity detecting means and the movement control means are not required, and the moving sheet and the sheet detecting means can be kept at a constant distance with a simple configuration.

(Aspect 2)
In the first aspect, the surface contact member and the sheet detecting means are held by a common holding member such as a return roller swing link 151 and a roller support holder 95.
According to this, as described in the first and second embodiments, since they are held by an integral member, when the surface contact member moves in the loading direction, the sheet detecting means is mechanically interlocked and the surface contact is made. It is possible to realize a configuration in which the sheet detecting means also moves in the loading direction as the member moves.

(Aspect 3)
In the first aspect, the surface contact member and the seat detecting means are held by a link mechanism such as a parallel crank mechanism.
According to this, as described in the fourth embodiment, the moving sheet and the sheet detecting means are kept at a constant distance, and even if the sheet detecting means moves, the angle (posture) of the sheet detecting means with respect to the sheet loading portion is maintained. ) Can be kept constant.

(Aspect 4)
In any of aspects 1 to 3, a matching member such as a reference fence 48 for matching the sheets loaded on the sheet loading portion is provided, and the surface contact member is a transport member that transports the moving sheet toward the matching member. It is characterized by being.
According to this, as described in the first embodiment and the like, since the surface contact member is a transport member, the sheet detecting means moves in the loading direction according to the thickness of the bundle of the loading sheets in the loading direction. realizable.

(Aspect 5)
In any of aspects 1 to 4, the surface contact member is a presser member such as a paper presser sheet 104 that regulates the position of the sheet loaded on the sheet loader in the loading direction.
According to this, as described in the fifth embodiment, since the surface contact member is a pressing member, the sheet detecting means moves in the loading direction according to the thickness of the bundle of the loading sheets in the loading direction. can.

(Aspect 6)
In any of aspects 1 to 5, the sheet detecting means includes a retracting movement mechanism such as an image pickup unit retracting mechanism 110 that moves independently of the surface contact member, and detects that the sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member. It is characterized in that the position and the evacuation position can be moved.
According to this, as described in the fifth embodiment, the sheet detecting means can be retracted when performing other processing operations other than the detection such as the staple operation, and the degree of freedom in layout is improved.

(Aspect 7)
In any of aspects 1 to 6, the sheet detecting means includes an image pickup element such as an area sensor or a line sensor that receives the reflected light reflected from the sheet after being irradiated from a light source such as an image pickup unit 101. do.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to realize a configuration for detecting the position of the moving sheet moving on the outermost surface of the loading sheet.

(Aspect 8)
In the seventh aspect, the image pickup device is a close contact line image sensor such as a line sensor.
According to this, as described in the third embodiment, it is possible to realize a configuration for detecting the position of the moving sheet moving on the outermost surface of the loading sheet.

(Aspect 9)
In the seventh aspect, the image pickup device is an area image sensor such as an area sensor.
According to this, as described above, it is possible to realize a configuration for detecting the position of the moving sheet moving on the outermost surface of the loading sheet.

(Aspect 10)
In a sheet processing device such as a paper post-processing device 6 including a sheet loading means for loading a sheet such as paper P and a processing means such as an edge stapler 54 for performing a predetermined process on the sheet loaded on the sheet loading means. The sheet loading means is provided with a sheet loading device such as a stapler 38 according to any one of aspects 1 to 9.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, an appropriate process (binding process or the like) can be applied to the sheet on the sheet mounting portion, and deterioration of the processing quality such as the binding quality can be prevented.

(Aspect 11)
An image forming system 2 or the like including an image forming means such as a printer unit 4 for forming an image on the surface of a sheet such as paper P, and a sheet processing means for performing a predetermined process on the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming means. The image forming system is characterized in that the sheet processing means includes a sheet processing device such as the paper post-processing device 6 according to the tenth aspect.
According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, an appropriate process (binding process or the like) can be applied to the sheet on which the image is formed, and deterioration of the process quality such as the binding quality can be prevented.

2 Image formation system 4 Printer unit 6 Paper post-processing device 8 Connection port 10 First transport path 12 Inlet roller pair 14 Inlet sensor 16 Drilling unit 18 Pre-branch transport roller pair 20 Second transport path 22 Third transport path 24 First branch Claw 26 Upper transport roller pair 28 Upper paper discharge roller pair 30 Proof tray 32 Fourth transport path 34 Second branch claw 36 Prestack roller pair 38 End binding part 40 Intermediate transport roller pair 42 Intermediate transport sensor 44 Staple tray 46 Tapping roller mechanism 46a Rotating roller 46b Roller drive output pulley 46c Roller rotating shaft 48 Reference fence 50 Return roller 52 Jogger fence 54 Stay plastic 56 Belt transport mechanism 56a First support roller 56b Second support roller 56c Transport belt 58 Paper bundle discharge claw 60 Paper discharge tray 62 Paper ejection drive roller 64 Paper ejection driven roller 81 Roller drive input pulley 82 Timing belt 83 Roller rotation motor 83a Rotation output gear 91 Holder swing shaft 92 Roller swing cam 93 Cam gear 93a Cam gear rotation shaft 94 Roller contact / detachment motor 94a Contact / detachment output gear 95 Roller support holder 95a Roller swing lever 96 Roller rise spring 100 Paper position detection sensor on tray 101 Image pickup unit 102 Light source section 103 Presser sheet support shaft 104 Paper presser sheet 105 One end 106 The other end 107 Connection link 108 Imaging Link 110 Image pickup mechanism 111 Evacuation motor 112 Sensor arm 120 Pickup roller mechanism 121 Pickup roller 122 Pickup holder 123 Pickup swing shaft 150 Roller mechanism 151 Roller swing link 152 Roller swing shaft 153 Roller contact spring 154 First Driven section 155 Second driven section 156 Fixed section 159 Sensor locking unit 200 Control unit 300 Paper feed device 301 Paper feed tray 302 Bottom plate 303 End fence 304 Paper feed roller 305 Separation pad 306 Bottom plate rising spring P Paper P0 Loading paper P0e After loading End face P1 Moving paper P1e Moving rear end face T toner image

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-39566

Claims (11)

The seat loading section for loading seats and
In a sheet loading device including a sheet detecting means for detecting a moving sheet moving on the sheet loading unit.
It is equipped with a surface contact member that can move in the loading direction and comes into contact with the surface of the moving sheet.
The sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member .
A matching member for aligning the sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit is provided.
The surface contact member is a sheet loading device for transporting the moving sheet toward the matching member . In the sheet loading device of claim 1,
The sheet detecting means includes a retracting movement mechanism that moves independently of the surface contact member.
A sheet loading device characterized in that it can move between a detection position that moves with the movement of the surface contact member and a retracted position. The seat loading section for loading seats and
In a sheet loading device including a sheet detecting means for detecting a moving sheet moving on the sheet loading unit.
It is equipped with a surface contact member that can move in the loading direction and comes into contact with the surface of the moving sheet.
The sheet detecting means moves with the movement of the surface contact member.
The sheet detecting means includes a retracting movement mechanism that moves independently of the surface contact member.
A sheet loading device characterized in that it can move between a detection position that moves with the movement of the surface contact member and a retracted position. In the sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A sheet loading device characterized in that the surface contact member and the sheet detecting means are held by a common holding member. In the sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A sheet loading device characterized in that the surface contact member and the sheet detecting means are held by a link mechanism . In the sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The sheet loading device is characterized in that the surface contact member is a pressing member that regulates the position of the sheet loaded on the sheet loading portion in the loading direction . The sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The sheet detecting means is a sheet loading device, characterized by having an image pickup element that receives light reflected from the sheet, which is irradiated from a light source. In the sheet loading device of claim 7,
The image pickup device is a sheet loading device characterized by being a close contact line image sensor. In the sheet loading device of claim 7,
The image pickup device is a sheet loading device characterized by being an area image sensor. Sheet loading means for loading sheets and
In a sheet processing apparatus provided with a processing means for performing a predetermined process on the sheet loaded on the sheet loading means.
A sheet processing device comprising the sheet loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 as the sheet loading means. An image forming means for forming an image on the surface of a sheet,
In an image forming system including a sheet processing means for performing a predetermined process on the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming means.
An image forming system comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10 as the sheet processing means.

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