JP7081234B2 - Relay transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a relay transfer device that relays paper on which an image is formed by an image forming device to a post-processing device.

In the printing industry, there is an increasing demand for in-line type post-processing devices that add value to image-formed paper. Post-processing equipment includes finishers that perform punching, stapling, and center-folding of paper, and stackers that load and store large amounts of paper. The post-processing device is arranged on the downstream side of the image forming device via the relay transfer device.

Further, the height of the paper receiving port may differ depending on the type of the post-processing device. For example, the finisher's receiving port is formed higher than the stacker's receiving port. Furthermore, the height of the receiving port of the aftertreatment device may differ depending on the manufacturer. Since the paper is transported from the delivery port of the relay transfer device to the reception port of the post-processing device, the height of the delivery port of the relay transfer device needs to match the height of the reception port of the post-processing device. When the height of the delivery port changes, it is necessary to change the configuration of the discharge channel to the delivery port.

As a countermeasure for this, it is conceivable to prepare a relay transfer device having a discharge path according to the height of the receiving port of various aftertreatment devices. However, in this case, it is necessary to manufacture and store the relay transfer device corresponding to each post-processing device, which increases the inventory risk. It is also conceivable to prepare a relay transfer device provided with a plurality of discharge paths in advance so as to be compatible with various aftertreatment devices. In this case, the unused transport path is wasted.

As a method of transporting paper from delivery ports having different heights to a receiving port, Patent Document 1 discloses a post-processing device in which a feeding port (receiving port) is provided with a guide member that can rotate in the vertical direction. There is. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an aftertreatment device provided with a height adjusting table.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-43124 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-1516

However, in the post-processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the rotation width of the guide member is narrow, it is difficult to deal with a large difference in height between the paper feed port and the delivery port. Further, when the post-processing device described in Patent Document 2 is applied to the relay transfer device, the height of the paper receiving port from the image forming device to the relay transport device changes as well as the delivery port. It is necessary to adjust the height of.

Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay transport device capable of supporting an aftertreatment device having receiving ports having different heights.

The relay transfer device according to the present invention is arranged between an image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper and a post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing on the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and the image is described. A relay transport device that relays paper from the forming device to the post-processing device, the housing, the relay transport path provided inside the housing, and the downstream end of the relay transport path in the paper transport direction. A discharge unit connected to a unit and having a discharge port for discharging paper to a receiving port of the aftertreatment device, and a height of the discharge port of the discharge unit can be changed and supported according to the height of the receiving port. It is characterized by having a unit support portion.

In the relay transfer device of the present invention, the unit support portion has a plurality of mounting portions provided on the side surface of the housing on the side surface of the post-processing device according to the height of the receiving port, and the discharge unit is , May be characterized in that it is selectively supported by any of the plurality of mounting portions.

In the relay transfer device of the present invention, the unit support portion supports the discharge unit and has a mounting portion that can rotate about the end portion on the opposite side of the discharge port as a fulcrum, and rotates the mounting portion. It may be characterized in that the height of the discharge port corresponds to the height of the receiving port.

In the relay transfer device of the present invention, the discharge unit has a discharge roller pair that discharges paper by rotating, includes a drive source for rotating the discharge roller pair, and the discharge unit is attached to the plurality of mounting portions. Regardless of which one is supported, the drive source may be characterized in that it is commonly used.

In the relay transport device of the present invention, the discharge unit may be characterized by having a transport path in which paper is horizontally transported toward the discharge port.

In the relay transport device of the present invention, the relay transport path includes a plurality of reversing sections for reversing the front and back of the paper, and a plurality of correction sections for correcting the position of the paper in the width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. It may be characterized by the fact that it is.

According to the present invention, since the discharge unit can be supported according to the height of the receiving port of the post-processing device, even for the post-processing devices having different heights of the receiving port, one relay transfer device can be used. Can be accommodated.

It is a front view schematically showing the relay transport device (when the finisher is connected) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view schematically showing the relay transport device (when connected to a stacker) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the discharge unit at the time of connecting a finisher in the relay transfer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the discharge unit at the time of stacker connection in the relay transport device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a back view which shows typically the discharge unit and the motor assembly at the time of connecting a finisher in the relay transfer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a back view which shows typically the discharge unit and the motor assembly at the time of stacker connection in the relay transfer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the modification of the relay transfer apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the relay transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The relay transfer device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 and 2 are front views schematically showing a relay transfer device connected to each of an image forming device and a post-processing device. The front side of the paper in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the front side (front side) of the relay carrier. L and R in each figure indicate the left side and the right side of the relay carrier.

The relay transfer device 1 is arranged between the image forming apparatus 3 that forms an image on the paper S and the post-processing device 5 that performs post-processing on the paper S on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 3 to obtain an image. The paper S is relayed from the forming device 3 to the post-processing device 5.

First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 3 and the post-processing apparatus 5 will be described.

The apparatus main body 3a of the image forming apparatus 3 is provided with a plurality of paper feeding units 11 and an inkjet type image forming unit 13. The paper feed unit 11 is arranged vertically side by side at the bottom of the apparatus main body 3a, and is a paper feed cassette 15 for accommodating the paper S and a paper feed device 17 for feeding the paper S from the paper feed cassette 15, respectively. ,have. The image forming unit 13 is arranged above the paper feeding unit 11 and includes a transport belt 19 that circulates and travels, and four recording heads 21 that are arranged along the traveling direction of the transport belt 19. A paper delivery port 23 is formed on the upper side of the side surface (left side) of the relay transfer device 1 of the device main body 3a.

The apparatus main body 3a is formed with a paper S transport path X1 from the feeding device 17 of each feeding unit 11 to the delivery port 23 through the image forming unit 13. The transport path X1 has an inversion path X2 that reverses the front and back of the paper. The reversing path X2 branches from the transport path X1 on the downstream side of the image forming section 13 in the transport direction, and joins the transport path X1 on the upstream side of the image forming section 13.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 3 will be described. First, in each paper feeding unit 11, the feeding device 17 feeds the paper from the paper cassette 15 to the transport path X1. The fed paper is conveyed along the transfer path X1 and is attracted to the upper surface of the transfer belt 19 in the image forming unit 13. Then, an image is formed on the paper S by the ink discharged from each recording head 21 while being conveyed along with the rotation of the conveying belt 19. The image-formed paper is conveyed by the transfer belt 19 and then discharged from the delivery port 23. When double-sided printing is performed, the paper image-formed on one side is conveyed to the inversion path X2, the front and back sides are inverted, and then the sheet is conveyed to the transfer path X1 and is attracted to the upper surface of the transfer belt 19. Then, an image is formed on the other surface while being conveyed as the conveyor belt 19 rotates.

Next, the configuration of the aftertreatment device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The post-processing device 5 is a finisher that selectively performs a perforation process, a staple process, and a center-folding process on the paper. The device main body 5a of the post-processing device 5 is provided with a punching device 25, a staple device 27, and a center folding device 29. The punching device 25 is arranged in the upper part of the device main body 5a, the staple device 27 is arranged below the punching device 25, and the center folding device 29 is arranged in the lower part of the device main body 5a. A receiving port 31 for receiving paper from the relay transfer device 1 is formed on the side surface (right side) of the relay transfer device 1 of the device main body 5a. On the side surface of the device main body 5a on the opposite side (left side) of the relay transfer device 1, three discharge ports 33a, 33b, and 33c are provided on the sides of the punching device 25, the staple device 27, and the center folding device 29, respectively. ing. Discharge trays 35a, 35b, and 35c are provided below the three discharge ports 33a, 33b, and 33c, respectively.

In the device main body 5a, a first transport path Y1 from the receiving port 31 to the upper discharge port 33a through the punching device 25 and a staple device 27 branched from the first transport path Y1 on the downstream side of the punching device 25 are provided. A second transport path Y2 that passes through to the central discharge port 33b and a third transport path Y3 that branches from the second transport path Y2 and passes through the center folding device 29 to the lower discharge port 33c are formed. ing.

Next, the operation of the post-processing device 5 will be described. The paper S on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 3 is received from the receiving port 31 into the first conveying path Y1 via the relay conveying device 1 (details will be described later). When the paper S is punched, the paper S is conveyed to the punching device 25 through the first transport path Y1, punched by the punching device 25, and then passed through the first transport path Y1. It is discharged from the upper discharge port 33a and loaded on the upper discharge tray 35a. When the paper S is stapled, the paper S is conveyed from the first transport path Y1 to the staple device 27 along the second transport path Y2, stapled by the staple device 27, and then stapled in the center. It is discharged from the discharge port 33b and loaded on the central discharge tray 35b. When the paper S is saddle-folded, the paper S is conveyed from the first transport path Y1 to the saddle-folding device 29 through the second transport path Y2 and the third transport path Y3, and is saddle-stitched by the center-folding device 29. After being bound and saddle-stitched, the paper is discharged from the lower discharge port 33c and loaded on the lower discharge tray 35c.

As the optional device 6, as shown in FIG. 2, a stacker for accumulating and accommodating a large amount of paper may be connected to the relay transfer device 1. In this case, the device main body 6a of the optional device 6 is provided with a large-capacity tray 37 for accumulating and accommodating the paper S. A receiving port 39 for receiving paper from the relay transfer device 1 is formed on the side surface (right side) of the relay transfer device 1 of the device main body 5a. Generally, the height of the stacker's receiving port 39 is lower than the height of the finisher's receiving port 31.

Next, the configuration of the relay transfer device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 3A and 3B, and FIGS. 4A and 4B. 3A and 3B are schematic views of the discharge unit viewed from the front side, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views of the discharge knit and the motor assembly viewed from the back side.

The relay transfer device 1 is provided separately from the image forming device 3 and the post-processing device 5, and is connected to each of the image forming device 3 and the post-processing device 5. The relay transport device 1 selectively reverses the front and back of the paper S and corrects the position of the paper S in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction while the paper S is relayed from the image forming device 3 to the post-processing device 5. It can be carried out.

A paper receiving port 41 from the image forming apparatus 3 is formed on the side surface (right side) of the housing 1a of the relay transporting apparatus 1 on the side (right side) of the image forming apparatus 3. The receiving port 41 is formed at the same height as the delivery port 23 of the image forming apparatus 3. On the side surface (left side) of the post-processing device 5 of the housing 1a, two delivery ports 43 and 45 of the paper S are formed side by side vertically. The upper delivery port 43 is at the same height as the receiving port 31 of the finisher (see FIG. 1), and the lower delivery port 45 is at the same height as the receiving port 39 of the stacker (see FIG. 2). Further, a discharge tray 47 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 1a.

Inside the housing 1a, a transport path is formed in which paper is transported from the receiving port 41 toward the upper and lower delivery ports 43 and 45. The transport paths are the first common path M1, the first reversal path I1 and the second reversal path I2, the second common path M2, the first correction path C1 and the second correction path in order from the upstream side in the paper transport direction. It has a relay transport path P including a path C2, a third common path M3, and a fourth common path M4, and a discharge path D. The first reversing path I1 and the second reversing path I2 are reversing portions that reverse the front and back of the paper. The first correction path C1 and the second correction path C2 are correction units for correcting the position of the paper in the width direction. In the following description, the upstream side and the downstream side refer to the upstream side and the downstream side in the above-mentioned paper transport direction. The arrows in each figure indicate the paper transport direction.

The first common road M1 extends substantially horizontally to the left from the receiving port 41 and branches into a first reversing road I1 and a second reversing road I2 at the first branch point D1.

The first reversing path I1 has a switchback path I11 in which the paper conveying direction is reversed, an outward path I12 in which the sheet is conveyed to the switchback path I11, and a return path I13 in which the switchedback paper is conveyed. is doing. The outward route I12 extends substantially horizontally to the left from the first branch point D1. The outbound route I12 is provided with two sets of transport roller pairs 51 at predetermined intervals. The switchback path I11 extends horizontally to the left from the exit of the outward path I12, and then is inclined diagonally downward to the left. The switchback path I11 is provided with two sets of transport roller pairs 53 at predetermined intervals. Each transport roller pair 53 can rotate forward and reverse. The return path I13 extends downward from the entrance of the switchback path I11. The return path I13 is provided with a set of transport roller pairs 55.

The second reversing path I2 includes a switchback path I21 in which the paper transport direction is reversed, an outward path I22 in which the paper is conveyed to the switchback path I21, and a return path I23 in which the switched back paper S is conveyed. Have. The outward route I22 extends downward from the first branch point D1. The outbound route I22 is provided with a set of transport roller pairs 57. The switchback path I21 extends downward from the exit of the outward path I22. The switchback path I21 is provided with two sets of transport roller pairs 59 at predetermined intervals. Each transport roller pair 59 can rotate forward and reverse. The return route I23 extends to the left from the entrance of the switchback route I21. The return path I23 is provided with two sets of transport roller pairs 61 at predetermined intervals.

The return path I13 of the first reversal path I1 and the return path I23 of the second reversal path I2 merge at the first confluence point J1. The second common road M2 extends downward from the first confluence J1 and then turns back while curving in the upper left direction. The second common path M2 is a second branch point D2 and is branched into a first correction path C1 and a second correction path C2.

The first correction path C1 and the second correction path C2 are formed side by side in the vertical direction and extend substantially horizontally. The first correction path C1 and the second correction path C2 are provided with three sets of switching roller pairs 63 and correction roller pairs 65, respectively, in order from the upstream side. The three sets of switching roller pair 63 and correction roller pair 65 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the transport direction. The upper roller of each switching roller pair 63 has a nip position for sandwiching the paper together with the lower roller (see the solid line in FIGS. 1 and 2) and a nip release position (dotted line in FIGS. 1 and 2) separated upward from the paper. It is possible to move up and down between (see) and. The correction roller pair 65 is provided so as to be movable in the width direction (front-back direction).

The first correction path C1 and the second correction path C2 meet at the second confluence point J2. The third common road M3 extends upward from the second confluence J2. The exit of the third common road M3 is arranged at the same height as the lower delivery port 45. The fourth common road M4 extends upward from the exit of the third common road M3. The exit of the fourth common road M4 is arranged at the same height as the upper delivery port 43.

A unit support portion 70 is formed between the exits of the third common road M3 and the fourth common road M4 and the upper and lower delivery ports 43 and 45. The unit support portion 70 is between the lower mounting portion 71 formed between the outlet of the third common road M3 and the lower delivery port 45, and the outlet of the fourth common road M4 and the upper delivery port 43. It has an upper mounting portion 73 to be formed. The upper mounting portion 73 and the lower mounting portion 71 are formed in a slot shape from the upper delivery port 43 and the lower delivery port 45 toward the inside of the housing 1a. A discharge unit 101 (details will be described later) provided with a discharge path D is detachably mounted on the upper mounting portion 73 and the lower mounting portion 71 through the upper delivery port 43 and the lower delivery port 45, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a motor assembly 81 as a drive source for the discharge unit 101 is supported between the upper mounting portion 73 and the lower mounting portion 71 on the rear side plate of the housing 1a. .. The motor assembly 81 has a motor 83, an output gear 85, and a reduction gear train 87 interposed between the motor 83 and the output gear 85. Further, on the rear side plate, an upper intermediate gear 89 and a lower intermediate gear 91 that can mesh with the output gear 85 of the motor assembly 81 are rotatably supported side by side in the vertical direction.

Next, the discharge unit 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B. The discharge unit 101 is in the front-rear direction (directions perpendicular to the paper surface of each figure, FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B are front views of the discharge unit 101 as viewed from the rear side, and the front side of the paper surface is the rear side. The front and rear side plates 103 facing the above) and three sets of discharge roller pairs 105 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a paper receiving port 107 is formed between one (right) end faces of the front and rear side plates 103, and a paper ejection port 109 is formed between the other (left) end faces. Is formed. The paper receiving port 107 has a horizontal opening 111 corresponding to the paper S conveyed from the horizontal direction and a lower opening 113 corresponding to the paper conveyed from below. A paper discharge path D is formed between the reception port 107 and the discharge port 109. The three sets of discharge roller pairs 105 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the discharge path D. The three sets of discharge roller pairs 105 each have an upper roller and a lower roller, and the front and rear end portions of the upper and lower rollers are rotatably supported by the side plates 103 on the front and rear sides, respectively. The three upper rollers are connected by a timing belt (not shown) and rotate in the same direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the rear end of the rotating shaft of the upper roller of the most upstream (far right) discharge roller pair 105 projects rearward from the rear side plate 103. An input gear 115 is fixed to the protruding rear end portion. A gear train 117 supported by the rear side plate 103 meshes with the input gear 115. The gear train 117 is composed of first to fourth idle gears 119, 121, 123, 125 connected in series from the input gear 115.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the discharge unit 101 is mounted on the upper mounting portion 73 through the delivery port 43 on the upper side of the housing 1a. Further, the auxiliary discharge unit 131 is mounted on the downstream side of the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101. The auxiliary discharge unit 131 includes a pair of discharge rollers including upper and lower rollers. As a result, the outlet of the fourth common road M4 communicates with the reception port 107 (lower port 113) of the discharge unit 101, and the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 communicates with the upper delivery port 43 via the auxiliary discharge unit 131. do. The auxiliary discharge unit 131 provides a paper conveying force from the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 to the punching device 25 of the post-processing device 5. Further, a pair of guide plates 133 along the transport direction are attached to the exit of the third common road M3 so that the paper S can be guided from the third common road M3 to the fourth common road M4. A connecting plate (not shown) is attached to the lower delivery port 45. The connecting plate is formed with a connection terminal connected to the connection terminal of the post-processing device 5, an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion of the post-processing device 5, and the like.

When the discharge unit 101 is mounted on the upper mounting portion 73, the fourth idle gear 125 of the gear row 117 of the discharge unit 101 meshes with the upper intermediate gear 89, as shown in FIG. 3A. When the motor 83 rotates in a predetermined direction, the output gear 85 rotates via the reduction gear train 87, and the upper intermediate gear 89 that meshes with the output gear 85 rotates. As a result, the fourth idle gear 125 rotates, and the input gear 115 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3A via the third, second, and first idle gears 123, 121, and 119. Then, the upper rollers of the three sets of discharge rollers pair 105 rotate in the clockwise direction of FIG. 3A, and the paper S can be conveyed in the direction (left direction) from the reception port 107 toward the discharge port 109.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, inside the housing 1a of the relay transfer device 1, a first sub-path S1 in which paper that does not require inversion, position correction, and post-processing is conveyed, and inversion and position correction. A second sub-route S2 is formed, in which paper is conveyed, which does not require a paper and is only post-processed.

The first sub-path S1 branches upward at a third branch point D3 in the middle of the outward path I12 of the first reversal path I1 and extends toward the discharge tray 47. The second sub-path S2 branches at the fourth branch point D4 in the middle of the switchback path I11 of the first reversal path I1 and extends to the left. The second sub-path S2 branches into the upper route S21 and the lower route S22 at the fifth branch point D5. The upper route S21 extends diagonally to the upper left and heads toward the exit of the fourth common road M4. The lower route S22 extends diagonally to the lower left and heads toward the exit of the third common road M3.

The operation of the relay transfer device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4A. The paper discharged from the delivery port 23 of the image forming apparatus 3 is conveyed to the first common road M1 through the receiving port 41 of the relay transfer device 1. It is assumed that the paper S is continuously conveyed from the image forming apparatus 3 to the first common road M1 at a predetermined interval.

The first sheet of paper is conveyed from the first common path M1 to the first reversal path I1 at the first branch point D1. In the first reversal path I1, the transport roller pairs 51 and 53 of the outward path I12 and the switchback path I11 rotate in one direction to transport the paper from the outward path I12 to the switchback path I11. After that, each transport roller pair 53 of the switchback path I11 rotates in the direction opposite to the one direction to switch back the paper. As a result, the front and back of the paper are reversed. The switched back paper is conveyed to the return path I13, and by rotating the transfer roller pair 55 of the return path I13, it is conveyed from the first reversal path I1 to the second common path M2 at the first confluence point J1.

The second sheet branches to the second reversal path I2 at the first branch point D1. In the second inversion path I2, the front and back sides of the second sheet are inverted by the same operation as in the first inversion path I1. The paper whose front and back are inverted is conveyed from the second inversion path I2 to the second common path M2 at the first confluence point J1.

The first sheet of paper is conveyed along the second common path M2, and is conveyed from the second common path M2 to the first correction path C1 at the second branch point D2. In the first correction path C1, first, the paper position sensor (not shown) detects the position in the width direction of the paper, and then the rotation is temporarily stopped with the rollers 63 and 65 sandwiching the paper. Next, the upper roller of each switching roller pair 63 moves from the nip position (see the solid line in FIG. 1) to the nip release position (see the dotted line in FIG. 1). After that, the correction roller pair 65 moves in the width direction based on the detection result of the paper position sensor while sandwiching the paper. For example, when the paper position sensor detects that the paper is displaced by 1 mm from the reference position to one side (front side) in the width direction, the correction roller pair 65 of the first correction unit 44 moves in the width direction. Move 1 mm to the other side (rear side). As a result, the position of the paper in the width direction is corrected.

After the position in the width direction of the paper is corrected, the upper roller of each switching roller pair 63 moves from the nip release position (see the dotted line in FIG. 1) to the nip position (see the solid line in FIG. 1). After that, the rotation of each of the rollers 63 and 65 is restarted, and the position-corrected paper is conveyed from the first correction path C1 to the third common path M3 at the second confluence point J2.

The second sheet of paper branches from the second common path M2 to the second correction path C2 at the second branch point D2. In the second correction path C2, the position in the width direction of the second sheet is corrected by the same operation as that of the first correction path C1. The position-corrected paper is conveyed from the second correction path C2 to the third common path M3 at the second confluence point J2.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the first sheet of paper passes between the third common road M3, the pair of guide plates 212, and the fourth common road M4, and is discharged from the outlet of the fourth common road M4. It is conveyed to the lower opening 113 of the receiving port 107. Then, it is conveyed in the discharge unit 101, discharged from the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101, through the auxiliary discharge unit 131, through the upper delivery port 43, and received to the reception port 31 of the aftertreatment device 5. Be done. Similarly, the second sheet of paper is also discharged from the discharge unit 101 to the aftertreatment device 5.

As described above, the paper S continuously introduced from the image forming apparatus 3 at predetermined intervals is the first reversing path I1 and the second reversing path I2, and the first correction path C1 and the second correction path C2. , And the inversion operation and the correction operation are executed on both the inversion paths I1 and I2 and both the correction paths C1 and C2. That is, the reversing operation (or correction operation) of two sheets can be executed in parallel. Therefore, since the waiting time for the reversing operation and the correction operation can be shortened, the productivity of the relay transfer device 1 (the number of sheets to be processed for each predetermined time) can be increased.

Paper that does not require reversing operation, correction operation, and post-processing is conveyed from the first common path M1 to the outward path I12 of the first reversing path I1 at the first branch point D1, and from the outward path I12 at the third branch point D3. It is transported to the first sub-route S1 and is transported along the first sub-path S1. After that, it is discharged from the outlet of the first sub-route S1 and loaded on the discharge tray 47. Further, the paper that does not require the reversing operation and the correction operation and only requires the post-processing is conveyed from the first common path M1 to the outward path I12 of the first reversing path I1 at the first branch point D1 and then to the switchback path I11. It is conveyed along the line, is conveyed from the switchback path I11 to the second sub-path S2 at the fourth branch point D4, and is conveyed from the second sub-path S2 to the upper path S21 at the fifth branch point D5. After that, it is discharged from the outlet of the upper route S21 to the horizontal port 111 of the reception port 107 of the discharge unit 101, is conveyed in the discharge unit 101, and is conveyed from the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 via the auxiliary discharge unit 131. It is discharged through the upper delivery port 43 and is received by the receiving port 31 of the aftertreatment device 5.

Next, the operation of the relay transfer device 1 when the stacker as the optional device 6 is connected will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3B and 4B. In this case, the discharge unit 101 is mounted on the lower mounting portion 71 from the delivery port 45 on the lower side of the left side plate. As shown in FIG. 4B, the exit of the third common road M3 is opened by removing the pair of guide plates 133 (see FIG. 4A). As a result, the outlet of the third common road M3 communicates with the reception port 107 of the discharge unit 101, and the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 communicates with the lower delivery port 45. Further, a guide portion (not shown) of the optional device 6 enters from the lower delivery port 45. The guide unit guides the paper from the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 to the large-capacity tray 37. Further, the exit of the fourth common road M4 is blocked by the cover plate 135. Further, the upper delivery port 43 is closed with a cover plate (not shown). Further, a hook portion (not shown) that can be connected to the optional device 6 is mounted on the left side surface of the housing 1a.

When the discharge unit 101 is mounted on the lower mounting portion 71, the second idle gear 121 of the gear row 117 of the discharge unit 101 meshes with the lower intermediate gear 91, as shown in FIG. 3B. When the motor 83 rotates in a predetermined direction, the output gear 85 rotates via the reduction gear train 87, and the lower intermediate gear 91 that meshes with the output gear 85 rotates. As a result, the second idle gear 121 rotates, and the input gear 115 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3B via the first idle gear 119. Then, the upper rollers of the three sets of discharge rollers pair 105 rotate in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3B, and the paper can be conveyed in the direction (left direction) from the reception port 107 toward the discharge port 109. The reduction ratio of the reduction gear row 87, the number of teeth of each gear, etc. are set so that the paper can be discharged at the same speed regardless of which mounting portions 71 and 73 the discharge unit 101 is mounted on, that is, the input gear. The 115 is set to rotate at the same speed.

The paper discharged from the delivery port 23 of the image forming apparatus 3 is conveyed to the first common road M1 through the receiving port 41 of the relay transfer device 1, and is subjected to inversion processing and correction processing in the same manner as described above. After that, it is conveyed from the outlet of the third common road M3 to the horizontal port 111 of the receiving port 107 of the discharge unit 101. After that, it is conveyed in the discharge unit 101, is discharged from the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 through the lower delivery port 45, and is received by the reception port 39 of the option device 6 (stacker).

As described above, according to the relay transfer device 1 of the present invention, the discharge unit 101 is selectively mounted on either the upper mounting portion 73 or the lower mounting portion 71, whereby the height of the discharge port 109 is increased. Can be adjusted to the height of the receiving port 31 of the post-processing device 5 or the receiving port 39 of the optional device 6, so that even for the post-processing device 5 and the optional device 6 having different heights of the receiving port, one unit is used. The relay transfer device 1 may be prepared. Therefore, the risk of inventory is eliminated, and it is not necessary to add a configuration that is wasted, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

The delivery port of the relay transfer device 1 can be formed at an arbitrary height according to the types of the post-processing device 5 and the optional device 6. Further, the number of delivery ports may be two or more.

Further, since the discharge unit 101 conveys the paper in the horizontal direction and discharges the paper in the horizontal direction, the paper can be smoothly discharged to the receiving port 31 of the post-processing device 5 or the receiving port 39 of the optional device 6.

Further, regardless of whether the discharge unit 101 is mounted on the upper mounting portion 73 or the lower mounting portion 71, the discharge roller pair 105 can be rotated by the common motor assembly 81, so that further cost merit can be obtained.

Next, a modified example of the relay transfer device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view schematically showing the relay transfer device.

In this modification, the mounting portion 141 is rotatably supported by the unit support portion 70 with the end portion on the opposite side of the upper delivery port 43 as a fulcrum. The mounting portion 141 is a box-shaped member having an opening on the side of the delivery port 43, and the discharge unit 101 is mounted from the opening. That is, when the mounting portion 141 rotates, the discharge unit 101 rotates with the end on the opposite side of the discharge port 109, that is, the end on the reception port 107 side as a fulcrum. The mounting portion 141 rotates between a substantially horizontal posture and a posture inclined downward toward the side (left side) of the post-processing device 5. In the substantially horizontal posture, the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 corresponds to the upper delivery port 43, and in the inclined posture, the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 corresponds to the lower delivery port 45. By rotating the mounting portion 141 in this way, the height of the discharge port 109 of the discharge unit 101 can be adjusted to the height of the reception port of the post-processing device 5 and the option device 6. In this case, the height of the discharge port 109 can be changed steplessly. In this case, the second sub-path S2 does not need to branch into the upper route S21 and the lower route S22, and is formed from the fifth branch point D5 toward the receiving port 107 of the discharge unit 101.

In the present embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 3 is an inkjet method has been described, but an electrophotographic method may be used.

1 Relay transfer device 1a Housing 3 Image processing device 5 Post-processing device 6 Optional device 31 Receiving port 39 Receiving port 70 Unit support 71 Lower mounting part 73 Upper mounting part 81 Motor assembly (drive source)
101 Discharge unit 105 Discharge roller pair 109 Discharge port 141 Mounting unit C1 First correction path (correction unit)
C2 2nd correction path (correction section)
D Discharge path I1 First reversal path (reversal part)
I2 2nd reversal path (reversal part)
P Relay transport path

Claims (6)

The paper is arranged between an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and is arranged from the image forming apparatus to the post-processing apparatus. It is a relay transfer device that relays
With the housing
A plurality of relay transport paths provided inside the housing and
A discharge unit that is selectively connected to the downstream end of each of the plurality of relay transport paths on the downstream side in the paper transport direction and has a discharge port for discharging the paper to the receiving port of the post-processing device.
The height of the discharge port of the discharge unit can be changed according to the height of the receiving port, and a unit support portion for supporting the discharge unit is provided .
The discharge unit is connected to a plurality of the relay transport paths, and has a plurality of receiving / receiving ports for receiving paper from the relay transport paths . The plurality of relay transport paths include an upper path and a lower path that branch at a predetermined branch point and extend horizontally, and a common path that extends in the vertical direction.
The relay according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptions include a horizontal port selectively connected to the upper route or the lower route, and a lower port connected to the common road. Transport device. The unit support portion
It has a plurality of mounting portions provided on the side surface of the housing on the side of the post-processing device according to the height of the receiving port.
The relay transfer device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the discharge unit is selectively supported by any of the plurality of mounting portions. The ejection unit has an ejection roller pair that ejects paper by rotating.
The relay according to claim 3 , further comprising a drive source for rotating the discharge roller pair, wherein the drive source is commonly used regardless of which of the plurality of mounting portions the discharge unit is supported. Transport device. The relay transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the discharge unit has a transport path for horizontally transporting paper toward the discharge port. The relay transport path is characterized in that it includes a plurality of reversing portions for inverting the front and back of the paper, and a plurality of correction portions for correcting the position of the paper in a width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. Item 6. The relay transfer device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

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