JP7247581B2 - MEDIA LOADING DEVICE, MEDIA HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEDIA ALIGNMENT IN MEDIA LOADING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medium stacking device that aligns stacked media such as paper, a media processing device that has a discharge mechanism that discharges the aligned media to a stacking unit, and a medium alignment method in the medium stacking device.

As an example of this type of medium stacking device, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a stacking means (an example of an intermediate stacking section) for stacking sheets (an example of media) on which images have been formed, and a stack of sheets on the stacking means. A post-processing device having binding means (an example of a post-processing mechanism) for binding one end is disclosed. The stacking means includes a staple tray on which the sheets on which an image has been formed slides down a slope, a reference fence against which the bottom edge of the slid-down sheets hits, and a bend in the end of the sheets on the staple tray in the conveying direction before the sheets are bound by the binding means. Correcting means for correcting with the aligning part and adjusting means for adjusting the angle of the aligning part with respect to the staple tray are provided. By dividing the staple tray into two parts in the transport direction and bending a part of the staple tray on the paper discharge side downward, the paper on the staple tray is folded to give stiffness in the width direction to the paper. Curling at both ends in the width direction is eliminated by the stiffness of the paper, and alignment of the paper in the width direction is improved by the adjusting parts. Therefore, the aligned bundle of sheets is bound with high positional accuracy.

JP 2015-30596 A

However, in the post-processing device described in Patent Document 1, the folding for imparting stiffness to the medium is possible only in one of the transport direction and the width direction. It is difficult to improve the integrity of the media if That is, in Patent Document 1, in the conveying direction, which is the other direction, the lower end of the medium conveyed along the slope of the staple tray is abutted against the reference fence (abutting portion) for alignment. If both ends of the paper are bent due to curling or the like, it is difficult to align the paper in the conveying direction. In this case, the positional accuracy of the post-processing performed on the media by the post-processing mechanism such as the binding means is lowered. For this reason, it is desired to improve bi-directional alignment with the medium regardless of which direction the medium is curled.

A medium stacking device that solves the above problems includes an intermediate stacking section that receives media processed by a processing section and transported in the transport direction, and a tension member that extends in the transport direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacker. A first deformation forming section that forcibly causes deformation, and a second deformation forming section that forces the medium on the intermediate stacking section to deform with tension extending in a width direction intersecting with the conveying direction. a first aligning section that aligns the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the conveying direction; and a second aligning section that aligns the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the width direction; In a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the deformation forming section, a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section, and the medium is deformed in the width direction by the second deformation forming section. and a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment portion in a state in which tensional deformation extending into the region is generated.

A medium stacking device that solves the above problems includes an intermediate stacking unit that receives a medium processed by a processing unit and transported in a transport direction, and a medium stack that receives the medium on the intermediate stacker in a direction along the transport direction. a first deformation forming portion that extends and is movable between a projecting state in which it projects from the intermediate loading portion by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of projection from the intermediate loading portion is less than the predetermined amount; With respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking section, the medium is extended in a direction along the width direction that intersects with the conveying direction and protrudes from the intermediate stacking section by a predetermined amount. a second deformation forming section movable between a retracted state smaller than a predetermined amount; a first aligning section for aligning the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the conveying direction; a second aligning portion for aligning the medium in the width direction; a first alignment mode for aligning the medium by the first aligning portion with the first deformation forming portion in a protruded state; and a protrusion of the second deformation forming portion. and a second matching mode in which matching is performed by the second matching unit in the state of the second matching unit.

A medium processing apparatus that solves the above problems includes the medium stacking device and a post-processing mechanism that performs post-processing on the media on the intermediate stacking section.
A medium aligning method for a medium stacking device for solving the above-described problem comprises an intermediate stacking unit for receiving media processed by a processing unit and transported in a transport direction; A first deformation forming portion forcibly generating deformation with tension extending in the transport direction to the medium, and tension extending in the width direction intersecting the transport direction to the medium on the intermediate stacking portion. a second deformation forming section that forcibly generates a certain deformation; a first alignment section that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking section in the conveying direction; and aligns the media on the intermediate stacking section in the width direction. a second aligning unit for receiving a medium processed by a processing unit and transported in a transport direction in an intermediate stacking unit; aligning the medium on the intermediate stacking section with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first aligning section; and Aligning by the second aligning portion in a state in which deformation with tension extending in the width direction is generated in the medium.

1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a media processing system including a post-processing device according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a medium stacking device and its surroundings in the post-processing device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a medium stacking device and its surroundings; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a medium stacking device and its surroundings; FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the medium stacking device; FIG. 5 is a partial side view when discharging a medium bundle in the medium stacking device; The perspective view which shows a 2nd alignment mechanism. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a medium stacking device having a first curling mechanism and a second curling mechanism and its surroundings; FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the first curl forming mechanism; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a second curl forming mechanism; The perspective view which shows the state which the 1st rib of a 1st curl formation mechanism protruded. The perspective view which shows the state which the 2nd rib of a 2nd curl formation mechanism protruded. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the media processing system; FIG. The figure which shows 1st reference data. The figure which shows 2nd reference data. 4 is a flowchart showing post-processing control; FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a state in which media are discharged to an intermediate stacker in the medium stacking device; FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing how a medium ejection path is changed in the medium stacking device; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first rib protrudes to form a curl extending in the conveying direction on the medium; FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the first rib protrudes to form a curl extending in the conveying direction on the medium; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second rib protrudes to form a curl extending in the width direction of the medium; FIG. 10 is a front view of a second rib protruding to form a curl extending in the width direction of the medium, as viewed in the first direction; FIG. 4 is a side view showing a medium stacking device and its surroundings showing how a bundle of media is discharged from an intermediate stacker; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an example of a first curl forming mechanism by moving a pair of medium support portions in the width direction, as seen from the direction along the first direction; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an example of a first curl forming mechanism by moving a pair of medium support portions in the width direction, as seen from the direction along the first direction; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an example of a first curl forming mechanism by rotating a pair of medium support portions, as seen from a direction along a first direction; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an example of a first curl forming mechanism by rotating a pair of medium support portions, viewed from the first direction; FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an example of a first curl forming mechanism by vertically moving a pair of medium support portions, as seen from the direction along the first direction; FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing an example of a second curl forming mechanism by vertically moving a pair of medium support portions;

A media processing system including a media processing device according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The media processing system includes, for example, print processing for printing characters and images as processing for media such as paper, reversing processing for reversing the printed media in the process of transporting them, and stacking multiple sheets of media after reversing printing. Then, predetermined post-processing is performed on the loaded bundle of media.

As shown in FIG. 1, the media processing system 11 includes a printing device 13 that prints on a medium 12, a post-processing device 14 as an example of a media processing device that performs post-processing on the printed medium 12, and a printing device 13. and an intermediate device 15 arranged between the post-processing device 14 . The printing device 13 is, for example, an inkjet printer that ejects ink, which is an example of liquid, onto the medium 12 to print characters and images. The post-processing device 14 performs stapling processing for binding a plurality of media 12 as post-processing for the printed media 12 . The intermediate device 15 internally reverses the printed medium 12 carried in from the printing device 13 and then discharges it to the post-processing device 14 . Post-processing applied to the media 12 by the post-processing device 14 may include punching, shifting, saddle stitching, folding, etc., in addition to stapling. Here, punching is processing for punching holes in the medium 12 in units of a predetermined number of sheets, and shifting is processing for alternately shifting and stacking the medium 12 on the discharge stacker 35 by a predetermined number of sheets.

The media processing system 11 is provided with a transport path 17 indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. The printing device 13 and the intermediate device 15 include one or more transport roller pairs 19 that transport the medium 12 along a transport path 17 driven by a transport motor 18 . The post-processing device 14 also includes a transport mechanism 30 that receives and transports the print-processed medium 12 ejected from the intermediate device 15 arranged upstream thereof. The transport mechanism 30 includes a pair of transport rollers 19A and 19B, and discharges the printed medium 12 received from the intermediate device 15 onto an intermediate stacker 32 inside the housing 14A. The printing device 13 and the intermediate device 15 each have a transport motor 18 that drives one or more pairs of transport rollers 19 for each device.

In the drawings, the direction of gravity is indicated by the Z-axis, with the media processing system 11 lying on a horizontal plane, and two mutually intersecting directions along a plane intersecting the Z-axis are indicated by the X-axis and the Y-axis. The X-, Y-, and Z-axes are preferably perpendicular to each other, and the X- and Y-axes lie along a horizontal plane. In the following description, the X-axis direction is also referred to as the width direction X, the Z-axis direction is also referred to as the vertical direction Z, and the direction orthogonal to the width direction X and along the transport path 17 is also referred to as the first transport direction Y0. The first transport direction Y0 is the direction in which the transport roller pairs 19, 19A, and 19B transport the medium 12, and the position of the medium 12 transported from the printing device 13 on the upstream side toward the post-processing device 14 on the downstream side. Varies accordingly.

The printer 13 is detachably provided with a cassette 20 that accommodates the media 12 in a stacked state. A plurality of cassettes 20 may be provided. The printing device 13 includes a pickup roller 21 that feeds out the uppermost medium 12 out of the media 12 stored in the cassette 20, and a separation roller 22 that separates the medium 12 fed out by the pickup roller 21 one by one.

The printing device 13 includes a support portion 23 that is provided along the transport path 17 and supports the medium 12, and a print head 25 that ejects liquid from nozzles 24 onto the medium 12 supported by the support portion 23 for printing. Prepare. The print head 25 is provided at a position facing the support portion 23 with the transport path 17 interposed therebetween. The print head 25 may be a line head that can simultaneously eject liquid across the width direction X, or a serial head that ejects liquid while moving in the width direction X. FIG.

The printing apparatus 13 includes, as a part of the transport path 17, an ejection path 101 through which the medium 12 is ejected, a switchback path 102 through which the medium 12 is switched back and transported, and a reverse path 103 through which the orientation of the medium 12 is reversed. Prepare. The medium 12 printed by the print head 25 is discharged to the discharge section 104 through the discharge path 101 .

When executing double-sided printing, the medium 12 printed on one side is transported to the switchback path 102 and then transported in the reverse direction, and transported from the switchback path 102 to the reverse path 103 . The medium 12 reversed in the reverse path 103 is fed again to the print head 25 and printed on the opposite side of the already printed side by the print head 25 . Thus, the printing device 13 performs double-sided printing on the medium 12 . The printing device 13 conveys the printed medium 12 toward the discharge unit 104 or the intermediate device 15 .

The intermediate device 15 has a reversing processing unit 200 that reverses the printed medium carried in from the printing device 13 and discharges it to the post-processing device 14 . The reverse processing unit 200 includes an introduction route 201 , a first switchback route 202 , a second switchback route 203 , a first joining route 204 , a second joining route 205 , and an extraction route 206 as part of the transport route 17 . Further, the reversing unit 200 includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 19 (not shown) that transport the medium 12 along each of the paths 201 to 206, and transports the medium 12 to one transport destination at the branch points of each of the paths 201 to 203. It has a flap (not shown) that guides to. The medium 12 transported from the printing device 13 to the intermediate device 15 is transported from the introduction path 201 to the first switchback path 202 or the second switchback path 203 by flaps.

The medium 12 transported to the first switchback path 202 is switched back and transported on the first switchback path 202, then reversed on the first merging path 204, and after being reversed, transported to the lead-out path 206. . On the other hand, the medium 12 conveyed from the introduction path 201 to the second switchback path 203 is switchback-conveyed on the second switchback path 203, is reversed on the second merging path 205, and is led out after being reversed. Transported to path 206 . As a result, the medium 12 led from the intermediate device 15 to the post-processing device 14 through the lead-out path 206 is oriented so that the surface printed immediately before by the printing device 13 faces downward. In addition, since the medium 12 is conveyed through the intermediate device 15, the drying time of the medium 12 is ensured, and the transfer of the liquid ejected onto the medium 12 and the curling of the medium 12 due to the water content of the ejected liquid can be suppressed.

Next, an embodiment of the post-processing device 14 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 14 has a transport mechanism 30 that receives the medium 12 that has been reversed and discharged by the reverse processor 200 into the housing 14A and that transports the received medium 12 . The post-processing device 14 also includes a medium stacker 31 having an intermediate stacker 32 as an example of an intermediate stacker that receives and stacks the media 12 ejected from the transport mechanism 30, and media stacked on the intermediate stacker 32. and a post-processing mechanism 33 for performing post-processing on 12 . The intermediate stacker 32 receives the media 12 that have been reversed and discharged by the reverse processor 200 . In this respect, the reverse processing unit 200 corresponds to an example of a processing unit that processes the medium 12 before being discharged to the medium stacking device 31 . Further, in this example, since the medium 12 received by the intermediate stacker 32 undergoes printing processing by the print head 25 before being discharged to the medium stacking device 31, the print head 25 can be said to be an example of a processing unit. .

The transport mechanism 30 has a transport roller pair 19A for transporting the medium 12 discharged from the intermediate device 15 and a transport roller pair 19B for discharging the medium 12 that has been transported to the medium stacking device 31 . A sensor 34 that detects the medium 12 being transported is arranged near the transport mechanism 30 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 , the post-processing device 14 includes a discharge stacker 35 as an example of a stacker for stacking the media 12 discharged from the intermediate stacker 32 . The discharge stacker 35 extends outward from the side surface of the housing 14A of the post-processing device 14 . The discharge stacker 35 receives and stacks the post-processed media 12 discharged from the intermediate stacker 32 to the outside of the housing 14A. The discharge stacker 35 is vertically movable along the side surface of the housing 14A. The discharge stacker 35 is configured to receive the medium 12 discharged from the medium stacking device 31 based on the detection result of a detection unit (not shown) that detects the stacking height of the medium 12 to be stacked. descend.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medium stacking device 31 has a discharge mechanism 36 that conveys the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 toward the discharge stacker 35 and discharges it. The discharge mechanism 36 of this example employs a roller conveying method having a pair of conveying rollers. Note that the ejection mechanism 36 is not limited to the roller conveying method, and may be an extrusion method having a pusher (not shown) that ejects the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to the ejection stacker 35 by pushing the medium 12 from the intermediate stacker 32 .

Further, the medium stacking device 31 includes a medium support section 37 that supports the downstream portion of the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the discharge direction, and a contact section that performs an alignment operation with respect to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32. and a first alignment member 38 . The medium support section 37 is positioned vertically above the discharge stacker 35 and also has a function of temporarily supporting the medium 12 conveyed from the intermediate stacker 32 . A pair of medium support portions 37 are provided on both sides of the transport area of the medium 12 in the width direction X, and are movable in the width direction X according to the size of the medium 12 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 13 includes a first detector 111 that detects the thickness of the medium 12 at a position before printing, and a paper fiber detector 111 that detects the thickness of the medium 12 when the medium 12 is paper. and a second detection unit 112 that detects the fiber direction, which is the direction in which the fiber extends. In addition, the medium 12 after printing may curl due to absorption of water in liquid such as ink adhered during printing and stretching. As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 14 may include a third detection unit 113 that detects the amount of curl that occurs in the medium 12 due to liquid such as ink adhered to the medium 12. good.

Next, a detailed configuration of the medium stacking device 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the medium stacking device 31 includes the aforementioned intermediate stacker 32, discharge mechanism 36, medium support section 37, first alignment member 38, and the like. Intermediate stacker 32 has a stacking surface 32A for stacking received media 12 thereon. The stacking surface 32A is a sloping surface in which the upstream end is positioned lower in the vertical direction Z than the downstream end in the first transport direction Y0. The medium stacking device 31 includes, as another component, a path changing mechanism 41 that changes the path of the medium 12 ejected from the transport mechanism 30 at a predetermined ejection speed to a path along the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 . The path changing mechanism 41 has a movable guide 42 that strikes down the medium 12 discharged at a predetermined speed from the transport mechanism 30 and guides it to the intermediate stacker 32 located below.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, after the path changing mechanism 41 starts to operate, the medium stacking device 31 is moved to the first direction, which is the direction in which the medium 12 is ejected along the changed path, the stacking surface 32A. It has a first feeding mechanism 43 that applies a conveying force to the medium 12 in a second direction Y2, which is the direction opposite to the direction Y1. The medium stacking device 31 also has a second feed mechanism 44 that applies a conveying force in the second direction Y2 to the medium 12 at a position downstream of the first feed mechanism 43 in the second direction Y2. The first feeding mechanism 43 includes a rotary first paddle 45 as an example of a feeding section that contacts the medium 12 while rotating and applies a conveying force to the medium 12 in the second direction Y2. The second feeding mechanism 44 also includes a rotary second paddle 46 as an example of a feeding section that contacts the medium 12 while rotating and applies a conveying force to the medium 12 in the second direction Y2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the intermediate stacker 32 has a medium abutment section 47 that aligns the medium 12 by coming into contact with the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12. As shown in FIG. The medium abutting portion 47 extends upward in a predetermined shape from the downstream end portion of the intermediate stacker 32 in the second direction Y2, and has a surface portion orthogonal to the stacking surface 32A in the side view of FIGS. The paddles 45 and 46 described above apply force to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the direction toward the medium abutting portion 47 .

The medium 12 fed in the second direction Y2 by the first feeding mechanism 43 and the second feeding mechanism 44 collides with the medium abutment portion 47 at the trailing end 12r, which is the downstream end in the second direction Y2. It is positioned in the second direction Y2 with reference to the contact position. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of medium abutting portions 47 are provided at intervals in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The intervals between the plurality of medium abutment portions 47 are set so that the medium 12 with the minimum width can be abutted at a plurality of locations.

Here, the first direction Y1 is also the ejection direction in which the medium 12 is ejected toward the ejection stacker 35 along the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 . The second direction Y2 is also the transport direction in which the medium 12 received by the intermediate stacker 32 is transported along the stacking surface 32A until it hits the medium abutting portion 47 . Therefore, hereinafter, the direction along the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 may be referred to as the "first direction Y1".

As shown in FIG. 2, the medium stacking device 31 includes a first aligning mechanism 51 as an example of a first aligning unit that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1, and the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32. in the width direction X, and a second aligning mechanism 52 as an example of a second aligning portion. The first alignment mechanism 51 includes an elongated support frame 53 extending in the first direction Y1 above the discharge stacker 35, and the above-described support frame 53 reciprocally movable in the first direction Y1 along the lower surface of the support frame 53. It has a first alignment member 38 and a medium abutting portion 47 . The first aligning member 38 moves to an upper position facing the discharge stacker 35 substantially parallel to the stacking surface 35A. The second aligning mechanism 52 also includes a pair of second aligning members 54 movable in the width direction X along the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 . The discharge stacker 35 has a concave portion 35B on the stacking surface 35A for avoiding contact with the first alignment member 38 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first aligning member 38 has a first position P1 for aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32, and a first position P1 which is farther from the leading edge 12f of the media 12 than the first position P1. It is provided so as to be movable between two positions P2. The first aligning member 38 applies a force to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the direction toward the medium abutting portion 47 at the first position P1. When the medium 12 transported from the reversing section 200 is discharged from the transport mechanism 30, the first alignment member 38 is positioned at the third position P3 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. .

In FIG. 2 , the two-dot chain line indicates the position when the medium 12 reaches the furthest downstream position after being ejected from the transport mechanism 30 in the first transport direction Y0, the path of which has been changed by the operation of the path change mechanism 41. A third position P3 is a position where the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 indicated by the chain double-dashed line does not contact the alignment surface 38A. For this reason, the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 discharged from the conveying roller pair 19B in the first conveying direction Y0 normally does not come into contact with the first alignment member 38 located at the third position. 12 only, the tip 12 f contacts the first alignment member 38 . In this embodiment, by arranging the first alignment member 38 at the third position P3, the forceful medium 12 ejected from the transport roller pair 19B to the upper side of the intermediate stacker 32 is brought into contact with the alignment surface 38A. It restricts the discharged medium 12 from going too far downstream in the first transport direction Y0.

In FIG. 2, the media 12 received on the stacking surface 32A are indicated by solid lines, and in FIG. 4, the media 12 received on the stacking surface 32A are indicated by two-dot chain lines. The first alignment member 38 moves from the third position P<b>3 to the first position P<b>1 and contacts the leading edge 12 f of the medium 12 , thereby reliably abutting the trailing edge 12 r of the medium 12 against the medium abutting portion 47 . That is, by sandwiching the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 between the first aligning member 38 and the medium abutting portion 47 in the first direction Y1, the first alignment operation is performed to align the medium 12 in the first direction Y1.

The second position P2 is the position where the first aligning member 38 is arranged when the ejection mechanism 36 is driven and the medium 12 is ejected from the intermediate stacker 32 . In this example, the first alignment member 38 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2 after completing the first alignment operation for the final medium 12 among the target number of sheets to be stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 . Therefore, when the ejection mechanism 36 is driven after the second alignment operation performed after the first alignment operation for the final medium 12 is completed, the first alignment member 38 is positioned at the second position P2.

The media 12 ejected from the intermediate stacker 32 are stacked on the ejection stacker 35 after the leading edge 12f contacts the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 located at the second position P2. At this time, the medium supporting portion 37 that has supported the leading edge of the medium 12 before the medium 12 is discharged from the intermediate stacker 32 contacts the first aligning member 38 where the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 is at the second position P2. Before or after, the medium 12 is retracted to a retracted position where the medium 12 cannot be supported in the width direction X. As a result, the medium 12 drops and is stacked on the discharge stacker 35 after the leading edge 12f comes into contact with the matching surface 38A. Therefore, the first position P1, the second position P2 and the third position P3 of the first alignment member 38 are changed according to the size of the medium 12. FIG.

That is, the distance in the first direction Y1 between the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 at the first position P1 and the medium abutting portion 47 is equal to the length of the medium 12 in the first direction Y1 (medium length). equal. Further, the distance in the first direction Y1 between the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 at the second position P2 and the nip position of the discharge mechanism 36 is longer than the length of the medium 12 in the first direction Y1 by a first predetermined distance. long. The first predetermined distance is set to a value at which the leading edge 12f of the medium bundle 12B ejected from the ejection mechanism 36 contacts, and is a value within a range of 5 to 50 mm, for example.

The distance on the transport path between the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 at the third position P3 and the nip position of the transport roller pair 19B constituting the transport mechanism 30 is greater than the length of the medium 12 in the first direction Y1. is also longer by a second predetermined distance. The second predetermined distance is set to a value such that the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 does not reach the alignment surface 38A according to the speed at which the medium 12 is discharged from the conveying roller pair 19B. In this example, the second predetermined distance is set to a value that is desired to be within the reached position of the leading end 12f of the medium 12 even if it exceeds the reached position in the normal state.

In this example, the first predetermined distance is set to a value shorter than the second predetermined distance. However, the first predetermined distance is determined from the desired dropping position of the medium bundle 12B onto the stacking surface 35A, and the second predetermined distance is a value determined according to the discharge speed of the medium 12 from the transport mechanism 30 and the like. In this respect, the first predetermined distance and the second predetermined distance may have the same value, the first predetermined distance may be longer, or the value may be outside the range indicated by the numerical value (mm).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the medium stacking device 31 includes a medium support mechanism 55 having a pair of medium support portions 37. As shown in FIG. The medium support section 37 supports the leading edge of the medium 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 . The medium support mechanism 55 moves the pair of medium support portions 37 in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pair of medium support portions 37 has support surfaces 37A that support the lower surface of the medium 12 and guide surfaces 37B that guide the side edges of the medium 12. As shown in FIGS.

The support surface 37A extends along the first direction Y1 at a position that is the same as or slightly below a virtual plane extending the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1. The upstream end of the support surface 37A in the first direction Y1 is located near the discharge mechanism 36. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of medium support portions 37 has a support position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4 in the width direction X between the retracted position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The support position is a position where the distance between the pair of guide surfaces 37B is longer than the width dimension of the medium 12 by a predetermined distance, and the medium 12 can be guided in the width direction X by the pair of guide surfaces 37B. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , when the pair of medium support portions 37 are arranged at the support position, the medium 12 received in the intermediate stacker 32 extends downstream in the first direction Y1 from the discharge mechanism 36 . The protruded downstream portion is supported by the support surface 37A. Further, when the pair of medium support portions 37 are at the support position, the side edges of the medium 12 are guided by the guide surfaces 37B, so that the medium 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 is within the allowable range of deviation in the width direction X. fit. Further, when the pair of medium support portions 37 moves from the support position to the retracted position in the width direction X, the medium bundle 12B that has been held by the pair of support surfaces 37A until then drops.

The pair of medium support portions 37 supports the leading end portion of the media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32, thereby suppressing sagging of the leading end portion. Here, the stacking surface 35A of the discharge stacker 35 is lower than the imaginary plane obtained by extending the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 in the downstream direction. Therefore, if the leading edge of the medium 12 is not supported, the leading edge of the medium 12 will hang down and come into contact with the stacking surface 35A. If the medium bundle 12B is ejected with the leading end hanging down, the leading end may be caught inward and folded. A pair of medium support portions 37 are provided to prevent the tip portion from sagging, which causes this kind of folding.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate stacker 32 has a predetermined length in the width direction X. As shown in FIGS. The intermediate stacker 32 of this example has a predetermined length in the width direction X that is longer than the width of the widest medium 12 . The center position of the intermediate stacker 32 in the width direction X becomes the width center of the media 12 received on the stacking surface 32A. The movable guide 42 is positioned above the width center portion of the intermediate stacker 32 . For this reason, the movable guide 42 changes the path of the medium 12 by hitting the central portion in the width direction X of the medium 12 discharged from the transport mechanism 30 . A plurality of movable guides 42 may be provided at different positions in the width direction X. In this case, the central movable guide 42 is operated when the medium 12 is of a small size including the minimum width, and the plurality of movable guides 42 are operated when the medium 12 is of a large size including the maximum width.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the pair of first paddles 45 are fixed to a rotating shaft 48 that is axially supported while extending in the width direction X above the intermediate stacker 32 . The pair of first paddles 45 are arranged at positions separated by a predetermined interval (first interval) in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The pair of first paddles 45 are positioned so as to be in contact with the medium 12 of the first size having a width equal to or greater than a predetermined dimension at two points in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second paddle 46 is fixed to a rotary shaft 49 that is axially supported while extending in the width direction X above the intermediate stacker 32 and downstream of the rotary shaft 48 in the second direction Y2. The pair of second paddles 46 are positioned in the width direction X at a second distance narrower than the first distance between the pair of first paddles 45 . The pair of second paddles 46 are positioned so as to be in contact with the second size medium 12 having a width less than a predetermined dimension at two points in the width direction X. As shown in FIG.

A rotating shaft 48 shown in FIG. 4 is connected to an electric motor (both not shown) as a driving source via a belt-type power transmission mechanism, for example, in a state in which power can be transmitted. Further, the rotating shaft 49 is connected to an electric motor (both not shown), which is a driving source, so as to be capable of power transmission via a belt-type power transmission mechanism, for example. Therefore, the first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 are driven independently.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first paddle 45 has a plurality of blades 45A radially extending in a spaced-apart manner around the axis of the rotating shaft 48. As shown in FIG. The second paddle 46 has a plurality of blades 46</b>A radially extending in a spaced-apart manner around the rotation shaft 49 . The length dimension of the blade 45A of the first paddle 45 is longer than the length dimension of the blade 46A of the second paddle 46. As shown in FIG. That is, the first paddle 45 is a long large paddle of blade 45A and the second paddle 46 is a short small paddle of blade 46A. Blades 45A and 46A have lengths that allow contact with loading surface 32A. Also, the first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 each have three blades 45A and 46A positioned within a predetermined angular range of less than 180 degrees in the circumferential direction, and the blades 45A and 46A are positioned on the medium bundle 12B on the stacking surface 32A. It is possible to stop at the retracted position, which is a rotation angle at which none of 46A come into contact with each other. Materials for the blades 45A and 46A include elastic materials such as rubber and elastomer, and synthetic resins such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Moreover, the blades 45A and 46A are preferably members in the form of sheets having elasticity.

By rotating the first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5, the route is changed by the rotation of the movable guide 42 when discharged from the pair of conveying rollers 19B in the first conveying direction Y0. Then, the medium 12 is fed in the direction in which the trailing edge 12 r hits the medium abutting portion 47 .

The large-sized medium 12 is larger than the small-sized medium 12 even if the ejection speed from the transport mechanism 30 is the same. need power. In addition, the medium 12 of large size requires a larger conveying force in the second direction Y2 than the medium 12 of small size. For this reason, the large-sized medium 12 is given a braking force against the inertia in the discharge direction in the process of changing the path by the large-diameter first paddle 45, and the medium 12 after braking is subjected to the first pressure. A conveying force in the second direction Y2 is applied by the paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 .

On the other hand, for the small-size medium 12, the force due to inertia in the ejection direction is relatively small compared to the large-size medium, so the second paddle 46 alone applies the conveying force in the second direction Y2. The first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 to pull the medium 12 received by the intermediate stacker 32 back in the second direction Y2 toward the medium abutment section 47 .

As shown in FIG. 5, the transport mechanism 30 includes two path forming plates 30A that face each other with a predetermined gap, and transports the medium 12 along the path between the two path forming plates 30A. An upstream transport roller pair 19A (see FIG. 1) and a downstream transport roller pair 19B. The path forming plate 30A is provided with a sensor 34 for detecting the medium 12 at a position upstream of the transport roller pair 19B. The transport roller pair 19B positioned at the discharge port of the transport mechanism 30 has a driving roller 19D and a driven roller 19F rotating together with the driving roller 19D.

The movable guide 42 shown in FIG. 5 is of a rotary type that rotates within a predetermined angle range about a rotary shaft 42A at the downstream end in the first transport direction Y0. The movable guide 42 rotates between a standby position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5 and an operating position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, which is rotated by a predetermined angle clockwise from the standby position. A leading end 42B, which is an upstream end of the movable guide 42, is located above and near the discharge port of the transport roller pair 19B. That is, the medium 12 ejected from the transport roller pair 19B moves in the first transport direction Y0 below the movable guide 42 at the standby position. By rotating from the standby position toward the operating position, the movable guide 42 knocks down the center of the width of the discharged medium 12 and guides the medium 12 to the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32, which is the destination of the medium 12. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge mechanism 36 includes a driving roller 36A positioned at the downstream end of the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1, and a driven roller 36B rotating with the rotation of the driving roller 36A when in the nip position. and In this embodiment, the driven roller 36B is pivotally supported by the base end portion of the movable guide 42 . The driven roller 36B moves between the nip position shown in FIG. 6 where the medium 12 or the medium bundle 12B can be nipped between the driven roller 36A and the release position shown in FIG. Moving.

The movement of the driven roller 36B between the nip position and the separated position is performed by rotating the movable guide 42 around a position near the leading end 42B as a rotation fulcrum to change the posture. Therefore, even if the movable guide 42 changes its posture in order to move the driven roller 36B between the nip position and the spaced position, the tip 42B of the movable guide 42 remains above and near the discharge port of the conveying roller pair 19B. retained. That is, the movable guide 42 changes the attitude angle while holding the tip 42B above and near the discharge port of the transport roller pair 19B, thereby moving the driven roller 36B between the nip position and the separated position. The driven roller 36B is urged in a direction to approach the driving roller 36A by a spring (not shown). Therefore, when the driven roller 36B shown in FIG. 6 is at the nip position, the medium bundle 12B indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 is nipped between the drive roller 36A and the driven roller 36B.

The number of stacked media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 changes according to the set number in the post-processing condition information set by the user. Therefore, the thickness of the medium bundle 12B after post-processing changes according to the set number of media 12 to be post-processed. When the driven roller 36B moves to the nip position with the media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32, the media bundle 12B is nipped between the drive roller 36A and the driven roller 36B. When discharging the medium bundle 12B from the intermediate stacker 32, the discharge mechanism 36 is driven, and the medium bundle 12B is discharged in the first direction Y1 by the rotation of the rollers 36A and 36B that nip the medium bundle 12B.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the outer surface of the wall extending downward from the downstream end of the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1 forms an upright wall 56 that stands upright along the vertical direction Z. ing. A stacking surface 35A, which is the upper surface of the discharge stacker 35, is formed on an inclined surface in which the base end side is lower in the vertical direction Z than the tip end side. When the medium bundle 12B on the intermediate stacker 32, indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The rear end 12r is aligned in the first direction Y1 by contacting the standing wall 56 (see FIG. 23).

Next, detailed configurations of the first alignment mechanism 51 and the second alignment mechanism 52 will be described.
First, the configuration of the first alignment mechanism 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first alignment mechanism 51 includes a first alignment member 38, two guide shafts 61 that movably guide the first alignment member 38, and an electric motor 62 that serves as a drive source. , and a power transmission mechanism 63 that transmits the driving force of the electric motor 62 to the first alignment member 38 . The electric motor 62 and power transmission mechanism 63 are assembled to the elongated support frame 53 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the power transmission mechanism 63 has a pair of pulleys 64 and a timing belt 65 wound around the pair of pulleys 64 . One pulley 64 is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 62 . The first alignment member 38 is fixed to part of the timing belt 65 . The first alignment member 38 extends downward through a guide hole 53</b>A opening at the bottom of the support frame 53 . When the electric motor 62 is driven to rotate forward, the first aligning member 38 moves in the second direction Y2 to approach the medium abutting portion 47 of the intermediate stacker 32 . On the other hand, when the electric motor 62 is reversely driven, the first alignment member 38 moves away from the medium abutting portion 47 in the first direction Y1.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first aligning member 38 is arranged at three positions P1 to P3 on the movement path according to the length of the medium 12 in the first transport direction Y0. to move. That is, the first aligning member 38 has a first position P1 at which the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 are aligned, and a second position P2 at a position farther from the leading edge 12f of the media 12 than the first position P1. move between When the post-processed media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 are discharged to the discharge stacker 35, the first alignment member 38 is arranged at the second position P2. Also, the first alignment member 38 is arranged at a third position P3 between the first position P1 and the second position P2 when the medium 12 is ejected from the reversing section 200 . That is, when the transport mechanism 30 that receives and transports the medium 12 ejected from the reversing section 200 ejects the medium 12, the first alignment member 38 is arranged at the third position P3. This third position P3 is a position where the first aligning member 38 retreats while media are being stacked on the intermediate stacker 32, and it is assumed that the leading edge 12f of the ejected media 12 reaches the furthest downstream in the first transport direction Y0. It is set at a position further downstream by a predetermined conveying distance from the most downstream position where it is located. Therefore, the media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 do not normally hit the first aligning member 38 . However, when the medium 12 moves further downstream from the assumed most downstream position due to an irregular reason during the process of receiving the media 12 into the intermediate stacker 32, the downstream movement is regulated to a certain position.

Next, a detailed configuration of the second alignment mechanism 52 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the second alignment mechanism 52 moves the pair of second alignment members 54 in the width direction X to align the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the width direction X. and two guide shafts 71 for guiding. Further, the second aligning mechanism 52 includes two electric motors 72 as drive sources for individually driving the pair of second aligning members 54, and transmits the driving force of the two electric motors 72 to the pair of second aligning members 54. and two power transmission mechanisms 73 that The second alignment member 54 is supported by a slider 75 via a support portion 74 extending in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. The slider 75 moves along the guide shaft 71 .

The two power transmission mechanisms 73 are belt driven, for example. The power transmission mechanism 73 includes a pair of pulleys 76 and an endless timing belt 77 wound around the pair of pulleys 76 . Each of them rotates forward and backward independently. One of the pair of pulleys is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 72 . The slider 75 is fixed to part of the timing belt 77 . Note that the power transmission mechanism 73 may be driven by another drive system such as a ball screw drive system instead of the belt drive system. Further, the drive source is not limited to the electric motor 72, and may be an electric cylinder, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pair of second aligning members 54 are cut to avoid contact between aligning surfaces 54A facing in the width direction X and first ribs 83 (see FIGS. 8 and 11) to be described later. Notch 54B. When the pair of second alignment members 54 moves from the retracted position to the alignment position where the space is narrowed in the width direction X, the alignment surfaces 54A contact the side edges of the medium 12 in the width direction X, thereby moving the medium 12 in the width direction. Match X. The alignment positions of the pair of second alignment members 54 are determined according to the width of the media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 . The distance between the pair of alignment surfaces 54A when the pair of second alignment members 54 are in the alignment position is equal to the width dimension of the medium 12. As shown in FIG.

When the electric motor 72 shown in FIG. 7 is driven forward, the pair of second alignment members 54 move toward each other, and when the electric motor 72 is driven reversely, the pair of second alignment members 54 move toward each other. move away from each other. Further, when the pair of electric motors 72 are driven in directions opposite to each other, the pair of second alignment members 54 move in the width direction X while maintaining the distance between them. In this manner, the pair of second alignment members 54 can move to change the widthwise distance X and to move in the widthwise direction X while maintaining the widthwise distance. The pair of second alignment members 54 are arranged at retracted positions capable of guiding the medium 12 in the width direction X according to the size of the medium 12 between the maximum width and the minimum width. The pair of aligning members 54 waits at a retracted position in which the gap between the pair of aligning surfaces 54A facing in the width direction X is slightly wider than the width of the medium 12 when the alignment operation is not performed. The pair of second aligning members 54 moves in the width direction X while guiding the medium 12 during post-processing, and moves the trailing edge corner of the medium 12 to an oblique processing position where oblique impact by the post-processing mechanism 33 is possible. is possible.

The medium support mechanism 55 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a drive system (not shown) arranged above the pair of medium support portions 37 . This drive system has approximately the same configuration as the drive system of the second alignment mechanism 52 shown in FIG. The drive system of the medium support mechanism 55 includes two guide shafts inserted through holes in guide portions 37C shown in FIGS. 37 and two power transmission mechanisms (both not shown) that transmit the driving force of each electric motor to each of the pair of medium support portions 37 . The power transmission mechanism uses, for example, a belt drive system or a rack and pinion mechanism similar to the second alignment mechanism 52 . The pair of medium support portions 37 individually move in one or the other direction in the width direction X by driving the electric motor forward or backward. Therefore, the pair of medium support portions 37 can move to change the gap in the width direction X and move in the width direction X while maintaining the gap. The pair of medium support portions 37 move in the width direction X together with the pair of second alignment members 54 while holding the medium 12 during post-processing, so that the post-processing mechanism 33 can obliquely bind the trailing corners of the medium 12. can be moved to a predetermined post-processing position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the post-processing mechanism 33 moves along the guide groove 39A on the stage member 39 arranged behind the intermediate stacker 32. As shown in FIG. The guide groove 39A extends in the width direction X with a length slightly longer than the width of the medium 12 of the maximum size, and has a groove path bent so as to spread obliquely in the first direction Y1 at both ends thereof. Therefore, the post-processing mechanism 33 can move to an arbitrary position in the width direction X at the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 of the maximum size, and can obliquely change its posture at the end of the groove path to move the trailing edge corner of the medium 12. It can be placed at an oblique processing position where oblique post-processing such as oblique binding can be applied to the sheet. In addition, when oblique post-processing such as oblique binding is performed on the trailing edge portion of the medium 12 having a size smaller than the maximum size, the medium 12 is held by the pair of medium support portions 37 and the pair of second alignment members 54 . While maintaining the space between them, they move together in the width direction X, and move the trailing end corner of the medium 12 to a position where the post-processing mechanism 33 can perform oblique post-processing when positioned at the oblique processing position. . Therefore, post-processing such as flat hitting and oblique hitting can be performed by the post-processing mechanism 33 on the medium 12 of any size.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the medium stacking device 31 of the present embodiment includes a first curl forming mechanism 81 and a second curl forming mechanism 81 for forcibly forming a curl, which is an example of deformation, on the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . A mechanism 82 is provided. Hereinafter, configurations of the first curl forming mechanism 81 and the second curl forming mechanism 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 11 and 12. FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12, the medium stacking device 31 causes the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl in the first direction Y1 as an example of tension deformation extending in the first direction Y1. A first curl forming mechanism 81 forcibly generating curl is provided. Further, the medium stacking device 31 forces the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl in the width direction X as an example of tense deformation extending in the width direction X intersecting the first direction Y1. 2. A curl forming mechanism 82 is provided.

The first curl forming mechanism 81 has a first rib 83 as an example of a first deformation forming portion extending in a direction along the first direction Y1. The first rib 83 can move between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 is smaller than the predetermined amount. Here, in the retracted state, the protrusion amount of the first rib 83 may include "0 (zero)". In this example, the first rib 83 moves between the protruded state and the retracted state, and forcibly deforms the medium 12 in the protruded state, thereby forming a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1. It is also an example of a deformation part.

The second curl forming mechanism 82 has a second rib 84 as an example of a second deformation forming portion extending in a direction along the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The second rib 84 can move between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount, and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 is smaller than the predetermined amount. Here, in the retracted state, the protrusion amount of the second rib 84 may include "0 (zero)". In this example, the second rib 84 moves between the protruded state and the retracted state, and forcibly deforms the medium 12 in the protruded state, thereby forming the curl C2 extending in the width direction X. It is also an example of part.

Here, the protrusion amount of the first rib 83 and the second rib 84 is based on the stacking surface 32A. The stacking surface 32A has, for example, an uneven surface shape having protrusions and recesses in places, and the amount of protrusion of each rib 83, 84 is based on the highest position on the stacking surface 32A.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the first rib 83 has a predetermined length extending along the first direction Y1 at the center position of the intermediate stacker 32 in the width direction X, and is positioned relative to the stacking surface 32A. It is set up so that it can be haunted. The medium 12 received on the intermediate stacker 32 is received with its width center aligned with the width center of the intermediate stacker 32 regardless of its size. Therefore, the first rib 83 extending in the first direction Y1 is positioned on the rear side of the center of the width of the media 12 of any size received on the stacking surface 32A.

8 and 12, the second rib 84 has a predetermined length extending along the width direction X in the vicinity of the center of the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1. It is provided so that it can appear. The second rib 84 extends over an area slightly longer than the entire area in which the medium 12 having the maximum width in the width direction X is arranged.

The first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are provided in an intersecting state in the intermediate stacker 32 . Specifically, the extending directions of the first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are orthogonal to each other, and cross each other in a cross shape in plan view on the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 . Therefore, in this example, two second ribs 84 are arranged separately on both sides of the first rib 83 .

Next, configurations of the first curl forming mechanism 81 and the second curl forming mechanism 82 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the first rib 83 is provided so as to be able to move up and down. The first curl forming mechanism 81 includes a support member 85 that supports the first rib 83, a rack 86 that extends in the vertical direction Z from the support member 85, and a gear 87 (pinion) that meshes with the tooth portion 86A of the rack 86. and an electric motor 89 that drives the gear 87 to rotate. When the electric motor 89 is driven to rotate forward, the first rib 83 moves from the retracted state, which is a projection amount (including "0") less than a predetermined amount indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, to the solid line in FIG. It moves to a protruding state where it protrudes by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the electric motor 89 is reversely driven, the first rib 83 moves from the projecting state indicated by solid lines in FIG. 9 to the retracted state indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the second rib 84 is provided so as to be able to move up and down. The second curl forming mechanism 82 includes support members 91 that respectively support the two second ribs 84, racks 92 that extend in the vertical direction Z from the two support members 91, and gears that mesh with the teeth 92A of the racks 92. A rack-and-pinion mechanism 94 having 93 (pinion) and an electric motor 96 that rotates a rotating shaft 95 connecting two gears 93 are provided. When the electric motor 96 is driven to rotate forward, the second rib 84 moves from the retracted state, which is a protrusion amount (including "0") less than a predetermined amount (including "0") indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It moves to a protruding state where it protrudes by a predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the electric motor 96 is reversely driven, the second rib 84 moves from the projecting state indicated by solid lines in FIG. 10 to the retracted state indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the first rib 83 is in the projecting state, the second rib 84 is in the retracted state. The medium 12 received on the stacking surface 32A and indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. A curl extending in the first direction Y1 is formed as an example of a modification of . Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the second rib 84 is in the projecting state, the first rib 83 is in the retracted state. The medium 12 received on the stacking surface 32A and indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. A curl extending in the width direction X is formed as an example of a modification. In addition, if the first rib 83 can form a curl extending in the first direction Y1, the extending direction thereof does not necessarily have to coincide with the first direction Y1. Similarly, if the second rib 84 can form a curl extending in the width direction X, the extending direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the width direction X.

The medium stacking device 31 operates in a first alignment mode in which the medium 12 is curled in the first direction Y1 by the first rib 83 in a projecting state and aligned by the first alignment member 38, and in a first alignment mode in the projecting state. and a second aligning mode in which the second aligning member 54 aligns the medium 12 while the curl extending in the width direction X is generated in the medium 12 by the two ribs 84 .

Note that the first curl forming mechanism 81 may be configured to include a pair of medium support portions 37 instead of or in addition to the configuration in which the first rib 83 is moved between the protruding state and the retracted state. In this case, the pair of medium support portions 37 moves in the width direction X to force the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 (see FIGS. 24 and 25). Alternatively, the medium support portion 37 is configured to be movable in the width direction X and to be rotatable around an axis along the first direction Y1. The medium support section 37 rotates about its axis to forcibly cause the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 (see FIGS. 26 and 27).

Further, the medium support portion 37 is configured to be vertically movable in addition to being movable in the width direction X. FIG. Then, the first curl forming mechanism 81 moves the first rib 83 between the protruded state and the retracted state, or moves the first rib 83 between the protruded state and the retracted state. A curl C1 extending in one direction Y1 is forcibly generated (see FIG. 28). In addition, the second curl forming mechanism 82 moves the second ribs 84 between the protruding state and the retracted state, or lowers the medium support section 37 so that the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 are widthwise adjusted. A curl C2 extending in the direction X is forcibly generated (see FIG. 29).

Next, referring to FIG. 13, the electrical configuration of the media processing system 11 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 13 , the media processing system 11 includes a control unit 100 that controls driving of each mechanism in the media processing system 11 in an integrated manner. The control unit 100 receives print data PD from the host device 150, for example. The print data PD includes, for example, CMYK color system image data that defines printing condition information and print content.

The printing condition information includes media size, media type, presence/absence of double-sided printing (single-sided printing/double-sided printing), printing color (color or grayscale), printing quality (normal printing/high-definition printing), number of prints, and post-processing conditions. Contains information about information. Therefore, from the printing condition information, the control unit 100 obtains information regarding the medium 12 to be post-processed by the post-processing device 14, such as medium size, medium type, single-sided printing or double-sided printing, post-processing details, post-processing The number of media for one time can be obtained. Furthermore, based on the image data, the control unit 100 analyzes the amount of liquid adhering to each of the first and second surfaces of the medium 12 in double-sided printing. Further, the control unit 100 obtains the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium 12 by the print head 25 based on the pixel values in the image data, and divides the amount of liquid ejected by the area of the medium 12 to calculate the amount of liquid per unit area. A print duty (print duty) representing an average ejection amount, which is an ejection amount, in a numerical value (%) is acquired. The print duty is indicated by the ratio (%) of the ejection amount when the maximum ejection amount is 100%.

Sensor 34 , first detection section 111 , second detection section 112 and third detection section 113 are electrically connected to control section 100 . The sensor 34 detects the presence or absence of the medium 12 and outputs a detection signal. The controller 100 detects the leading edge 12 f of the medium 12 by switching the sensor 34 from the non-detection state in which the medium 12 is not detected to the detection state in which the medium 12 is detected. Further, the controller 100 detects the trailing edge 12 r of the medium 12 by switching the sensor 34 from the detection state in which the medium 12 is detected to the non-detection state in which the medium 12 is not detected.

The first detector 111 may detect the medium thickness, which is the thickness of the medium 12 . In this case, the first detection unit 111 may be a contact sensor that detects the thickness of the medium by coming into contact with the medium 12, or a non-contact sensor that detects the thickness of the medium without contact using light or ultrasonic waves. . When the first detection unit 111 is a contact-type sensor, for example, it has a contact that can be displaced in the thickness direction of the medium 12, and the reference detection when the contact comes into contact with the conveying surface when the medium 12 is absent. The medium thickness is detected from the difference between the position and the detected position when the contact touches the surface of the medium 12 .

The second detector 112 may detect the fiber direction of the medium 12 . In that case, the second detection unit 112 may be, for example, a non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor that optically detects the fiber direction of the medium 12, or may perform image processing on a photographic image obtained by imaging the medium 12 at a high magnification. It may have an imaging element for detecting the fiber direction. As an optical sensor, there is a method of irradiating light onto cellulose fibers on the surface of the medium and detecting how the reflected light spreads to determine the direction of the fibers.

The third detector 113 may detect the amount of curl. In that case, the third detection unit 113 may be a contact sensor that detects the curl amount of the top sheet of the media 12 stacked on the stacking surface 32A, or may be a non-contact sensor using light or ultrasonic waves. A non-contact sensor that detects the amount of curl may be used. When the third detection unit 113 is a contact sensor, for example, it has a contact that can be displaced in a direction intersecting the stacking surface 32A, and detects a position when the contact touches the medium 12, A curl amount is detected as a difference from the calculated surface position of one of the media 12 stacked on the surface 32A.

As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 100 controls the print head 25, the transport motor 18, the transport mechanism 30, the path changing mechanism 41, the first feed mechanism 43, the second feed mechanism 44, the first curl forming mechanism 81, the second A control signal is transmitted to the curl forming mechanism 82 , the first alignment mechanism 51 , the second alignment mechanism 52 , the medium support mechanism 55 , the post-processing mechanism 33 and the ejection mechanism 36 . Thereby, the control unit 100 controls the operations of the print head 25, the transport motor 18, and the mechanisms 30, 33, 36, 41, 43, 44, 51, 52, 55, 81, and 82.

The control unit 100 also includes a computer (not shown), and the computer includes a first counter 121, a second counter 122, a third counter 123, a number counter 124, and a timer 125. The timer 125 counts the elapsed time since the sensor 34 detected the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 . The control unit 100 controls the driving start timing of the movable guide 42, the first alignment member 38, the second alignment member 54, etc. according to the elapsed time measured by the timer 125. FIG. When the elapsed time measured by the timer 125 reaches the first predetermined time T01, the control unit 100 drives the drive source of the path change mechanism 41 to move the movable guide 42 from the retracted position to the operating position, thereby changing the path of the medium 12. When the change is made and the elapsed time reaches the second predetermined time T02, the movable guide 42 is returned to the original retracted position. Further, when the elapsed time measured by the timer 125 reaches the first specified time T1, the control unit 100 drives the electric motor 62 to start the first alignment operation by the first alignment member 38, and the timer 125 counts. When the elapsed time reaches the second prescribed time T2, the electric motor 72 is driven and the second alignment operation by the second alignment member 54 is started.

In addition, the first counter 121 counts the number of pulses of the detection signal input from an encoder (not shown) that detects the rotation of the electric motor 62 that is the driving source of the first alignment mechanism 51 , so that the first alignment member 38 counting the count value indicating the position on the movement path of the The control unit 100 controls the electric motor 62 based on the position of the first alignment member 38 ascertained from the count value of the first counter 121, thereby moving the first alignment member 38 from the first position P1 to the first position. Stop at each position of 3 positions P3.

The second counter 122 counts the number of pulses of a detection signal input from an encoder (not shown) that detects the rotation of the electric motor 72, which is the drive source of the second alignment mechanism 52, so that the second alignment member 54 moves. Count a count value that indicates a position on the path. The control unit 100 controls the electric motor 72 based on the position of the second alignment member 54 ascertained from the count value of the second counter 122 to move the second alignment member 54 to the retracted position and alignment position. Stop at each position. The retracted position and alignment position are determined according to the width of the medium 12 . The retracted position is a position outside both side edges in the width direction of the medium 12 by a predetermined distance. The alignment position is a position where both side edges in the width direction of the medium 12 are in contact.

The third counter 123 counts the number of pulses of detection signals input from encoders (both not shown) that detect the rotation of electric motors that are driving sources of the pair of medium support sections 37 . A count value indicating the position on the movement path in the width direction X of is counted. The control unit 100 controls the electric motor based on the position of the medium support unit 37 ascertained from the count value of the third counter 123, thereby moving the pair of medium support units 37 to the guide position and the retracted position. stop.

Also, the number counter 124 counts the number of media 12 stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 . The control unit 100 refers to the count value of the number counter 124 to determine whether or not the number of stacked media 12 has reached the target number of stacked media.

The control unit 100 has, for example, a CPU and a memory 126 (not shown), and the CPU executes various programs stored in the memory 126 to perform various processing operations. The memory 126 stores a post-processing control program PR shown in the flowchart of FIG. The CPU performs post-processing control of the post-processing device 14 by executing the post-processing control program PR. The post-processing control includes media stacking control on the intermediate stacker 32, drive control of the post-processing mechanism 33, discharge control of the post-processed medium bundle 12B, and the like.

The control unit 100 always performs the first control to curl the medium 12 by a predetermined curl amount when aligning the medium 12 received in the intermediate stacker 32 . Further, the control unit 100 individually determines whether or not to perform the curl forming operation for each alignment direction based on the printing condition information and the detection result information of the detection units 111 to 113, and determines the amount of curl during the curl forming operation. It is also possible to perform a second control for determining each alignment direction individually. The memory 126 stores the first reference data TD1 and the second reference data TD2 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 that the CPU refers to when performing the second control in the curl forming operation in the medium loading control. The control unit 100 refers to these reference data TD1 and TD2 in the curl forming operation performed by controlling the first curl forming mechanism 81 and the second curl forming mechanism 82 under the second control.

The first reference data TD1 is referred to when the second control is performed using the first ribs 83 and the second ribs 84. FIG. The control unit 100 individually determines whether or not the first rib 83 and the second rib 84 protrude by referring to the first reference data TD1 based on the printing condition information and the detection result information of the detection units 111 to 113. Alternatively, the amounts of protrusion of the first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are individually determined.

The second reference data TD2 is referred to when the second control is performed in the configuration using the pair of medium support portions 37 as deformation forming portions. The control unit 100 determines the operation of the pair of medium support units 37 by referring to the second reference data TD2 based on the printing condition information and the detection result information of the detection units 111-113.

Next, operation of the media processing system 11 will be described.
The control unit 100 of the media processing system 11 receives print data PD from the host device 150 . The print data PD includes print condition information and print image data. The control unit 100 acquires information such as medium size, medium type, print color (color or grayscale), print quality (normal print or high-definition print), number of prints, and post-processing condition information included in the print condition information. do. The post-processing condition information includes post-processing contents including post-processing positions and types of post-processing, the number of media to be subjected to one post-processing, and the like. The control unit 100 performs printing control for printing an image based on image data on the medium 12 according to the printing condition information. The control unit 100 controls the transport motor 18 to transport the medium 12 along the transport path 17 and controls the ejection of the print head 25 based on the image data in the printer 13 on the transport path 17 . The print head 25 ejects liquid to print on the medium 12 . The medium 12 after printing is sent to the intermediate device 15 along the transport path 17 , reversed by the reverse processing unit 200 in the intermediate device 15 , and then discharged from the intermediate device 15 to the post-processing device 14 . The media 12 are sequentially carried into the post-processing device 14 with the immediately preceding printed surface facing downward. In the post-processing device 14, the medium 12 that has been reversed and discharged by the reverse processing unit 200 is transported by the transport mechanism 30, and is sequentially discharged in the first transport direction Y0 from the transport roller pair 19B.

After printing, the medium 12 absorbs water contained in the adhering liquid, and the cellulose fibers and the like may stretch, causing curling. Curl increases as the cellulose fibers and the like absorb water and stretch, and as the liquid adhering to the medium 12 dries, the elongation of the cellulose fibers and the like decreases, and the curl also decreases. As the medium 12 after printing is conveyed through the intermediate device 15, the liquid adhering to the medium 12 is dried, and the curling becomes smaller as the drying progresses. If the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium 12 is large, a large curl may still remain when the medium is carried into the post-processing device 14 . Further, the direction in which the medium 12 curls depends on the fiber direction of the medium 12. Therefore, there are cases in which the curl is curved in the first direction Y1 and in the width direction X is also curled. . In addition, the direction in which the medium 12 curls depends on the difference in the amount of elongation between the front side and the back side when the water contained in the adhering liquid is absorbed. There is also the case of curls. This type of curling is such that even if the media 12 received in the intermediate stacker 32 is pressed by the first aligning member 38 and the second aligning member 54 at the leading edge 12f and side edges 12s of the media 12, the edges of the media 12 are curved. It is a cause of hindrance to matching, such as not being able to match just by doing it.

In the post-processing device 14, the control unit 100 executes the program PR shown in FIG. 16 to perform post-processing control. Post-processing control executed by the control unit 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. 16 and the like. An example in which the curl forming operation is performed under the first control will be described below, and an example in which the curl forming operation is performed under the second control will be described later. Also, an example in which a plurality of media 12 are stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 and the bundle of the media 12 loaded is subjected to post-processing will be described.

First, in step S<b>11 , the control unit 100 initializes the medium stacking device 31 . That is, the controller 100 always rotates the transport roller pair 19A, 19B and always rotates the second paddle 46 . The control unit 100 also sets the movable guide 42 to the retracted position, the medium support unit 37 to the supporting position, the first alignment member 38 to the third position P3, the second alignment member 54 to the retracted position, the first paddle 45 to the retracted position, The first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are placed in the retracted state and the retracted state, respectively. Here, when the pair of medium support portions 37 are at the support position, the distance between the pair of guide surfaces 37B facing each other is slightly wider than the width of the medium 12 . Also, when the pair of second alignment members 54 are at the guide position, the distance between the pair of alignment surfaces 54A that face each other is slightly wider than the width of the medium 12 .

At step S<b>12 , the control unit 100 determines whether or not the sensor 34 has detected the trailing edge 12 r of the medium 12 . If the sensor 34 does not detect the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12, the controller 100 waits, and if the sensor 34 detects the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12, the process proceeds to step S13.

At step S<b>13 , the control section 100 drives the movable guide 42 . More specifically, the controller 100 drives the drive source of the path changing mechanism 41 when the time measured by the timer 125, which starts counting from the time when the sensor 34 detects the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12, reaches the first predetermined time T01. to move the movable guide 42 from the retracted position shown in FIG. 17 to the operating position shown in FIG. As a result, at the timing when the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 is ejected from the conveying roller pair 19B, the movable guide 42 rotates from the retracted position to the operating position, and knocks down the trailing edge of the medium 12 as shown in FIG. . As a result, the path along the first transport direction Y0 of the medium 12 ejected from the transport roller pair 19B at a predetermined ejection speed is changed to an oblique path along the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 . As a result, media 12 are received on intermediate stacker 32 . Also, at this time, the movable guide 42 contacts the medium 12 to change the path, thereby applying a braking force to the medium 12 that is about to move in the first transport direction Y0.

At step S14, the control unit 100 rotates the first paddle 45 once. As a result, the medium 12 knocked down onto the intermediate stacker 32 is pulled back in the second direction Y2 by the first paddle 45 . In this example, the rotation start timing of the first paddle 45 is substantially the same as the rotation start timing of the movable guide 42 from the retracted position to the operating position. For this reason, the first paddle 45 knocks down the large-sized medium 12 with the blade 45A and applies a conveying force to the medium 12 to send the medium 12 in the second direction Y2 (see FIG. 18). The conveying force that pulls the medium 12 back in the second direction while the first paddle 45 knocks down the medium 12 acts as a braking force against the inertial force that tends to move the medium 12 in the first conveying direction Y0 at the time of ejection. Therefore, the movement of the medium 12 in the first direction Y1 is suppressed to some extent, and the tip 12f of the medium 12 does not contact the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 at the third position P3. However, if the medium 12 moves excessively in the first direction Y1 for some reason, the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 hits the alignment surface 38A of the first alignment member 38 at the third position P3, thereby moving the medium 12 in the first direction Y1. to some extent is defined.

The medium 12 received on the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 is conveyed in the second direction Y2 to a predetermined position by the first paddle 45, and then sent in the second direction Y2 by the second paddle 46 as well. . As for the medium 12 of a small size, the weight is relatively light and the inertial force in the ejection direction is small. The movement speed in the ejection direction is suppressed to some extent. Then, the small size medium 12 is fed in the second direction Y2 by the second paddle 46. As shown in FIG. In this way, the medium 12 is pulled back until the rear end 12 r hits the medium abutting portion 47 . The medium 12 is positioned in the first direction Y1 with the medium abutting portion 47 as a reference by the rear end 12r abutting against the medium abutting portion 47 . In the present embodiment, the processing of steps S13 and S14 corresponds to an example of "receiving the medium processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction to the intermediate stacking unit".

In step S15, the controller 100 performs a first curl forming operation. That is, the control unit 100 controls the electric motor 89 to raise the first rib 83 from the retracted state to the projecting state. As a result, the first rib 83 is arranged in a projecting state and the second rib 84 is arranged in a retracted state (see FIG. 11). As shown in FIG. 19, as a result of the first curl forming operation in which the first rib 83 extending in the first direction Y1 protrudes from the stacking surface 32A while the medium 12 is received on the stacking surface 32A, A curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is forcibly formed on the medium 12 . Then, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 20 , the medium 12 is stiffened in the first direction Y1 by the curl C1 that is forcibly formed in the medium 12 .

At step S16, the controller 100 performs a first alignment operation. When the time counted by the timer 125 reaches the first specified time T1, the control unit 100 controls the electric motor 62 to move the first aligning member 38 from the third position P3, which is the retracted position during medium stacking, to the aligning position. Reciprocating movement is performed up to a certain first position P1. At this time, the first alignment member 38 hits the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 one or more times and the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 hits the medium abutting portion 47, thereby aligning the medium 12 in the first direction Y1. Thus, the first alignment mode is performed in which the first alignment member 38 aligns the medium 12 while the curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is generated on the medium 12 by the first curl forming mechanism 81 . That is, in the first alignment mode, the first alignment member 38 aligns the medium 12 in the first direction Y1 while the curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is generated on the medium 12 by the first curl forming mechanism 81 . When the first alignment operation is started, the first paddle 45 completes one rotation and is at the retracted position.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the first aligning member 38 hits the tip 12f of the medium 12, which is stiff in the first direction Y1, with the aligning surface 38A. aligned in the first direction Y1. At this time, if both ends in the first direction Y1 are curled due to the influence of liquid moisture like the medium 12K of the comparative example indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The movement only bends the curled end of the medium 12, and the medium 12 cannot be aligned in the first direction Y1. On the other hand, in this embodiment, like the medium 12 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 20, the curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is forcibly formed by the first rib 83 projecting from the stacking surface 32A. , the medium 12 is aligned in the first direction Y1 by moving the first alignment member 38 to the first position P1 and striking the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 with the alignment surface 38A one or more times. At this time, the movable guide 42 is in the operating position lowered to a height that does not hinder the first curl forming operation due to the upward movement of the first rib 83, and presses the end portion of the medium 12 that is excessively lifted. In the present embodiment, the processes of steps S15 and S16 are performed by the first aligning unit while curling the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction by the first deforming unit. It corresponds to an example.

At step S<b>17 , the control unit 100 restores the movable guide 42 . When the sensor 34 detects the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 and the second predetermined time T02 has elapsed, the controller 100 returns the movable guide 42 from the operating position to the retracted position.

In step S18, the control unit 100 performs a second curl forming operation. That is, the control unit 100 controls the electric motor 89 to lower the first rib 83 from the protruded state to the retracted state, and controls the electric motor 96 to raise the second rib 84 from the retracted state to the protruded state (Fig. 12). As shown in FIG. 21, under the state where the media 12 are received on the stacking surface 32A, as a result of the second curl forming operation in which the second ribs 84 extending in the width direction X protrude from the stacking surface 32A, the media A curl C2 extending in the width direction X is forcibly formed at 12 . 22, stiffness in the width direction X is formed in the medium 12 by the curl C2 formed in the medium 12 and extending in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the processes of steps S17 and S18 are performed by the second aligning unit while curling the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction by the second deformation forming unit. It corresponds to an example.

In step S19, the control section 100 performs a second alignment operation. The control unit 100 controls the electric motor 72 to move the pair of second alignment members 54 back and forth between a retracted position positioned at a distance slightly wider than the width of the medium and an alignment position positioned at a distance equal to the width of the medium. move. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the pair of second aligning members 54 hit both side edges 12s in the width direction X of the medium 12 having stiffness in the width direction X with the pair of aligning surfaces 54A. Media 12 are aligned in the X direction. While the second curl forming mechanism 82 has caused the medium 12 to curl C2 extending in the width direction X, the pair of second aligning members 54 nip the medium 12 in the width direction X. A second matching mode is performed in which one or more taps are matched.

At this time, if both ends of the medium 12K in the width direction X are curled due to the influence of liquid moisture like the medium 12K of the comparative example indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Sandwiching in the X direction only bends the curled ends of the medium 12, and the medium 12 cannot be aligned in the X direction. On the other hand, like the medium 12 indicated by solid lines in FIG. 22, the curl C2 extending in the width direction X is forcibly formed by the second ribs 84 protruding from the stacking surface 32A. The medium 12 is aligned in the width direction X by striking the side edges 12s of the medium 12 with the pair of alignment surfaces 54A sandwiching the medium 12 in the width direction X with 54 .

Thus, the media 12 are aligned in two directions, the first direction Y1 and the width direction X, on the intermediate stacker 32 . After completing this second alignment operation, the control unit 100 controls the electric motor 96 to lower the second rib 84 from the projected state to the retracted state. As a result, both the first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are arranged in the retracted state. Here, during the first alignment operation and the second alignment operation, the second paddle 46 may be temporarily stopped at the retracted position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 so as not to interfere with the alignment operation. Further, after the second aligning operation is completed, until the next medium 12 is received on the intermediate stacker 32, the second paddle 46 is stopped in a deformed state in contact with the medium 12 on the stacking surface 32A. A second paddle 46 may be used to hold the media 12 after alignment so that the media 12 are not out of alignment. When the second paddle 46 is constantly rotated, the second alignment member 54 is moved to the alignment position at the timing when the blade 46A of the second paddle 46 intermittently contacts the medium 12 and the blade 46A does not contact the medium 12. You may perform control to move. In the present embodiment, the process of step S19 corresponds to an example of "aligning the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the transport direction and then aligning them in the width direction".

In step S<b>20 , the control unit 100 determines whether or not the target number of media 12 has been stacked on the intermediate stacker 32 . If the target number of sheets has been stacked, the process proceeds to step S21, and if the target number of sheets has not been stacked, the process returns to step S12. Thereafter, the control unit 100 repeats the processing of steps S12 to S20 each time one sheet of media 12 is carried in from the reversing processing unit 200 until it is determined in step S20 that the target number of sheets has been stacked. When the controller 100 determines that the target number of sheets has been stacked in step S20, the process proceeds to step S21.

In step S21, the control section 100 performs a post-processing operation. The control unit 100 drives the post-processing mechanism 33 to post-process the aligned medium bundle 12B on the stacking surface 32A. In this embodiment, the control unit 100 drives the post-processing mechanism 33 to perform post-processing for binding the medium bundle 12B on the intermediate stacker 32 . For example, if stapling is instructed as post-processing by specifying a binding position, the control unit 100 moves the post-processing mechanism 33 along the guide groove 39A in the width direction X to By performing the stapling operation to drive the post-processing mechanism 33 at a predetermined position one or more times, the trailing end portion of the medium bundle 12B is bound at one or more locations. Further, when the oblique post-processing is performed, for the medium bundle 12B having a size smaller than the maximum size, the medium stack 12B is rotated while maintaining the gap in the width direction X between the pair of medium support portions 37 and the pair of second alignment members 54, respectively. The bundle 12B is moved in the width direction X until the trailing edge corner reaches the oblique processing position where the post-processing mechanism 33 performs oblique post-processing. Then, the post-processing mechanism 33 that has moved to the oblique processing position is driven in an oblique posture, so that the trailing end corner portion of the medium bundle 12B is obliquely struck. After that, the pair of medium support portions 37 and the pair of second alignment members 54 are aligned in the width direction X while keeping the distance between the width direction X and the width center of the medium stack 12B and the width center of the medium stacking area of the intermediate stacker 32 . The medium bundle 12B is returned to the original position where the . Moreover, each time the target number of sheets is stacked, the second paddle 46 is temporarily stopped at the retracted position shown in FIGS. to

At step S22, the controller 100 moves the first alignment member 38 to the second position P2. That is, the controller 100 drives the electric motor 62, which is the driving source of the first alignment mechanism 51, to move the first alignment member 38 from the third position P3 to the second position P2. Thus, the controller 100 moves the first alignment member 38 to the second position P2, which is farther from the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 than the first position P1. The processing of step S22 is preferably performed in parallel with the post-processing operation of step S21, but may be performed after the post-processing operation is completed.

At step S23, the controller 100 performs a discharge operation. That is, the control unit 100 causes the ejection mechanism 36 to eject the medium bundle 12B on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1. Specifically, by moving the driven roller 36B that constitutes the discharge mechanism 36 from the separated position shown in FIGS. 5 and 20 to the nip position shown in FIGS. nip between The control unit 100 drives the discharge mechanism 36 at the timing after this nip, and as shown in FIG. Eject to Y1.

As shown in FIG. 23, the media 12 ejected in the first direction Y1 from the intermediate stacker 32 are brought into contact with the aligning surface 38A of the first aligning member 38 at the second position P2 by the leading edge 12f. Exhaust farther than this is regulated. That is, it is possible to prevent the ejected medium bundle 12B from being too far away from the standing wall 56 in the first direction Y1. The arrival position of the ejected medium bundle 12B in the first direction Y1 can be defined to some extent.

Here, the medium bundle 12B can be discharged by the discharge mechanism 36 in a state in which the pair of second alignment members 54 are left at the retracted position and the medium bundle 12B is guided in the width direction X by the pair of alignment surfaces 54A. preferable. The ejecting mechanism 36 may be, for example, not a roller system, but an extrusion system in which the medium bundle 12B is extruded and ejected by an extrusion member such as a pusher. In the case of the configuration using the ejection mechanism 36 of the pushing type, compared to the roller type that nips the medium bundle 12B, the medium bundle 12B may be out of alignment during the medium bundle 12B extrusion process. It is desirable to guide in the width direction X by two alignment members 54 . In the roller-type ejection mechanism 36 of this example, when ejecting the medium bundle 12B, the pair of second alignment members 54 may be further moved from the retracted position to the standby position outside in the first direction Y1.

In step S24, the control section 100 moves the medium support section 37 to the retracted position. The control unit 100 reciprocates the medium support unit 37 in the width direction X between the support position and the retracted position. At the timing when the trailing end 12r of the medium bundle 12B is out of the nip position between the rollers 36A and 36B of the discharge mechanism 36, the medium support section 37 is temporarily retracted to the retracted position. After the leading end 12f of the medium bundle 12B hits the aligning surface 38A of the first aligning member 38, the medium stack 12B drops onto the stacking surface 35A of the discharge stacker 35 from the pair of medium supporting portions 37 moved to the retracted position. The dropped medium bundle 12B slides down in the second direction Y2 on the stacking surface 35A or the upper surface of the previously loaded medium bundle 12B, and the trailing end 12r collides with the vertical wall 56, so that the position of the vertical wall 56 is used as a reference. is aligned in the first direction Y1 as .

For example, if the medium bundle 12B is not regulated by the first aligning member 38 during the discharge process, the medium 12 will drop onto the discharge stacker 35 at a position farther apart in the first direction Y1 from the vertical wall 56 at the rear end 12r. Become. In this case, the rear end 12r of the medium bundle 12B cannot slide down to the position where it hits the standing wall 56 due to the frictional resistance of the medium bundle 12B in the sliding down process. In this case, the alignment state of the medium bundle 12B on the discharge stacker 35 deteriorates. However, in the present embodiment, the drop position of the ejected medium bundle 12B onto the ejection stacker 35 can be defined at a position near the upright wall 56 in the second direction Y2. The distance of sliding down on the stacking surface 35A until hitting the 56 can be shortened, and the consistency of the medium bundle 12B on the discharge stacker 35 is improved.

In step S25, the control unit 100 determines whether or not all post-processing has been completed. If it is determined that the post-processing has been completed, the routine ends. On the other hand, if the post-processing has not been completed, that is, if there are still media 12 to be post-processed, the process returns to step S12, and the processes of steps S12 to S25 are repeated. Then, when the post-processing for the last medium bundle 12B is completed and all the post-processing is completed, the routine ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the first curl forming mechanism 81 for performing the first curl forming operation in step S15 and the second curl forming mechanism 82 for performing the second curl forming operation in step S18 are respectively provided with ribs 83 and 84 is used, but instead of the ribs 83 and 84, a pair of medium support portions 37 may be used. The first curl forming operation and the second curl forming operation performed by the control unit 100 by driving and controlling the pair of medium support units 37 will be described below. First, using a pair of medium support portions 37, a first curl forcibly forming a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 as deformation with tension extending in the first direction Y1 in the medium 12 received in the intermediate stacker 32 is performed. An example of the forming mechanism 81 will be described.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a pair of medium support portions 37 are provided on both sides in the width direction and are movable in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. As an example of deformation with tension extending in the first direction Y1 to the medium 12 by moving in the width direction X while supporting the leading edge of the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) A curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is forcibly generated. That is, as shown in FIG. 24, the pair of medium support portions 37 are moved from the supporting position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the same figure to the direction indicated by the outline arrow in the same figure so as to widen the gap in the width direction X, and the medium 12 is moved. is moved outward in the width direction X so that the central portion of the medium 12 hangs down by its own weight. By hanging down the central portion of the medium 12 in a curved shape by its own weight, the downwardly convex curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is positively formed. In the example shown in FIG. 24 , the medium support section 37 functions as a first curl forming mechanism 81 as an example of a first deformation forming section that forms a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 on the medium 12 .

Also, as shown in FIG. 25, the pair of medium support portions 37 are moved from the support position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the drawing to narrow the gap in the width direction X in the direction indicated by the outline arrow in the drawing. As a result, the pair of medium support portions 37 imparts a force to narrow the gap between both ends of the medium 12 in the width direction X to bend the medium 12, thereby forming a downward convex curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 to the medium 12. actively form The control unit 100 performs the first curl forming operation in step S15 by moving the pair of medium support units 37 from the retracted position in the width direction X in the direction of narrowing the gap. In the example shown in FIG. 25 , the medium support section 37 functions as a first curl forming mechanism 81 as an example of a first deformation forming section that forms a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 on the medium 12 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the pair of medium support portions 37 are provided on both sides in the width direction and configured to be rotatable around an axis along the first direction Y1. By rotating the pair of media supports 37 around the axis, the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) are stretched in the first direction Y1 as a tense deformation extending in the first direction Y1. A curl C1 is forcibly generated. That is, as shown in FIG. 26, the pair of medium support portions 37 is rotated in the direction indicated by the white arrow in the figure around the axis along the first direction Y1 from the support position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure. By tilting both ends of the medium 12 in the width direction X at angles indicated by solid lines in FIG. The control unit 100 performs the first curl forming operation in step S<b>15 by rotating the pair of medium support units 37 . In the example shown in FIG. 26 , the medium support section 37 functions as a first curl forming mechanism 81 as an example of a first deformation forming section that forms a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 on the medium 12 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the pair of medium support portions 37 are lifted from the support position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the same figure so as to lift the support position of the medium 12 around the axis along the first direction Y1. By rotating in the direction indicated by the white arrow and lifting the pair of medium support portions 37 to the angle indicated by the solid line in the figure, the upwardly convex curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 is positively formed on the medium 12. do. The control unit 100 performs the first curl forming operation in step S<b>15 by rotating the pair of medium support units 37 . In the example shown in FIG. 27 , the medium support section 37 functions as a first curl forming mechanism 81 as an example of a first deformation forming section that forms a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 on the medium 12 . In addition, the configuration for rotating the pair of medium support portions 37 is such that the pair of medium support portions 37 are rotatably supported and the power of an actuator directly rotates a rotation shaft (none of which is shown), or the actuator power is transmitted to the pair of medium support portions 37 via cams, links, or gear trains (not shown) to rotate the pair of medium support portions 37 .

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 28, the medium support portion 37 is configured to be vertically movable. By moving the medium support portion 37 up and down, the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) is forcibly curled C1 extending in the first direction Y1 as tense deformation extending in the width direction X. to occur. That is, as shown in FIG. 28, the pair of medium support portions 37 are lifted from the support position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. By lifting the medium 12 and letting the central portion of the medium 12 hang down by its own weight, the medium 12 is positively formed with a downwardly convex curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1. The control unit 100 performs the first curl forming operation in step S<b>15 by vertically moving the pair of medium support units 37 . In the example shown in FIG. 28 , the medium support section 37 functions as a first curl forming mechanism 81 as an example of a first deformation forming section that positively forms a curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 on the medium 12 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 29, the medium support portion 37 is configured to be vertically movable. By vertically moving the medium support section 37, the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) is forcibly curled C2 extending in the width direction X as a tense deformation extending in the width direction X. generate. That is, as shown in FIG. 29, the pair of medium support portions 37 is lowered from the support position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the same drawing in the direction indicated by the outline arrow in the same drawing to move the medium 12 downstream in the first direction Y1. portion is moved below the imaginary plane obtained by extending the loading surface 32A in the first direction Y1. As a result, the medium 12 hangs down from the vicinity of the downstream end of the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1 by its own weight, thereby positively forming the curl C2 extending in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The control section 100 performs the second curl forming operation in step S18 by lowering the medium support section 37 from the support position. In the example shown in FIG. 29 , the medium support section 37 functions as a second curl forming mechanism 82 as an example of a second deformation forming section that positively forms a curl C2 extending in the width direction X on the medium 12 . Further, in the configuration in which the medium support section 37 is moved up and down, when the intermediate stacker 32 receives the medium 12, the support surface 37A of the medium support section 37 and the stacking surface 32A of the intermediate stacker 32 are assumed to extend in the first direction Y1. A configuration in which the curl forming operation is performed by lowering below the surface is more desirable. For example, if the support surface 37A of the medium support section 37 is configured to rise above the imaginary plane, it is necessary to move the medium support section 37 to the support position each time the medium is ejected or the next medium 12 is received. be. On the other hand, if the support surface 37A of the medium support section 37 is lowered below the imaginary plane, the medium received by the intermediate stacker 32 can be read without moving the medium support section 37 to the support position each time. 12, the curl C2 extending in the width direction X can be forcibly generated.

The configuration for vertically moving the pair of medium support portions 37 is such that the pair of medium support portions 37 are vertically movably supported and the power of the actuator is transmitted via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a rack and pinion mechanism or a rotary cam mechanism. A configuration in which the pair of medium support portions 37 are moved up and down by transmitting the force to the pair of medium support portions is exemplified. 24 to 28, movement of the pair of medium support portions 37 in the width direction X, rotation of the pair of medium support portions 37 about the axis along the first direction Y1, and vertical movement of the pair of medium support portions 37 Any one of the movements and the projection of the first rib 83 may be used together to perform the first curl forming operation. Further, in FIG. 29, the vertical movement of the pair of medium support portions 37 and the projection of the second rib 84 may be used together to perform the second curl forming operation.

14, the controller 100 refers to the first reference data TD1 shown in FIG. It is also possible to control the forced deformation amount in the width direction X of the medium 12 according to the amount. The first reference data TD1 shown in FIG. 14 are the amount of forced deformation of the medium 12 in the first direction Y1 according to the amount of protrusion of the first rib 83, and the width direction X of the medium 12 according to the amount of protrusion of the second rib 84. is referred to by the control unit 100 to determine whether the amount of forced deformation is a predetermined amount or less than a predetermined amount based on thresholds set for each condition item. The condition items include print surface, print area, print duty, medium size, medium type, medium thickness, fiber direction, and curl amount. Here, each value of the print surface, medium size, and medium type is obtained from the print condition information in the print data PD. The control unit 100 acquires the amount of liquid on two sides in double-sided printing, the print area, and the print duty by analyzing the image data in the print data PD. Here, the print duty is a value (% ). Ejection control of the print head 25 is performed by duty control, and corresponds to a value (%) obtained by converting the average ejection amount per unit area of the medium 12 into a duty value.

Also, the medium thickness is acquired based on the detection value of the first detection unit 111 . The fiber direction is acquired based on the detection value of the second detection unit 112 . Further, the curl amount is acquired based on the detection value of the third detection unit 113 . When the medium 12 is paper, the fibers of the paper are determined in one direction in a base paper such as roll paper produced in the paper manufacturing process, and the direction in which the roll paper is cut differs depending on the medium size. 12, either the longitudinal direction or the transverse direction is the fiber direction, but which direction is the fiber direction depends on the medium size and the like.

In the first reference data TD1, a threshold is set for each of these plurality of condition items to define the likelihood of curling of the printed medium 12 shown in FIG. The likelihood of curling in the first direction Y1 and the likelihood of curling in the width direction X on the printed medium 12 differ for each region specified by the threshold for each condition item. The amount of forced deformation in the first direction Y1 is determined by the amount of protrusion of the first ribs 83. Under conditions where curling is likely to occur, a predetermined amount of forced deformation in the first direction Y1 determined by the amount of protrusion of the first ribs 83 is required. Under the condition that curling is difficult to occur, even if the amount of forced deformation in the first direction Y1 determined by the amount of protrusion of the first rib 83 is less than a predetermined amount, it is permissible. The amount of forced deformation in the width direction X is determined by the amount of protrusion of the second ribs 84, and under conditions where curling is likely to occur, a predetermined amount of forced deformation in the width direction X determined by the amount of protrusion of the second ribs 84 is required. Under conditions where curling is difficult to occur, even if the amount of forced deformation in the width direction X, which is determined by the amount of projection of the second rib 84, is less than a predetermined amount, it is permissible.

In the first reference data TD1 shown in FIG. 14, for each forced deformation amount in the first direction Y1 and the forced deformation amount in the width direction X, it is possible to refer to whether a predetermined amount is required or less than the predetermined amount is allowed. Between the predetermined amount and less than the predetermined amount, "1" indicates "permissible" that the corresponding amount of forced deformation is permitted, and "0" indicates "prohibited" that is not permitted.

The curling of the medium 12 due to the water contained in the liquid ejected during printing changes according to the values of various condition items in FIG. The degree of curl generated in the medium 12 due to the liquid adhering to the medium 12 differs depending on which region is taken. If the amount of curl generated in the medium 12 is large, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is always required.

Therefore, under the condition that the amount of curl caused by the liquid of the medium 12 is large and the forced deformation amount is less than the predetermined amount and the predetermined amount is required, prohibition "0" is set to less than the predetermined amount in FIG. That is, if the predetermined amount is "1" and less than the predetermined amount is "0", the amount less than the predetermined amount is prohibited, so the forced deformation amount needs to be the predetermined amount. On the other hand, under the condition that the amount of curl due to the liquid of the medium 12 is small and the amount of forced deformation is sufficient even if the amount is less than the predetermined amount, the allowable value "1" is set for the amount less than the predetermined amount in FIG. That is, if the predetermined amount is "1" and less than the predetermined amount is "1", even if the forced deformation amount is less than the predetermined amount, it is allowed.

Therefore, when the control unit 100 refers to the first reference data TD1 shown in FIG. 14 to control the projection and retraction of the ribs 83 and 84, the following two types of control methods can be selected. First, if the amount of forced deformation less than a predetermined amount is allowed "1", the amount of forced deformation is set to "less than the predetermined amount", and if the amount less than the predetermined amount is prohibited "0", the amount of forced deformation is set to "predetermined amount". ', the amount of protrusion of the ribs 83 and 84 can be varied according to the value of the condition. The other one includes "0 (zero)" for less than a predetermined amount, and if the amount of forced deformation is less than the predetermined amount is allowed "1", the amount of forced deformation is set to "0", and less than the predetermined amount is prohibited " 0”, the amount of forced deformation is set to a “predetermined amount”, thereby determining whether or not to project the ribs 83 and 84 according to the value of the condition.

Next, with reference to FIG. 14, the relationship between condition items, thresholds, and amounts of forced deformation will be described.
For example, if the condition item "printing surface" is "single side", the medium 12 tends to curl easily because the one side that is the printing surface absorbs moisture in the liquid and stretches. Therefore, both the amount of forced deformation in the first direction Y1 and the amount of forced deformation in the width direction X must be predetermined amounts. In the case of "both sides", if the amount of liquid on the bottom surface is large, the bottom surface absorbs the moisture of the liquid and stretches, so curling is likely to occur. is necessary. Even in the case of "both sides", if there is a large amount of liquid on the top surface, the top surface absorbs moisture from the liquid and stretches, so curling tends to occur. Therefore, even if the amount of forced deformation is less than the predetermined amount in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X, it is allowed.

Further, the medium 12 tends to curl more easily as the print area ratio increases. When the print area is a % or more, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X. On the other hand, when the print area is less than a %, the amount of forced deformation in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X may be less than the predetermined amount. For example, the control unit 100 determines that the ratio of the print area of the medium 12 is less than the first protrusion amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the ratio of the printing area of the medium 12 is the first ratio, and the rib 83 when the ratio is the second ratio smaller than the first ratio. , 84 are reduced.

As the printing duty increases, the amount of liquid per unit area of the medium 12 increases, so the medium 12 tends to curl more easily. When the printing duty is b % or more, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X. On the other hand, when the printing duty is less than b%, the forcible deformation amount in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X is allowed even if it is less than the predetermined amount. For example, the control unit 100 controls the second ejection amount to be less than the first ejection amount, which is less than the first ejection amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the average liquid ejection amount per area to the medium 12 is the first ejection amount. The second projection amount of the ribs 83 and 84 is reduced when .

Also, the larger the medium size, the greater the weight of the medium 12, so the medium 12 tends to be less likely to curl. If the medium size exceeds A4 size, the amount of forced deformation in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X may be less than the predetermined amount. On the other hand, if the medium size is A4 or smaller, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X. For example, the control unit 100 controls the first protrusion amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the medium 12 is of the second size to be larger than the second protrusion amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the medium 12 is of the second size. reduce the amount.

Further, the medium 12 tends to curl more easily as the medium type is made of a material that absorbs liquid more easily. When the medium type is plain paper, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X. FIG. On the other hand, if the medium type is other than plain paper, the amount of forced deformation in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X may be less than the predetermined amount.

Furthermore, the thinner the medium thickness, the higher the liquid absorption rate, which is the amount of liquid absorbed per unit volume of the medium 12, for the same amount of liquid ejected, so the medium 12 tends to curl easily. When the medium thickness is t1 mm or more, the amount of forced deformation in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X may be less than the predetermined amount. On the other hand, when the medium thickness is less than t1 mm, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required both in the first direction Y1 and in the width direction X. For example, the control unit 100 controls the ribs 83 and 84 when the medium 12 has a second medium thickness that is thicker than the first medium thickness than the first protrusion amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the medium 12 has the first medium thickness. Decrease the second protrusion amount.

In addition, since the paper fibers of the medium 12 absorb liquid and extend in the fiber direction, the medium 12 tends to curl along the fiber direction. When the fiber direction of the medium 12 is the longitudinal direction, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in the first direction Y1, which is the longitudinal direction. Permissible. On the other hand, when the fiber direction of the medium 12 is the transverse direction, the amount of forced deformation in the first direction Y1, which is the longitudinal direction, may be less than a predetermined amount, but the amount of forced deformation in the width direction X, which is the transverse direction, is allowed. A certain amount of is required. For example, the control unit 100 sets the second protrusion amount of the first ribs 83 when the fiber direction of the medium 12 is in the first direction Y1 to be greater than the first protrusion amount of the first ribs 83 when the fiber direction is in the width direction X. Make smaller. In addition, the control unit 100 sets the second protrusion amount of the second ribs 84 when the fiber direction of the medium 12 is in the first direction Y1 to be greater than the first protrusion amount of the second ribs 84 when the fiber direction of the medium 12 is in the width direction X. Make smaller.

Further, the larger the amount of curl of the medium 12, the larger the forced deformation amount of the medium 12 needs to be. When the amount of curl of the medium 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a predetermined amount of forced deformation is required in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X. FIG. On the other hand, when the curl amount of the medium 12 is less than the predetermined value, the amount of forced deformation in both the first direction Y1 and the width direction X may be less than the predetermined amount. For example, the control unit 100 controls the curl amount of the medium 12 to be a second curl amount that is less than the first curl amount than the first projection amount of the ribs 83 and 84 when the curl amount is the first curl amount. The second protrusion amount of 83, 84 is reduced.

The control unit 100 refers to the first reference data TD1 to determine the projection amounts of the first ribs 83 and the second ribs 84 . In this case, the control unit 100 selects one condition item from among a plurality of condition items, and refers to the first reference data TD1 based on the value of the selected one condition to refer to the first rib 83 and the second rib 83 . Each projection amount with respect to the rib 84 may be determined. Also, the control unit 100 may select two or more of the plurality of condition items, or may select all of the condition items. When a plurality of condition items are selected, if the number of condition items for which less than a predetermined amount is "1" is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the amount is less than the predetermined amount, and if less than the predetermined number, the predetermined amount is selected. In addition, when multiple condition items are used in combination, an evaluation value is obtained by accumulating the product of the standard value of the condition value for each condition item and the contribution rate for each condition item, and the evaluation value is compared with the threshold. Then, it may be determined whether the protrusion amount of the ribs 83 and 84 is set to a predetermined amount or less than the predetermined amount.

The second reference data TD2 shown in FIG. 15 is data that the control section 100 refers to when the medium supporting section 37 is used as the first curl forming mechanism 81 and the second curl forming mechanism 82. FIG. The control unit 100 refers to the second reference data TD2 based on the value of the condition acquired for each condition item, thereby controlling the width movement or rotation of the medium supporting unit 37 constituting the first curl forming mechanism 81. Whether or not to perform vertical movement of the medium support portion 37 constituting the second curl forming mechanism 82 is determined. For example, when the printing surface is single-sided, the widthwise movement or rotation (FIGS. 24 to 27) of the medium support portion 37 is performed to forcibly form the curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1, and the widthwise direction X Vertical movement (see FIG. 29) of the medium support portion 37 is performed to force the curl C2 extending into the vertical direction. Further, when the print area is less than a%, the medium support portion 37 is not moved in width or rotated, and is not moved vertically.

The control unit 100 refers to the second reference data TD2 to determine whether or not the medium support portion 37 is moved in the width direction or rotated, and whether or not the medium support portion 37 is moved vertically. In this case, the control unit 100 refers to the second reference data TD2 based on the value acquired for each condition item, and determines whether or not the medium support unit 37 is moved widthwise or rotated, and whether the medium support unit 37 is moved vertically. In determining whether or not to implement the above, only one condition item may be selected, some of a plurality of condition items may be selected, or all of the condition items may be selected.

Furthermore, both the first rib 83 and the medium support portion 37 may be used as the first curl forming mechanism 81 , and both the second rib 84 and the medium support portion 37 may be used as the second curl forming mechanism 82 . . Further, when the curl forming mechanisms 81 and 82 include forced deformation portions such as the ribs 83 and 84 provided on the intermediate stacker 32 and the medium support portion 37, any of the following combinations may be used. For example, a first forced deformation portion such as a first rib 83 provided in the intermediate stacker 32 to form a tense deformation extending in the first direction Y1 in the medium 12, and a tense deformation extending in the width direction X in the medium 12. may be combined with the vertical movement of the medium support portion 37 forming the . In addition, the width direction movement or rotation of the medium support portion 37 that forms a deformation with tension extending in the first direction Y1 in the medium 12 and the deformation with tension extending in the width direction X in the medium 12 provided in the intermediate stacker 32 may be in combination with a second forced deformation portion such as a second rib 84 forming a . In addition, basically, a first forced deformation portion such as the first rib 83 and a second forced deformation portion such as the second rib 84 provided in the intermediate stacker 32 may be used, and the medium support portion 37 may be used as an auxiliary. may or may not.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The medium stacking device 31 has an intermediate stacker 32 that receives the medium 12 that has been processed by the reversing unit 200, discharged, and transported in the first transport direction Y0. The medium stacking device 31 includes a first curl forming mechanism 81 that forces the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1, and a first curling mechanism 81 that forces the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1. and a second curl forming mechanism 82 forcibly generating a curl C2 extending in the width direction X intersecting the direction Y1. Further, the medium stacking device 31 includes a first alignment mechanism 51 that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1, and a second alignment mechanism 52 that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the width direction X. Prepare. The medium stacking device 31 operates in a first aligning mode in which the first aligning mechanism 51 aligns the medium 12 with the curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 generated by the first curl forming mechanism 81 , and a second curl forming mechanism 82 . and a second alignment mode in which the curl C2 extending in the width direction X is generated in the medium 12 by the second alignment mechanism 52 and aligned by the second alignment mechanism 52 . Therefore, since the curls C1 and C2 extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction can be forcibly generated with respect to the two alignment directions of the medium 12, the alignment of the medium 12 can be improved.

(2) The first curl forming mechanism 81 includes a first rib 83 extending along the first direction Y1. The first rib 83 can move between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate stacker 32 is less than the predetermined amount. Therefore, it is possible to cause the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 when necessary.

(3) The second curl forming mechanism 82 includes a second rib 84 extending in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The second rib 84 can move between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate stacker 32 is less than the predetermined amount. Therefore, the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can be curled C2 extending in the width direction X when necessary.

(4) The medium stacking device 31 further includes a medium support section 37 that supports the leading edge of the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . First curl forming mechanism 81 includes media support 37 . The medium support portions 37 are provided on both sides in the X direction and are movable in the X direction. By moving in the width direction X, the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 is forcibly curled C1 extending in the first direction Y1. Therefore, it is possible to cause the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 when necessary.

(5) The medium stacking device 31 further includes a medium support section 37 that supports the leading edge of the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . First curl forming mechanism 81 includes media support 37 . The medium support sections 37 are provided on both sides in the width direction X, are rotatable about an axis along the first direction Y1, and extend in the first direction Y1 with respect to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 by rotating about the axis. A curl C1 is forcibly generated. Therefore, it is possible to cause the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1 when necessary.

(6) The medium stacking device 31 further includes a medium support section 37 that supports the leading edge of the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . The second curl forming mechanism 82 includes a medium support portion 37, and the medium support portion 37 is vertically movable. By moving up and down, the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 is forcibly curled C2 extending in the width direction X. Therefore, the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can be curled C2 extending in the width direction X when necessary.

(7) The medium stacking device 31 extends in the direction along the first direction Y1 with respect to the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 and protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount. It has a first rib 83 movable between a retracted state by an amount less than a predetermined amount. Further, the medium stacking device 31 extends in a direction along the width direction X that intersects the first direction Y1 with respect to the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32, and protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount. It has a second rib 84 movable between a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from 32 is less than a predetermined amount. The medium stacking device 31 also includes a first alignment mechanism 51 that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1, and a second alignment mechanism 52 that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the width direction X. Prepare. The medium stacking device 31 has a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment mechanism 51 with the first rib 83 in a projected state, and a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment mechanism 52 with the second rib 84 in a projected state. and a matching mode. Therefore, since the curls C1 and C2 extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction can be forcibly generated with respect to the two alignment directions of the medium 12, the alignment of the medium 12 can be improved.

(8) The first rib 83 and the second rib 84 are provided in the intermediate stacker 32 so as to cross each other. Therefore, two types of ribs 83 and 84 can be provided in a small space.
(9) The post-processing device 14 includes a medium stacking device 31 and a post-processing mechanism 33 that performs post-processing on the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . Therefore, the positional accuracy of post-processing can be improved.

(10) The medium stacker 31 includes the intermediate stacker 32 , the first curl forming mechanism 81 , the second curl forming mechanism 82 , the first alignment mechanism 51 and the second alignment mechanism 52 . The medium alignment method of the medium stacking device 31 includes (A) receiving the medium 12 processed by the reversing unit 200 and discharged and transported in the first direction Y1 in the intermediate stacker 32, and (B) the first curl. Aligning by the first aligning mechanism 51 in a state in which the forming mechanism 81 causes the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 to curl C1 extending in the first direction Y1. Further, the medium alignment method of the medium stacking device 31 is as follows: (C) the curl C2 extending in the width direction X is generated in the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 by the second curl forming mechanism 82; Prepare to do. According to this medium alignment method, the alignment of the medium 12 can be improved because the curls C1 and C2 extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction can be forcibly generated with respect to the two directions in which the medium 12 is aligned. be able to.

(11) The medium stacking device 31 includes an intermediate stacker 32 that receives the media 12 that have been processed and discharged by the reversing unit 200, a first position P1 that performs an alignment operation for the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32, and a and a first alignment member 38 movable between a second position P2 farther from the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 than the first position P1. Furthermore, the medium stacking device 31 includes a discharge stacker 35 that stacks the medium 12 transported from the intermediate stacker 32 . The media 12 conveyed from the intermediate stacker 32 are stacked on the discharge stacker 35 after the leading edge 12f contacts the first aligning member 38 at the second position P2. Therefore, it is possible to align the media 12 discharged to the discharge stacker 35 using the first aligning member 38 that aligns the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 .

(12) When the medium 12 is ejected from the reversing section 200, the first alignment member 38 is positioned at the third position P3 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Therefore, the drop position of the medium 12 processed by the reversing processor 200 can be defined to some extent.

(13) The intermediate stacker 32 has a medium abutment section 47 that aligns the medium 12 by contacting the trailing edge 12r of the medium 12 . The first aligning member 38 applies a force to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the direction toward the medium abutting portion 47 at the first position P1. Thus, alignment of media 12 on intermediate stacker 32 is possible.

(14) The medium stacking device 31 has the paddles 45 and 46 as feeding sections that apply force to the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the direction toward the medium abutment section 47 . Therefore, the consistency of the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can be improved.

(15) The medium stacking device 31 has a discharge mechanism 36 that discharges the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 toward the stacking section. Therefore, the medium 12 can be discharged from the intermediate stacker 32 to the discharge stacker 35 .

(16) The medium stacking device 31 further includes a medium support section 37 vertically above the discharge stacker 35 for temporarily supporting the medium 12 transported from the intermediate stacker 32 . The medium 12 supported by the medium support portion 37 is stacked on the discharge stacker 35 after the leading edge 12f contacts the first aligning member 38 at the second position P2. Therefore, by prescribing the drop position of the medium 12 when discharging the medium 12 to the discharge stacker 35 to some extent, the medium 12 discharged to the discharge stacker 35 can be aligned. For example, in a configuration without the medium support portion 37, the leading edge of the medium 12 hangs down, and when the hanging edge comes into contact with the stacking surface 35A of the discharge stacker 35, there is a risk that the medium 12 will be caught inward and bent. However, the occurrence of this kind of folding can be suppressed.

(17) The post-processing device 14 includes a medium stacking device 31 and a post-processing mechanism 33 that performs post-processing on the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . Therefore, the positional accuracy of post-processing can be improved.
(18) The control method of the medium stacking device 31 is to (A) receive the medium 12 processed and discharged by the reverse processing unit 200 in the intermediate stacker 32, and (B) move the contact portion to the first position P1. and aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1. Further, the method of controlling the medium stacking device 31 includes (C) moving the first alignment member 38 to a second position P2 farther from the leading end 12f of the medium 12 than the first position P1; Contacting the leading edge 12f of the conveyed medium 12 with the first alignment member 38 at the second position P2. The control method of the medium stacking device 31 includes (D) stacking the medium 12 in contact with the first alignment member 38 at the second position P2 by the discharge stacker 35 . Therefore, the contact portion for aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can also be used to align the media 12 discharged to the stacking portion.

(19) The control method of the medium stacking device 31 further includes (E) aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 in the first direction Y1 and then aligning them in the width direction X. According to this method, the consistency of the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can be improved.

(20) The method for controlling the media stacking device 31 further comprises (F) post-processing the media 12 after aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 . According to this method, the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 can be post-processed with high positional accuracy.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment can be modified into a form such as the modified example shown below. Furthermore, a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and the modified examples described below, or a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the modified examples described below.

In the above-described embodiment, it extends in the first direction Y1 and moves between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate stacker 32 is less than the predetermined amount. Possible first forced deformations or second forced deformations are not limited to extended members such as ribs. For example, it has an extended shape made of rubber that moves between a protruding state in which gas such as air is introduced to swell and protrude a predetermined amount, and a retracted state in which the protruding amount is less than a predetermined amount due to shrinkage due to exhaust gas. A configuration including an elastic member such as a balloon may be used.

A first rib extending in the first direction Y1 and movable between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate stacker 32 by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate stacker 32 is less than a predetermined amount. It is not limited to first deformation formations including first forced deformations such as 83 . Similarly, the second deformed portion including the second forcibly deformed portion such as the second rib 84 is not limited to the second deformed portion. One or both of the first deformation forming section and the second deformation forming section may be, for example, a gas injection mechanism that forcibly forms a curl on the medium 12 by blowing gas such as air. The first deformation forming part has, for example, a plurality of injection nozzles for injecting gas such as air along the first direction Y1, or an elongated injection port extending long in the first direction Y1. .

The first sheet may be transported downstream by nipping the medium 12 between the rollers 36A and 36B of the discharge mechanism 36 and rotating the driving roller 36A made of a rubber roller. Since this is hard to slip due to the frictional resistance of the rubber roller, the first medium 12 is nipped and rotated by the rollers 36A and 36B of the ejection mechanism 36, thereby positively conveying the medium 12 downstream in the first direction Y1. . In addition, if the medium 12 slides on the roller surface of the rubber roller with high frictional resistance, the medium 12 may be stained with roller marks of the rubber roller. For the purpose of avoiding this, the first medium 12 is conveyed downstream in the first direction Y1 by being nipped and rotated by the rollers 36A and 36B. From the second sheet, the medium 12 is stacked on top of the preceding medium 12, and the medium 12 slides on the preceding medium 12. Therefore, the nip state of the rollers 36A and 36B is released and the rollers are arranged at the separated position. there is

• It is desirable to perform alignment in the first direction Y1 and alignment in the width direction X each time the medium 12 is ejected. However, the alignment in the first direction Y1 and the alignment in the width direction X may be performed each time a plurality of media 12 are ejected, or the alignment in the first direction Y1 and the alignment in the width direction X may be performed. You may change the discharge number of sheets to perform.

As for the order of alignment, it is preferable to first perform alignment in the first direction Y1 and then perform alignment in the width direction X, but the order may be reversed.
- The medium support section 37 may be provided separately from the medium stacking device 31 instead of being provided in the medium stacking device 31 .

- A third alignment mode may be provided in which alignment is performed by at least one of the first matching section and the second matching section while both the first deformation forming section and the second deformation forming section are operated.
- The tense deformation extending in the first direction Y1 that is forcibly formed in the medium 12 is not limited to curling. A crease forcedly formed in the medium 12 may also be used. For example, if the medium 12 is made of a material that leaves no trace of folding, there is no problem even if the medium 12 is folded. It is also effective for applications where there is no problem even if some traces of folding remain.

- When aligning the media 12 on the intermediate stacker 32, the curl forming mechanisms 81 and 82 may or may not be used together. Also, the curl forming mechanisms 81 and 82 having the ribs 83 and 84 may not be provided.

- In the above embodiment, the first position P1 to the third position P3 are changed according to the size of the medium 12, but they do not have to be changed. For example, if only one size of the medium 12 is used, there is no need to change the size, and if the first alignment member 38 is used to increase the accuracy of alignment only for the medium 12 of a specific size, the first position P1 can be adjusted. One third position P3 is determined according to the medium size.

The second position P2 and the third position P3 are determined by the positional relationship between the nip position of the transport roller pair 19B and the nip position of the ejection mechanism 36 on the transport path. It may be located between the first position P1 and the third position P3.

- The third position P3 may be eliminated. For example, the contact portion may be positioned at the second position P2 when the medium 12 is ejected from the processing portion. Alternatively, it may be positioned at a fourth position that is farther from the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 than the second position P2.

The configuration for guiding the media 12 processed and discharged by the processing unit to the intermediate stacker 32 is not limited to the configuration of the movable guide 42 and the first paddle 45 . For example, it may be a suction conveying belt that conveys while being attracted to the belt. Negative pressure, static electricity, etc. are mentioned as the adsorption method of an adsorption|suction conveyance belt. In this case, the suction conveying belt sucks the medium discharged in the first conveying direction Y0 from the conveying mechanism 30 to a position above the intermediate stacker 32, conveys the medium to a position above the intermediate stacker 32, and then releases the suction or moves the movable guide. The medium 12 may be forcibly peeled from the belt and dropped onto the stacking surface 32A. In addition, after the medium sucked by the adsorption/conveying belt is conveyed in the first conveying direction Y0, the moving direction of the belt is reversed to convey the medium 12 in the second conveying direction opposite to the first conveying direction Y0. The medium 12 may be conveyed in a switchback manner, and the medium 12 may be peeled off from the suction conveying belt or the suction may be released in the process of being conveyed in the second conveying direction to drop the medium 12 onto the stacking surface 32A.

When the medium 12 on the intermediate stacker 32 is to be discharged in the direction of the discharge stacker 35, after the first alignment member 38, which is an example of the contact portion, starts to move from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the discharge mechanism 36 may be started, or the discharge mechanism 36 may be driven at the same time as the movement of the first alignment member 38 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 is started.

The post-processing may be applied to one medium 12 as well as the medium bundle 12B.
The processing unit is not limited to print processing or processing to change the orientation of the medium, such as reversing the medium. That is, the processing section is not limited to the reverse processing section 200 of the intermediate device 15 or the print head 25 that performs print processing in the printing device 13 . For example, a processing unit that performs coating processing on the medium 12, a processing unit that performs heat treatment on the medium 12, and a processing unit that performs photocuring processing on the photocurable resin adhered to the medium 12 may be used.

- The transport mechanism 30 is not limited to a roller transport system in which the medium 12 is transported by one or a plurality of roller pairs. The transport mechanism 30 may be a belt transport system or a transport system combining a roller pair and a belt.

- The intermediate device 15 may be omitted in the media processing system 11 . In other words, the media processing system 11 may be configured by the printing device 13 and the post-processing device 14 . For example, the reverse processor 200 of the intermediate device 15 may be incorporated into the post-processing device 14 . In this case, the post-processing device 14 internally reverses the medium 12 carried in from the printing device 13 and then causes the intermediate stacker 32 to receive the medium 12 for post-processing. For example, the reverse processing unit 200 of the intermediate device 15 may be incorporated into the printing device 13 . In this case, the post-processing device 14 causes the intermediate stacker 32 to receive the reversed media 12 carried in from the printing device 13 and performs post-processing.

- When the configuration of the medium processing system 11 of the modified example is adopted, the medium processing device is not limited to the post-processing device 14 having the medium stacking device 31 . That is, the media processing device may be the post-processing device 14 having the reverse processing unit 200 and the media stacking device 31 . Further, the medium processing device may be the printing device 13 including the medium stacking device 31 or the printing device 13 including the reverse processing unit 200 and the medium stacking device 31 . In these cases, the printing device 13 preferably also includes a post-processing mechanism 33 .

- The medium 12 is not limited to paper, and may be synthetic resin film or sheet, cloth, non-woven fabric, laminate sheet, or the like.
The printing device 13 is not limited to a liquid ejection method such as an inkjet method, and may be a dot impact method or an electrophotographic method. Also, the printing device 13 may be a textile printing device. Further, the printing device 13 may be a multi-function device having a scanning mechanism and a copying function in addition to the printing function.

Technical ideas understood from the above embodiment and modified examples will be described below together with effects.
[Thought 1]
The medium stacking device includes an intermediate stacker for receiving the medium processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction, and forcibly deforming the medium on the intermediate stacker with tension extending in the transport direction. a first deformation forming portion that generates a deformation, a second deformation forming portion that forcibly generates a tense deformation extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking portion, and the intermediate stacking portion. a first aligning section that aligns the medium on the stack in the conveying direction; and a second aligning section that aligns the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the width direction. A first alignment mode in which the medium is aligned by the first alignment section in a state in which deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction is generated in the medium, and a tension in the medium extending in the width direction by the second deformation forming section. and a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment part in a state in which deformation is generated.

According to this configuration, it is possible to forcibly generate tense deformation extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction with respect to the two alignment directions of the medium. Therefore, it is possible to accurately align the medium in two directions and improve the alignment of the medium.

[Thought 2]
In the medium stacking device according to [Thought 1], the first deformation forming section includes a first forced deformation section extending in a direction along the conveying direction, and the first forced deformation section includes the intermediate stacking section. and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate stacking section is less than the predetermined amount.

According to this configuration, the media on the intermediate stacking section can be deformed with tension extending in the transport direction when necessary.
[Thought 3]
In the medium stacking device according to [Thought 1] or [Thought 2], the second deformation forming portion includes a second forced deformation portion extending in a direction along the width direction, and the second forced deformation portion may be movable between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate loading section by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate loading section is smaller than the predetermined amount.

According to this configuration, the media on the intermediate stacking section can be deformed with tension extending in the width direction when necessary.
[Thought 4]
The medium stacking device according to any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 3], further comprising a medium support section for supporting a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section, wherein the first deformation forming section , the medium support portions are provided on both sides in the width direction, the medium support portions are movable in the width direction, and move in the width direction to move the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to the medium stack. A tense deformation extending in the conveying direction may be forcibly generated.

According to this configuration, the media on the intermediate stacking section can be deformed with tension extending in the transport direction when necessary.
[Thought 5]
The medium stacking device according to any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 4], further comprising a medium support section for supporting a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section, wherein the first deformation forming section , the medium support portions are provided on both sides in the width direction, are rotatable about an axis along the transport direction, and rotate about the axis to move the medium on the intermediate stacking portion. may be forcibly deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction.

According to this configuration, the media on the intermediate stacking section can be deformed with tension extending in the transport direction when necessary.
[Thought 6]
The medium stacking device according to any one of [Thought 1] to [Thought 5], further comprising a medium support section for supporting a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section, wherein the second deformation forming section , the medium support section is movable up and down, and by moving up and down, the medium on the intermediate stacking section is forcibly deformed with tension extending in the width direction. may

According to this configuration, the media on the intermediate stacking section can be deformed with tension extending in the width direction when necessary.
[Thought 7]
The medium stacking device includes an intermediate stacker for receiving the medium processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction, and the medium stacker extending in the transport direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacker. a first deformation forming portion movable between a protruding state in which a predetermined amount protrudes from the intermediate loading portion and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate loading portion is less than the predetermined amount; A projecting state in which the medium extends in a direction along the width direction that intersects with the conveying direction and projects from the intermediate stacking unit by a predetermined amount, and a projecting amount from the intermediate stacking unit is smaller than the predetermined amount. a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction; and a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction. a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first matching portion with the first deformed portion in a projected state; and a second matching mode in which the second deformed portion is in a projected state and the and a second matching mode in which matching is performed by the second matching section.

According to this configuration, it is possible to forcibly generate tense deformation extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction with respect to the two directions in which the media are aligned, so that the alignment of the media can be improved.

[Thought 8]
In the medium stacking device according to [Idea 7], the first deformation forming portion and the second deformation forming portion may be provided in a crossed state in the intermediate stacking portion.

According to this configuration, two deformation forming portions can be provided in a small space.
[Thought 9]
A medium processing device includes the medium stacking device according to any one of [Idea 1] to [Idea 8], and a post-processing mechanism that performs post-processing on the media on the intermediate stacking section.

According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the post-processing.
[Thought 10]
A medium alignment method in a medium stacking device comprises: an intermediate stacking section for receiving a medium processed by a processing section and transported in a transport direction; and a second deformation forming unit forcibly generating deformation with tension extending in the width direction intersecting the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit. , a medium stacking device comprising: a first aligning section that aligns the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the conveying direction; and a second alignment section that aligns the medium on the intermediate stacking section in the width direction A method for aligning media, comprising: receiving, in an intermediate stacker, media processed by a processing unit and transported in a transport direction; aligning with the first aligning portion in a state in which deformation with extending tension is generated; and generating deformation with tension extending in the width direction in the medium on the intermediate stacking portion by the second deformation forming part. and aligning by the second aligning section in the state of being held.

According to this method, it is possible to forcibly generate tense deformation extending in the direction intersecting the alignment direction with respect to the two directions in which the media are aligned, so that the alignment of the media can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Media processing system 12... Medium 12B... Medium bundle 12f... Leading edge 12r... Trailing edge 13... Printing apparatus 14... Post-processing apparatus as an example of a medium processing apparatus 15... Intermediate apparatus 17... Conveying Path 18 Conveyance motor 19A Conveyance roller pair 19B Conveyance roller pair 19D Drive roller 19F Driven roller 20 Cassette 21 Pickup roller 22 Separation roller 23 Support part 24 Nozzle 25 Print head 30 Transport mechanism 31 Medium stacker 32 Intermediate stacker as an example of intermediate stacker 32A Load surface 33 Post-processing mechanism 34 Sensor 35 Discharge stacker 35A... Loading surface 36... Carrying out mechanism 36A... Drive roller 36B... Driven roller 37... Medium support part 38... First alignment member 38A... Alignment surface 41... Path change mechanism 42... Variable guide 43 First feeding mechanism 44 Second feeding mechanism 45 First paddle as an example of the feeding section 46 Second paddle as an example of the feeding section 47 Medium abutment section 51 First alignment section First alignment mechanism as an example 52 Second alignment mechanism as an example of the second alignment portion 54 Second alignment member 54A Alignment surface 54B Notch 55 Medium support mechanism 56 Standing wall , 62... Electric motor 72... Electric motor 81... First curl forming mechanism as an example of a first deformation forming section 82... Second curl forming mechanism as an example of a second deformation forming section 83... First deformation A first rib as an example of a first forcibly deformed portion and constituting an example of a forming portion, 84 . Motor 96 Electric motor 100 Control unit 111 First detection unit 112 Second detection unit 113 Third detection unit 121 First counter 122 Second counter 123 Third counter , 124... number counter, 125... timer, 126... memory, P1... first position, P2... second position, P3... third position, PD... print data, TD1... first reference data, TD2... second reference data , X... width direction, Y0... first conveying direction, Y1... first direction (conveying direction), Y2... second direction, Z... vertical direction.

Claims (17)

an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section ;
The first deformation forming section includes medium support sections provided on both sides in the width direction in a state capable of supporting the leading end of the medium on the intermediate stacking section and movable in the width direction. a medium stacking device forcibly causing deformation with tension extending in the transport direction to the media on the intermediate stacking unit by moving the intermediate stacking unit. an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section ;
The first deformation forming section includes medium support sections provided on both sides in the width direction in a state capable of supporting the leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section and rotatable around an axis along the transport direction. 1. A medium stacking device, wherein the rotation about the axis forces the medium on the intermediate stacking section to deform with tension extending in the conveying direction. an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section ;
The second deformation forming section includes a medium support section which is provided so as to be capable of supporting the leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section and vertically movable. In contrast, the medium stacking device is characterized by forcibly generating deformation with tension extending in the width direction . an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a protruding state in which the media on the intermediate stacking unit are extended in a direction along the conveying direction and protrude from the intermediate stacking unit by a predetermined amount; and a protrusion amount from the intermediate stacking unit is larger than the predetermined amount. a first deformation former movable between a less retracted state;
A projecting state in which the media on the intermediate stacking unit are extended in a direction along the width direction that intersects with the conveying direction and projects from the intermediate stacking unit by a predetermined amount; a second deformation forming portion movable between a retracted state that is less than the predetermined amount;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
with
a first matching mode in which the first deformation forming portion is in a projected state and aligned by the first matching portion;
a second alignment mode in which the second deformation forming portion is in a projected state and aligned by the second alignment portion ;
The medium stacking device , wherein the first deformed portion and the second deformed portion are provided in a crossed state in the intermediate stacking portion . The first deformation forming section includes a first forced deformation section extending in a direction along the conveying direction,
The first forcibly deformable portion is movable between a protruded state in which it protrudes from the intermediate loading portion by a predetermined amount and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate loading portion is less than the predetermined amount. The medium loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The second deformation forming portion includes a second forced deformation portion extending in a direction along the width direction,
The second forcibly deformable portion is movable between a protruding state in which it protrudes from the intermediate loading portion by a predetermined amount, and a retracted state in which the amount of protrusion from the intermediate loading portion is smaller than the predetermined amount. The medium stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 . further comprising a medium support section that supports a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section;
The first deformation forming section includes the medium support section,
The medium support portions are provided on both sides in the width direction and are movable in the width direction,
4. The medium stacking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the movement in the width direction forces the medium on the intermediate stacking unit to deform with tension extending in the conveying direction. further comprising a medium support section that supports a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section;
The first deformation forming section includes the medium support section,
The medium support units are provided on both sides in the width direction and are rotatable around axes along the transport direction,
4. The medium stacking device according to claim 3, wherein the rotation about the axis forces the medium on the intermediate stacking section to deform with tension extending in the conveying direction. further comprising a medium support section that supports a leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section;
The second deformation forming section includes the medium support section,
The medium support section is vertically movable,
5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 , 2, and 4, wherein the vertical movement forces the media on the intermediate stacking unit to deform with tension extending in the width direction. A media loading device as described. an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
an information acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information indicating the ease of curling, information indicating the direction in which curling is likely to occur, and information on the size of the curl;
a control unit;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section;
The medium stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control section individually determines whether or not to implement the first alignment mode and the second alignment mode for each mode based on the information. an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
an information acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information indicating the ease of curling, information indicating the direction in which curling is likely to occur, and information on the size of the curl;
a control unit;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section;
When the first alignment mode and the second alignment mode are executed, the control unit individually determines operation amounts of the first deformation formation unit and the second deformation formation unit for each mode based on the information. A medium stacking device characterized by: an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
an information acquisition unit that acquires information about the processing content of the medium by the processing unit;
a control unit that causes the first matching unit and the second matching unit to perform the matching;
with
a first alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the first alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction by the first deformation formation section;
a second alignment mode in which alignment is performed by the second alignment section in a state in which the medium is deformed with tension extending in the width direction by the second deformation formation section;
The processing by the processing unit is processing that causes curling of the medium when applied to the medium, and the processing unit performs the processing based on designated data,
The information acquisition unit acquires, as the information, details of processing for determining the degree of curl based on the data,
The medium stacking apparatus, wherein the control unit executes the first alignment mode and the second alignment mode when the processing content based on the information satisfies a predetermined condition. a medium loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 ;
a post-processing mechanism that performs post-processing on the media on the intermediate stacking unit;
A media processing device comprising: an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
wherein the first deformation forming portion includes medium support portions provided on both sides in the width direction in a state capable of supporting the leading end portion of the medium on the intermediate stacking portion and movable in the width direction; A method for aligning media in a media stacking device, comprising: receiving, in an intermediate stacker, media processed by a processing unit and transported in a transport direction;
aligning by the first aligning portion in a state in which the first deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction;
aligning by the second aligning portion in a state in which the second deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the width direction;
When aligned by the first aligning section, the medium supporting section moves in the width direction, thereby forcibly causing tensional deformation extending in the conveying direction to the medium on the intermediate stacking section. A medium alignment method in a medium stacking device, comprising : an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
wherein the first deformation forming section includes medium supports provided on both sides in the width direction in a state capable of supporting the leading edge of the medium on the intermediate stacking section and rotatable around an axis along the transport direction. 1. A method for aligning media in a media stacking device, comprising: receiving media processed by a processing station and transported in a transport direction in an intermediate stack;
aligning by the first aligning portion in a state in which the first deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction;
aligning by the second aligning portion in a state in which the second deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the width direction;
When aligned by the first aligning section, the medium supporting section rotates about the axis to forcibly generate tense deformation extending in the conveying direction to the medium on the intermediate stacking section. A medium alignment method in a medium stacking device, comprising : an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a first deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a second deformation forming unit that forcibly generates deformation with tension extending in a width direction that intersects with the conveying direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking unit;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
wherein the second deformation forming section includes a medium support section provided to be capable of supporting the leading end of the medium on the intermediate stacking section and capable of moving up and down, wherein: receiving the medium processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction in the intermediate stacking unit;
aligning by the first aligning portion in a state in which the first deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the conveying direction;
aligning by the second aligning portion in a state in which the second deformation forming portion causes the medium on the intermediate stacking portion to be deformed with tension extending in the width direction;
When aligned by the second aligning section, the second deformation forming section moves up and down to forcibly generate tense deformation extending in the width direction with respect to the medium on the intermediate stacking section. A medium alignment method in a medium stacking device, characterized by: an intermediate stacker for receiving media processed by the processing unit and transported in the transport direction;
a protruding state in which the media on the intermediate stacking unit are extended in a direction along the conveying direction and protrude from the intermediate stacking unit by a predetermined amount; and a protrusion amount from the intermediate stacking unit is larger than the predetermined amount. a first deformation former movable between a less retracted state;
A projecting state in which the media on the intermediate stacking unit are extended in a direction along the width direction that intersects with the conveying direction and projects from the intermediate stacking unit by a predetermined amount; a second deformation forming portion movable between a retracted state that is less than the predetermined amount;
a first aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the conveying direction;
a second aligning unit that aligns the media on the intermediate stacking unit in the width direction;
wherein the first deformation forming section and the second deformation forming section are provided in a state of crossing each other in the intermediate stacking section, the medium alignment method in the medium stacking device being processed by the processing section in the conveying direction receiving the transported media in an intermediate stack;
Aligning the first deformation forming portion in a projecting state by the first alignment portion;
aligning by the second aligning portion with the second deformation forming portion in a protruding state;
A method for aligning media in a media loading device, comprising:

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