JPH028165A - Staple mechanism for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an effective staple operation by selecting a staple means between sorting state and stacking state in the image forming device equipped with an automatic original feeding device, sorting mechanism and staple mechanism. CONSTITUTION:This staple mechanism is made to execute filing operation by a stapler 318 after stacking the record form on which an image forming is performed in a certain quantity. The stapler 318 is selected between sorting state and stacking state and made to sort the action stapling what is arranged in the order of an original at the same staple mode and the action stapling what is arranging the same one. Namely, the transfer paper discharged from a folding unit comes to a stacker transfer roller 314. It is changed over by a branch deflecting plate by being discharged to a staple tray 316 or being discharged to a staple tray 316 for stapling.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a stapling mechanism of an image (g+) forming device.

In particular, the present invention relates to a stapling mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which a certain amount of recording sheets on which images have been formed are stacked and then a stapler performs a stapling operation.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Modern image forming apparatuses such as copying machines are often equipped with an automatic document feeder that circulates a plurality of JM documents to form images on a plurality of copies. In addition, a sorting mechanism is provided which forms images of originals sent by the automatic document feeder on recording paper, and then sorts the recording paper into parts and stores them in each tray. In many cases, a stapling mechanism is installed in a complex manner to staple the recording sheets stacked on a 1-lay in a -1·l; manner.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional image forming apparatuses.

There is a problem in that the same stapling mode cannot be used depending on whether the automatic document feeder is used or not, and the stapling operation cannot be performed efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a stapling mechanism for an image forming apparatus that can more efficiently perform a stapling operation in an image forming apparatus that is equipped with a combination of an automatic document feeder, a sorting mechanism, and a stapling mechanism. The purpose is to

[Means to solve the problem]

To achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a stapling mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which a certain amount of recording paper on which one image has been formed is stacked and then a stapling operation is performed by a stapling means. , comprising means for selecting the stapling means between a sorting state and a stacked state, and the means configured such that a stapling operation is performed by a repeat operation in the stacked state.

Further, the invention described in claim 2 provides a stapling mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which a certain amount of recording sheets on which images have been formed are stacked and then a stapling operation is performed by a stapling means. The device is provided with means for selecting based on the set number of sheets, and the selection means is configured to not perform the stapling operation when the set number is 1, and to perform the stapling operation at other times.

[For production]

In the invention described in claim 1.

The stapling means can be selected between the sorting state and the stacking state, and the operation of stapling documents arranged in the same stapling mode and the operation of stapling the same documents arranged in a row can be used. It has become.

Further, in the invention described in claim 2, the stapling means is selected based on the number of sheets,
When the number of settings is 2 or more in the same stapling mode, it is possible to staple the same items side by side, and when the number of settings is 1, there is ample room to manually staple items lined up on documents. It is designed to be held.

〔Example〕

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image forming apparatus in which an automatic document feeder (RDH) 2 and a finisher 3 are attached to a copying machine main body 1.

First, in the copying machine main body 1, as shown in FIG.
double feeding is prevented and the paper is fed to the registration rollers, and the original on the contact glass 104 is exposed by the exposure lamp 105, and the light that hits the original is transferred to the first mirror 106. Second mirror 107. third mirror 108,
lens 109, fourth mirror 111, fifth mirror 112,
Drum 114 via the sixth mirror 113 and dustproof glass
The latent image formed on the drum 114 charged by the charging charger 115 is irradiated with light by the eraser 116 to erase the charge on unnecessary parts (front end, left and right, rear end), and toner sticks to the parts that will not be transferred. It prevents

When the development timing comes, the development motor is driven, the development roller 117 rotates, and the latent image on the drum 114 is developed with the toner on the development roller 117.

The developed image is transferred to the registration-started paper at the transfer section, but in order to reduce the adhesion force (charge) between the drum 114 and the toner and to suppress the occurrence of re-transfer when separated, PTL is used to transfer the image before transfer. Eliminate static electricity.

The paper sent out from the registration roller is brought into close contact with the drum 114 by the guide mylar, and the toner on the drum 114 is transferred to the paper by the transfer charger 118. In addition, even if the chicks cannot be hatched in advance, the separation claw of the cleaning unit will force the 9 chicks. The separated paper is sent to the fixing section 121 by a bell hl19 to the 1m feeder 1. Drum 114 after separation
is removed before cleaning in the cleaning unit 122
The toner remaining on the drum 114 is removed by the fur brush, and the toner not removed by this is removed by the cleaning blade. A fixing roller and a pressure roller apply pressure to the paper sent from the conveyance section to fuse the toner onto the paper by applying constant temperature and pressure, and the fixing roller is heated to about 185 degrees Celsius by a heater. and is heated by this fixing roller. The paper discharged from the fixing section is sent to a discharge roller 124 by a switching claw 123 and discharged, except for the first side of both sides.

In addition, when the first side of one double-sided paper is copied, the paper is sent to the reversing section by the switching claw 123 and sent to the first reversing guide 125 to be copied on the opposite side to the side that has been copied this time.
6, the paper is reversed and sent toward the conveyance section on both sides. The paper fed from the reversing section is ejected to an intermediate tray 128 by a gate claw 127. 4
Depending on the paper size, a portion of the gate claws 127 that corresponds to the paper size operates. The paper that has fallen onto the intermediate tray 128 is sent to the leading edge roller 129, and the paper that has fallen onto the intermediate tray 128
9 to feed the paper to the paper stopper 131 and stock it.To refeed the paper from the intermediate 1-lay 128 at the time of double-sided operation, remove the leading edge roller 129 from the top of the paper, release the paper stopper 131, and the double-sided call roller 132 rotates to load the paper. is fed to the double-sided paper feed roller 133.

Double-sided paper feeding rollers 133 and double-sided reversing rollers 134 prevent double feeding and feed the paper to the registration rollers.

FIG. 6 shows the operation section, and the functions of each key and display Φ to 0 are as shown in the following table.

FIG. 7 shows the details of one display panel, and the display contents are as shown in the following table.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration diagram of the control system. There is a main control unit 801 that controls the whole, a storage unit 502 that stores data is connected to it, and a motor 503. Solenoid 504, sensor 505
, switches, etc. are connected.

An optical control unit 506 controls the optical system.
It is connected to An optical control unit 506 controls a lens motor 507, a scanner motor 508, and the like.

The main control section 501 is connected to an AC control section 601, which includes a main motor 602, a developing motor 603, a conveyance motor 604, a paper feed motor 605, an exposure lamp 606, a fixing heater 607, etc.
etc. are connected. In addition, the main control unit 501
Operation control section 70 controlling the operation section shown in FIG.
By communicating with 1, key human data input and display data output are performed. Also.

RDH control unit 702 and finisher control unit 70
3 to obtain control data and output control signals.

Figure 9 shows RDI-1 (recycled automatic document feeder I).
) 2 is a schematic diagram. The RDH 2 is a recycling-type automatic document feeder that can feed a fed document any number of times by ejecting the document onto the document that is set at the time of discharge.

When starting to feed the first document after setting the document, the recycle lever 201 is placed on top of the last fed document by motor drive in order to determine that one cycle of the document has been completed. The first ejected document is stacked on the recycle bar 201, and the position of the recycle lever 201 becomes the separation of the documents. There is a cut below the document for the lever 201 to fall under its own weight, and when the last document is fed, a sensor detects that the lever 201 has fallen, and it is determined that the last document in one cycle has been fed. do.

If one cycle of operation is sufficient, the operation ends there. When the operation is performed for several cycles, the operation is continued until the scheduled number of cycles is reached, and the recycle lever 201, which has fallen due to the feeding of the final document, is operated again by placing the lever on top of the document when feeding the next document.

In other words, the lever 201 is placed on the document the same number of times as the scheduled number of cycles, and the lever 201 falls down.

To explain the conveyance path of the document, the document set on the document table 202 starts feeding by a feed signal sent from the main body. first.

Separate the paper with the half-moon roller 203 and move it for 1 minute using the belt t-20.
4 to separate the conveyance roller 205 and drive roller 20.
6 to the conveyor belt 207. The stop timing is determined by the paper feed registration sensor 208.

Stop. For paper ejection, the deflection plate 209 is switched from the transport belt 207 to the paper ejection direction, and the transport roller 205 and the paper ejection roller 21
1 and is discharged onto the document table 202 by the discharge roller 212, and the discharge operation is completed. (conveyor bell in reversing operation),
207, the deflecting plate 209 is switched to the discharge direction, and the conveying roller 205. After being sent to the paper ejection roller 211, the document is switched back, passes through the reversal sensor 213, is sent to the switchback roller 214, goes toward the document reversing port 215, and is reversed with the document held in the switchback roller 214. switch back and pass the deflection plate 209 through the inverted registration sensor 216.
Switch to the direction of the conveyor belt 207 and the conveyor belt 207
sent to. The stop timing is determined by the inversion registration sensor 216, and the process is stopped.

The following table shows the operating mode codes for paper feeding and paper ejection. Based on this operation mode, feed-in and feed-out signals are received and each operation is executed.

Among these, the document return mode is a mode that is executed when it is desired to return the document to the previous document when jamming or the like. From the time the one-cycle lever 201 is set on the original, the number of originals is counted and stored each time the original is fed. The number of sheets specified by that counter (
The number of sheets returned is the same as the number of sheets returned. Totsun [
- If the number of returned sheets is greater than the number of sheets being returned, the number of sheets returned is the sum of the counted number of sheets plus the total number of sheets minus the number of returned sheets. The maximum number of cards that can be returned here is 7.

The mote is initiated by receiving a feed-in signal along with an operating mode. At this time, the number of sheets to be returned is also received, and the operation is performed to return the number of sheets. This operation repeats paper feeding and ejection until the recycle lever 201 drops, and
The process repeats paper feeding and ejection until the position is returned by the number of sheets returned.

FIG. 10 shows an interface circuit between the RDH and the main body. This is an example of 0 communication via an optical fiber, in which data is transmitted and received in a serial asynchronous mode.

FIG. 11 shows -mat in the transmission from RD) to the main body. flit 1, 0 is the code and indicates four addresses. Explain the contents of the signal.

Feed OUT jam...Jam when discharging a document...Jam when feeding a document (same when in document return mode)...Indicates the state in which the RDll is opened.

...The document is set in the correct position when feeding, and the transfer paper is allowed to feed...The document is on the document table.Lift UP Feed IN jam Paper feeding start OK The document detection/recycle lever is down (Separator ink Month...RDH4 is in operation...When counting whether the document is an odd or even number.If it is an odd number, send...The document is being ejected...When the RDH operates abnormally...Detects the document size during APS - RD I is connected to the main unit Door open/close signal ...RD H door is open Here, the document size code is for each document size based on the code shown in the primary table. Sent after being detected.

Su-cut H connection manuscript area driving operation medium odd number of originals ejected g manuscript abnormal original size code Figure 12 shows the data received from the main unit to RDH) 2
r-mat is shown. Indicates the nature of the debt.

Operation mode code: Indicates the operation mode of the figure mark.

Feed OUT ... Paper discharge operation start feed IN
...Paper feeding operation (each operation mode) start preheating mode ...R document insertion display ○FF interrupt mode
...The original counter is saved when the interrupt mode is turned on, and the saved original counter is restored when the interrupt mode is turned off.

Auto clear: Clear the mode and initialize the original by repeating hourly feeding and paper ejection when the recycle lever is not down.

Pointing location code: Inch system or AB when detecting the original
Clear the original counter...Clear the original counter Number of returned originals...Number of sheets returned when returning the original
The figure shows the timing of transmission and reception, and when transmitting data, the minimum interval between data is 15 m sec.
In addition to this, data reception checks are to be performed at least every 10 m5ec.

An outline of the finisher unit 3 is shown in FIG. This unit 3 is a unit that performs post-processing of the transfer paper.

The functions realized by this unit 3 include a folding function, a shift function on a stacker tray, and a stibbling function.

First, the folding function includes half-folding and two-folding, and this unit 3 can only fold A3.84, and for other sizes, even if the folding mode is selected, the operation is the same as the non-folding mode. In the non-paper folding mode, the entrance deflection plate 301
Switch to the direction that does not perform folding operation so that it does not go to the folding section. In addition, in the folding mode, the entrance deflection plate 301
The transfer paper is guided to the folding section by switching to the direction in which the folding operation is performed. In the half-folding mode, the half-folding stoppers 302 and 303 of each size are turned on, and when the transfer paper hits them, it is drawn into the folding rollers 304 and 305 to fold the paper, and then the intermediate deflection plate 306 moves the transfer paper to the folding rollers. The sheet is sent in the direction 307 and sent to discharge rollers 308 and 309, completing the half-folding. When using 2-fold remote, the transfer paper is brought into contact with the first stoppers 311 and 312 for Z-folding of each size.

The paper is drawn into the folding rollers 304 and 305 to perform the first folding, and then sent by the intermediate deflection plate 306 to the second stopper 313 for two-folding. When it hits the stopper 313, it is pushed forward by the folding rollers 304, 305 to form a loop, and is drawn into the folding rollers 305, 307 to perform the second folding, and is sent to the discharge rollers 30g and 309, completing the Z-folding.

The transfer paper discharged from the folding unit reaches the stacker conveyance roller 314. Then, it is discharged to the stacker tray 315 or the stable tray 31
The branching deflection Fi 317 is used to switch depending on whether the fuel is discharged into the air or not. Here, all the paper except the stable mode is discharged to the stacker tray 315. Also Stacker I Ray 3
15 is controlled to descend as the transfer paper is loaded. Further, when there is no more transfer paper on the stacker tray 315, the stacker tray 315 is raised. The lowering during loading is controlled so that the tray 315 is lowered little by little when the stacker upper limit sensor is turned on due to loading.

When it becomes impossible to descend as it descends, the lower limit sensor turns on and sends a signal to the main body. Also.

The stacker tray 315 performs shifting operations for sorting and stacking functions. This operation is performed by converting the circular motion of the gear driven by the shift motor into linear motion using a cam, and the cam performs one shift operation to either the left or right by making half a rotation. The protrusion and sensor detect half a rotation and stop the motor. When the tray is located at the left end and the first set of sheets has been ejected and a shift signal is received from the main body, it shifts to the right by about 3 CI11 and stops. Once the second copy has been ejected, it will shift to the left.
Then, it stops and the third copy is ejected. This allows sorting and stacking to be determined by the deviation of approximately 3 (J).

In this case, the stable unit that is ejected and stable in the stable mode loads the transfer paper on the stable tray 316 and receives the stable (word) from the main body.
The stapler 318 pulls the staple and drops the tray 31.
9, drop the stabilized transfer paper and set it to fAfa. The transfer sheets discharged onto the stable tray 316 are aligned with a side fence set to the width of the transfer sheets. Further, the stable operation is completed by one rotation of the motor, the needle hits the stable base in half a rotation, and returns to the original position in the remaining half rotation. One revolution is detected by a recess in the cam. A reflective photosensor is placed in the staple housing to detect the end of the staple, and it is determined that the staple is present based on the reflected light that hits the staple. When there is no needle, a signal indicating that there is no needle is sent to the main body. When stabilization is completed, the drop stub solenoid is pulled, the drop stopper 321 is lowered, and the transfer paper falls onto the drop tray 319.

The electrical configuration is as shown in FIG. 15.

Finisher controller 1 - rollers have inputs such as sensors, and loads such as solenoids and motors are connected. There is also an output to the main unit and an input from the main unit for communication with the main unit. The finisher controller reads input signals from each sensor based on signals sent from the copying machine main body, and outputs a load drive signal. Furthermore, a finisher status signal is output to the main body of the copying machine.

FIG. 16 shows a communication interface between the finisher and the main body.

Further, FIG. 17 shows the format of the signal sent from the finisher to the main body. Since there is only the upper signal line of 581, the first 2 bits are used as the control signal switching code, and there are 4 codes and 3 B each.
A total of 12 signals of IT are being transmitted. FIG. 18 shows the format of the signal sent from the main body to the finisher. It has a 6-bit signal line.

Furthermore, if there is transfer paper in the stable tray, it can be stabilized using the manual stabilization key. However, applications can only be accepted during the waiting period.

Flow 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a key reception flow for selecting stable mode. At 22, use the l key to select So! -/Stack/Staple mode can be switched. When each mode is set, its display is attached and the display data itself is used as mode data.

Flow 2 shown in FIG. 2 is a 10-key reception flow for setting the number of waiting copies. Displays the numerical value entered with the key and stores the numerical value in the numeric buffer for operation control.

Flow 3 shown in FIG. 3 is a flow for determining the operation when the print key is pressed and the staple mode is selected.

When the print key is pressed, it is checked whether there is a document on the document table of the RDH, and if there is, it operates RD +-1, copies the document for one cycle, staples it at the end of 1 cycle, and prints it to Z. Perform several operation setting jobs. The stapled items are stapled in a sorted state (copied to originals). If it is determined that there is no original in the original check, the RD+1 operation cannot be performed, so a pressure plate copy is performed. In pressure plate copying, the number of copies is checked, and unless the number of copies is 1, the same copy images copied from Libby 1 are stapled. When the number is 1, the stapling tray is loaded, but the stapling operation is not performed. The reason why the sheets are stacked on the staple tray at this time is that when you want to copy and staple one sheet at a time, you can staple the sheets by pressing the manual staple key. Pressure plate copying can also be used to staple documents, although it is manual.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, in the stapling mode, when the document is to be stapled, the same thing can be stapled depending on whether the RD 11 is used or the pressure plate is used in the same mode. be able to. Further, there is no need to set the above-mentioned two switchings, and thereby an efficient stapling operation can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the invention, manual stapling can be performed by stacking sheets on the staple tray without stapling when the number of sheets is 1 in the stable mode and the pressure plate mode. Furthermore, when you want to staple the same item, by setting the number to 2 or more, you can switch between the two modes and efficiently perform the stapling operation, which is convenient because it allows you to perform an operation that suits the operating conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1, 2, and 3 are flowcharts showing the operating procedure of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are external views showing the entire copying machine to which the present invention is applied. A perspective view and a sectional view, FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views showing the operation panel, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control system of the entire device. figure,
Figures 12 and 13 show the automatic document feeder (RD t
l) schematic structure, interface circuit, data transfer format to the main unit side, data transfer format to the RDH side, and data transfer timing, respectively, side explanatory diagrams, circuit diagrams, code diagrams and timing diagrams, Fig. 14 , Figures 15 and 16 are side views, block diagrams, and circuit diagrams showing the schematic structure, control system, and interface circuit of the finisher, and Figures 17 and 18 are data transfer formats to the main body side. and a code diagram showing data transfer formats to the finisher side, respectively. 315... Stacker tray, 316... Stable tray, 318... Stapler. Uδ Genji 4-cho%q Kuchigata 403 RDH-2 foreign books salary-kDH-〇

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a stapling mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which a certain amount of recording sheets on which images have been formed are stacked and then a stapling operation is performed by a stapling means, the stapling means is set in a sorting state and a stacking state. 1. A stapling mechanism for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the stapling mechanism is provided with means for selecting between the two, and is configured such that a stapling operation is performed by a repeat operation in a stacked state. 2. In a stapling mechanism of an image forming apparatus in which a certain amount of recording sheets on which images have been formed are stacked and then stapled by a stapling means, means for selecting the stapling means based on the set number of sheets to be set. A stapling mechanism for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the selection means is configured not to perform the stapling operation when the number set is 1, but to perform the stapling operation at other times.