JPH04107077U - Sorter with stapler device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In a sorter equipped with multiple bins for sorting and storing sheets and a stapler device for stapling the sheets stored in the bins, improve the accuracy of sheet alignment on the bins by the alignment device. Furthermore, the binding position is accurately positioned at a predetermined position of the sheets with a simple configuration by the operation of a bin swinging device and a stapler device, and the sheets are stapled. [Structure] A bin having an abutting surface integrally formed on one side of the bin to enable alignment by abutting one side edge of the sheets against the side where the sheets stored in each bin are to be stapled; an alignment device that presses the other side edge of the stored sheets to align them toward the abutting surface; and a bin swing device that swings the bin to move the sheets on the bin to a binding position. A sorter equipped with a stapler device consisting of.

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

0001

[Industrial application field]

This idea is based on image forming equipment such as copying machines, printing machines, and laser beam printers. A sorter that is attached to a machine and separates and stores sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus. Specifically, it has a large number of bins, and aligns and binds the sheets stored on the bins. The present invention relates to a sorter equipped with a stapler device.

0002

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, machines equipped with a stapler device that staples sheets ejected from copying machines, etc. As a sheet post-processing device, it is used in conjunction with machines such as a circulating automatic document feeder (RDH). , there is a sheet post-processing device (finisher) that staples each sheet. However, it has the disadvantage that the mechanism is complicated and expensive.

0003 (1) A relatively simple bin-moving type sorter with a stapler attached (unexamined patent application) Publication No. 64-43457) has been disclosed. This device binds sheets stored in a bin. This is a sorter in which a stapler device is arranged so that it can move forward and backward relative to the bins.

0004 (2) With other sorters, when stapling each stack of paper, the A stapler device is provided for each bin, and each bin is moved to the stapling position. There is a format in which the staples are driven into the stack of paper.

[0005] (3) The sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-244869 is capable of stapling. Move the bin loaded with paper to a suitable position, then staple the paper, and then Stapling is performed by moving the stapling device vertically.

[0006]

[Problem that the idea aims to solve]

Of the above-mentioned sorter with a stapler device, move the first stapler device forward and backward. The approach process for the format differs depending on the sheet size, and the vertical spacing of each bin is If the width is wide, the sorter will become large, and the distance between the bins into which the stapling device will enter is limited. There was a problem in that the mechanism became complicated when the expanding operation was performed.

[0007] In the second sorter, the overall configuration of the sorter becomes complicated and the bin spacing is narrow. However, there was a problem in that a special stapler device was required.

[0008] In the third sorter, each bin loaded with paper is moved straight along the bin guide at the appropriate time. The device is moved horizontally to the stapling position, making the structure of the device complicated. There is a point. This sorter also uses an alignment standard when aligning sheets to be stored in bins. The standard sheet alignment reference member is fixed to the frame of the sorter body frame. , by moving the side edges of each sheet into contact with the common reference surface of the above-mentioned sorting and matching reference member. Since the items are aligned, the accuracy of stapling work and the positioning of reference materials can be improved. There was a problem with assembly.

[0009]

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a sorter equipped with a stapler device that has a simple structure and operates reliably. The purpose of this invention is to provide a stapler device of the present invention that achieves this purpose. The equipped sorter has multiple bins for sorting and storing sheets, and the sheets stored in the bins. In a sorter equipped with a stapler device for binding sheets, Place one side edge of the sheets on the side where the sheets will be stapled so that they can be aligned. A bottle with an abutment surface integrally formed on one side of the bottle, and a sheet stored on the bottle. an aligning device that presses the other side edge of the sheet and aligns it toward the abutting surface; A bin swinging device that swings a bin and moves the sheets on the bin to a binding position. It is characterized by being composed of the following.

0010

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sorter connected to the main body 1 of an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine). Ru. The sorter of the present invention includes a base section 10, a downward conveyance section 20, an upward conveyance section 30, and a bin transfer section. It is composed of a moving part 40.

0012 The base section 10 includes casters 11, a connection means 12 to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and a conveyor belt 13. , a driven roller 14, a guide plate 15, a driving means (not shown), etc., and is fixed on the floor. determined.

[0013] In addition, a stay member 16 is fixed to the base portion (horizontal conveyance portion) 10 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. It is set up. A rack gear RG is fixed to the upper surface side of the stay member 16. On the other hand, rollers 17A and 17B for moving the casing are rotatably supported inside the casing of the bin moving unit 40, which will be described later. The rollers 17A and 17B slide on rails (not shown) of the base section 10. , the casing of the bin moving unit 40 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper.

[0014] Further, a drive motor M1 is installed inside the housing of the bin moving unit 40, and The pinion gear PG is driven and rotated via the wheels G1 and G2. The pinion gear PG is Since it meshes with the rack gear RG fixed to the stay member 16, the motor M1 Due to the drive rotation, the casing of the bottle moving unit 40 moves in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. In addition, 18 is the previous This is a rotatable roller provided coaxially with the pinion gear PG, and the roller 18 is connected to the above-mentioned stay. It contacts member 16 and guides it.

[0015] The downward conveyance section 20 is connected to the paper ejection roller 2 and paper ejection port 3 of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and is The paper sheet P is received by the guide plate 21 and conveyed downward, and is conveyed within the base section 10. It consists of a conveyor belt 22 for feeding onto the belt 13, a driven roller 23, and the like. Also, this When a jam occurs in the ADF or sorter after branching from the conveyance path, the image forming device A conveying means 24 and a tray 25 are provided for discharging the preceding sheet in the storage main body 1. In addition, The upper part of the casing of the downward conveyance section 20 swings freely to open and close to prevent jams in the downward conveyance section 20. Allows paper to be removed.

[0016] The upward conveyance unit 30 includes pulleys rotatably fixed to the upper and lower parts of the support frame. A plurality of endless transfer belts 31 are stretched between the belts 32 and 33. The conveyor belt 31 On the inside, a plurality of rollers 34 are rotatably connected to each other, corresponding to the bottle insertion slot described later. are doing. A plurality of conveyor rollers are disposed on the outside of the conveyor belt 31 facing the roller 34. 35 is in contact and driven to rotate.

[0017] In addition, branch guides 36 are located at the entrances of the bins in the middle of the conveyance rollers 35. Place and rock. These branch guides 36 are connected to a shaft 37 installed on the support frame. The shaft 37 is rotatably supported by a lever and a solenoid (not shown) provided at the shaft end of the shaft 37. It is rocked by the noid. Therefore, the branch guide 36 must be rotated clockwise. , the lower end claw of the branch guide 36 is made up of the conveyor belt 31 and the conveyor roller 35. The branch guide 36 adjust the posture to accept the paper. When the paper P is conveyed there, the paper P It is deflected in a substantially right angle direction along the inner curved surface of the branch guide 36 and received in the bin 41. It will be done.

[0018] 2 and 3 are partial cross-sectional views of the constituent members and bins of the paper branch conveyance path, FIG. 2 shows the vicinity of the upper part of the sorter, and FIG. 3 shows the lower part of the sorter. Also, Figure 4 shows the bin 41 and a plan view of related members.

[0019] In the bin moving unit 40, a plurality of bins (for example, 20 bins) 41 arranged at equal intervals are oscillated. freely supported. In other words, the bottom of bottle 41 (left side in Figures 2 and 3) It is slidably supported on a guide plate 48 fixed to the moving part 40.

[0020] An upright fixture is supported by support members 42 fixedly installed above and below the frame of the bin moving unit 40. A slide piece 44 is fitted onto the fixed shaft 43 and positioned by a pin 45. The sly The dowel 44 is fitted into a hole at one end of the bottle 41 (right side in FIGS. 2 and 3), and Make 41 freely rotatable. In addition, pins 45 driven into the fixed shaft 43 at equal intervals are the slide pieces. 44 to hold the ends of the bottles 41 in parallel alignment at equal intervals.

[0021] The other end of the bottle 41 is installed in a part of the frame of the bottle moving unit 40 and rotates. Supported by the flexible Koro 39. In this way, the bin 41 is connected to the guide plate 48, the slide It is supported by a dome 44 and a roller 39, and is able to swing freely around a fixed shaft 43. . Note that 41A indicates three claws provided on the bottom side that engage with the notches of the guide plate 48. It is. In addition, 41B has five front stops installed on the top side of the bin 41 on the paper introduction side. The upper edge of the upright surface has a curved claw shape, and the raised trailing edge of the paper makes it easy to use. This is to prevent paper from escaping from the bottle.

[0022] On the other hand, a part of the fixed frame of the upstream transport section 30 is provided with a bin from the image forming apparatus main body 1. 41 is provided with an aligning device 50 that aligns the side edges of the paper P discharged onto the sheet P, but FIG. A front sectional view of the alignment device 50, FIG. 6 shows a plan view thereof.

[0023] The alignment device 50 is vertically supported at the upper and lower portions of the frame and drives a pulse motor M2. The lower arm 52A, which can swing freely by engaging the rotating shaft 51 rotated by force, is a pulse motor. (not shown). The tip of the lower arm 52A has an alignment The lower shaft end of the mandrel 54A of the alignment rod 54 is held by the bearing 53A. The matching rod 54 The outer periphery of the mandrel 54A is covered with an elastic material 54B made of foam material such as sponge. , and aligns the width of the paper P by pressing against the side edge of the paper P to be discharged.

[0024] The upper shaft end of the mandrel 54A of the alignment rod 54 is an alignment bearing provided at the shaft end of the upper arm 52B. 53B and is held there. The upper arm 52B is attached to the upper part of the frame. It is engaged with the rotated shaft 51 and is swingable.

[0025] Further, an arcuate curved surface portion 520B protrudes from a portion of the upper arm 52B, By blocking the optical path of the photointerrupter (transmissive optical sensor) 57, the upper arm The home position of 52B is detected.

[0026] The upper arm 52B is moved forward so as to align the width according to the size of the paper P to be ejected. The swing angle can be changed depending on the set number of pulses of the pulse motor.

[0027] In addition, a roller 58 rotates on a protruding shaft portion 520B that protrudes from a part of the upper arm 52B. They fit together freely. The roller 58 fits into a groove of a cam member 59 fixed to the frame. When the upper arm 52B swings around the rotating shaft 51, the grooved cam It slides on the portion 59A and also swings in the axial direction. Due to this rocking movement, the top of the bottle 41 is When the paper P placed on the paper P is aligned in width by the swinging of the alignment rod 54, It is aligned by pressing the edges downward.

[0028] The alignment rod 54 draws a swing locus (dotted chain line) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. on the other hand , the bin 41 is connected to the dashed line in Fig. 4 in order to insert the paper P to be loaded into the stapler device. As the bin 41 swings as shown in , it moves back and forth, so the alignment rod 54 interferes. To prevent this, the bottle 41 is formed with a large concave curved opening 41C as shown in the figure. Ru. 46 is for preventing deformation of the bottle 41 due to such a large curved opening 41C. This is a reinforcing member that closes the opening 41C of the bottle 41. In addition, this reinforcing member 46 The recess of the bottle 41 is screwed to the side of the bottle 41, but at the same time the slide piece 44 is inserted into the recess. The groove is closed to prevent the slide piece 44 from escaping.

[0029] 7 and 8 are perspective views of the bin 41 equipped with the paper holding device 60.

[0030] A stopper wall 41D stands upright and is integral with one side of the bottle 41. The inner surface 41DA of the stopper wall 41D is an abutment surface that abuts the side edge of the paper P to align the paper. It is. The abutment surface is formed in a stepped shape having a plurality of concave and convex portions, and the convex portion The recess is retracted from the side edge of the paper P. to form a void. The sheets are aligned one by one on the bin 41 by the swinging of the alignment rod 54. The air in the air layer formed between the surfaces of the stacked stacks of paper flows through the gaps in the recesses. The paper P stacked on the bin 41 swells and increases in thickness. There is no possibility that subsequent sheets P will escape beyond the abutting surface and out of the bin, resulting in misalignment. A paper pressing device 60 is attached to the outer surface 41DB of the stopper wall 41D. strike A lever 61 is swingably supported on a shaft 62 installed on the outer surface 41DB of the upper wall 41D. Ru. 41E is a guide portion that guides the lever 61 in a slidable manner. One side of the lever 61 A pipe-shaped paper holding member 63 is provided at the tip of the paper holding member 63, which fits loosely around the elongated shaft. The above The other end of the bar 61 is elastically pressed by a leaf spring 65. In addition, the lever 61 is covered with A leaf spring 66 is cantilevered and fixed to the bent portion below the press. The leaf spring 66 is By the roller 72 attached to the tip of the arm 71 of the bottle swinging device 70 in Figures 4 and 10. Pressed. The arm 71 is a motor and a reduction gear (not shown) attached to a board 73. It is oscillated by a rotating shaft 74 driven through a train transmission system, and is also spring-biased. The arm can be slid in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] Further, the board 73 of the bin swinging device 70 is connected to the board 81 of the stapler device 80, It is attached to a common frame body and is moved vertically on the frame of the bin moving unit 40. Each bin 41 is moved and stopped by a driven lifting device (not shown), and the paper pusher is moved and stopped for each bin 41. The stack of sheets stacked on the swinging bin 41 while being held down by the holding member 63 is moved to the stage. The staple 83 enters the binding gap of the stapler 80 and is driven.

[0032] After driving the staples, the arm 71 swings back and the bin 41 is biased by the spring and swings. to return to the initial paper ejection position.

[0033] Next, the stapling operation of the bundle of sheets discharged into the bin 41 will be described below.

[0034] The reference for placing the original on the platen glass of the image forming apparatus main body 1. There are two types of methods: center line reference method and one side reference method.

[0035] Figure 9 below shows the stapling operation of the paper bundle P discharged at the center line CL. , will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the storage and alignment of sheets on the bin 41. , FIG. 10 is a plan view of the state in which the bin 41 is oscillated and stapled.

[0036] (1) The size of the paper (copy paper) P ejected from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is manual. When set or automatically determined, the bin moving unit 40 of the sorter is electrically driven to move the paper When it reaches a predetermined position corresponding to the size, it is stopped by a signal from the position detection sensor and waits. It becomes machine state. The maximum movement amount of the bin moving unit 40 is the maximum paper size width (for example, 17 inches). half of the minimum size width (e.g. B5 size, 257 mm) (e.g. 87.4 mm) ) is set. Also, in this standby position, the stopper wall 41D of the bottle 41 is It is located at a position spaced apart by δ (for example, approximately 10 mm) from the widthwise side edge of the sheet P to be inserted. (2) In this state, the paper P enters from the left side in the figure and rises along the slope of the topmost bin 41. It rises and then slides down due to its own weight and comes into contact with the rear stopper 41S of the bottle 41 and stops. (3) After the paper P has stopped, the alignment rod 54 swings and presses one side edge of the paper P. , shift the paper P to the front side by the shift amount δ, and touch the other side edge of the paper P to the stopper wall 41D. Let them come into contact with you. This offset amount δ is different from that of paper of different sizes (for example, A4 size, B4 size, They are set almost equally for A3 size, etc.).

[0037] (4) Subsequent paper P is placed in the lower second bin 41 by switching the branch guide 36. After being ejected, the alignment rod 54 similarly swings and presses the side edge of the paper P, thereby aligning the paper P. P is brought into contact with the stopper wall 41D to align the paper.

[0038] (5) In the same manner, documents are stored and stacked one after another in the number of bins 41 corresponding to the number of documents. (6) A CPU-controlled counting device indicates that the set number of sheets P has been stored in the topmost bin 41. The tray detects that the rear end of the final paper P stored in the bin 41 passes through the bin moving unit. Light detection that connects the light emitting element LED installed at the top of the 40 and the light receiving element PTr installed at the bottom of the same When it is detected that the optical path of the means is open, the discharge into the first stage bin 41 is completed. (See Figure 1).

[0039] (7) Similarly, as soon as the completion of paper ejection into bin 41 of the second stage is detected, or After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the topmost bin 41 is swung by the bin oscillating device 70. . That is, when a stapling signal is input to the stopped bin moving unit 40, first the previous bin moving unit 40 is The recording bottle swinging device 70 is driven, the arm 71 swings, and the roller 72 at the tip moves against the paper presser. Press the leaf spring 66 at the lower end of the device 60, and then resist the spring biasing force of the leaf spring 65 at the upper end. , by swinging the lever 61 counterclockwise around the shaft 62, the paper pressing member 63 presses the top surface of the sheet on the bin 41.

[0040] (8) Continuing, the roller 72 at the tip of the arm 71 further swings around the slide piece 44. , (for example, 12°) while pressing the sheet of the bin 41, swing the bin 41.

[0041] (9) The sensor of the bottle swing device 70 detects the swing position and the swing of the bottle 41 is stopped. (10) At this stop position, the rear end corner of the paper bundle is placed in the gap between the binding parts of the stapler device 80. The stapler 83 is driven by the stapler device 80 and stapled. Ru.

[0042] (11) After stapling is completed, the arm 71 is driven and returns to its original position, causing the bin 41 to is biased by the spring and returns to its original position, and the paper pressing member 62 is moved upward from the paper stack surface. The sheets can be taken out from above the paper bundle bin 41.

[0043] (12) Stapling of the paper bundle stored in the topmost bin 41 of the bins 41 is completed. Then, the unit formed integrally with the stapler device 80 and the bottle swinging device 70 moves up and down. It is lowered by the device 90, and almost at the same time, the bin 41 located one step below is swung, and the same as above is performed. A stapling operation is performed. During this time, the paper is ejected to bin 41, which is one or two steps lower. work is being done.

[0044] (13) Once all the paper stacks have been stapled, connect the bin swinging device to the The unit integrated with the taper device returns to the top bin position.

[0045] Note that the stapling operation described above is performed from the image forming apparatus main body 1 based on the center line. This is a sorter that stores, aligns, and staples discharged paper, but the present invention This is not limited to this, and the paper is ejected from the device main body 1 on a one-sided basis and stored. It can also be applied to a sorter that aligns and staples paper.

[0046]

[Effect of the idea] As explained above, according to the present invention, sheets stored in each bin can be bound together. The abutting surface that allows alignment by abutting one side edge of the sheet against the side of the bin. Since it is integrally formed on one side, it is difficult to precisely align the sheets on the bin using an alignment device. Furthermore, the operation of the bin swinging device and stapler device allows for easy binding with a simple configuration. Accurately position the binding position at the specified position on the sheet to securely bind the sheets. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sorter connected to an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the constituent members of the paper branch conveyance path and the upper bin of the sorter.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lower part of the sorter.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bin and alignment device.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the alignment device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the alignment device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bin equipped with a paper holding device.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the bottle.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the rectilinear movement of the bin.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the rocking process of the bottle.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Image forming apparatus main body (copying machine main body) 10...Base part 20...Down transport part 30...Up transport part 40...Bin moving part 41...Bin 41D...Stopper wall 41DA...Inner surface 41DB...Outer surface 43...Fixed shaft 44...Slide piece 50...Aligning device 52A...Lower arm 52B...Upper arm 54...Aligning rod 60...Paper presser device 61...Lever 63...Paper presser member 70...Bin rocking device 71...Arm 72...Roller 80...Stapler device 83 …Staple P…Paper (sheet)

──────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued from front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 6830-2H

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] [Claim 1] A plurality of bins for classifying and storing sheets;
and a stapler device for stapling the sheets stored in the bins, wherein the sorter includes an abutment surface that abuts one side edge of the sheets against the side where the sheets stored in the bins are to be stapled so that the sheets can be aligned. A bin integrally formed on one side of the bin, an aligning device that presses the other side edge of the sheet stored on the bin and aligns it toward the abutting surface, and a unit that swings the bin. and a bin swinging device for moving the sheets on the bin to a stapling position.