JPH04118295A - Sheet post-treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve the simplification of manufacturing, miniaturization and reduction of cost by measuring thickness per one sheet and calculating the number of sheets possible to staple on the basis of the measured value to correct the same. CONSTITUTION:The number nL1 of sheets 56 possible to staple is calculated on the basis of the thickness of one sheet 56 measured by a sheet single thickness measuring means 36 or 43 by the first calculation means. The thickness of the bundle of the sheets 56 on a sheet matching tray 11 is measured by a sheet bundle thickness measuring means 37 and the number of sheets possible to staple is corrected by the second calculation means. Even when the number of the sheets 56 fed from a recording apparatus exceeds the number of the sheets 56 possible to staple, by selecting a mode operating a stapler at every number of the sheets 56 possible to staple, a binding bundle can be divided even when the sheets 56 exceeding binding capacity are fed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device that binds sheets ejected from a recording device into a fixed number of sheets.

BACKGROUND ART As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 63-235257, this type of apparatus detects the thickness of each sheet conveyed to a sheet alignment tray to staple sheets. There is an invention in which a number of sheets is determined, and an alarm is issued when the number of sheets conveyed to a sheet alignment tray is greater than the determined number of sheets.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-186279, there is an invention that includes a plurality of staplers that can staple different numbers of sheets.

Furthermore, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-99834, the conveyed sheet is held between a reference roller and a pressure roller, and a lever is swung by the displacement of the pressure roller that is displaced according to the thickness of the sheet. One idea is to apply pressure from a swinging lever to a piezoelectric element and measure the thickness of the sheet based on the output of the piezoelectric element.

Problems to be solved by the invention The invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-235257 is as follows:
Even if you set the number of sheets that can be stapled, if more sheets than the set number are conveyed, you will receive a warning and will not be able to staple, and you will have to start over.

Further, even if the number of sheets that can be stapled is adhered to, if the thickness of the sheets changes or curls, the thickness of the bundle of sheets increases on the sheet alignment tray, so that it may not be possible to staple the sheets.

This is true even if the thickness of the sheet is measured by the method described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-99834. Furthermore, the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 186279/1986 allows selecting a stapler with binding capability depending on the number of sheets, but since multiple staplers are required, the cost is high and However, the disadvantage is that the device becomes large.

Means for Solving the Problem A sheet alignment tray connected via a sheet conveyance path to the paper output side of the recording device where the number of recorded sheets is placed, and a stapler that staples the edges of the sheets stacked on this sheet alignment tray. a sheet single thickness measuring means disposed in the sheet conveyance path to measure the thickness of each sheet; and a sheet detection means disposed in the sheet conveyance path to detect the presence or absence of the sheet. , a first calculating means for calculating the number of sheets that can be stabilized according to the stapling capacity of the stapler based on the measured value by the sheet single thickness measuring means; and measuring the thickness of the sheets on the sheet alignment tray. a second calculating means for correcting the number of stapable sheets based on the measured value by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means; and a selection means for selecting a mode in which the stapler is operated.

The number of sheets that can be stapled is calculated by the first calculating means based on the thickness per sheet measured by the working sheet single thickness measuring means, and further, the number of sheets that can be stapled is calculated by the first calculation means, and even if the thickness of the sheet to be conveyed changes or curls, Also, stapling errors can be prevented by measuring the thickness of the bundle of sheets on the sheet alignment tray by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means and correcting the number of sheets that can be stapled by the second calculating means. Even when the number of sheets conveyed from the recording device exceeds the number of sheets that can be stapled, by selecting a mode in which the stapler is operated for each number of sheets that can be stapled using the selection means, the number of sheets that are transported from the recording device exceeds the number of sheets that can be stapled. Even if sheets are conveyed from the recording device, it is possible to separate the bound bundles, thereby allowing the binding work to continue while the work continues, and furthermore,
Since only one stapler is required, the structure can be simplified, the device can be made smaller, and costs can be reduced.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 1 is provided with a horizontal sheet conveyance path 2 and a sheet conveyance path 3 that branches downward from the middle of the sheet conveyance path 2, and the left end of the sheet conveyance path 2 is An inlet 4 connected to the paper discharge side of the recording device is formed, and an outlet 5 connected to other units is formed at the right end of the sheet conveyance path 2.
A switching type 6 is formed in the branch path of the sheet conveyance paths 2 and 3 for selectively guiding the sheet to the exit 5 and the sheet conveyance path 3.
is rotatably provided. Further, the sheet conveyance path 2 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers 7 each connected to a motor, and a pressure roller 8 that is in pressure contact with these conveyance rollers 7.
Further, a plurality of sheet detection means 9 and 10 for detecting the passage of sheets are arranged in the sheet conveying path 2. The number of sheets detected by these sheet detection means 9 and 10 is counted by a counter (not shown). Furthermore, a sheet alignment tray 11 is provided which extends upward from near the lower end of the sheet conveyance path 3 in a V-shape, and a belt conveyor 12a driven along the sheet alignment tray 11 includes a sheet alignment tray 11. A stapler 12 is held for binding the sheets on 11. Furthermore, a switching mold 13 is rotatably held below the sheet transporting path 3 extending downward, for selectively changing the sheet transporting path downward or toward the sheet alignment tray 11 side. A belt 14 for guiding sheets to the sheet alignment tray 11 is rotatably provided near the belt 13 . Furthermore, a stopper 15 is rotatably provided at the bottom of the sheet alignment tray 11 and is connected to a drive unit (not shown) such as a solenoid. A belt 16 for width adjustment (not shown) and sheet detection sensors 17 and 18 are arranged in the vertical direction with a stopper 15 in between. Further, a paper discharge tray unit 19 is provided below the stapler 12 so as to be movable along the width direction of the sheet by a slide rail 20. This paper ejection tray unit 19 includes a paper ejection tray 22 that is held by a vertically rotatable belt 21 and moves up and down, a paper ejection roller 23 that is rotatably held at the top, and a raised position and a lowered position of the paper ejection tray 22. Tray detection sensors 24 and 25 that detect the position
and sheet detection sensors 26 and 27 located above and below the paper discharge roller 23. Further, below the sheet conveyance path 3 and the sheet alignment tray 11, a fulcrum 28 is provided.
A relay unit 29 is provided which is rotatably held around the center. The relay unit 29 includes a relay roller 30 driven by a drive section, a plurality of pressure rollers 31 and 32 that are in pressure contact with the relay roller 30, a rotatable switching mold 33 that selects a sheet path, and a sheet and a guide plate 34 that guides the paper to the paper discharge roller 23.

Thus, a sheet single thickness measuring means 36 for detecting the thickness of each sheet passing through the sheet conveyance path 2, and a sheet thickness measuring means 36 for measuring the thickness of a bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet alignment tray 11 are provided. A bundle thickness measuring means 37 is provided. The sheet single thickness measuring means 36, as shown in FIG.
A lever 39 that swings around a fulcrum 38 and this lever 3
It consists of a leaf spring 40 that is pressurized at one end of the lever 39, a strain gauge 41 fixed to the upper surface of the leaf spring 40, and a calculation section 42 connected to the strain gauge 41. It is held at the axis of one of the plurality of pressure rollers 8. Note that a third sheet thickness measuring means 36 is used instead of the sheet single thickness measuring means 36.
A single sheet thickness measuring means 43 shown in the figure may be used. This sheet single thickness measuring means 43 includes a lever 39 that rotates around a fulcrum 38, a differential transformer 44 connected to this lever 39, and a calculation@4 to which this operating transformer 44 is connected.
5 and more. The operating transformer 44 includes a primary coil 47 connected to a commercial power source 46, two secondary coils 48 and 49 connected in opposite directions, and a movable iron core 50 rotatably connected to the tip of the lever 39. This is a publicly known method. As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet bundle thickness measuring means 37 connects one leg 53 of a V-shaped lever 52 rotating about a fulcrum 51 to a movable iron core 50 of a differential transformer 44. 50 is biased in one direction by a spring 55, the other leg 54 of the lever 52 is elastically brought into contact with the sheet alignment tray 11, and the differential transformer 44 used here is It is similar to the differential transformer 44 used in the sheet single thickness measuring means 43, and is connected to the calculation section 45.

In such a configuration, when the switching die 6 is directed toward the sheet conveyance path 3 side from which the sheet is discharged from the sheet recording device,
The sheet passes through sheet transport paths 2 and 3 by transport rollers 7 and pressure rollers 8 . Furthermore, when the lower switching die 13 of the sheet conveyance path 3 is directed downward, as shown in FIG. The switching die 33 is also directed from the pressure roller 3 toward the guide plate 34. Therefore, the sheets conveyed from the sheet conveyance paths 2 and 3 are discharged to the conveyance tray 22 via the paper discharge rollers 23. At this time, when the number of sheets stacked on the transport tray 22 reaches a certain number, the sheet detection sensor 27 issues a detection signal.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the switching type 1 of the sheet conveyance path 3 is
3 is directed toward the sheet alignment tray 1 side, the conveyed sheet 56 is bent through the conveyance path by the switching die 13 and stacked on the sheet alignment tray 11 by the belt 14, and its lower edge is brought to the stopper 15. Further, the belts 16 are used to align the widths, and the side edges are aligned with the reference plane. In this state, the upper edges are stapled by the stapler 12. Subsequently, the stopper 15 is driven by a solenoid to retreat from the sheet alignment tray 11 as shown by the imaginary line, so that the bundle of bound sheets 56 is inserted between the relay roller 30 and the pressure roller 31 of the relay unit 29. However, the switching mold 33 is rotated counterclockwise so as not to obstruct the entry of the bundle of sheets 56. At this time, sheet 56
The bundle of sheets is detected by the sheet detection sensor 18, and the bundle is moved to the pressure roller 3.
1 is pushed away from the relay roller 30 according to the thickness of the bundle of sheets 56. When the sheet detection sensor 18 detects passage of the trailing edge of the bundle of sheets 56, the relay roller 30 is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed, and the bundle of sheets 56 is held between the relay roller 30 and the pressure roller 31. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the relay unit 29 is rotated counterclockwise around the fulcrum 28, and the reverse movement of the relay roller 30 causes the bundle of sheets 56 to be transferred to the conveyance tray 22 via the paper discharge roller 23. is discharged on top.

As described above, whether the sheets 56 are to be discharged one by one or bound together by the stapler 12 is selected by the operator's mode selection operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet single thickness measuring means 36 rotates the lever 38 by a displacement amount of The thickness of each sheet 56 is measured by applying pressure to the leaf spring 40 and calculating the output of the strain gauge 41 in the calculating section 42 . Further, as shown in FIG.
The lever 38 is rotated by the upward displacement amount X of the pressure contact roller 8 according to the thickness of 6, and the movable iron core 50 is slid and guided to the two secondary coils 48 and 49. The thickness of each sheet 56 is measured by calculating the change in voltage in the calculating section 45. Here, since the displacement amount x 1 of the pressure roller 8 is minute, the lever 39
The displacement amount x8 at the tip of can be treated as a linear displacement amount. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet bundle thickness measuring means 53 slides the movable iron core 50 by rotating the lever 520 according to the number of sheets 56 stacked on the sheet alignment tray 11, and By calculating the change in voltage induced in the next coil 48, 49 in the calculating section 45,
Measure the thickness of the bundle of sheets 56 on sheet alignment tray II.

Next, the operation for binding the sheets 56 will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 to 12. First, the memory n11.memory stores the number of sheets 56 that can be stapled by the stapler 12 after power is turned on. rIL
5 is cleared, and then, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the number n of originals is input in step S1.

In this embodiment, the recording device is a copying machine, and the number of original sheets corresponds to the number of sheets 56 to be copied, and this number is set in the copying machine. After recording starts in step S2, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the stapling mode is set.
If so, move on to another process A, and if YES, it is determined in step S4 whether or not one sheet is to be copied; if YES, move on to another process B, and if no, the thickness is determined in step S5. Moves to detection mode. If the thickness detection mode is not set and the memory nLl is not cleared, the process moves to another process C. If the thickness detection mode is set, or if the memory nL+ is cleared even if the thickness detection mode is not set, S
In step 7, one bundle of sheets 56 is set as a unit.
If it is determined that the section is in stable operation, S8
The recording operation is interrupted in step S9, and it is determined again whether the memory nL1 has been cleared. If YES, the number of sheets nL1 that can be stapled is calculated. This SIO step is the first calculation means. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, this first calculating means keeps an integral circuit (not shown) ON while the sheet single thickness measuring means 36 or 43 measures the thickness of the sheet 56. In step S49, the thickness of the sheet 56 per sheet is calculated based on the integral value during this time, and in step S50, the limit thickness that can be stapled (stapling capacity of the stapler 12) is calculated using the calculated sheet thickness measurement value. ) is calculated accurately by dividing. Then, the process moves to the Sll step shown in the flowchart of FIG. This Sl
In the l step, the number of copies (original number) n is compared with the number of stable sheets 56 nL+. n
)nL, the value of nL+ is displayed in step S12. After recognizing n) nL, it is determined in step S13 whether or not to continue the work. If the answer is YES, the recording operation is restarted at step S14, and the process proceeds to step 316 of the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, after the recording is completed, in step S17, the thickness Tn of the bundle of sheets 56 on the sheet alignment tray 11 is determined.
is measured by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means 37. Therefore, in step S18, the number nL2 of sheets 56 that can be stapled is corrected by multiplying the number of copies n by the thickness Tn of the sheet bundle and the limit thickness that can be stabled by the stapler 12. In other words, this S
18 steps is the second calculation means. In step S19, the number nL+ of sheets that can be stippled before correction, calculated by the first calculation means, is transferred to the memory n. Subsequently, in step S20, the bundle of sheets 56 on the sheet alignment tray 11 is stapled by the stapler 12, and in step S21, the bound bundle of sheets 56 is discharged by the discharge operation described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The paper is discharged onto the paper tray 22. This operation is performed on sheet 5.
This is repeated until there are no more 6s left.

In the step S7 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, if it is determined that the bundle of sheets 56 is the second or subsequent copy, the binding operation in step S20 shown in the flowchart of FIG. will be moved to

Further, in the Sll step of the flowchart of FIG. 8, if it is determined that the number of copies n is less than the number nLl of stapable sheets 56 calculated by the first calculation means, the value of this nL is displayed. The process immediately proceeds to step 316 in the flowchart of FIG.

Furthermore, in the Sll step of the flowchart of FIG. 8, if it is determined that n > n L +,
If it is determined No in step S14 as to whether or not to continue the work, the process moves to step S23 shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, step S13 functions as a selection means for selecting a mode in which the stapler 12 is operated for each number of sheets 56 that can be stapled. Then, after it is determined that the number N of sheets to be bound has been set in step S23,
In step S24, when the printing operation is restarted and N sheets 56 are recorded, in step S26, the number n of sheets that can be stapled is calculated by the second calculating means.
It is determined whether or not tx is cleared, and if YES, in step 27, the sheet alignment tray 11
The thickness of the stack of upper sheets 56 is measured, and in step 328, the number nL1 of sheets that can be stapled is calculated as a correction value, and in step S29, the number of sheets 5 that can be stapled calculated by the first calculation means is stored in the memory nS.
The number nL+ of 6 is transferred, and in step S30,
The sheets 56 are stapled by the stapler 12, and the stapled bundle of sheets 56 is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 22 in step S31. The above operations from step 327 to step 331 are similar to those from step 317 to step S21 in the flowchart of FIG.

If it is determined in step S26 that the number nLl of sheets 56 that can be stapled as a correction value is stored in the memory, the process immediately proceeds to the binding operation in step S30. Such actions are recorded on Sheet 5
Repeats as long as there is a 6.

Furthermore, in step 89 of the flowchart of FIG. 8, the number nL of sheets 56 that can be stapled before correction is
+ If it is determined that (the number of sheets stored in the memory) has not been cleared, proceed to step 8 in the flowchart in Figure 11.
In step 36, the number nLl of sheets 56 that can be stapled is calculated again. This subroutine is the first
This is similar to the operation explained in Figure 2. Next, S3
In step 7, the difference between the data (nL,) previously stored in the ns memory and the newly calculated nL,I is calculated, and if this difference is within 3, then the second calculation means The number of stapable sheets 56 corrected by nL2 and the number of printed sheets n are compared, and n(nL2
If n > n L 2, the process moves to step S15 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In step S40, the number of sheets 56 that can be stapled is displayed, and then in step S40, which functions as a selection means, it is determined whether or not to continue the operation. After the recording operation is restarted in step S41, the process moves to step S15 shown in the flowchart of FIG.

After it is determined that S
The process moves to step 23. Furthermore, in step 83゛7, n, the difference between the number nL+ (previous data) of stapable sheets 56 stored in the memory and the newly calculated number nLl of stapable sheets 56 exceeds 3. In this case, it is determined that sheets 56 of different thicknesses have been conveyed, and the number of sheets 56 that can be stapled is newly corrected in step S42. The previously stored nL2 is cleared and the process moves to the Sll step shown in the flowchart of FIG.

As described above, the number n of sheets 56 that can be stapled by the first calculating means based on the thickness of each sheet 56 measured by the sheet single thickness measuring means 36 or 43.
L, is calculated, and furthermore, even if the thickness of the sheet 56 to be conveyed changes or curls, the sheet alignment tray 1
The thickness of the bundle of sheets 56 on 1 is determined by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means 37.
Since the number of sheets that can be stapled is measured by the second calculating means and corrected by the number of sheets that can be stapled, it is possible to prevent stapling errors. Furthermore, even if the number of sheets 56 conveyed from the recording device exceeds the number of sheets 56 that can be stapled, the number of sheets 56 that can be stapled
By selecting the mode in which the stapler 12 is operated for each number of sheets by the selection means, even if more sheets 56 than the stapler 12's binding capacity are conveyed from the recording device, the bound bundle can be separated, and the work can therefore be continued. You can perform binding operations while Moreover, stapler 1
Since only one number 2 is required, the structure can be simplified and downsized, and costs can be reduced.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a sheet alignment tray connected via a sheet conveyance path to the paper output side of a recording device where the number of recording sheets is placed, and an edge of sheets stacked on this sheet alignment tray. a stapler for binding the sheets; a sheet thickness measuring means disposed in the sheet conveyance path for measuring the thickness of each sheet; and a sheet thickness measuring means disposed in the sheet conveyance path for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet. a sheet detecting means; a first calculating means for calculating the number of sheets that can be stapled according to the stapling capacity of the stapler based on the measured value by the sheet single thickness measuring means; a sheet bundle thickness measuring means for measuring the thickness; a second calculating means for correcting the number of stapable sheets based on the measured value by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means; and a selection means for selecting a mode for operating the stapler for each number of sheets, the first calculation means calculates the number of sheets that can be stapled based on the thickness per sheet measured by the sheet single thickness measuring means. Furthermore, even if the thickness of the sheets being conveyed changes or curls, the thickness of the bundle of sheets on the sheet alignment tray can be measured by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means and stapled by the second calculation means. By correcting the number of sheets that can be stapled, it is possible to prevent stapling errors. Furthermore, even if the number of sheets conveyed from the recording device exceeds the number of sheets that can be stapled, the number of sheets that can be stapled can be corrected. By selecting the mode in which the stapler is operated by the selection means, it is possible to separate the stapled bundle even if more sheets than the stapler's binding capacity are conveyed from the recording device, thereby allowing the stapler to continue the binding operation while continuing the operation. Furthermore, since only one stapler is required, the structure can be simplified, the device can be made smaller, and costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a side view, FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of a sheet single thickness measuring means, and FIG. 4 is a side view of a sheet bundle thickness measuring means. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the state in which sheets are discharged one by one, FIGS. 6 and 7 are side views showing the state in the stapling mode, and FIGS. 8 to 12 are flowcharts. 2.3... Sheet conveyance path, 9, 10... Sheet detection means, 11... Sheet alignment tray, 12... Stapler, 36... Sheet single thickness measuring means, 37... Sheet bundle Thickness measuring means, 56...Sheet Z Figure'' Figure-% ○ Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sheet alignment tray connected to the paper output side of the recording device where the number of recording sheets is placed via a sheet conveyance path, a stapler that staples the ends of the sheets stacked on the sheet alignment tray, and a stapler in the sheet conveyance path. a sheet single thickness measuring means disposed in the sheet conveyance path to measure the thickness of each sheet; a sheet detecting means disposed in the sheet conveying path to detect the presence or absence of the sheet; and a sheet single thickness measuring means a first calculating means for calculating the number of sheets that can be stapled according to the stapling capacity of the stapler based on the measured value by the stapler; and a sheet bundle thickness measuring means for measuring the thickness of the sheets on the sheet alignment tray. , a second calculating means for correcting the number of sheets that can be stapled based on the measured value by the sheet bundle thickness measuring means, and a mode for operating the stapler for each calculated number of sheets that can be stapled. A sheet post-processing device comprising a selection means for selecting a sheet.