JPH04185490A - Treatment device after image formation - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with wait time for stapling and thereby prevent deterioration of productivity in stapling work with the convenience of stapling a recording sheet at any selected spot using a single stapler by making it possible to move a stapling device along stapling spots of the recording sheet and controlling the stapling operation so that a final stapling spot becomes a stapling start spot for a next recording sheet. CONSTITUTION:M pieces of copy are set on a copy feed table and the staple mode is selected. A motor M3 is driven with a signal from a control unit and a stapler S moves form a home position to a stapling spot A. Then if an image is copied, a stapling signal is transmitted from a control unit to activate the stapler S. In addition, the recording sheet is stapled at the specified stapling spot A, then is moved to a spot B corresponding to a stapling spot B, and is stapled there. Thus a bundle of recording sheets is made.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is used in combination with an image forming post-processing device, an image forming device such as a copying machine, and an image forming method for binding recording paper discharged from the image forming device. The present invention relates to a post-processing device.

[Conventional technology]

As a conventional image forming post-processing device, for example,
There is an image forming post-processing device as described in Japanese Patent No. 3-185774. This image forming post-processing device is used in combination with a copying machine that is an image forming device, and includes an intermediate tray that stacks and holds recording sheets discharged from the copying machine in the order in which they are discharged;
and a processing unit that performs binding processing on a set of recording sheets held in the intermediate tray. The processing unit has two staplers, and when two sets of recording sheets are stapled at two locations, the two staplers are operated at the same time.

Since the two staplers are operated at the same time and the - set of recording sheets is stapled at two locations simultaneously, the productivity of staples is good.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, there is a problem in that two staplers must be provided in the processing unit, which increases the price.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made against the background of such problems with the prior art, and it is possible to staple any part of recording paper with one stapler, and to staple multiple copies of recording paper at multiple locations or more. In such cases, the final binding position of one set of recording sheets, after binding multiple locations, becomes the first binding position of the next set of recording sheets, thereby eliminating the stapler movement time and the waiting time for binding. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming post-processing device that can reduce costs without reducing the productivity of binding work.

C Structure of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a binding means for binding the binding positions of the recording sheets in an image forming post-processing device capable of binding recording sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus at a plurality of positions. a moving means capable of moving the binding means along a plurality of binding positions of the recording paper; The present invention is characterized by comprising a binding position control means for controlling the binding position.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the image forming post-processing apparatus according to the present invention.

First, the configuration will be explained. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an image forming post-processing device, and the image forming post-processing device 11 is combined with a side portion of a copying machine main body 12, which is an image forming device. Contact glass 12 on the top surface of the copying machine main body 12
A is equipped with a circulation-type automatic document circulation device (hereinafter referred to as RDH).
Recycle Document Handier)
(abbreviated as ) 13 is placed.

The copying machine main body 12 is centered around a cylindrical photoreceptor drum 15 that rotates clockwise, and around the photoreceptor drum 150 are an optical scanning section 16, a charger 17, a developing unit 7) 18, a transfer unit 19, a cleaning unit 20, Uni-nodes necessary for normal image formation, such as a static elimination unit 21, are arranged. The recording paper 23 is fed one by one from any one of the paper feed cassettes 24A to 24D, and the toner formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 15 is synchronized with the rotation of the photoreceptor drum 15. It is conveyed to the transfer unit 9 in synchronization with the image. After the transfer, the recording paper 23 is sent to the fixing unit 26 via the conveyance belt 25 and fixed thereon, and is discharged by the discharge roller 27 into the entrance 11a of the image forming and post-processing device 110 outside the copying machine main body 12. The copying machine main body 12 transfers the image onto the recording paper 23 by pressing a copy start button on an operation unit (not shown).

R, DHI 3 is a device consisting of a document tray 31, a paper feed section 32, a conveyance belt 33, a reversing section 34, and an ejection section 35. Feed the paper to a predetermined position and expose it.

The exposed manuscript paper 36 is exposed on the back side if necessary, and then passed through the reversing section 34 and discharged from the discharge section 35 above the manuscript paper 36 on the manuscript tray 3l, and placed on top of the manuscript paper 36. be done. After all the manuscript papers 36 are exposed, the manuscript papers 36 are placed on the manuscript tray 31 in the same way as the beginning.
Furthermore, the required number of copies can be repeatedly made according to instructions from a control unit (not shown) which will be described later.

The image forming post-processing device l1 has a shift sorting unit 4 on the upper side.
0 and a staple portion 41 on the lower side.

The shift sorting section 40 is located at the discharge port 27 of the copying machine main body 12.
A conveyance roller 42 conveys the recording paper 23 discharged from the conveyance roller 42 through the entrance 11a into the image forming and post-processing device ll, and a conveyance roller 42 conveys the recording paper 23 discharged from the conveyance roller 42 to the upper discharge tray 4.
and a conveyance section 45 having an upper conveyance path 44 that extends upward so as to convey the image. A large-edge sensor SNI is provided upstream of the conveyance roller 42 through which the recording paper 23 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 42, and is configured to detect the leading and trailing edges of the conveyed recording sheet 23. A switching pawl 46 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 42, and the switching pawl 46 uses a solenoid and a spring (not shown) to shift and sort the recording paper 23 in either direction, toward the section 40 side or the stapling section 41 side, which will be described later. It is designed to be switchable so that it can also be transported to other locations.

As shown in FIG.
2 by the switching claw 46, the staple portion 4
1, a lower conveyance path 51 for conveying the recording paper 23 conveyed downward in order to perform binding processing, and a lower conveyance path 51
a vertically inclined binding processing unit 52 that performs binding processing on the recording paper 23 conveyed through the storage space;
A stable tray 53 from which the three paper bundles are discharged is provided.

The binding processing section 52 will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 2.3, the binding processing section 52 includes a pair of left and right jogger fences 56A and 56B (representatively referred to as 56) provided between both side plates 55 of the binding processing section 52 so as to be inclined in the vertical direction. )have. Left and right jogger fences 56A and 56B are left and right jogger fences 56, respectively.
They are fixed to different sides of a belt 57 annularly provided between side plates 55 so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the fence, and are driven by a jogger fence motor M1 to be able to reciprocate symmetrically in the left-right direction. Due to this reciprocating movement, the left jogger fence 56A and the right jogger fence 56B have the function of aligning the paper stack from side to side in the stabilizing operation, and also from the vicinity of the ejection roller 59 at the end of the lower conveyance path 51 to the stabilizer. By extending to the vicinity of the tray 53, it has a function as a guide member when discharging the bundle of recording sheets 23 after the binding process.

A detection plate 563 is provided on the lower back side of the jogger fence 56A, and by shielding the detection part of the home position sensor 61 provided on the main body side, the home position (HP) of both jogger fences 56A and 56B is detected.
is detected. The jogger fence 56 is positioned at a home position <HP) before the sheet stack alignment operation.

In the center between the side plates 55 shown in FIG. 3, an annular discharge belt 63 is inclined vertically in the same plane as the jogger fence 56, and has a drive pulley 64 at the upper end and an idler boo' in the middle.
J65, the second
It is driven by a motor M2 shown in the figure.

A protruding claw 68 is provided on the surface of the discharge belt 63,
The recording paper 23 is gripped from the bottom of the paper stack. The home position of the claw 68 is determined by a home position sensor SN2. 69 is a guide plate of the discharge heald 63.

Although not shown, a stapler S serving as a binding means is fixed on a stapler stand 71 provided below the jogger fence 56. Stapler S is, for example, a so-called stapler, and although not shown, it transmits the rotation of a motor to an eccentric crank via a gear, and then converts it into linear motion with a lever to press the stapler to the binding position on the paper surface. It is made so that it can be bound.

The stapler stand 71 has a guide hole 71 in the guide pin 72a of the stapler slider 72 on the lower side of the stapler stand 71.
The jogger fence 56 is engaged so as to be movable in one direction, that is, in the direction approaching the jogger fence 56.

Next, the means for moving the stapler S will be explained.

The upper part of the stapler slider 72 is connected to the both side plates 55.
The hook is attached so as to be slidable in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. It is possible to move on the surface of the stay 75. Also, stay 7
A guide cam 76 is fixed to the 5, and a guide roller 77 pivotally supported by the stapler slider 72 rolls on the cam surface formed at the upper end of the guide cam 76. This causes the stapler slider 72 to reciprocate in the direction shown in FIG. 3 together with the stapler table 71. Guide cam 76
The central portion of the stapler slider 72 is recessed downward, and the stapler slider 72 moves along this recess so that it is located at an upper position on both sides and at a lower position at the center.

A detection plate 72b is provided at the upper end of the stapler slider 72, and this detection plate 72b blocks the detection part of the home position sensor 78 provided on the main body side, thereby detecting the home position of the stapler S ( HP) is now detected. A stepping motor M3 for moving the stapler S in the left-right direction is attached to the side plate 55, and a midway portion of a heald 80 driven by the stepping motor M3 is fixed to the stapler slider 72 so that the stapler slider 72 Figure 3: Moves back and forth in the left and right direction. Stapler slider 72, guide roller 74, stay 75,
The guide cam 76, motor M3, and heald 80 constitute a moving means 8I.

A pair of left and right reference fences 83A and 83B (representatively referred to as 83) are provided between the stapler S and the jogger fence 56 and are movable in the left and right directions independently of the jogger fence 56. fence 8
A pair of end holding portions 83 are formed in a hook shape at the lower end portion of 3 and hold and align the ends of the stack of recording sheets 23 in the conveyance direction.
A is provided. A concave engaging portion 83b that engages with the stapler S is provided between the pair of terminal holding portions 833 of the reference fence 83. The reference fence 83 is configured to be movable left and right by a guide member (not shown). In this state in which the left and right reference fences 83 can be moved, a biasing force is always exerted on the left and right reference fences 83 by the springs 84 and 85 in a direction to return them to the central portion of the conveyance.

In FIG. 3, the stapler S and the left reference fence 83
A is engaged at the engaging portion 83b, so the left reference fence 83A moves to the home position (HP) against the biasing force of the spring 84, but the right reference fence 83B is moved by the moving force. Since the stapler S is not engaged with the stapler S having the handle, it is in a state where it is returned toward the central portion of conveyance by the biasing force of the spring 85.

In this way, the reference fence 83 for aligning the ends of the recording paper in the transport direction is separated from the jogger fence 56, and the two reference fences 83 are connected to the spring 84.
85 in the direction of returning to the center of the conveyance, and the two reference fences 83 are configured to move along with the movement of the stapler S, so that any position on the recording paper can be aligned. It can be bound.

Also, for example, when the jam is being processed and the reference fence 83
Even if the stapler S and the reference fence 83 are shifted, the stapler always returns to the vicinity of the center of the conveyance, so there is no longer a situation where the stapler S and the reference fence 83 cannot be aligned.

When the stapler S is moving in the upper position, which is the region at both ends of the apparatus, the engaging portion 83b of the reference fence 83 is in a fitted state with the stapler S, and the stapler S is moving at the lower position, which is the central region of the apparatus. It is configured to be in a detached state from the stapler S while moving the position. Further, when the stapler S and the reference fence 83 are connected via each retaining portion 83b, the moving force of the stapler S is transmitted to the reference fence 83, and at this time, as the stapler S moves, the reference fence 83 moves. I will have to move.

Next, the control unit 9 which is the binding position control means
Let me explain about 1. The control unit 91 is provided, for example, near the operation section of the copying machine main body 12 shown in FIG. The control unit 91 includes a CPU that outputs various operation signals according to a predetermined program, and a type that allows the CPU to process input signals from the aforementioned sensors SNI and SN2, each home position sensor, and the operation section of the copying machine main body 12. It is composed of an input circuit that converts the signals into , a RAM that stores the signals processed by the CPU, and a drive circuit that drives the motors M, solenoids, etc. The CPU converts the signals to the RAM and operation section according to a predetermined program. Solenoid and motor M l through the drive circuit while transmitting and receiving
- It is possible to drive Mz, etc.

Next, the effect will be explained.

The operation of the RDH, the copying operation within the copying machine main body 12, and the shift sorting within the image forming and post-processing device 11 are the same as those of the unit 40, and will therefore be omitted.

The operation of stapling the recording sheets 23 in the stapling unit 41 of the image forming post-processing device 11 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operations other than the binding process are the same as normal operations, so the explanation will be omitted.

Copy only 2 copies of M sheets of original, each copy of recording paper 23
The case where a bundle of papers is bound at two binding positions A and B will be explained.

First, M sheets of originals are placed on the original feeding tray of the RDH. In step P1, a stable mode is selected using the stable key on the operation section of the copying machine main body 12,
In step P2, it is determined that the front two-position binding mode was selected as the binding mode for the recording paper 23 on which this original was copied, so other modes are omitted), and in step P3, the required number of copies is set using the numeric keys on the operation section. is selected, the number N of copies of the recording paper 23 that has been copied is set to zero in Step P4, and then, in Step P, when the copy start button is pressed on the operation section of the copying machine main body 12 (this is omitted if it does not start). , in step P, the control unit 9
Motor M3 is driven by the signal from belt 80
moves, the stapler S moves from the home position (HP) to the position A corresponding to the binding position A of the paper size of the recording paper 23 shown in FIG. 3, and copying of one copy of the original is completed in step P. If the copying is not completed, the determination is repeated until the copying is completed. When the first copy of the recording paper 23 is completed, in step P, a binding signal is sent from the control unit 91 to the motor of the stapler S, the motor operates, the stapler S operates, and the recording paper 23 is copied to a predetermined position. Position A is stapled, and in step P, the number of copies N becomes 1, and step P. It is determined whether N is an odd number or not, and since N is an odd number at l, at step pH, the control unit node 91 sends the movement k number (A = B) of the stapler S to the motor M3, and the motor M3 driven, the belt 80 moves and the stapler S moves from the binding position A to the position B corresponding to the binding position B,
In step Piffi, a binding signal is sent from the control unit 91 to the motor of the stapler S, and the motor of the stapler S operates to staple the recording sheets 23 at the binding position B, and the first set of recording sheets 23 is can.

In step PI4, the discharge belt 63 is driven by the motor M2, and the stack of recording sheets 23 engages with the claw 68 of the discharge belt 63, is pushed upward along the jigger fence 56, and enters the stable tray 53 from the discharge port. In step PIS, it is determined whether N is K. If N is not K, that is, if N is 1 (N=1), the process goes to code 0 and repeats from step P again.

When the copying of the second copy of the recording paper 23 is completed in step P, a signal is sent from the control unit 91 to the motor of the stapler S located at the stapling position B in step P8, as described above, and the copying of the second copy of the recording paper 23 is completed. The binding position B of the recording paper 23 is bound, and in step P9, N becomes 2 (N=2). In step PIG, it is determined whether N is an odd number. Since N is an even number (N=2), step At P, □, the control unit 91 outputs the stapler S movement signal (B-A, ).
is sent to the motor M3, and the stapler S moves from the binding position B to the binding position A in the same manner as described above. In step P13, the second copy of the recording paper 23 is stapled at the binding position A in the same manner as described above. The second set of 23 sheets of recording paper is made, and step PI is completed.
4, the second set of recording sheets 23 is ejected into the stable tray 53 in the same manner as described above, and in step PIS it is determined whether N is K. Steps P7 to PI4 are repeated until PI4 is reached. Step PIS
If it is determined that N is K (N=K), then in step P1,
The stapler S returns to the home position (HP) and copying ends.

In this way, the image forming post-processing device 11 can staple the recording sheets 23 at any position using the control unit 91 that arbitrarily controls the stapling position of one stapler S, and can stap the recording sheets 23 at any position. When binding two binding positions A and B, the final binding position of one copy of the recording paper 23 is controlled so that it becomes the first binding position of the stack of recording papers 23 in the thorny section. Therefore, there is no waiting time for moving the stapler S after the final binding of the first copy is completed.
Stapling of the next sheet of recording paper 23 can be started quickly, the stapling work is efficient even if the stapling work is performed using one stapler S, and a decrease in productivity of the stapling work can be prevented. Since the stapler S allows the same efficiency in the binding operation as with two staplers S, costs can be reduced.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to staple any part of recording paper with one stapler, and when binding multiple copies of recording paper at multiple places or more, one stapler can be used.
By making sure that the final binding position of the recording sheets of one copy is the first binding position of the next recording paper,
Costs can be reduced without decreasing the productivity of stapling work by eliminating stapler movement time and binding waiting time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the image forming post-processing device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of the apparatus combined with a copying machine, FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the main parts taken along the line mm in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main parts. 11... Image formation post-processing device, 12...
・Copying machine body, 23... Recording paper, 81... Moving means, 91... Control unit (stitching position control means), S...... Stapler (binding means), A, B...
...Binding position.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image forming post-processing device capable of binding recording sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus at a plurality of positions, comprising a binding means for binding the recording sheets at a plurality of binding positions, and a binding means for binding the recording sheets at a plurality of binding positions. A binding position control means for controlling the moving means such that the final binding position where the plurality of binding positions of the recording paper are bound becomes the starting binding position of the next recording paper. Features of image formation post-processing device.