JPH05105318A - Aftertreatment system for paper sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify connecting mechanism and control software in the case of performing the multistage connection of afterteatment devices for paper sheets. CONSTITUTION:A centered state by a foremost-stage image forming device 1 so as to draw these sheets into a specified width position, a master post treatment device 800a, a sub-post treatment device 800b, and a sub-subpost treatment device 800 are connected in this order to this foremost-stage image forming device 1. The post treatment devices 800a-800c are respectively provided with connecting units 802a-802c for discharging the sheets from the pre-stage device to the post-stage post treatment devices. The connecting units 802a-802c are respectively controlled by the post treatment devices 800a-800c, and driving force is transmitted to the skewing part 100 and connecting units 802a, 802b from the poststage post treatment devices 800a-800c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing in which a sheet post-processing apparatus for sorting, collating, or stapling the sheets on which images are recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is connected in multiple stages. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a sheet post-processing apparatus such as a sorter has a plurality of bins for sorting sheets and is configured to perform post-processing by binding a bundle of sheets sorted by a stapler. ing. However, in such a sheet post-processing apparatus, the number of sheet bundles that can be sorted is limited to the number of bins. Therefore, in recent years, in order to increase the number of sheet bundles that can be sorted, this sheet post-processing apparatus is used. Systems connected in multiple stages are known.

Conventionally, in this type of paper post-processing system,
It is equipped with a coupler for connecting the front and rear sheet post-processing devices, and each coupler is equipped with a drive motor, paper sensor and door open sensor, etc. Absent.

[0004]

In such a conventional sheet post-processing system, since the control of each coupler does not belong to any of the front and rear sheet post-processing apparatuses, the front-end or rear-end post-processing apparatus is connected. It is not possible to manage the motors and sensors of the vessel. Therefore, it is not possible to control each post-processing device with the same software, so that each software becomes different and expensive, and bugs increase.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional paper post-processing system, since each coupler is provided with the drive motor, an auxiliary mechanism such as a reduction mechanism of the drive motor is also required for each coupler, and the mechanism is naturally complicated. Become.

In view of the above problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper post-processing system which can simplify the connecting mechanism and control software when the paper post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages. ..

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first means is a sheet post-processing system in which a device for post-processing a sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus is connected in multiple stages. For example, a skewing unit configured to skew the sheet discharged from the forming apparatus in the center alignment and discharge the sheet to the first-stage sheet post-processing apparatus based on one side end is provided in each sheet post-processing apparatus. And a coupling unit controlled by the sheet post-processing apparatus so that the sheet from the upstream skew unit or the sheet post-processing apparatus is discharged to the downstream sheet post-processing apparatus.

In the second means, the slanting unit of the first means supplies the paper input information to the preceding image forming apparatus, and each of the connecting units supplies the paper input information to the preceding image forming apparatus, and It is characterized in that the image forming apparatus processes the paper input information from the diagonal unit and the paper input information from the connection unit as the same information.

A third means is characterized in that each connecting unit of the first means is driven by a downstream sheet post-processing device.

The fourth means is a mechanism in which the driving force of the downstream sheet post-processing device in the first means is transmitted to the upstream connecting unit, and the driving force of the first-stage sheet post-processing device is an oblique unit. The mechanism transmitted to the device is characterized in that they are mechanically identical.

[0011]

According to the first means, each connecting unit is controlled by belonging to the sheet post-processing apparatus by the above-mentioned configuration. Therefore, when the sheet post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages, the control software of each sheet post-processing apparatus is changed. It can be configured the same.

In the second means, since the image forming apparatus processes the sheet input information from the skew unit and the sheet input information from the connection unit as the same information, when the sheet post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages. The control software of the image forming apparatus can be simplified.

In the third means, since each connecting unit is driven by the downstream sheet post-processing device, it is possible to omit the drive motor, the speed reduction mechanism, etc. of each connecting unit, and therefore the sheet post-processing device is provided in multiple stages. The connection mechanism can be simplified when connecting to.

In the fourth means, since the transmission mechanism of the connecting unit and the oblique unit are mechanically the same, it is not necessary to distinguish each unit when connecting the sheet post-processing devices in multiple stages, and the entire system is eliminated. The connection mechanism of can be simplified.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a post-processing system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of a main portion showing a drive system of a slanted portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a drive system of a connecting unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the post-processing apparatus of FIG.

In FIG. 1, in this post-processing system,
The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 with its center aligned is inclined to the image forming apparatus 1 in the frontmost stage, and is discharged from the inclined portion 100 and the inclined portion 100 for making the width closer to one side edge. The parent post-treatment procedure 800a, the child post-treatment procedure 800b, and the grandchild post-treatment procedure 800c for processing the formed sheets are connected in this order. Post-treatment measures 800a, 800
b and 800c are switching claws 801a, 801b and 80 for selectively guiding the paper from the preceding device toward the self bin or toward the subsequent post-processing device.
1c and a connection unit 802 for discharging the paper from the switching claws 801a to 801c to the post-processing device in the subsequent stage.
a, 802b, 802c. Although not shown, the oblique portion 100 and the connecting units 802a-80
2c both have a door open sensor and a paper input sensor,
Each of these detection signals is transmitted to an upstream device via a communication device to be described later.

Oblique section 100 and post-treatment measures 800a-80
0c has the same physical relationship such as the paper carry-in position, the paper discharge position, the connector, etc., and the same belt 1 as described later.
The post-treatments 800a to 800c are mechanically configured in the same manner regardless of the parent, child, and grandchild relationships so that they can be driven simply by multiplying them by 04,814. Furthermore, the oblique portion 10
0 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c are electrically connected to the downstream post-treatments 800a to 800c via a communication module 920, which will be described later, and the connection state changes the I / O port 903. Is detected through.

Next, FIG. 2 corresponding to an enlarged view of the portion A of FIG.
The drive system of the inclined portion 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Oblique part 1
In the case of 00, the sheet discharged by the center alignment from the copying machine is inclined, and the parent post-processing device 80
A drive roller shaft 101 for driving a belt or the like (not shown) discharged to 0a is provided. In the vicinity of the drive roller shaft 101, idlers 102 and 103 for transmitting the rotation of the roller shaft 810 of the master post-processing device 800a to the drive roller shaft 101 are provided, and these idlers 102 and 103 are attached to the drive roller shaft 101. Pulley 101a and idler 10
The belt 104 is wound around the pulleys 810a that are attached to the roller shafts 810 of the parent and post-processing device 800a. The roller shaft 810 is configured to be located at the same position regardless of the relationship between the parent, child, and grandchild. When the master post-processing apparatus 800a is connected to the inclined portion 100, the parent post-processing apparatus 800a is pushed from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be adjacent to the oblique section 100, and the parent post-processing apparatus 800a pulley is connected. The belt 104 hung on the roller 810a is attached to the pulley 101a on the roller shaft 101 side.
The driving force on the roller shaft 810 side is transmitted to the driving roller shaft of the inclined portion 100.

Next, FIG. 3 corresponding to an enlarged view of the portion B of FIG.
The drive system of the connection units 802a to 802c will be described with reference to FIG. For the connection units 802a to 802c,
A drive roller shaft 811 is provided for discharging the paper discharged from the upstream oblique portion 100 or the post-processing device 800 to the downstream post-processing device 800. An idler 8 for transmitting the rotation of the roller shaft 810 described above to the drive roller shaft 811 is provided near the drive roller shaft 811.
12, 813 are provided, and these drive roller shafts 81
Pulleys 810a, 81 axially attached to 0, 811, respectively
A belt 814 is wound around the la and the idlers 812 and 813. Also in this case, as in the case where the parent post-processing device 800a is connected to the slanted portion 100, the child post-processing device 800b is pushed from the front surfaces of the image forming apparatus 1 and the slanted portion 100 to drive the drive roller shaft 811 of the coupling unit 802a. A belt 814 is attached to a pulley 811a axially attached to the pulley 811a, and a belt 814 is attached to a pulley 810a axially attached to a roller shaft 810 of the child post-processing device 800b. Communicate to. Similarly, the grandchild post-processing device 800c is also connected to the child post-processing device 800b from the front side.

That is, the parent post-processing device 800a for the slanted portion 100, the child post-processing device 800b for the parent post-processing device 800a, and the grandchild post-processing device 800c for the child post-processing device 800b are these devices. The system is connected from the front side, and further, the belts 104 and 814 are hung from the front side to construct the whole as one system.
In this way, the connecting units 802a to 802c are basically driven by the main motor of the downstream post-treatment device, and the oblique portion 100 is driven by the main motor of the parent post-treatment treatment 800a. Therefore, the child post-treatment 800b and the grandchild post-treatment 800c on the downstream side do not need to drive the inclined portion 100, and therefore the post-treatments 800a to 800c.
The load of each main motor is averaged regardless of the position, and it is not necessary to change each main motor according to the system configuration or to unify the main motors with a large power.

In FIG. 4, this control system is mainly composed of a CPU (central processing unit) 900, a ROM (read only memory) 901, and a RAM (random access memory).
902, I / O (input / output) ports 903 and 904,
A clock timer controller (CTC) 905 and a universal asynchronous receiver controller (UAR)
T) A microcomputer control system composed of 906, 907 and the like.

The CPU 900 uses the RAM 902 as a work area according to a program written in advance in the ROM 901 and I / O signals from the sensor and the switch group.
It takes in through the O port 903 and outputs the control signal of each load to the driver 908 and 909 of the transistor group through the I / O port 904, and the constant voltage driver group 910 and the constant current through the phase generation IC group 912. Driver group 911
By performing the output to, the post-processing control of the paper is performed. The CPU 900 receives a pulse via the I / O port 903 or a timer value via a clock timer controller (CTC) 905 to detect the paper conveyance timing, jam detection, load control, and abnormality. Detect.

The controller (UART) 906 is connected to the main body of the copying machine and the post-processing device at the preceding stage via a receiver 913 for performing photoelectric conversion, a driver 914, and an optical fiber module 915, and this control system is Serial communication is used to exchange instruction signals and status with the previous device. Similarly, the controller (UART) 9
07 is connected via a receiver 916, a driver 917, and an optical fiber module 918 for performing photoelectric conversion to a post-processing device of a subsequent stage, and this control system exchanges an instruction signal and a status with the device of the subsequent stage. Use serial communication.

Here, a controller (UART) 906, a receiver 913, and a driver 9 which are connected to the preceding apparatus.
14. The optical fiber module 914 is configured to be able to detect whether the device at the preceding stage is the slanting portion 100 or the post-processing device. Also, a controller (UART) 90 connected to the post-processing device in the subsequent stage.
7, the receiver 916, the driver 917, and the optical fiber module 918 are mounted on a small printed circuit board different from other circuits to be modularized, and this module 920 is the post-processing device when the post-processing device of the subsequent stage is not connected. Not attached to. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wasteful cost, malfunction due to ambient light, fiber connection error, and the like.

Here, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c each have a power source, and the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c after the power is turned on.
The rise time of each is different, and the order is also indeterminate. Therefore, in this embodiment, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 can recognize the configuration of the entire system regardless of the order in which the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing treatments 800a to 800c stand up. , Will be described in detail.

First, the post-treatment procedures 800a to 800c are as follows.
For example, by detecting whether or not the device is connected via a fiber harness, it is detected whether the preceding device is the oblique portion 100 or the post-processing device. Further, the parent post-treatment treatment 800a and the child post-treatment treatment 800b detect that the post-treatment device is connected downstream by detecting that the module 920 is connected to the main control board via a pin. Can be detected.

Therefore, when the upstream oblique portion 100 is detected and the downstream post-processing device is detected, the self is the parent post-processing treatment 800a, and the upstream oblique portion 100 is detected and the downstream post-processing is performed. If it does not detect the device, only itself is connected to the system and it does not detect the upstream bevel 100,
When the downstream post-treatment device is detected, the self is the middle child post-treatment treatment 800b, and when the upstream oblique portion 100 is not detected and the downstream post-treatment device is not detected, the self is the lowest. Can be detected as being the grandchild post-treatment treatment 800c.

When the own hardware is recognized by the above hardware, the following software transmits and receives the I / F signal. First, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, for example, sets itself to a receivable state at the time of initialization and transmits a status request signal to the lower parent post-processing treatment 800a,
The parent post-processing treatment 800a and the child post-processing treatment 800b, for example, perform recognition by the above connection detection after initializing, set themselves in a receivable state, and set statuses in the child post-processing treatment 800b and the grandchild post-treatment processing 800c, respectively. Send a request signal.

The lower parent post-treatment procedure 800a, the child post-treatment procedure 800b, and the grandchild post-treatment procedure 800c perform the connection detection after initializing, after receiving the status request signal, or on-line model code from the lower order. After receiving the change notification of the
Send to child post-treatment procedure 800b. Therefore, each part of the system, that is, the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 800.
a to 800c can recognize this system regardless of the order in which they stand up. Further, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a slanting portion 100 and post-processing devices 800a to 800c.
The door open information and the paper entry information are processed as the same information.

Next, the operation of the CPU 900 will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is checked whether or not a post-processing treatment is connected downstream (step S1), and if not connected, it is checked whether or not an online model code from a lower order is received (step S8). When this online model code is received, a connection failure of the downstream connector may be considered, so a connection abnormality signal is transmitted upstream (step S7).

On the other hand, when the post-treatment is connected downstream in step 11-1, a status request signal is transmitted downstream at the time of rising (step S2).
Next, it is checked whether or not the online model code is received from the downstream (step S3), and if it is not received within a certain time (step S6), the power failure on the downstream side,
An abnormality in the control board and a defect in the fiber harness are considered, so a connection abnormality signal is transmitted upstream (step S
7).

In step S3, when the online model code from the downstream is received within a fixed time, the currently recognized online model code is compared with the received online model code (step S4). Sends this new online model code upstream (step S5). It should be noted that such a process can be prevented, for example, from being performed while the sheets are being sorted, but not during sorting, so as to prevent a problem due to a change in connection recognition during sorting.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing system in which the apparatus for post-processing the sheet on which the image is recorded by the image forming apparatus is connected in multiple stages, Tilt the ejected paper,
A skew unit that discharges to the first-stage sheet post-processing device based on one side edge, and a sheet from the upstream skew unit or the sheet post-processing device that is provided in each sheet post-processing device Since the connection unit controlled by the sheet post-processing device is ejected to the post-processing device, each connection unit belongs to the post-processing device and is controlled, and therefore the paper post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages. In this case, the control software of each post-processing device can be configured the same.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the skew unit according to the first aspect supplies the sheet input information to the image forming apparatus at the preceding stage,
Since each of the connection units supplies the paper input information to the image forming apparatus in the preceding stage, and the image forming apparatus processes the paper input information from the skew unit and the paper input information from the connection unit as the same information. The control software of the image forming apparatus can be simplified when the post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages.

According to the invention described in claim 3, since each connecting unit according to claim 1 is driven by the downstream sheet post-processing apparatus, the drive motor, the speed reducing mechanism, etc. of each connecting unit can be omitted, and accordingly, The connecting mechanism can be simplified when the sheet post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the driving force of the downstream sheet post-processing device is transmitted to the upstream connecting unit, and the driving force of the first-stage sheet post-processing device. Since the mechanism for transmitting the sheet to the skew unit is mechanically identical, the connecting mechanism of the entire system can be simplified when the sheet post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a post-processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an essential part showing a drive system of an oblique part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of essential parts showing a drive system of the connection unit of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the post-processing apparatus of FIG.

5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the post-processing device in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image forming apparatus 100 Oblique part 101,810 Driving roller shaft 102,103,813,814 Idler 104,814 Belt 800a-800c Post-processing treatment 802a-802c Coupling unit 900 CPU (Central processing unit)

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 30, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Detailed explanation of the invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing in which a sheet post-processing apparatus for sorting, collating, or stapling the sheets on which images are recorded by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is connected in multiple stages. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a sheet post-processing apparatus such as a sorter has a plurality of bins for sorting sheets and is configured to perform post-processing by binding a bundle of sheets sorted by a stapler. ing. However, in such a sheet post-processing apparatus, the number of sheet bundles that can be sorted is limited to the number of bins. Therefore, in recent years, in order to increase the number of sheet bundles that can be sorted, this sheet post-processing apparatus is used. Systems connected in multiple stages are known.

Conventionally, in this type of paper post-processing system,
It is equipped with a coupler for connecting the front and rear sheet post-processing devices, and each coupler is equipped with a drive motor, paper sensor and door open sensor, etc. Absent.

[0004]

In such a conventional sheet post-processing system, since the control of each coupler does not belong to any of the front and rear sheet post-processing apparatuses, the front-end or rear-end post-processing apparatus is connected. It is not possible to manage the motors and sensors of the vessel. Therefore, it is not possible to control each post-processing device with the same software, so that each software becomes different and expensive, and bugs increase.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional paper post-processing system, since each coupler is provided with the drive motor, an auxiliary mechanism such as a reduction mechanism of the drive motor is also required for each coupler, and the mechanism is naturally complicated. Become.

In view of the above problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper post-processing system which can simplify the connecting mechanism and control software when the paper post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages. ..

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first means is a sheet post-processing system in which a device for post-processing a sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus is connected in multiple stages. For example, a skewing unit configured to skew the sheet discharged from the forming apparatus in the center alignment and discharge the sheet to the first-stage sheet post-processing apparatus based on one side end is provided in each sheet post-processing apparatus. And a coupling unit controlled by the sheet post-processing apparatus so that the sheet from the upstream skew unit or the sheet post-processing apparatus is discharged to the downstream sheet post-processing apparatus.

In the second means, the slanting unit of the first means supplies the paper input information to the preceding image forming apparatus, and each of the connecting units supplies the paper input information to the preceding image forming apparatus, and It is characterized in that the image forming apparatus processes the paper input information from the diagonal unit and the paper input information from the connection unit as the same information.

A third means is characterized in that each connecting unit of the first means is driven by a downstream sheet post-processing device.

The fourth means is a mechanism in which the driving force of the downstream sheet post-processing device in the first means is transmitted to the upstream connecting unit, and the driving force of the first-stage sheet post-processing device is an oblique unit. The mechanism transmitted to the device is characterized in that they are mechanically identical.

[0011]

According to the first means, each connecting unit is controlled by belonging to the sheet post-processing apparatus by the above-mentioned configuration. Therefore, when the sheet post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages, the control software of each sheet post-processing apparatus is changed. It can be configured the same.

In the second means, since the image forming apparatus processes the sheet input information from the skew unit and the sheet input information from the connection unit as the same information, when the sheet post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages. The control software of the image forming apparatus can be simplified.

In the third means, since each connecting unit is driven by the downstream sheet post-processing device, it is possible to omit the drive motor, the speed reduction mechanism, etc. of each connecting unit, and therefore the sheet post-processing device is provided in multiple stages. The connection mechanism can be simplified when connecting to.

In the fourth means, since the transmission mechanism of the connecting unit and the oblique unit are mechanically the same, it is not necessary to distinguish each unit when connecting the sheet post-processing devices in multiple stages, and the entire system is eliminated. The connection mechanism of can be simplified.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a post-processing system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of a main portion showing a drive system of a slanted portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a drive system of a connecting unit of FIG. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing a control system of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the post-processing apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 1, in this post-processing system,
The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 with its center aligned is inclined to the image forming apparatus 1 in the frontmost stage, and is discharged from the inclined portion 100 and the inclined portion 100 for making the width closer to one side edge. The parent post-treatment procedure 800a, the child post-treatment procedure 800b, and the grandchild post-treatment procedure 800c for processing the formed sheets are connected in this order. Post-treatment measures 800a, 800
b and 800c are switching claws 801a, 801b and 80 for selectively guiding the paper from the preceding device toward the self bin or toward the subsequent post-processing device.
1c and a connection unit 802 for discharging the paper from the switching claws 801a to 801c to the post-processing device in the subsequent stage.
a, 802b, 802c. Although not shown, the oblique portion 100 and the connecting units 802a-80
2c both have a door open sensor and a paper input sensor,
Each of these detection signals is transmitted to an upstream device via a communication device to be described later.

Oblique section 100 and post-treatment measures 800a-80
0c has the same physical relationship such as the paper carry-in position, the paper discharge position, the connector, etc., and the same belt 1 as described later.
The post-treatments 800a to 800c are mechanically configured in the same manner regardless of the parent, child, and grandchild relationships so that they can be driven simply by multiplying them by 04,814. Furthermore, the oblique portion 10
0 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c are electrically connected to the downstream post-treatments 800a to 800c via a communication module 920, which will be described later, and the connection state changes the I / O port 903. Is detected through.

Next, FIG. 2 corresponding to an enlarged view of the portion A of FIG.
The drive system of the inclined portion 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Oblique part 1
In the case of 00, the sheet discharged by the center alignment from the copying machine is inclined, and the parent post-processing device 80
A drive roller shaft 101 for driving a belt or the like (not shown) discharged to 0a is provided. In the vicinity of the drive roller shaft 101, idlers 102 and 103 for transmitting the rotation of the roller shaft 810 of the master post-processing device 800a to the drive roller shaft 101 are provided, and these idlers 102 and 103 are attached to the drive roller shaft 101. Pulley 101a and idler 10
The belt 104 is wound around the pulleys 810a that are attached to the roller shafts 810 of the parent and post-processing device 800a. The roller shaft 810 is configured to be located at the same position regardless of the relationship between the parent, child, and grandchild. When the master post-processing apparatus 800a is connected to the inclined portion 100, the parent post-processing apparatus 800a is pushed from the front side of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to be adjacent to the oblique section 100, and the parent post-processing apparatus 800a pulley is connected. The belt 104 hung on the roller 810a is attached to the pulley 101a on the roller shaft 101 side.
The driving force on the roller shaft 810 side is transmitted to the driving roller shaft of the inclined portion 100.

Next, FIG. 3 corresponding to an enlarged view of the portion B of FIG.
The drive system of the connection units 802a to 802c will be described with reference to FIG. For the connection units 802a to 802c,
A drive roller shaft 811 is provided for discharging the paper discharged from the upstream oblique portion 100 or the post-processing device 800 to the downstream post-processing device 800. An idler 8 for transmitting the rotation of the roller shaft 810 described above to the drive roller shaft 811 is provided near the drive roller shaft 811.
12, 813 are provided, and these drive roller shafts 81
Pulleys 810a, 81 axially attached to 0, 811, respectively
A belt 814 is wound around the la and the idlers 812 and 813. Also in this case, as in the case where the parent post-processing device 800a is connected to the slanted portion 100, the child post-processing device 800b is pushed from the front surfaces of the image forming apparatus 1 and the slanted portion 100 to drive the drive roller shaft 811 of the coupling unit 802a. A belt 814 is attached to a pulley 811a axially attached to the pulley 811a, and a belt 814 is attached to a pulley 810a axially attached to a roller shaft 810 of the child post-processing device 800b. Communicate to. Similarly, the grandchild post-processing device 800c is also connected to the child post-processing device 800b from the front side.

That is, the parent post-processing device 800a for the slanted portion 100, the child post-processing device 800b for the parent post-processing device 800a, and the grandchild post-processing device 800c for the child post-processing device 800b are these devices. The system is connected from the front side, and further, the belts 104 and 814 are hung from the front side to construct the whole as one system.
In this way, the connecting units 802a to 802c are basically driven by the main motor of the downstream post-treatment device, and the oblique portion 100 is driven by the main motor of the parent post-treatment treatment 800a. Therefore, the child post-treatment 800b and the grandchild post-treatment 800c on the downstream side do not need to drive the inclined portion 100, and therefore the post-treatments 800a to 800c.
The load of each main motor is averaged regardless of the position, and it is not necessary to change each main motor according to the system configuration or to unify the main motors with a large power.

In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, this control system is
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 900 as a center, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 901, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 902, an I / O (Input / Output) port 903.
904 and a clock timer controller (CTC) 90
5 and a universal asynchronous receiver controller (UART) 906, 907 and the like.

The CPU 900 uses the RAM 902 as a work area according to a program written in advance in the ROM 901 and I / O signals from the sensor and the switch group.
It takes in through the O port 903 and outputs the control signal of each load to the driver 908 and 909 of the transistor group through the I / O port 904, and the constant voltage driver group 910 and the constant current through the phase generation IC group 912. Driver group 911
By performing the output to, the post-processing control of the paper is performed. The CPU 900 receives a pulse via the I / O port 903 or a timer value via a clock timer controller (CTC) 905 to detect the paper conveyance timing, jam detection, load control, and abnormality. Detect.

The controller (UART) 906 is connected to the main body of the copying machine and the post-processing device at the preceding stage via a receiver 913 for performing photoelectric conversion, a driver 914, and an optical fiber module 915, and this control system is Serial communication is used to exchange instruction signals and status with the previous device. Similarly, the controller (UART) 9
07 is connected via a receiver 916, a driver 917, and an optical fiber module 918 for performing photoelectric conversion to a post-processing device of a subsequent stage, and this control system exchanges an instruction signal and a status with the device of the subsequent stage. Use serial communication.

Here, a controller (UART) 906, a receiver 913, and a driver 9 which are connected to the preceding apparatus.
14. The optical fiber module 914 is configured to be able to detect whether the device at the preceding stage is the slanting portion 100 or the post-processing device. Also, a controller (UART) 90 connected to the post-processing device in the subsequent stage.
7, the receiver 916, the driver 917, and the optical fiber module 918 are mounted on a small printed circuit board different from other circuits to be modularized, and this module 920 is the post-processing device when the post-processing device of the subsequent stage is not connected. Not attached to. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wasteful cost, malfunction due to ambient light, fiber connection error, and the like.

Here, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c each have a power source, and the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-treatments 800a to 800c after the power is turned on.
The rise time of each is different, and the order is also indeterminate. Therefore, in this embodiment, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 can recognize the configuration of the entire system regardless of the order in which the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing treatments 800a to 800c stand up. , Will be described in detail.

First, the post-treatment procedures 800a to 800c are as follows.
For example, by detecting whether or not the device is connected via a fiber harness, it is detected whether the preceding device is the oblique portion 100 or the post-processing device. Further, the parent post-treatment treatment 800a and the child post-treatment treatment 800b detect that the post-treatment device is connected downstream by detecting that the module 920 is connected to the main control board via a pin. Can be detected.

Therefore, when the upstream oblique portion 100 is detected and the downstream post-processing device is detected, the self is the parent post-processing treatment 800a, and the upstream oblique portion 100 is detected and the downstream post-processing is performed. If it does not detect the device, only itself is connected to the system and it does not detect the upstream bevel 100,
When the downstream post-treatment device is detected, the self is the middle child post-treatment treatment 800b, and when the upstream oblique portion 100 is not detected and the downstream post-treatment device is not detected, the self is the lowest. Can be detected as being the grandchild post-treatment treatment 800c.

When the own hardware is recognized by the above hardware, the following software transmits and receives the I / F signal. First, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, for example, sets itself to a receivable state at the time of initialization and transmits a status request signal to the lower parent post-processing treatment 800a,
The parent post-processing treatment 800a and the child post-processing treatment 800b, for example, perform recognition by the above connection detection after initializing, set themselves in a receivable state, and set statuses in the child post-processing treatment 800b and the grandchild post-treatment processing 800c, respectively. Send a request signal.

The lower parent post-treatment procedure 800a, the child post-treatment procedure 800b, and the grandchild post-treatment procedure 800c perform the connection detection after initializing, after receiving the status request signal, or on-line model code from the lower order. After receiving the change notification of the
Send to child post-treatment procedure 800b. Therefore, each part of the system, that is, the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 800.
a to 800c can recognize this system regardless of the order in which they stand up. Further, the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a slanting portion 100 and post-processing devices 800a to 800c.
The door open information and the paper entry information are processed as the same information.

Next, the operation of the CPU 900 will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is checked whether or not a post-processing treatment is connected downstream (step S1), and if not connected, it is checked whether or not an online model code from a lower order is received (step S8). When this online model code is received, a connection failure of the downstream connector may be considered, so a connection abnormality signal is transmitted upstream (step S7).

On the other hand, when the post-treatment is connected downstream in step 11-1, a status request signal is transmitted downstream at the time of rising (step S2).
Next, it is checked whether or not the online model code is received from the downstream (step S3), and if it is not received within a certain time (step S6), the power failure on the downstream side,
An abnormality in the control board and a defect in the fiber harness are considered, so a connection abnormality signal is transmitted upstream (step S
7).

In step S3, when the online model code from the downstream is received within a fixed time, the currently recognized online model code is compared with the received online model code (step S4). Sends this new online model code upstream (step S5). It should be noted that such a process can be prevented, for example, from being performed while the sheets are being sorted, but not during sorting, so as to prevent a problem due to a change in connection recognition during sorting.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing system in which the apparatus for post-processing the sheet on which the image is recorded by the image forming apparatus is connected in multiple stages, Tilt the ejected paper,
A skew unit that discharges to the first-stage sheet post-processing device based on one side edge, and a sheet from the upstream skew unit or the sheet post-processing device that is provided in each sheet post-processing device Since the connection unit controlled by the sheet post-processing device is ejected to the post-processing device, each connection unit belongs to the post-processing device and is controlled, and therefore the paper post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages. In this case, the control software of each post-processing device can be configured the same.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the skew unit according to the first aspect supplies the sheet input information to the image forming apparatus at the preceding stage,
Since each of the connection units supplies the paper input information to the image forming apparatus in the preceding stage, and the image forming apparatus processes the paper input information from the skew unit and the paper input information from the connection unit as the same information. The control software of the image forming apparatus can be simplified when the post-processing apparatuses are connected in multiple stages.

According to the invention described in claim 3, since each connecting unit according to claim 1 is driven by the downstream sheet post-processing apparatus, the drive motor, the speed reducing mechanism, etc. of each connecting unit can be omitted, and accordingly, The connecting mechanism can be simplified when the sheet post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the driving force of the downstream sheet post-processing device is transmitted to the upstream connecting unit, and the driving force of the first-stage sheet post-processing device. Since the mechanism for transmitting the sheet to the skew unit is mechanically identical, the connecting mechanism of the entire system can be simplified when the sheet post-processing devices are connected in multiple stages. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 30, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a post-processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an essential part showing a drive system of an oblique part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of essential parts showing a drive system of the connection unit of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a part of a control system of the post-processing apparatus of FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing another part of the control system of the post-processing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the post-processing device of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[Description of Reference Signs] 1 image forming apparatus 100 oblique portion 101,810 drive roller shaft 102,103,813,814 idler 104,814 belt 800a to 800c post-treatment 802a to 802c coupling unit 900 CPU (central processing unit)

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 1]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 6]

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Seki 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Yokota Building, Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Keiji Maeda 2-28 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi −24 YOKOTA BILL Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuji Watanabe 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi (72) YOKOTA BILL Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (72) Nobuyuki Morii 2 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi −28−24 Within Yokota Building Ricoh Electrics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Minoru Hattori 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Within Yokota Building Ricoh Electrics Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a sheet post-processing system in which a device for post-processing a sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus is connected in multiple stages, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is slanted to one side end. Based on the standard, the skew unit that discharges to the first-stage sheet post-processing apparatus and each sheet post-processing apparatus are provided respectively, and the sheet from the upstream skew unit or the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided to the downstream sheet post-processing apparatus. A sheet post-processing system comprising: a connection unit controlled by the sheet post-processing device so as to be ejected. 2. The skew unit supplies paper input information to a preceding image forming apparatus, each of the connecting units supplies paper input information to a preceding image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus outputs from the skew unit. 2. The paper input information of 1 and the paper input information from the connection unit are processed as the same information.
Paper post-processing system described. 3. The sheet post-processing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the connection units is driven by a downstream sheet post-processing device. 4. A mechanism for transmitting the driving force of a downstream sheet post-processing device to an upstream connecting unit, and a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of a first-stage sheet post-processing device to the skew unit. The sheet post-processing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet post-processing systems are mechanically identical.