JPH05254718A - Sorter with paper treatment function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the time required to set the paper sheet loaded on a bin to a paper sheet treatment device. CONSTITUTION:A sorter is provided with a bin 16 where a stopper is provided at the rear end part, a moving means to move this bin 16 in the approaching/ separating direction to/from a paper sheet treatment means, a pressing means 81 provided on the upper part of the position other than the rear end part of the bin 16 in a vertically movable manner, and a driving means 33 which brings this pressing means 81 into pressing contact with the bin 16. The rear end part of the bin is opened by rotating the stopper, and the paper sheet treatment is applied to the exposed part of the paper sheet exposed from the rear end of the bin. This pressing means 81 is brought into pressing contact with the bin 16 before the rear end part of the bin 16 is opened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorter for sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to performing stapling, punching and other predetermined sheet processing on sheets. Sorter with paper handling function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, which have a sorter for transferring the same original document onto a plurality of transfer papers and sorting the transfer papers into respective bins, have become widespread. In particular, recently, a sorter having a function of performing a predetermined sheet processing on a sorted sheet on a bin with a stapler, a punch or the like is used.

In such a conventional sorter, since the stapler or the like moves in the contacting / separating direction with respect to the bin to perform processing, stapling or the like is performed only on one specific corner of the sheet.

[0004]

By the way, recently, there is an increasing need for a sorter capable of performing plural kinds of sheet processing such as stapling and punching at arbitrary positions in the width direction of the sheet.

As such a sorter, a sheet processing device such as a stapler or a punch is provided in parallel with one support frame so as to be integrally movable in the width direction of the bin, and a bin for processing a sheet is retracted from another bin. After that, the paper placed in the bin is pressed by the paper pressing mechanism, then the rear end side of the bin is opened, and then the support frame is moved to the required position to perform the required processing. It is conceivable to apply.

However, in the case where the processing is performed in the order of retracting the bin, pressing the sheet, and opening the rear end of the bin, it takes a relatively long time to complete the sheet processing.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sorter with a paper processing function, which can shorten the time required to set the paper placed in the bin in the paper processing device. And

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a bin provided with a rotatable stopper at the rear end portion for opening and closing the rear end portion, and a bin for paper. A moving means for moving the processing means in a contacting / separating direction, rotating the stopper to open the rear end portion of the bin, and exposing the sheet to the exposed portion of the sheet exposed from the rear end portion of the bin. A sorter having a paper processing function for performing processing, the pressing means being provided movably in the vertical direction above the position other than the rear end of the bin, and the pressing means before opening the rear end of the bin. And a biasing means for pressingly contacting the bottle.

Further, in the present invention, the urging means presses the pressing means against the bin before the rear end of the bin is opened and in response to the approaching movement of the bin toward the sheet processing means. did.

Further, in claim 3, the pressing means is formed so as to move integrally with the bottle.

Further, in claim 4, the urging means produces a pressing force corresponding to the approaching movement of the bin to the sheet processing means.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a bin provided with a rotatable stopper at the rear end portion for opening and closing the rear end portion, and a movement for moving the bin in the contact and separation directions with respect to the sheet processing means. A sorter having a sheet processing function for performing sheet processing on a sheet placed on the bin in a state where the bin is moved closer to the sheet processing means, and a rotating means for rotating the stopper. And drive means for rotating the stopper to open the rear end of the bin by the rotating means in response to the approaching movement of the bin to the sheet processing means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the drive means has a guide member for guiding the rotation of the stopper, and the guide member is positioned so that the drive means operates while guiding the stopper. ..

Further, in the present invention, the drive means has a guide member for guiding the rotation of the stopper, and the guide member has a rotation amount of the stopper in an amount corresponding to the amount of movement of the bin toward the sheet processing means. It is designed to be formed into a guide shape.

[0015]

According to the sorter having a sheet processing function of the above-mentioned claim 1, when the sheet stacked on the bin is subjected to the sheet processing, the bin is moved so as to approach the sheet processing means, and the rear end portion of the bin is moved. Before the paper is opened, the paper on the bin is pressed and contacted by the downward urging force acting on the pressing means, and then the stopper is rotated to open the rear end of the bin. Then, the sheet processing means performs sheet processing on the exposed portion of the sheet exposed from the rear end of the bin.

Further, according to the sorter with a paper processing function of the above-mentioned claim 2, the paper loaded in the bin is moved before the rear end of the bin is opened and the bin approaches the paper processing means. The pressing contact enables the stopper to be rotated by the end of the approaching movement of the bottle.

Further, according to the sorter having a sheet processing function of the third aspect, the pressing means moves integrally with the bin so that the sheets stacked in the bin are always pressed at the same position by the pressing means.

Further, according to the sorter having a sheet processing function of the fourth aspect, the bin is urged by the urging means with the pressing force corresponding to the approaching movement of the bin to the sheet processing means. Prevents misalignment and falling of paper due to opening of the edges.

Further, according to the sorter having a sheet processing function of the fifth aspect, when the sheet loaded on the bin is subjected to the sheet treatment, the bin is moved so as to approach the sheet processing means, and the sheet in the bin is moved. The stopper is rotated in response to the approaching movement to the processing means, and the rear end of the bottle is opened. And
The sheet processing means performs sheet processing on the exposed portion of the sheet exposed from the rear end of the bin.

According to the sorter with a paper processing function of the sixth aspect, the stopper is guided reliably by rotating the stopper while the stopper is guided by the guide member.

Further, according to the sorter having a sheet processing function of the seventh aspect, the rear end portion of the bin is gradually increased so that the amount of rotation of the stopper corresponds to the amount of movement of the bottle toward the sheet processing means. When the stopper is opened, no impact is generated due to the rotation operation of the stopper, and the stacked sheets are not displaced.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a sorter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 17 is an external view showing the entire image forming apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus 1 is
It comprises a first housing 2, an automatic document feeder 3, cabinets 9, 10, 11 and a second housing 14.

A contact glass (not shown) is provided at the center of the upper surface of the first housing 2, and an optical system for optically scanning an original, a photosensitive drum, and an image provided around the photosensitive system are provided inside. Image forming means having respective members for forming,
Further, each component such as a transfer paper transport system is provided.
The original to be copied is placed on the contact glass with its copy surface facing downward, and the original surface is optically scanned by the optical system. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by the image forming means based on the reflected light from the document surface, and is further developed into a toner image. The developed toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper and fixed on the transfer paper at the fixing section.

The automatic document feeder 3 automatically feeds a document, and is provided with a document placing section 4, a document carry-in section 5, a document carry section 6, and a document carry-out section 7. Then, the originals placed on the original placing portion 4 are automatically moved one by one from the original carrying-in portion 5 to a predetermined position on the contact glass by the original feeding portion 6 and temporarily stopped, and after the copying is completed, the original carrying-out portion is carried out. 7
Be delivered to.

The cabinets 9, 10 and 11 store transfer sheets, and sheets of different sizes can be set therein. An operation panel 12 includes a copy switch, a copy number instruction switch, and the like. A mode switch key 13 of the sorter and a sheet processing selection key such as stapling and punching.

The second housing 14 has an opening / closing panel 14a on its front surface, and the opening / closing panel 14a is adapted to pull out a sheet processing unit 30 to be described later by opening. In addition to the sorter 15, a columnar 23, a sheet processing device 28, a sheet pressing mechanism, a guide rail 18, a deflection regulating member 19 and the like are provided inside the second housing 14.

The sorter 15 is provided with a plurality of bins 16 for discharging the sorted transfer paper in a stepped manner. Further, each bin 16 is moved up and down in accordance with sorting by an up-and-down driving means (not shown).

Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper discharge unit for discharging the transfer paper when not sorting. 140 is an operation panel,
A display unit 140a for displaying the paper processing mode selected by the paper processing selection key 13 and a mode execution key 140
b.

Next, the internal structure of the second housing 14 will be described with reference to FIG. The cylinders 23 are used to move the bottle 16 up and down, and are vertically arranged in parallel on both sides of the bottle 16, and spiral grooves 24 are formed on the peripheral surface.
The lower end of the column 23 is connected to the drive motor 230 via the timing belt 231, the bevel gears 232, 233, and the timing belt 234. In addition, the column 23
A pulse plate 235 for detecting the rotation angle of the column 23 and a rotation sensor 236 are provided at appropriate places under the column. Then, by driving the drive motor 230 to rotate,
The driving force is the timing belt 234, the bevel gears 233, 23.
2 and the timing belt 231 to the cylinder 23 so that the cylinder 23 is driven to rotate.

The bin 16 is arranged so that the first pin 20, the second pin 21, and the third pin 22 project outward on both sides in the width direction. The first pin 20 is fitted in a groove (not shown) provided with a slight inclination in the right direction in the drawing with respect to the inside of the left and right side plates of the sorter 15, and the second pin 21 is formed in the column 23. It is fitted in the groove 24 to support the bottle 16 so that it can be raised and lowered. The third pin 22 is provided on the right side of the second pin 21 in the drawing with a predetermined interval.

Then, each of the bottles 16 has a cylinder 23 with 360
By rotating by °, the sheet is moved one step upward or downward in synchronization with the transfer paper discharge timing. Further, when sorting is completed and predetermined sheet processing such as stapling or punching is performed on each transfer sheet, the column 23 is rotated and stopped at a predetermined stop angle, so that the sheet processing is performed. Each bin is raised and lowered one step at a specific position for that. In this state, the opening surface of the guide rail 60 (FIG. 7) described later and the groove 24 of the column 23 are opposed to each other, and the bin 16 at the specific position is driven by the driving force applied to the third pin 22 of the guide rail 60. Paper processing device 2 along the slope
It is possible to move backward (to the right in FIG. 7) to the position 8.

The bottle 16 is made of synthetic resin or the like,
It is composed of a flat plate portion 26 and a stopper 25 provided in the rear end portion thereof and having a substantially L-shape for regulating and aligning the rear end of the sheet.

28 is a sheet processing device such as a punch 40 and a stapler 41 for performing a predetermined process such as punching and stapling on the transfer sheets sorted in the bin 16, and 29 is a support frame for mounting a plurality of sheet processing devices 28. It is the body. Support frame 29
Has a front end slidably supported by the shaft 30,
The rear end side is slidably supported by the rail 31 by a roller 29a provided at the rear end of the support frame 29. The shaft 30 and the rail 31 are, as shown in FIG.
The sheet processing device 28 is disposed across the width direction of the sorter 15, that is, the width direction of the bin 16, and the support frame 29 reciprocates on the shaft 30 and the rail 31.
Thus, the paper processing can be performed at an arbitrary position on the trailing edge side of the transfer paper. Further, the front end portion of the support frame 29 is fixed by a wire 29b, and this wire 29b is
It is adapted to be connected to the pulley 32a of the motor 32 via the roller 29c.

Then, the motor 29 drives the wire 29b.
Is driven to reciprocate the support frame 29. The sheet processing device 28 is attachable to and detachable from the support frame 29. Also, punch 4
Punch scraps from 0 are stored in the long storage box 4 shown in FIG.
It is designed to be stored in 2.

The stopper 25, as shown in FIG.
The flat plate portion 26 is rotatably supported by fulcrums 25a on both sides of the rear end. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protrusion 250 is formed at the base end of the stopper 25 and at the center in the width direction.
Extends in front of the stopper 25. This convex portion 25
When the stopper 25 rotates downward about the fulcrum 25a (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3), the tip of the stopper abuts against the back surface of the flat plate portion 26, so that the weight of the transfer paper on the bin 16 is zero. This prevents the occurrence of bending of the flat plate portion 26 due to the above. Note that the widthwise dimension of the protrusion 250 may be set arbitrarily. Further, a plurality of protrusions 250 may be provided in the width direction of the stopper 25.

Further, rollers 25b are provided on the left and right sides of the stopper 25 and at the tip of the stopper 25, and the rollers 25b are fitted into guide rails 18 to be described later when the bottle 16 is retracted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flat plate portion 26 has a protrusion formed on the right side (upper side in FIG. 2) of the rear end of the back surface.
A substantially T-shaped stop member 27 is rotatably disposed on the protruding portion on the back surface of the flat plate portion 26 via a fulcrum 26a. The restraining member 27 includes a restraining piece 27a, a releasing piece 27b, and a regulating piece 27c, and the fulcrum 26a is arranged at the base point position of each piece. The release piece 27b is extended to the right side of the bottle 16 so that a release member 8 described later can come into contact therewith. The restricting piece 27c is provided on the flat plate portion 2 via the spring 26b.
6 and is connected to this spring 26b by the stop member 2
7 is biased in the clockwise direction in FIG. The restraining piece 27a is formed to have a size sufficient to reach the back surface of the stopper 25, and restrains the downward rotation of the stopper 25 due to its own weight in the restrained state shown in FIG. The contact member 26c is disposed on the back surface of the flat plate portion 26 and contacts the restriction piece 27c by the spring 26b.
Further rotation in the clockwise direction is restricted so that the restrained state is maintained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, at a proper position of the rear frame 8a of the sorter 15, a release member 8 is provided so as to project forward on the backward movement path of the release piece 27b. When the bin 16 moves backward from the state shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the release member 8 abuts on the release piece 27b to rotate the stop member 27 in the counterclockwise direction (released state). In this released state, the stopper 25
Can rotate downward, and this state is maintained until the bin 16 retracts to the rearmost position.

The mechanism for moving the bottle 16 in the front-rear direction will be described with reference to FIG. This moving mechanism is arranged on the frame on the side surface of the bottle 16. 51 is bottle 1
A motor for moving 6 in the front-rear direction, 52 is a worm wheel, 53 and 54 are gears, and a chain wheel 55 is hung between these gears 53 and 54. Motor 5
1 transmits the rotational force to the gear 53 through the worm wheel 52, and drives the chain wheel 55.

58 is a chain wheel 55 and a connecting portion 5
9 is a working plate connected by 9. The action plate 58 has a vertical action piece 58a which is interposed between the second pin 21 and the third pin 22 at a part thereof, and the action piece 58a is the second pin 21 or the third pin. By pushing 22 the bottle 16 can be moved in the front-back direction. Further, the action piece 58a also has a function of restricting the second pin 21 from being detached from the spiral groove 24 during the sorting process.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a pair of guide rails for guiding the second pin 21 so as to guide the moving direction of the bottle 16.
Further, the action plate 58 is fitted with a fitting member 56a to which a shaft 81a of a pressing member 81 as a sheet pressing mechanism described later is fitted.
A guide member 57 for guiding the 56b and the chain wheel 79 is provided. The guide member 57 guides the chain wheel 79 so that the shaft 81a is fitted between the fitting members 56a and 56b (indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 8). The movement range of the action plate 58 is controlled based on the detection output from a position sensor (not shown) formed of a photo interrupter or the like.

Next, the paper pressing movement mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The paper presser moving mechanism moves and releases the presser member 81 integrally with the bin 16.
Are arranged on the frames on both sides of the.

71 is a motor for driving the paper pressing device, 72 is a worm wheel, and 73 to 78 are gears.
A chain wheel 79 is disposed in each of ~ 78 so as to penetrate between the fitting member 56b and the guide member 57. A shaft 81 a of a pressing member 81 is supported by the chain wheel 79 above the bin 16 between the gears 74 and 76 via a connecting portion 80.

The gear 73 is connected to the motor 71 via the worm wheel 72. An arm 75a having one end rotatably supported is connected to the gear 74, and the gear 75 is rotatably connected to the other end. Therefore, the gear 75 is swingably supported by the gear 74 as a fulcrum, and is connected to the arm 75a by a spring 75b.
It is urged in the clockwise direction in FIG. Further, the gear 77 is formed so as to be movable up and down, and is biased downward. As a result, tension of a required force is applied to the chain wheel 79, and the meshing position between each gear and the chain wheel 79 is prevented from shifting.

The rotational force of the motor 71 is transmitted to the gear 73 through the worm wheel 72,
The chain wheel 79 is driven and the connecting portion 80 is connected to the bin 1
By being driven toward 6, the shaft 81a is fitted between the fitting members 56a and 56b described above. In this fitted state, the pressing member 81 is made movable with the bin 16 as a unit. It should be noted that the motor 71 is locked in a stopped state, during which the chain wheel 79 is prevented from idling, and the integrated movement state of the pressing member 81 and the bin 16 is prevented from being accidentally released.

In this way, with the shaft 81a fitted between the fitting members 56a and 56b, the holding member 81 can be retracted integrally with the action plate 58, that is, with the bottle 16. There is. It should be noted that the chain wheel 79 is pulled in the backward direction as the chain wheel 79 moves backward, but the arm 75a swings and the gear 75 moves rearward as the chain wheel 79 moves. I try to maintain my tension.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, urging members 33 are arranged on the frames arranged on both sides of the bottle 16. The urging member 33 urges the shaft 81a downward with a predetermined urging force by slidingly contacting the shaft 81a of the pressing member 81 while the bottle 16 is retracting. The urging member 33 is rotatably supported at its intermediate position by a fulcrum 33a with respect to a plane orthogonal to the frame, and its end on the side of the bin 16 is bent downward to form the shaft 81a.
Can be slid on. In addition, the biasing member 3
As shown in FIG. 10, the end of the No. 3 on the side of the bin 16 is tapered at the front end 33b, and the shaft 81a that abuts on the front end 33b as the bin 16 retreats lowers the lower end 33c.
To guide you. It should be noted that any desired inclination or shape of the taper can be adopted. With this taper, the urging force was gradually given,
A sudden load is not applied to the bottle 16, and the occurrence of bending is suppressed.

Further, in FIG. 9, a spring 33d is provided between the main body and the end of the biasing member 33 on the side opposite to the bin 16, and the biasing member 33 is provided by this spring 33d.
Is urged counterclockwise in the figure. The urging member 3 is urged by the urging force of the spring 33da.
3 urges the shaft 81a with a required pressing force. The rotation range of the urging member 33 is regulated by the regulating member 33e provided on the frame so that the pressing force is not applied more than necessary.

In this way, the transfer paper on the bin 16 is pressed and biased by the biasing force of the biasing member 33, so that the stopper 25 is released after this and the rear end of the bin 16 is opened. The transfer paper on 16 is prevented from slipping and falling.

In FIG. 10, the guide rail 18 is a roller 25 of the stopper 25 when the stopper 25 is released.
b which guides downward, and is composed of a pair of rails facing each other so as to form a guide path, and an opening 18a is provided on the backward movement path of the roller 25b so that the roller 25b is fitted therein. Has been. The roller 25b is adapted to be fitted into at least the opening 18a by the time the stopper piece 27a is disengaged from the stopper 25 (released state in FIG. 6). The guide rail 18 is formed in a predetermined size by drawing a predetermined arc in the rearward and downward direction from the opening 18a. Therefore, the roller 25b is guided downward as it slides on the guide rail 18 in response to the backward movement of the bin 16, whereby the stopper 25 is gradually rotated downward. By gradually opening the rear end of the bottle 16, the impact when the convex portion 250 of the stopper 25 contacts the back surface of the flat plate portion 26 is alleviated.
In order to assist the release of the stopper 25, the roller 25 of the stopper 25 is provided on the guide surface of the upper rail of the guide rail 18.
An elastic guide plate such as a polyester film which pushes down b to urge the stopper 25 in the releasing direction may be attached.

The lower surface guide member 18b behind the opening 18a is a shaft 18c pivotally supported on the lower side of the opening 18a.
Is rotatably supported by and is biased in a closing direction by biasing means (not shown). This lower surface guide member 18
As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 10, b is for forming a relief when the pressing member 81 comes into contact with the backward movement of the bin 16. Thereby, the movement of the pressing member 81 by the guide rail 18 is not hindered.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the bending restricting member 19 is arranged at a position corresponding to the rear of the bin 16 in the width direction of the bin 16, and the bin 16 is retracted to move the bin 16 to the rear side. When the rear end is opened, the flat plate portion 26 is slidably contacted with the rear end portion of the flat plate portion 26 and the weight of the transfer paper on the bin 16 causes the flat plate portion 26.
Is to prevent the bending of the. The bending restriction member 19
The upper part of the is bent to the front side so that the retracted bin 16 is guided to this upper end.

Next, the structure of the control system for controlling the processing of the sheet processing device 28 will be described with reference to FIG.
This control system includes a memory 160 and a control unit 161. The memory 160 is composed of a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and stores each processing position such as stapling and punching standardized into a plurality of types, a control program, and the like.

The control unit 161 controls the above-mentioned motors 32, 51, 71, 23 to perform the required sheet processing at each processing position on the transfer sheet set by the sheet processing selection key 13 or the like.
0, punch 40, stapler 41, and other sheet processing apparatus 2
8 is controlled.

Next, an operation procedure for paper processing will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when performing paper processing. When the mode such as the position and type of paper processing is selected by the paper processing selection key 13, the mode set above is displayed on the operation panel 140. When this display is confirmed and the mode execution key 140b is operated, the sheet processing operation is started.

First, the position for paper processing is determined (step S1). When the processing is performed on only one corner of the sheet processing device 28 (YES in step S1), the processing (hereinafter, referred to as a specific mode) is performed in step S2.
If the position where the paper processing is performed is not only one corner on the initial position side of the paper processing device 28 or the processing is performed at one or more other positions (NO in step S1), the process (hereinafter, referred to as normal Mode), the process proceeds to step S3.

First, the processing procedure of the specific mode will be described. Note that FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when stapling is performed only at one corner of a sheet as an example of the specific mode.

Before the backward movement of the bin 16 is started, the solid line A in FIG.
As shown in, the pressing member 81 stands by at a position separated by a predetermined distance above the bin 16. And the column 23
Is rotated and stopped at a predetermined stop angle, and the bin 16 to be stapled is moved up and down to a specific position therefor, the motor 71 is driven and the pressing member 81 is moved to the bin 16
The shaft 81a of the pressing member 81 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the fitting member 56 of the action plate 58 is moved as shown by the chain double-dashed line B in FIG.
Fitted between a and 56b, the pressing member 81 comes into contact with the transfer paper on the bin 16 (step S11), and is movable integrally with the bin 16.

In this fitted state, the motor 71 is stopped, then the motor 51 is driven, and when the gear 53 starts to rotate through the worm wheel 52, the chain wheel 5
5 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Due to the rotation of the chain wheel 55, the working plate 58 starts to retract along the guide rail 60. At this time, the action plate 58
Presses the third pin 22, and the movement of the action plate 58 causes the bottle 16 to retract with the shaft 81a fitted between the fitting members 56 and 57 (step S12).

During this backward movement, the shaft 81a of the pressing member 81 abuts on the front end portion 33b of the biasing member 33, and the shaft 81a is guided to the lower end surface 33c along the taper of the front end portion 33b with the subsequent backward movement. Get burned. At this time, the pressing member 81 is urged downward by the urging member 33, and the transfer paper on the bin 16 is pressed and fixed.

On the other hand, the stopping member 27 is
When the release member 8 and the release piece 27b come into contact with each other to rotate,
The stopper 25 is released. At this point, stopper 2
The roller 25b of No. 5 is fitted into the opening 18a of the guide rail 18, and further moves downward along the guide rail 18 as the bin 16 moves backward. As a result, the stopper 25 rotates downward, and the rear end of the bottle 16 is opened. Further, due to the rotation of the stopper 25, the front end of the convex portion 250 abuts on the back surface of the flat plate portion 26 of the bottle 16, and in this state, the deflection regulating member 19 slides on the back surface of the flat plate portion 26. When the transfer paper P on the bin 16 reaches the position where it is set on the stapler 41, the motor 51 stops and the transfer paper P
Is stapled (step S13). In this way, by rotating the stopper 25, the bottle 16
Becomes less rigid and the bottle 16 tries to bend due to the pressing force of the pressing member 81.
The bending of the bin 16 is prevented by coming into contact with the back surface of the flat plate portion 26 of No. 6, and the transfer paper P on the bin 16 is properly set on the stapler 41. Further, in this state, the bending restriction member 19 is brought into sliding contact with the back surface of the flat plate portion 26, so that the bending of the bin 16 during the stapling process is reliably prevented.

After completion of the stapling process, the motor 5
1 reverses to rotate the chain wheel 55 clockwise, and the working plate 58 advances along the guide rail 60. The movement of the action plate 58 advances the bin 16 (step S14).

Along with this forward movement, the roller 25b moves upward along the guide rail 18, and the stopper 25 rotates upward. Then, when the stopper 25 returns to the original position, the release member 8 is disengaged from the stopper member 27, and the stopper 25 is locked by the stopper member 27. Next, when the second pin 21 of the bottle 16 returns to the groove 24 of the column 23, the motor 51 stops. After this stop, the motor 71 is driven and the pressing member 81 is retracted from the bin 16 (step S15).

Next, it is determined whether or not the stapling process has been performed on all the stages of the bin 16 on which the sheets are placed. If not completed (NO in step S16), the bin 16 is moved to the first stage. Only (step S17). At this time, if the stapling process is started from the lower side of the bin 16, the stapling process is increased by one step, and in the opposite case, the stapling process is decreased by one step. Then, the processes of steps S11 to S17 are repeated for the newly moved bin 16. On the other hand, if the stapling process is completed for all the required bins (YES in step S16), this process ends.

Next, the processing procedure in the normal mode will be described. FIG. 16 shows a normal mode, for example, paper P
2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when punching at two positions symmetrical with respect to the width direction.

First, the punch 40 is moved forward from the standby position in the width direction of the sheet and stopped at a position facing the first punch position (step S21). Next, as in steps S11 and S12 described above, the pressing member 81 is driven in the direction of the bin 16 to come into contact with the sheet on the bin 16 (step S22), and can be moved integrally with the bin 16. Then, while the bin 16 is retracted (step S23), the pressing member 81 is biased by the biasing member 33 to press and fix the sheet on the bin 16, the stopper 25 is released, and the sheet is set on the punch 40. To be done. Then, the punch 40 is operated to make a hole in the sheet (step S24).

When the punching to the first punch position is completed,
The punch 40 is continuously moved in the forward direction and stopped at the second punch position (step S25).
Is operated to punch holes in the paper (step S2).
6). When the punching is completed, the steps S14 and S described above are performed.
Similarly to 15, the bin 16 advances (step S27),
During this forward movement, the stopper 25 returns to its original position and is locked by the stopper member 27, the bottle 16 returns to its original position, and the pressing member 81 is retracted (step S28).

Next, it is determined whether or not the punching process has been performed on all the stages of the bin 16 on which the sheets are placed. If not completed (NO in step S29), the bin 16 is determined.
Is moved by one step (step S30). At this time,
If punching is started from the lower side of the bin 16,
It goes up one step at a time, and goes down one step at the opposite.

Subsequently, the punch 40 is moved back in the width direction of the sheet and stopped at the first punch position (step S3).
1). Then, the processes of steps S22 to S31 are repeated for the newly moved bin 16.

On the other hand, if the punching process is completed for all the required bins (YES in step S29), the support frame 2
9 is moved back to return the punch 40 to the standby position (step S32), and this processing ends.

Although the punching process has been described here, the stapling process can be similarly controlled and performed. Further, even when a plurality of types of processing such as punching processing and stapling processing are performed on the sheets placed on one bin 16, they can be similarly controlled and performed.

Further, here, the control in the case where there are two processing positions has been described, but the same control can be performed when there are more processing positions, and the processing can be performed for any desired setting position. Can be applied.

In the present embodiment, the punch 40 and the stapler 41 are described as an example of the sheet processing device 28, but the present invention is not limited to these, and any other device such as a printing device or the like for processing a sheet may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the pressing member 81 is urged by the urging member 33 while the bin 16 is retracted, and
Although the upper sheet is pressed and fixed, the pressing member 81 is retracted above the bin 16 while the bin 16 is retracting.
The pressing member 81 may be driven in the direction of the bin 16 to press and fix the paper on the bin 16 when the retraction of the bin 16 is completed. Alternatively, the pressing member 81 may be urged by the urging member 33 from the time of starting the retreat of the bin 16 to press and fix the sheet on the bin 16.

The pressing member 81 may be urged by the urging means provided in the bottle 16.

[0076]

According to the present invention, since the sheet placed on the bin is pushed by the biasing means before the stopper is opened, the sheet placed on the bin even if the rear end of the bin is opened. It does not slip off or fall. Therefore, the rear end of the bin can be opened before the approaching movement to the sheet processing means is completed, and the time required for sheet processing can be shortened.

Further, since the pressing means moves integrally with the bin, the pressing force on the sheets stacked in the bin is maintained during that time, and the sheets can be properly set in the sheet processing means.

Further, since the stopper is rotated and the rear end portion of the bin is opened in accordance with the movement of the bin toward the sheet processing means, the rear end of the bin is reached before the movement toward the sheet processing means is completed. Is opened, and the time required for paper processing can be shortened.

Further, since the stopper is rotated while being guided by the guide member, the stopper can be reliably guided.

Further, by gradually opening the rear end of the bottle by the guide means, it is possible to prevent the impact due to the pivotal movement of the stopper and prevent the deviation of the sheet due to this impact.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal configuration of a second housing.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a bottle.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a protrusion of a stopper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a protrusion of a stopper.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a stopping member.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a stopping member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram mainly showing a drive mechanism of an action plate.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram mainly showing a paper pressing movement mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an essential part showing a biasing means.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram mainly showing a guide rail support frame.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a bending regulation member.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the inside of the second housing.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a control system that controls paper processing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation when paper processing is performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation in a specific mode.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation in a normal mode.

FIG. 17 is an external view showing the entire image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Forming Apparatus 13 Paper Processing Selection Key 14 Second Housing 15 Sorter 16 Bin 18 Guide Rail 19 Deflection Control Member 23 Cylindrical 25 Stopper 26 Flat Plate Part 27 Stopping Member 28 Paper Processing Device 29 Support Frame 33 Biasing Means 40 Punch 41 Stapler 58 Action plate 60 Guide rail 81 Holding member 81a Axis 140 Operation panel 140a Display section 140b Mode execution key 160 Memory 161 Control section 250 Convex section P Paper

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nagai 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Nobukazu Otsuka 1-2-2 Takumazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takatoshi Nishimura 1-22-29 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Kogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichi Honda 4-chome, Sachi-cho, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa ( 72) Inventor Shoichiro Tajima 2 at 3481 Kamizuruma, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Keiichi Asano 7-14-10 Higashi Oizumi, Nerima-ku, Tokyo

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A bin having a rotatable stopper provided at the rear end portion for opening and closing the rear end portion, and a moving means for moving the bin in a contacting / separating direction with respect to a sheet processing means. ,
Rotate the stopper to open the rear end of the bottle,
A sorter having a sheet processing function for performing sheet processing on an exposed portion of a sheet exposed from the rear end of the bin, the pressing means being provided above the position other than the rear end of the bin so as to be vertically movable And a urging means for pressing the pressing means into contact with the bottle before opening the rear end of the bottle. 2. The biasing means presses the pressing means against the bin before the rear end of the bin is opened and in response to the approaching movement of the bin toward the sheet processing means. The sorter with a paper processing function according to claim 1. 3. The sorter with a sheet processing function according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means is formed so as to move integrally with the bin. 4. The sorter with a paper processing function according to claim 1, wherein the urging means is configured to generate a pressing force corresponding to the movement of the bin toward the paper processing means. 5. A bin having a rotatable stopper provided at the rear end portion for opening and closing the rear end portion, and a moving means for moving the bin in a contacting / separating direction with respect to a sheet processing means. ,
A sorter having a sheet processing function for performing sheet processing on a sheet placed on the bin in a state where the bin is moved closer to the sheet processing unit, the rotating unit rotating the stopper, A sorter with a sheet processing function, comprising: a drive unit that rotates the stopper to open the rear end portion of the bin by the rotating unit according to the approaching movement to the sheet processing unit. 6. The drive means has a guide member for guiding the rotation of the stopper, and the guide member is positioned so that the drive means operates in a state of guiding the stopper. The sorter with a paper processing function according to claim 5. 7. The drive means includes a guide member for guiding the rotation of the stopper, and the guide member has a rotation amount of the stopper according to an approach movement amount of the bin toward the sheet processing means. 6. The sorter with a sheet processing function according to claim 5, wherein the sorter is formed in a guide shape having a certain amount.