JPH0637118B2 - Sheet aftertreatment device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention is for classifying and storing sheets attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine or a laser beam printer and discharged from the image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that ejects sheets to a bin from different ejection means when the sheets are classified and when the sheets are not classified.

(B) Conventional Technology Conventionally, two sheet discharging means for discharging sheets from the image forming apparatus to the bin tray are provided, and the sheets are discharged to the bin tray via different discharging means depending on whether the sheets are sorted or not. A sheet post-processing device (sorter) is known.

There is also known a sorter that includes a binding unit and binds a sheet bundle that is discharged and sorted on a plurality of bin trays.

However, none of the above sorters has a means for binding a sheet bundle that is not classified.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and for example, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
A binding means (60) for binding the sheets (S) stored in the bin (10) at the opposite position, which is arranged on the side of the second discharging means (9), and a binding drive for driving the binding means. The means (67), the classification and non-classification mode signals, and the binding and non-binding mode signals are received, and in the case of (a) the binding mode, regardless of the classification or non-classification mode, the switching means (7) switches the sheets. (S) is discharged from the second discharging means (9) to the bin (10) and is bound by the binding means (60) according to the binding mode input signal, the switching drive means (68) and the binding. When the drive means (67) is controlled and (b) the non-binding mode and the non-sorting mode, the switching means (7) moves the sheet (S) from the first discharging means (8) to the bin (10). ) To enter the non-classification mode The switching drive means (66) is controlled in accordance with the above, and (c) in the non-binding mode and the sorting mode, the switching means (7) removes the sheet (S) from the second discharging means (9). From the bottle (10)
And a control means 61 for controlling the switching drive means (66) according to the classification mode input so as to be discharged to.

(E) Operation Based on the above configuration, the control means (61) controls the switching drive means (66) to cause the switching means (7) to convey the sheet in the sheet conveying direction regardless of the classification mode or the non-classification mode in the binding mode. To the second discharging means (9), and the sheet
The discharging means (9) discharges the bin (10) to the empty space, and the binding driving means (67) is controlled to bind the sheets (S) on the bin (10) by the binding means (60). Also,
In the non-binding mode and the non-sorting mode, the control means (61) controls the switching drive means (66) to switch the sheet conveying direction to the first discharging means (8) by the switching means (7), The sheet is discharged from the first discharging means (8) to the bin (10). Further, in the non-binding mode and the classification mode, the control means (61) controls the switching drive means (66) to switch the sheet conveying direction to the second discharging means (9) by the switching means (7). The sheet is discharged from the second discharging means (9) to the bin (10). The above-mentioned reference numerals are shown for reference and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sorter 1 is attached to a copying machine 55 and sorts and stores the sheets S discharged from the copying machine 55. The copying machine 55 is provided with a platen 56 on which an original M is placed, and an automatic document feeder 57 which conveys the original M to the platen 56. Further, the automatic document feeder 57 is provided with a document tray 59 on which a document M is stacked, and further, a transport path A for transporting the document M from the tray 59 to the platen 56, and a document M from the platen 56 to the document tray 59. And a discharge path B for discharging.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sorter 1 includes a machine body 12 and a bin unit 11, and the machine body 1
2 is equipped with a pair of carry-in rollers 3 close to the carry-in entrance 2,
A flapper 7 for switching the sheet conveyance direction to the conveyance path 5 or 6 is arranged downstream of the roller pair 3. One of the transport paths 5 extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and a paper discharge roller pair 8 is disposed downstream thereof, and the other transport path 6 extends in the downward direction and discharges downstream thereof. A paper roller pair 9 is arranged, and a stapler 60 is arranged near the roller pair 9. Further, a bin unit 11 having a large number of bins 10 is provided downstream of the pair of discharge rollers 8 and 9, and a spring 13 having one end fixed to a machine body 12 is hooked on a hook 14 so that the spring unit 13 causes the bin unit 11 to lock. 1
Since the weight of 1 is carried, it is supported so as to be able to move up and down. Guide rollers 15 and 15 are rotatably supported on the upper and lower portions of the base side of the bin unit 11, and the rollers 15 and 15 are provided on the machine body 12 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The groove 1 is fitted into the groove 16
It is configured so as to roll inside 6 to guide the bottle unit 11. Further, the drive motor 1 is attached to the body 12.
7 is provided, and the bottom plate 19 further includes a thrust bearing 2
0 is set. The thrust bearing 20 carries a thrust load on a rotary shaft 22, and the shaft 22 is rotatably supported at the lower end by the bearing 20 and at the upper end by a bearing (not shown). A lead cam 21 and a sprocket 23 are fixed to 22. In addition, the sprocket 23 and the motor 17
A chain 25 is stretched around the shaft of the motor so that the rotation of the motor 17 can be controlled by the rotation shaft 21 through the chain 25.
Is being transmitted to. Further, the bin unit 11 includes a bottom frame 2 having an inclined portion and a horizontal portion.
6. A unit main body 30 including frames 27, 27 vertically provided on the front side and the back side of the frame 26, and a cover 29 supported by the frames 27, 27. An alignment reference plate 31 for contacting the sheet is provided on the front side of 30. A lower arm 37, which is rotated by a driving means (not shown), is rotatably supported on the inner side of the base end of the frame 26, and an arm 39 is provided at a position facing the arm 37 of the cover 29. It is fixed to a shaft 40 that is rotatably supported by the cover 29, and a shaft 41 is installed between the rotation center of the arm 39 and the rotation center of the arm 37. A matching rod 42 is installed between the tip of the arm 37 and the tip of the arm 39, and the aligning rod 42 is configured to rotate by the driving means.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the bottle 10 has engagement plates 46 formed on the front side and the back side of the tip, respectively, and the engagement plates 46 are provided on the inside of the frame 27. By engaging with the bin 1
In the case of 0, the tip side is supported. A support shaft 47 is fixed to the front and rear sides of the base end of the bottle 10, and a roller 49 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 47. Further, the bin 10 is provided with a long hole 50 at a predetermined distance from the shaft 41, which is longer than the rotation distance of the alignment rod 42 and is sufficiently wider than the width of the alignment rod 42, and the base end of the bin 10 is provided. The portion 10c is the sheet storage surface 1
It stands upright with respect to 0b, and the bin 10 is
The front end is inclined upward by a predetermined angle with respect to 2, and the inclination allows the seat to slide in the seat storage surface 10b and contact the rear end with the base end portion 10c so that the seat is aligned in the front-back direction. There is. Further, a cutout portion 51b extending from the tip of the bin body 51 to substantially the center of the sheet storage surface 10b is formed, and the cutout portion 51b makes it easy to take a small-sized sheet placed on the sheet storage surface 10b. It is for doing.

Then, the alignment rod 42 is inserted into the long holes 50 of the bottles 10.
Is inserted, and the alignment rod is configured to rotate in the elongated hole 50 to bring the sheet S into contact with and align with the alignment reference plate 31. The lead cam 21 has a groove 21a spirally engraved, which is slightly wider than the roller 49. The groove 21a is engaged with the roller 49, and the rotation of the lead cam 21 causes the roller 49 to rotate. Is configured to move up and down along the groove 21a (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the sorter 1 includes a microcomputer 61 as shown in FIG.
The first input port 1 includes a first sensor 62 that detects that the uppermost bin 10 is located at a position where the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 9 is stored, and a first sensor 62 that is located at a position where the sheet discharged from the discharge roller pair 8 is stored. A second sensor 63 that detects the position of the upper bin 10 and a binding end sensor 65 that detects the binding end of the stapler 60 are connected. The output port of the microcomputer 61 is connected to the drive motor 17, the solenoid 66 for driving the flapper 7 and the solenoid 67 for driving the binding device 60, and the input / output port is the copying machine 55. And an automatic document feeder 57.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operator places the original M on the original tray 59 with the image side facing up (S1), and inputs the copy processing mode, the number of copies N, the sort mode, the binding mode, etc. of the original M from the operation unit of the copying machine 55. (S2). Then, the microcomputer 61 which receives the signal from the operation unit determines whether or not the binding mode is set (S3), and when the operator determines that the binding mode is set, the operator turns on the copy start switch (S4). The computer 61 turns off the solenoid 66.
After performing F, the flapper 7 is switched to the transport path 6 side (S5).
Then, the microcomputer 61 rotates the lead cam 21 by the drive motor 17 until the uppermost bin 10 reaches the position (see FIG. 6) for storing the sheet S discharged from the discharge roller pair 9 (S6). Further, the microcomputer 61 determines based on the signal from the first sensor 62 whether or not the uppermost bin 10 is detected by the first sensor 62 (S7). When it is determined that the uppermost bin 10 is detected, a copy start signal is sent to each part. (S8). Upon receiving the signal, the automatic document feeder 57 separates the originals M stacked on the original tray 59 one by one from the lower side and places them on the platen 56 through the transport path A. Then, an image of the original M is read by a copying unit (not shown) of the copying machine 55, and after the reading is completed, the original M is discharged to the top of the originals M ... A partition lever (not shown) is inserted between the document M and the uncopied document M ... On the document tray 59 to prevent mixed loading. Further, the copying unit that has read the image of the original M copies the image on the sheet S conveyed from the paper feeding unit, and the sheet S has the image fixed by the fixing device and is discharged from the copying machine 55. The sheet S discharged from the copying machine 55 is
It is carried into the machine body 12 from the carry-in port 2 by the carry-in roller pair 3, and is carried to the flapper 7 by the roller pair 3. Then, the sheet S is guided to the conveyance path 6 by the flapper 7, and passes through the inside of the path 6 and is downwardly moved by the discharge roller pair 9 to the uppermost bin 10 of the bin unit 11.
Discharged to the top. At this time, the sheet S discharged onto the bin 10 slides toward the base end side due to the inclination of the bin 10 itself and comes into contact with the base end portion 10c, but is at a position apart from the alignment reference plate 31. Then, in this state, the microcomputer 61 which obtains the sheet size information from the copying machine 55.
Is configured to rotate the alignment rod 42 from the home position H by the horizontal distance L by the driving means to move the sheet S from the two-dot chain line position to the solid line position and bring the front side of the sheet S into contact with and align with the alignment reference plate 31. (S9) (see FIG. 4). Then, after a predetermined time, the driving means is reversed and the alignment rod 42 is returned to the home position H. And the microcomputer 6
1 determines whether or not there is the document M on the document tray 59 based on a signal from a sensor (not shown) (S10), and when it determines that the document M exists, the image of the document M is copied onto the sheet S by the same operation as described above. The sheets S are aligned and stored in the second-stage bin 10 which is raised one by one. Similarly, the same operation as described above is performed until there is no more original M on the original tray 59, and when the original M is exhausted on the original tray 59, the microcomputer 61 sends a copy processing completion signal (S11). Then, the computer 61 causes the drive motor 17 to rotate the lead cam 21 to cause the top bin 10 to rotate.
Is moved to a position where the sheets S discharged from the discharge roller pair 9 are stored, that is, a binding position, and the sheet S on the bin 10 is detected by the first sensor 62.
Bind with 0. (S12). Then, the computer 61 rotates the lead cam 21 by the drive motor 17 to raise the bins 10 by one step, and binds the sheets S stored in the second-stage bin 10 moved to the binding position by the stapler 60. . By the same operation, the bins 10 ... Are raised one step at a time to bind the sheets S on the bin 10 sequentially located at the binding position, and when all the sheets S on the bins 10 ... Are bound, the binding operation ends (S13).

If the microcomputer 61 determines in step S3 that the binding mode is not set, the computer 6
1 determines whether or not the number of copies N is 1 (S14), and when it is determined that it is not 1, the copy start switch is set to O.
If the answer is N (S15), the microcomputer 61 determines whether or not it is in the sorter mode (S16). When it is determined that the sort mode is set, the microcomputer 6
In step 1, the operations from S5 to S11 described above are performed, and the sheet sorting operation is completed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S14 that the number of copies N is one, and the copy start switch is turned on (S17), the microcomputer 61 turns on the solenoid 66 to move the flapper 7 to the transport path 5 side. Switch (S18). Further, the computer 61 rotates the lead cam by the drive motor 17 until the uppermost bin 10 reaches the position where the sheet S discharged from the discharge roller pair 8 is stored (S19). Then, the microcomputer 61 determines, based on the signal from the second sensor 63, whether or not the uppermost bin 10 is detected by the second sensor 63 (S29), and when it is determined that it is detected, the aforementioned S8 to S11. The operation is performed only for the uppermost bin 10 and the work is completed.

In the above-described embodiment, the discharge roller pair 8 is exclusively used for non-sorting. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be prevented.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the binding mode, the uppermost bin 10 is moved to the position where the sheet S discharged from the discharge roller pair 9 is stored, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in the figure, when binding one set of sheets, if the sheets are discharged to the bin 10 located at the position where the sheets S discharged from the discharge roller pair 9 are currently stored and stapled, The time to move can be omitted.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the binding work is performed after the sorting and storage of the sheets S are all completed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sheets on the bin are discharged each time the final sheet S is discharged onto the bin 10. S may be bound.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the switching means that normally switches according to the classification mode input or the non-classification mode input is switched by the binding mode input, and in the case of the binding mode, Regardless of the sorting mode or the non-sorting mode, the switching unit discharges the sheets from the second discharging unit to the bin, and the binding unit binds the sheets. Therefore, the binding mode input has priority, and the unclassified sheets are also sorted. The sheets can be bound in the same manner as the sheets, and moreover, the time from the sheet storage to the sheet binding can be shortened, and the alignment of the sheets can be prevented from being disturbed.

Further, the above-described effect can be achieved by sharing one binding means, and it is not necessary to provide the binding means in each of the first ejecting means and the second ejecting means, so that the apparatus becomes inexpensive.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control means according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet post-processing apparatus having the present invention. Also, the third
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sheet post-processing apparatus equipped with the present invention. Further, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the operation of the present invention. Further, FIG. 7 is a front view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... sheet post-processing device, 7 ... switching means, 8 ... first
Ejecting means, 9 ... Second ejecting means, 10 ... Bottle, 60 ...
... binding means, 61 ... control means, 66 ... switching drive means, 67 ... binding drive means, S ... sheet.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A large number of bins for sorting and storing sheets, and a first bin for discharging sheets to the bins when the sheets are not sorted
Discharging means, second discharging means for discharging sheets to the bin when classifying sheets, switching means for switching the sheet conveying direction to the first discharging means or the second discharging means, and switching operation of the switching means. In the sheet post-processing apparatus, the binding drive means is disposed on the side of the second discharge means, and the binding means is configured to bind the sheets stored in the bin at the opposite position, and the binding means. Upon receiving the binding driving means for driving, the classification and non-classification mode signals, and the binding and non-binding mode signals, (a) in the case of the binding mode, regardless of the classification or the non-classification mode, the switching means switches the sheet The switching drive means and the binding drive means are controlled according to the binding mode input signal so as to be discharged from the second discharge means to the bin and then bound by the binding means. In the same mode and in the non-sorting mode, the switching drive means is controlled according to the non-sorting mode input so that the sheet is discharged from the first discharging means to the bin by the switching means. In the case of the binding mode and the classification mode, the control means controls the switching drive means according to the classification mode input so that the switching means discharges the sheet from the second discharging means to the bin. A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: 2. In the case of binding sheets and in the non-sorting mode, the uppermost bin is configured to move to a position for accommodating sheets discharged by the second discharging means. The sheet post-processing device described in the item.