JPH07223767A - After treatment device equipped with stapler unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the upper end of a recording paper sheet to be stored in a staple tray from being caught by a delivering roller so that a staple treatment having high reliability can be carried out. CONSTITUTION:When large size recording paper sheet is delivered on the staple tray 53 of a stapler unit 51, the defect of a staple caused by the upper end of the recording paper sheet caught by the nip of a delivering roller 3 is prevented by reversing the rotation of delivering roller 3 for a delivered paper tray 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus having a stapler unit for stapling a recording sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording sheet received from an image forming apparatus on the upstream side is discharged to a discharge tray which moves up and down according to a stack amount, with or without staple processing (in shift mode). Such post-processing devices are widely known.

[0003]

By the way, the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is received in the post-processing apparatus,
Although the recording paper is ejected to some extent to improve the alignment of the recording paper in the staple tray when it is conveyed into the staple tray that performs stapling processing on the edge of the recording paper, The large size of the recording paper reaches the discharge roller near the discharge tray by discharging it strongly, and the upper edge of the recording paper is caught in the nip of the discharge roller, and the end of the staple tray ends. Sometimes it doesn't go all the way.

If the stapling process is carried out in this state, some of the recording papers that are not stapled will come out, and the recording papers after the staples will come apart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus provided with a stapler unit capable of preventing the upper end of recording paper stored in a staple tray from being gripped by a discharge roller and performing a highly reliable staple processing. To provide.

[0006]

The above-mentioned object is to provide a stapler unit for aligning recording papers on which images have been formed by an image forming apparatus and binding the ends thereof, a discharge tray for storing a bundle of the bound recording papers, After providing a stapler unit having a discharging means for discharging a bundle of recording papers to the discharge tray side and a discharging means for receiving the bundle of recording papers discharged from the discharging means and discharging it onto the discharge tray In the processing apparatus, it is achieved by the first means in which the driving means for driving the discharging means is provided so as to be able to rotate forward and backward.

Further, in the first means, the driving means is achieved by the second means which is reversed only while the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is being stacked on the stapler unit.

Further, in the first means, the driving means is achieved by the third means which is normally rotated or reversely rotated according to the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned means, when a large size recording paper is discharged to the staple tray of the stapler unit, the upper end of the recording paper is gripped in the nip of the discharge roller by reversing the discharge roller for the discharge tray. This avoids the staple failure caused by the failure.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a post-processing apparatus including a stapler unit according to an embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are configuration diagrams showing an operating state of a branch claw portion, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray lifting mechanism. 5 is an explanatory view of a paper surface sensor portion, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a shift roller portion, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tray shift mechanism, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main portion of the tray shift mechanism, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are tray shifts. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the paper alignment mechanism, FIG. 12 is a configuration view of a main part of the paper alignment mechanism,
13 is a perspective view of a stapler moving mechanism, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a discharging belt mechanism, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a main portion of the discharging belt mechanism, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a discharging unit drive mechanism,
17 is a perspective view showing the discharge unit drive mechanism, FIG.
8 is an overall control block diagram of the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 19 is a flowchart of discharge check according to the embodiment, FIG. 20 is a flowchart of recording paper transport control according to the embodiment, and FIGS. 20 is a flowchart of the subroutine of FIG. 20, and FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a copying machine.

First, with reference to FIG. 1 as a whole, a schematic description of the entire system will be given with reference to these drawings.

In these figures, 1 is an inlet roller, 2 is
Is a group of upper conveying rollers, 3 is a discharging roller which is discharging means,
Is a lower conveyance roller group, 5 is a return roller, 6 is a brush roller, 7 is a shifting roller, 8 is a branching claw, 9 is a jogger fence, 10 is a discharging belt as a discharging means, 11 is a stapler, and 12 is a discharge tray ( Hereinafter, referred to as a tray), 13 is a paper lever, 14 is a shift cam, 15 is a back fence, 16 is a pin, 17 is a release claw, 18 is a vertical actuator, 19 is a rear end fence, 21 is a transport motor, and 22 is a discharge motor. , 23 is a vertical motor, 24 is a shift motor,
25 is a discharge motor, 26 is a jogger motor, 27 is a stapler movement motor, 29 is a branch solenoid, 30 is a return solenoid, 31 is an upper limit switch, 32 is a first paper surface sensor, 33 is a second paper surface sensor, and 34 is a lower limit. Sensor, 3
5 is a shift sensor, 36 is an entrance sensor, 37 is a discharge sensor, 38 is a discharge sensor, 39 is a paper presence sensor, 40 is a discharge claw home position sensor, 41 is a stapler home position sensor, 45 is a main transport belt, and 46 is Upper transport belt, 47 lower transport belt, 48 vertical lift belt, 49 jogger belt, 50 stapler moving belt, 51 stapler unit, 52 discharge roller,
53 is a staple tray.

Next, the general operation will be described.

The post-processing apparatus A is connected to a copying machine (image forming apparatus) B arranged on the right side (upstream side) in FIG. 24, for example, with a known automatic document feeder (RDH) 80. 24, 81 is a scanner, 82 is a photosensitive drum, 83 is a fixing device, and 84 is a paper feed tray.

The recording paper ejected from the copying machine B is guided to the stapler unit 51 side by the branching claw 8 and conveyed to the paper ejection roller 52 by the lower conveying roller group 4. The recording paper conveyed to the paper discharge roller 52 is
Is discharged to the staple tray 53. Then, as many copies (recording sheets on which images have been recorded) as the number of originals set on the RDH are stacked on the staple tray 53 of the stapler unit 51. After stacking, the copies are stapled by the stapler 11. Discharge motor 25 for driving the discharge belt 10 after stapling operation
Is turned on, and the stapler 11 conveys the bundle of stapled recording papers to the discharge roller 3. The bundle of recording sheets conveyed to the discharge roller 3 is discharged to the tray 12 by the discharge roller 3.

By the way, since the recording paper ejected to the staple tray 53 by the paper ejection roller 52 is vigorous,
As described above, particularly in the case of large-sized paper, the upper end thereof may be gripped by the discharge roller 3.

According to the present invention, the discharge roller 3 is used depending on the size of the recording paper discharged from the copying machine (in the case of a large size paper).
Is reversed during discharge of the recording paper to the stapler unit 51 so that the recording paper is not gripped in the nip of the discharge roller 3, so that the recording paper that is not stapled remains in the bundle of recording paper. You can eliminate it. The reverse direction of the discharge roller is a direction opposite to the direction in which the recording paper is discharged onto the tray 12.

Next, each unit will be described.

First, the branch claws shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described.

The branch claw 8 is connected to the branch solenoid 29 via the arm 70, and the path can be changed by turning the branch solenoid 29 on and off. Reference numerals 71 and 72 denote springs that hold the branch claw 8 on one path side by turning on and off the branch solenoid 29. Then, when the branch solenoid 29 is off (FIG. 2), the recording paper is fed to the upper transport path, and when it is on (FIG. 3), the recording paper is transported to the lower transport path.

Next, the tray lifting mechanism shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 will be described.

The tray 12 is suspended by a vertical lift belt 48, and the vertical lift belt 48 is driven by a vertical motor 23 via a gear train and a timing belt, and is raised and lowered by the forward and reverse rotation of the vertical motor 23. It The home position of the tray 12 and the tray height during operation are detected by the paper surface lever 13 and the first and second paper surface sensors 32 and 33 shown in FIG. Paper lever 1
3 is pivotally supported by a shaft 73, and when the paper surface lever 13 rotates, the paper surface lever 13 causes the first and second paper surface sensors 3 to rotate.
2 or 33 (the position shown by the solid line or the broken line in FIG. 5).

The fullness of the tray 12 is detected by detecting the vertical actuator 18 by the lower limit sensor 34. Further, as shown in FIG.
5 is supported by an arm 74 pivotally supported by
The upper limit switch 31 is turned on / off by turning 4 (solid line and broken line positions shown in FIG. 6). Tray 1
When the shifting roller 7 is pushed up by the tray 12 during the ascending of 2 (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6), the upper limit switch 3
1, the up circuit of the vertical motor 23 is turned off. This prevents damage to the machine due to overrun of the tray 12.

Next, the tray shift mechanism shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be described.

The tray 12 is slidably assembled as described above, and by sliding the back fence 15 by the shift motor 24, the tray 12 is structured so as to slide in synchronization with the back fence 15. There is. A pin 16 is fixed to the back fence 15 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and the pin 16 moves along the cam surface 14a of the shift cam 14 to change the rotational movement of the shift cam 14 into a linear movement, thereby making the back fence 15 15 is slid (FIGS. 9 and 10).
Arrow direction). The shift cam 14 has a shape that reciprocates once for one rotation, and during shift, a half rotation is detected by the shift sensor 35, and the shift cam 14 stops. 76 is provided on the shift cam 14,
It is an operation piece that operates the shift sensor 35 every half rotation.

Next, the paper alignment mechanism shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 will be described.

The jogger fences 9 and 9 are driven by the jogger motor 26 via the jogger belt 49 to perform a sliding movement (black arrow direction or white arrow direction). As a result, the recording sheets are horizontally aligned.

The return roller 5 is constructed so as to perform a pendulum motion via the arm 77 when the return solenoid 30 is turned on and off. When the return solenoid 5 is turned on, the recording paper is hit and returned downward.
As shown in FIG. 12, the recording paper is vertically aligned by abutting against the trailing edge fence 19.

When the staple mode is selected, the jogger fences 9 and 9 move from the home position and stand by at a position 7 mm on one side of the recording paper width. When the recording paper is sent to the lower conveyance path and the trailing end of the recording paper passes through the paper ejection sensor 37, the jogger fences 9, 9 jog inward by 5 mm. Further, after the passage, the return solenoid 30 is turned on after a predetermined pulse.

For a predetermined time, the return solenoid 30 is turned on, the vertical alignment is completed by the jogger fences 9 and 9, and it is detected that the return solenoid 30 is turned off, the jogger fences 9 and 9 are moved by 2 mm and temporarily stopped. , Horizontal alignment is completed. The jogger fences 9 and 9 then return by 7 mm and wait for the next recording sheet to be discharged onto the staple tray 53. This operation is repeated until the final page. On the final page, jogging of 7 mm is performed again, and the bundle of paper is pressed to prepare for the stapling operation.

Next, the stapler moving mechanism shown in FIG. 13 will be described.

The staple mode is selected by the main body,
When this mode is started, the stapler 11 is moved by the stapler moving motor 27 via the stapler moving belt 50 to an appropriate position according to the size of the recording paper and the number of bound sheets. It waits on the spot during paper alignment, and when the paper alignment on the final page is completed, the stapling operation is performed. Reference numeral 41 is a stapler home position sensor.

Next, the discharge belt mechanism shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 will be described.

The discharging belt 10 is driven by a discharging motor 25. The release belt 10 is provided with a release claw 17 whose home position is detected by a release claw home position sensor 40 shown in FIG. The discharge belt 10 is driven, the sheet bundle P is sent to the discharge roller 3, and is discharged to the tray 12.

The operation of this discharge belt mechanism will be described. When stapling is completed, the ejection belt 10 is driven, the sheet bundle P is sent to the ejection roller 3, and is ejected to the tray 12.

At this time, the discharge belt 10 first starts lifting the sheet bundle in the low speed mode of the double control mode, then becomes the high speed mode, temporarily stops near the highest position, and then returns to the home position in the low speed mode. Return. Further, the discharge roller 3 starts being driven by the discharge motor 22 at the same time when the discharge belt 10 is started, and stops when the sheet bundle is completely discharged.

As shown in FIG. 16, the discharge motor 2
5, the discharging belt 10, the jogger motor 26, the jogger belt 49, and the stapler moving motor 27.
A stapler moving belt 50 is drivingly connected to each. Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a main conveyor belt 45, an upper conveyor belt 46, and a lower conveyor belt 47 are stretched around the side surface of the apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the overall control.
U60 is electrically connected to a copying machine B (not shown) by an interface 61 made of an optical fiber, and outputs a command to the conveyance motor 21, the discharge motor 22, the vertical motor 23, the shift motor 24, the branch solenoid 29, the return solenoid 30, and the like. It is supposed to do.

In addition, the emission motor 2 is connected via the I / O 62.
5, jogger motor 26, stapler moving motor 27,
Command output to the staple motor 63, etc.
A signal is input from the switch group 64.

Next, the discharge check control operation according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, the signal is checked whether or not the recording paper is discharged from the copying machine B. Here, when "paper discharge signal = 1", the recording paper is discharged from the copying machine B. The paper discharge signal is a status signal of the discharge sensor which is set to "1" while the discharge sensor of the copying machine B (not shown) is on. In step S2, it is checked whether STARTF (start flag) is set to "1". In step S3, it is checked whether the mode signal transmitted from the copying machine B is the staple mode. In staple mode, go to "Y". Since "N" is a shift mode and is not related to the present invention, the description is omitted.

In step S4, STARTF is set to "1".
I have set. Here, STARTTF is set to "1" while the paper discharge signal is set to "1".
Also, STPJBC is set to "1". Where S
TPJBC is a control job counter for receiving the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B and conveying it to the stapler unit 51. Also, in this step T
IM1CU is set to "0".

Next, the recording paper conveyance control operation according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S11, the contents of STPJBC are checked. Jump to STPJB1 and STPJB2 according to the data of the contents of STPJBC. For example, when STPJBC = 1, the subroutine of STPJB1 is processed.

As shown in FIG. 21, when the content of STPJBC is "0", the process returns.

In FIG. 22, the carry motor 21 is turned on (low speed rotation) in step S21. The carry motor 21 is rotated so as to be substantially the same speed as the carry speed of the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B. Step S
At 22, the branch solenoid 29 is turned on. Also, S
"2" is set in TPJBC.

In FIG. 23, it is checked in step S31 whether the entrance sensor 36 is on. In step S32, it is checked whether the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B is a large size (A3 size or more).
Specifically, it is checked whether the longitudinal direction is 420 mm or more with respect to the transport direction. In this embodiment, it is indicated by A3,
If this judgment is changed to another size, another size judgment is made. For example, in the case of B4, when the recording paper having a size of B4 or more is conveyed, the discharge motor 22 that drives the discharge roller 3 reversely rotates.

In step S33, the discharge motor 22 is turned on in the reverse rotation direction. In step S34, STPJ
"3" is set in BC. Also, TIM1CU is set to "0". Also, TIM2CU is set to "0".

In step S35, it is checked whether TIM1CU is 60 or more. Where TIM1C
When U exceeds 60, go to "Y". Also, TIM
When 1 CU is 60 or less, it returns. Note that 60 is a certain predetermined value.

In step S36, the jam F is set to "1". If the jam F is checked by another subroutine (not shown) and it is "1", a jam signal is transmitted to the copying machine.

In FIG. 24, it is checked in step S41 if the paper discharge signal is reset to "0". When the paper discharge sensor is turned off, it is reset to "0".

If "Y" in the step S41, the process proceeds to a step S42, and the carry motor 21 is rotated at a high speed in the step S42. Here, the rotation speed when the motor is turned on in STPJB1 in FIG. 22 is set to be 3 to 4 times faster. When the paper discharge signal is reset to "0", it means that the paper discharge sensor of the copying machine has passed, so the copying machine is not driven. This signal is used as a trigger to increase the rotation speed of the carry motor 21. Step S43
Then, "4" is set in STPJBC. In step S44, STARTF is reset to "0".

If "N" in the step S41, the process proceeds to a step S45, and it is checked in the step S45 whether OUTCKF is set to "1". When the paper discharge signal is turned on, the entrance sensor 36 is turned on, or both are turned on, if the paper discharge sensor 37 is turned on, "1" is set.

In step S46, it is checked whether the paper discharge sensor 37 is turned on. In step S47, OUT
CKF is set to "1". Also, TIM2CU is set to "0".

In FIG. 25, it is checked in step S51 whether the entrance sensor 36 is turned off.

When the result is "Y" in step S51, the process proceeds to step S52, and in step S52, "5" is set in STPJBC.

If "N" in the step S51, the process proceeds to a step S53, and in the step S53, the TIM1CU is 25
I'm checking if it's over 0. When TIM1CU is over 250, go to "Y". When it is 250 or less, the process returns.

When the result is "Y" in step S53, the jam F is set to "1" in step S54.

If "N" in the step S53, the subroutine of the part of STPJB3A in FIG. 24 is called in a step S55. Also, it is checked whether the paper discharge sensor 37 is turned on.

In FIG. 26, it is checked in step S61 whether the paper discharge sensor 37 is turned on.

If "Y" in step S61, it is checked in step S62 whether OUTCKF is set to "1". If "Y" in step S62, TIM2CU is set to "0" in step S63. In step S64, OUTCKF is reset to "0". Also, "6" is set in STPJBC.

If "N" in the step S61, it is checked in a step S65 whether the TIM2CU is 150 or more. When TIM2CU is over 150, go to "Y". When TIM2CU is 150 or less, it returns. In step S66, the jam F is set to "1".

In FIG. 27, it is checked in step S71 if the paper discharge sensor 37 is turned off.

When the result in step S71 is "Y", in step S72, the rotational speed of the carry motor 21 is set to a low speed in preparation for the recording paper discharged from the copying machine next. In step S73, "0" is set in STPJBC.

If "N" in the step S71, it is checked in a step S74 whether or not the TIM2CU becomes 250 or more. When TIM2CU reaches 250 or more, go to "Y". When TIM2CU is 250 or less, the process returns. In step S75, the jam F is set to "1".

In the above-described embodiment, the stapler unit 11 for aligning the recording sheets on which the image forming apparatus B has formed the images and binding the ends, and the bundle of the bound recording sheets are stored. Discharge tray 12, a discharge belt 10 that discharges a bundle of recording paper to the discharge tray 12 side, and a discharge roller 3 that receives a bundle of recording paper discharged from the discharge belt 10 and discharges it onto the discharge tray 12. In the post-processing apparatus A including the stapler unit 11 having the and, the discharge motor 22 that drives the discharge roller 3 is provided so as to be able to rotate forward and backward, and the discharge motor 22 is a recording sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus B. Is reversed only while the sheets are stacked on the stapler unit 51, so when the recording paper is discharged to the staple tray 53 of the stapler unit 51,
By rotating the discharge roller 3 for the discharge tray 12 in the reverse direction, a staple defect caused by the upper end of the recording paper being caught in the nip of the discharge roller 3 is avoided. The post-processing apparatus A including the unit 51 can be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the discharge motor 22 is rotated in the normal or reverse direction according to the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus B, so that a large size recording paper is stapled. When discharged to the staple tray 53 of the unit 51, the discharge roller 3 for the discharge tray 12 is reversed to avoid a staple defect caused by the upper end of the recording paper being caught in the nip of the discharge roller 3. There is.

[0069]

According to the present invention, when the recording paper is discharged to the staple tray of the stapler unit, the upper end of the recording paper is discharged by reversing the discharging means for the discharge tray. Since staple defects caused by being held in the nip of the means are avoided,
It is possible to provide a post-processing apparatus including a stapler unit that performs highly reliable staple processing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a large-sized recording paper is discharged to the staple tray of the stapler unit, the discharge means for the discharge tray is reversed to cause the upper end of the recording paper to be discharged from the discharge roller. Since the staple failure caused by being held in the nip of the sheet is avoided, it is possible to provide the post-processing apparatus including the stapler unit that performs the staple processing with high reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a post-processing apparatus including a stapler unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an operating state of a branch claw portion.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an operating state of a branch claw portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray up-and-down mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a tray up / down mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a tray up / down mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tray shift mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of a tray shift mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an operating state of the tray shift mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing an operating state of the tray shift mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a paper alignment mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a paper alignment mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a stapler moving mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a discharge belt mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a main part of a discharge belt mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a discharge unit drive mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a discharge unit drive mechanism.

FIG. 18 is an overall control block diagram of a post-processing apparatus including a stapler unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of discharge check according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of recording paper conveyance control according to the embodiment of the present invention.

21 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

22 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the subroutine shown in FIG.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the post-processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Ejection Roller 12 Ejection Tray 22 Ejection Motor 51 Stapler Unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stapler unit for aligning and binding edges of recording sheets on which images have been formed by an image forming apparatus, a discharge tray for storing a bundle of bound recording sheets, and a stack of the recording sheets for discharging the bundle. In a post-processing apparatus provided with a stapler unit having a discharging means for discharging to the tray side and a discharging means for receiving a bundle of recording paper discharged from the discharging means and discharging it onto the discharge tray, the discharging means is A post-processing apparatus comprising a stapler unit, characterized in that a driving means for driving is provided so as to be capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. 2. The stapler unit according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is reversed only while the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is being stacked on the stapler unit. Aftertreatment device. 3. The post-processing including a stapler unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive means is rotated in the normal direction or in the reverse direction according to the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus. apparatus.