JPH07223768A - After treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an after treatment device wherein the upper end of recording paper sheet to be stored in a staple tray is prevented from being caught by a delivering roller so that staple treatment having high reliability can be carried out. CONSTITUTION:A releasing pawl 17 which moves recording paper sheets by engaging with a bundle of recording papers in association with the movement of a release means 10 is provided to the release means 10, and a control means which places the releasing pawl 17 in standby condition below delivering roller 3 for a predetermined period as required is also provided thereto.

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 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.

The present invention has been made on the basis of such a background, and it is possible to prevent the upper end of the recording paper stored in the staple tray from being gripped by the discharge roller and to perform the staple processing with high reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a post-processing device capable of

[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, In a post-processing apparatus 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, The ejecting means is provided with an ejecting claw that engages with the bundle of recording sheets and moves the recording sheet in association with the movement of the ejecting means, and the ejecting claw is used for the recording sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus. This is achieved by the first means that makes the printer wait at a predetermined position only while it is stacked on the stapler unit.

The above object can be achieved by the second means in the first means, wherein the discharging claw is made to stand by below the discharge roller.

The above-mentioned object is achieved by the third means in the first means, in which the discharging claw is made to stand by at a predetermined position or not at a predetermined position depending on the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus. .

The above-mentioned object is achieved by the fourth means in the third means, in the case of a large-sized recording paper of a predetermined size or more, a control means for controlling the discharge claw to stand by below the discharge roller.

In the fifth aspect, the discharging claw has a function of discharging the bound bundle of recording papers to the discharge tray side and a function of preventing the recording papers from jumping out. Achieved by means.

[0011]

In the above means, when the size of the recording paper discharged to the staple tray of the stapler unit is large, the upper end of this recording paper is gripped by the discharge roller for discharging the recording paper to the discharge tray. In order to prevent the recording paper from being ejected from the staple tray, the ejection claw attached to the ejection belt is made to stand by under the ejection roller.

[0012]

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 according to an embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are configuration diagrams showing operating states of a branch claw portion,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tray up-and-down mechanism, FIG. 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 the tray shift mechanism, and FIG. 9, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are configuration diagrams showing the operation state of the tray shift mechanism, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the paper alignment mechanism, FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the paper alignment mechanism, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the stapler moving mechanism. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the discharge belt mechanism, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a main part of the discharge belt mechanism, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a discharge unit drive mechanism, FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a discharge unit drive mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 19 is an overall control block diagram of a post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a discharge belt movement check according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
2 and FIG. 23 are flowcharts of the subroutines shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 24 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, a general description of the entire system will be given mainly with reference to FIGS. 1 and 24, with reference to the drawings.

In these figures, 1 is an inlet roller, 2
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 provided 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 discharged from the copying machine B is guided to the stapler unit 51 side by the branching claw 8 and conveyed to the paper discharge 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 a large size paper, the upper end of the recording paper may be gripped by the discharge roller 3.

According to the present invention, depending on the size of the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B (in the case of a large size paper), the claw 17 of the discharging belt 10 stands by in the vicinity of the discharging roller 3.

While the recording paper is being discharged to the stapler unit 51 by the paper discharge roller 52, the recording paper is stored in the stapler unit 51 by keeping the claw 17 of the discharge belt 10 in the vicinity of the discharge roller 3. While discharging, the claw 17 of the discharging belt 10 functions as a stopper for the discharged recording paper, so that the upper end of the recording paper cannot be held in the nip of the discharging roller 3 and It is possible to eliminate the presence of recording paper that is not stapled therein.

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 rotations 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 a jogger motor 26 via a 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 make 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.

The return solenoid 30 is turned on for a predetermined time, 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 ejection belt 10 is driven by the ejection 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 discharging belt 10 first starts to lift 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.

Further, 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.

The discharge belt movement check control operation according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S1, it is checked whether the motor-on signal is "1". The motor-on signal is a signal transmitted from the copying machine B, and is transmitted when the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B is discharged to the post-processing apparatus A side. When this signal is received by the post-processing apparatus A, the carry motor 21 is turned on (in the recording sheet receiving state).

In step S2, SIZLGF is "1".
Checking if it is set. The motor-on signal is transmitted, and the size of the recording paper is large (A3
In the above case, "1" is set. This SIZLGF is set until the completion of a series of jobs.

In step S3, it is checked whether or not the recording paper discharged from the copying machine B has a large size (A3 or larger). Specifically, the longitudinal direction is 4 with respect to the transport direction.
Checking whether it is 20 mm or more. In this embodiment, A
As shown in FIG. 3, if this judgment is changed to another size, another size judgment is made. For example, in the case of B4, when the size of B4 or more is conveyed, the claw 17 of the discharging belt 10 is made to stand by in the vicinity of the discharge roller 3.

In step S4, SIZLGF is set to "1".
Is set. Also, "1" is set in BELTJC.

Next, the discharge belt movement control operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, in step S11, BELTJ
Checking the contents of C. BELTJC is a control job counter that controls the movement of the claw 17 of the discharge belt 10 to the vicinity of the discharge roller 3. It jumps to BELTJ1 and BELTJ2 according to the data of the content of BELTJC. For example, when BELTJC = 1, BELTJ
Process the 1 subroutine.

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

In step S21 of FIG. 22, the discharge motor 25 is turned on. In step S22, BELTC
Is set to "0". BELTC is discharge motor 2
This is a counter that counts 5 pulses. And BE
The LTC checks the pulses generated from the pulse generator attached to the discharge motor 25 and counts the pulses by another subroutine not shown. Also, in this step, BELTJC is set to "2".

In step S31 of FIG. 23, BELTC
Is checked to be 200 or more (200 is a predetermined value). In step S32, the discharge motor 25 is turned off. In step S33, BELTJC is set to "0".

In the above-described embodiment, the stapler unit 51 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 having the following, the discharge belt 10 is provided with a discharge claw 17 that engages with the bundle of recording papers and moves the recording paper in conjunction with the movement of the discharge belt 10. While the recording sheets discharged from the forming apparatus B are being stacked on the stapler unit 51, the recording sheets are made to stand by at a predetermined position, or the discharging claws 17 are made to stand below the discharging roller 3. Because you, the staple tray 53
It is possible to provide a post-processing apparatus A that can perform a highly reliable stapling process by eliminating the problem that the recording sheets stacked on the sheet are gripped by the discharge roller 3 and a staple defect occurs.

Further, in the above embodiment, the discharging claw 17
Depending on the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus B, may or may not be held at a predetermined position, or in the case of a large-sized recording paper of a predetermined size or more, the discharge claw 17 is placed below the discharge roller 3. Since the standby control is performed, there is no problem that a large-sized recording sheet stacked on the staple tray 53 is gripped by the discharge roller 3 to cause a staple defect, and a highly reliable staple processing is performed. A can be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the discharging claw 17
Has a function of discharging a bundle of bound recording papers to the discharge tray 12 side and a function of preventing the recording papers from jumping out. Therefore, the recording papers can be jumped out without separately providing a member for preventing the recording papers from jumping out. And staple tray 5
Eliminates the problem that the recording sheets stacked in 3 are caught in the discharge roller 3 and staple defects occur,
It is possible to provide the post-processing apparatus A that performs highly reliable staple processing.

[0057]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the problem that the recording sheets stacked on the staple tray are gripped by the discharge roller to cause a staple defect, and a highly reliable staple process is performed. A post-treatment device can be provided that is performed.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the problem that large-sized recording sheets stacked on the staple tray are gripped by the discharge roller to cause a staple defect, and the staple processing is highly reliable. It is possible to provide a post-processing device in which

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, depending on the size of the recording paper (in the case of a large size), the discharging claw of the discharging means is made to stand by in the vicinity of the discharge roller, so that the recording paper is prevented from jumping out separately. Without providing a member, the problem of preventing the recording paper from popping out and eliminating the problem that the recording paper stacked on the staple tray is caught in the discharge roller and causes a staple failure is achieved, and after reliable staple processing is performed. A processing device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of moving the discharge belt.

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 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 10 Emission Belt (Ejection Means) 12 Paper Ejection Tray 17 Ejection Claw 51 Stapler Unit 53 Staple Tray 60 CPU (Control Means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A stapler unit for aligning and binding the ends of recording sheets on which images have been image-formed by an image forming apparatus, a discharge tray for storing a bundle of the bound recording sheets, and a stack of the recording sheets for discharging the bundle. A post-processing apparatus 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, wherein the discharging means has a bundle of recording paper. A discharging claw for moving the recording paper in association with the movement of the discharging means is provided while the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is stacked on the stapler unit. The post-processing device is characterized in that it is made to stand by at a predetermined position only. 2. The discharge claw according to claim 1,
A post-processing device characterized in that it is made to stand by below the discharge roller. 3. The discharge claw according to claim 1,
A post-processing device characterized in that it is made to wait at a predetermined position or not depending on the size of the recording paper discharged from the image forming device. 4. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in the case of a large-sized recording paper of a predetermined size or more, control is performed to make the ejection claw stand by below the discharge roller. 5. The discharge claw according to claim 1,
A post-processing apparatus having a function of discharging a bundle of bound recording sheets to the side of the discharge tray and a function of preventing the recording sheets from popping out.