JPH07304557A - Sheet distributing-housing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reliably adjust a recording sheet housed in a tray by specifying the relationship between speed at which a tamper advances to a contact position with an end part of the recording sheet and speed at which the tamper retreats from the contact position with the end part of the recording sheet. CONSTITUTION:When speed at which a tamper 71 is moved to a sheet registering position P2 from an each size reference position P1 is denoted by V1 and speed at which it is moved to the each size reference position P1 from the sheet registering position P2 is denoted by V2, moving speed of the tamper 71 is controlled so that (V1>V2) is realized. By this control signal, the time (t2) to move the tamper 71 to the each size reference position P1 side is set longer than the time (t1) to move the tamper 71 to the sheet registering position P2 side, and the fact that the speed V2 is slower than V1 is recognized. Thereby, the tamper 71 slowly separates from an end part of a recording sheet 12, and when the tamper 71 is moved to the each size reference position P1, a buckling phenomenon of the recording sheet 12 is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet distribution / accommodation device for accommodating and accommodating recording sheets discharged from an image recording device such as a copying machine or a printer in a tray. The present invention relates to an improvement of a sheet distribution / accommodation device that aligns recording sheets accommodated in the tray with a tamper that moves back and forth along the surface direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a sheet distribution / accommodating device of this type having a tamper, for example, the sorters disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-75961 and 4-75962 are known. The sorters described in these publications are of a bin-moving type in which a plurality of stacked bin trays are sequentially moved to a sheet distribution stage to accommodate recording sheets in each bin tray, and the tamper described above has openings formed in each bin tray. It is arranged so as to penetrate vertically. Then, the tamper is moved to a predetermined position in the opening along the surface direction of the bin tray, and the recording sheets accommodated in the respective bin trays are aligned with the predetermined storage position according to the progress of the sorting process.

The setting positions of the tamper are a size-specific reference position slightly separated from the end of the recording sheet discharged to the bin tray, a sheet aligning position for pressing the recording sheet accommodated in the bin tray against the alignment reference surface, and the above-mentioned 2
Three positions, which are the home position that serves as a reference when setting the tamper, are given. The size-based reference position and the sheet alignment position are the size of the recording sheet that is taken into the sorter from the image recording device body such as a copying machine. It is decided based on information.

Under such a configuration, the sorters described in these publications specifically align the recording sheets in the following procedure. First, when the sorting process is started, the tamper is set from the home position to the size-specific reference position, and in this state, the recording sheet is discharged to each bin tray. At this time, in order to facilitate the discharge of the recording sheet, a slight gap is formed between the recording sheet and the alignment reference surface. When the copy job for each page of the copy original is completed, the tamper is temporarily set from the size-based reference position to the sheet alignment position, and the recording sheets accommodated in each bin tray are pressed against the alignment reference surface. Thereafter, the tamper reciprocates between the size-based reference position and the sheet alignment position each time the copy job for each page of the copy original is completed, thereby aligning the recording sheets stored in the bin trays with the predetermined storage position. It was

The former sorter disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-75961 is provided with a stapler for stapling the one side edge of the recording sheet collected in each bin tray. The stapling process can be performed subsequently to the sorting process. In the stapling process, the tamper is set to the sheet alignment position when the stapler bites the recording sheet. As a result, the staples are driven while the recording sheet is held in the predetermined storage position, and the finished stapled recording sheet can be maintained in a good state.

[0006]

By the way, in order to press the recording sheet against the alignment reference surface, the distance between the tamper set to the sheet alignment position and the alignment reference surface accurately corresponds to the size of the recording sheet. Must be However, an error of ± 2 mm is recognized by the JIS standard for the size of the recording sheet. Therefore, if this distance is not set below the lower limit of the size of the recording sheet, the recording sheet must be perfectly aligned. I can't. For example, the long side of an A4 size recording sheet is 297 mm, and the distance between the tamper set to the sheet alignment position and the alignment reference surface is the lower limit of the recording sheet size of 295 mm.
It is necessary to do the following.

However, if the distance between the tamper set to the sheet alignment position and the alignment reference surface is set to be equal to or less than the lower limit value of the recording sheet size, the tamper will bite into the end of most recording sheets. Since this is aligned, as shown in FIG. 10, when the tamper 200 is set to the sheet alignment position, the recording sheets 202 stored in the bin tray 201 are aligned with the tamper 200 and the alignment reference plane 2.
When the recording sheet 202 is sandwiched between the recording sheet 202 and the recording sheet 202, the recording sheet 202 is bent.

Therefore, if the recording sheets in the bin tray are aligned in the sorting process described above, a so-called buckling phenomenon in which the bent recording sheet bounces back when the tamper returns from the sheet alignment position to the size-specific reference position. However, there is a problem in that the aligned recording sheets are scattered. In particular, since the tamper must be moved between the discharge of the recording sheet to the bin tray, the tamper moving speed is high in the sorter of the high-speed copying machine having a short discharge interval of the recording sheet. Occurred.

Further, in the above-mentioned stapling process, the tamper is set to the sheet aligning position, and the staple needle is driven while pressing the recording sheet with the tamper. Bending occurs as described above. Therefore, there is a problem in that the position where the stapling needle is driven on the recording sheet is slightly deviated depending on the location where this bending occurs, and the post-processing quality is impaired.

In the above description, the sorter which performs the stapling process subsequent to the sorting process has been described as an example, but such a problem also occurs in the sorter which performs the punching process subsequent to the sorting process. In addition, such a problem similarly occurs in a so-called finisher that makes copies one by one from an original and performs post-processing such as stapling processing each time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet distribution / accommodation device capable of surely aligning recording sheets accommodated in a tray. To provide.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet distribution / accommodation device capable of always maintaining a constant post-processing quality when performing post-processing such as stapling or punching on recording sheets contained in a tray. To provide.

[0013]

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above first and second objects, respectively, a tray for accommodating recording sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus and accommodating the tray is penetrated. And a rod-shaped tamper that moves forward and backward along the surface direction of the tray and comes into contact with the end portion of the recording sheet accommodated in the tray, and one side edge portion of the recording sheet accommodated in the tray. On the premise of the sheet distribution / accommodation apparatus including the post-processing means for performing the post-processing, the following two sheet distribution / accommodation apparatuses are provided.

That is, in the sheet distributing / accommodating apparatus for achieving the first object, the speed at which the tamper advances to the contact position with the end of the recording sheet is V ₁ , and the tamper is in contact with the end of the recording sheet. When the speed of retreating from the contact position is V ₂ , V ₁ > V ₂ is satisfied (Claim 1).

Further, in the sheet distributing / accommodating apparatus for achieving the above second object, when the post-processing is performed by the post-processing means, the number of recording sheets accommodated in the tray is less than a predetermined number N (N is a natural number). , The tamper is set to a position separated from the end of the recording sheet, and the predetermined number N
When (N is a natural number) or more, the tamper is set at the contact position with the edge of the recording sheet (claim 2).

In the technical means according to claim 2,
The reason why the tamper is set at the position separated from the end of the recording sheet only when the number of recording sheets is less than the predetermined number N is as follows. That is, when the number of recording sheets stored in the tray increases, even if the tamper comes into contact with and presses the recording sheets, the recording sheets do not bend. In addition, when the number of recording sheets stored in the tray increases, as shown in FIG. 11, the post-processing means 205 such as a stapler and the recording sheet 206 come into contact with each other when the post-processing is performed, and the recording sheet This is because the aligned state may be destroyed, and it is possible to perform the post-processing with good quality by performing the post-processing while pressing the recording sheet with the tamper.

Here, the number N of recording sheets for switching the setting position of the tamper may be appropriately selected mainly depending on the stiffness of the recording sheet to be used, elasticity of the tamper, and the like. The point is that the number of sheets is less than the minimum number at which the recording sheet does not bend even when pressed by the tamper.

Regardless of the number of recording sheets accommodated in the tray, the tamper is once set at the contact position with the end portion of the recording sheet at the start of the post-processing, and then the number of recording sheets is changed according to the number of recording sheets. It is preferable to reset the position (Claim 3). By controlling the movement of the tamper in this way,
At the start of the post-processing, the post-processing means such as a stapler can be set at the post-processing position of the edge of the recording sheet while holding the recording sheet with a tamper, and the alignment state of the recording sheets can be adjusted by the contact between the post-processing means and the recording sheet. It can be prevented from collapsing. After setting the post-processing unit to the post-processing position, the post-processing quality can be improved by performing control according to the number of recording sheets accommodated in the tray.

If the present invention is applied to a sorter, the number of bin trays can be appropriately selected according to the required sorting ability. As a method of sorting the recording sheets to each bin tray, a bin fixing method in which the recording sheets are sequentially fed to a bin tray fixedly arranged in the housing, or a stacked bin tray is sequentially moved to a sheet distribution stage to feed the recording sheets. It does not matter if the bin moving method for performing is selected arbitrarily. On the other hand, the present invention can also be applied to a finisher that aligns recording sheets using a tamper on a compiler tray and stacks the aligned recording sheet bundles on a stacker tray one by one.

Further, as the post-processing means, a stapler for driving a stapling needle to one side edge portion of the recording sheet accommodated in the bin tray, or a puncher for punching may be arbitrarily selected. .

[0021]

According to the technical means according to the _{first aspect} , V is between the speed V _{1 at} which the tamper advances to the contact position with the edge of the recording sheet and the speed V ₂ withdraws from the contact position. _{Even if} the recording sheet accommodated in the bin tray is bent by the contact of the tamper because of the relationship of ₁ > V ₂ , the tamper is gently separated from the bent recording sheet. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned buckling phenomenon.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the number of recording sheets accommodated in the bin tray is less than the predetermined number N, the tamper is set at a position separated from the end of the recording sheet and recording is performed. Since the post-processing is performed on one side edge of the sheet, the post-processing can always be performed at a fixed position of the recording sheet without bending the recording sheet on the bin tray when the post-processing is performed.

If the number of recording sheets stored in the bin tray is equal to or more than the predetermined number N, the recording sheets do not bend even when pressed by the tamper, so that the tamper is in contact with the end of the recording sheet. Even when the post-processing is performed on one side edge portion of the recording sheet by setting to, the post-processing can always be performed on a fixed position of the recording sheet. In addition, since the tamper is set at the contact position with the end portion of the recording sheet and the post-processing is performed, the post-processing means even when the number of recording sheets is close to the maximum number of post-processings. As a result, the alignment state of the recording sheet is not broken.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sheet distribution / accommodating apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sheet gathering apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a sorter in this embodiment) 20 to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the sorter 20 is provided in a copying machine main body 10 with an ADF (not shown). It is attached.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 is a housing of the sorter 20. An opening 24 communicating with the inside of the housing 21 is formed on the side of the housing 21 opposite to the main body 10 of the copying machine, and a plurality of stages (20 stages in this embodiment) of bin trays 40 move up and down from the opening 24. It is arranged so as to protrude. On the other hand, on the top of the housing 21, a non-sort tray 25 used when the sorting process is unnecessary is arranged.

In the sheet discharge port 11 of the copying machine body 10
The sheet introduction port 2 is provided on the corresponding housing plate 21a.
6 has been opened and is installed from this sheet inlet 26
The recorded recording sheets 12 are transferred to the bins via the sheet conveying system 30.
Either tray 40 or non-sort tray 25
It is supposed to be transported to. The sheet conveying system 30
Is for discharging the recording sheet 12 to the bin tray 40.
Sheet distribution stage S ₁First sheet conveying path 3 leading to
2 and the second sheet leading to the non-sort tray 25.
And a sheet conveying path 33, near the sheet introduction port 26
Depending on the switching gate 39 arranged in
One of the sheet conveying paths is switched and selected. Also the first
The recording sheet 12 is placed near the exit of the sheet conveying path 32.
Distribution stage S₁To detect discharge to the
A discharge sensor 38 is provided.

Further, the bin tray 40 is provided with a positioning flange 42 at the edge of a plate-shaped tray base 41,
The housing is arranged obliquely downward at a predetermined angle toward the opening 24 side of the housing, and is slightly arranged obliquely toward the front side in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface).

Further, a stapler 100 is arranged in the housing 21 below the sheet conveying system 30, and at the post-processing stage S ₂ facing the stapler 100, the stapler 100 for the recording sheets 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40 is stapled. Ring processing is executed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet distributing stage S ₁ and the post-processing stage S ₂ are vertically adjacent to each other. The arrangement pitch of the bin tray 40 is not constant, and the pitch of the portion corresponding to the sheet distribution stage S ₁ and the post-processing stage S ₂ is set to be sufficiently larger than the pitch of the other portions.

That is, the bin tray 40 located on the sheet distribution stage S ₁ and the bin tray 4 located above it.
The distance from 0 is set within a range that does not hinder the sorting process, and the distance between the bin tray 40 located on the post-processing stage S ₂ and the bin trays 40 located above and below the bin tray 40 is such that the stapler 100 is accommodated in the bin tray 40. It is set within a range that does not hinder the biting of the recorded recording sheet. The intervals between the bin trays 40 other than these are set in such a range that the bin trays 40 do not contact each other.

In addition, the user mistakenly decides that the post-processing stage S
_It is very dangerous to insert your hand into the post-processing stage S _2.
From the to the bottom of the housing 21, a plastic protective cover 23 is arranged so as to cover the bin tray 40. The uppermost position of the bin tray 40 is a position where the lowermost bin tray 40t is set on the sheet distribution stage S ₁ , and at this bin tray uppermost position, all the bin trays 40 are exposed from the protective cover 23. on the other hand,
The lowermost position of the bin tray 40 is the uppermost bin tray 40.
a is a position set in the post-processing stage S ₂ , and all the bin trays 40 are housed in the protective cover 23 at the lowest bin tray position.

The home position of the bin tray 40 is the position where the uppermost bin tray 40a is set on the sheet distribution stage S ₁ . Therefore, the sorting process is always started from the uppermost bin tray 40a, and when the sorting process or the stapling process is completed and the recording sheet bundle is taken out from each bin tray 40, the bin tray 40 is set to this home position and a series of processes is performed. Ends.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 65 indicates an upper limit position detecting sensor for detecting that the bin tray 40 located at the uppermost stage has reached the upper limit position, and reference numeral 66 indicates that the bin tray 40 is set to the home position. It is a home position sensor for detecting. Further, reference numeral 130 is a sheet presence / absence detection sensor for detecting whether or not the recording sheet 12 is accommodated in the bin tray 40, and is provided in the upper and lower portions of the housing 21 so as to correspond to the corner cutouts 44 of each bin tray 40. The pair of light emitting elements 131 and the light receiving elements 132 are formed. Therefore, if the recording sheet 12 is present in any of the bin trays 40,
The optical path between the light emitting element 131 and the light receiving element 132 is blocked, and thus the presence or absence of the recording sheet 12 is detected.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the bin tray 40 set in the post-processing stage S ₂ and the stapler 100. The stapler 100 is mounted on a processing position moving system 125 arranged along the periphery of the bin tray 40, and the retreat position P ₀ is selected according to the selection of the stapling processing position.
From the corner staple position P ₁ , dual staple position P ₂ or single staple position P ₃ . Further, the stapler 100 is mounted on an advancing / retreating system, and at each processing position, it advances from the retracted position to the stapling execution position to perform the stapling operation, while preventing the movement of the bin tray 40 after the stapling operation. Then it retreats back to the original retracted position.

A notch 4 for stapling processing is provided at the edge of the bin tray 40 corresponding to each stapling processing position.
4 to 46 are formed, and the stapler 100 that has advanced to the stapling execution position bites the recording sheet 12 in these cutouts 44 to 46. Since the cutout portion 46 corresponds to the dual staple position P ₂ and the single staple position P ₃ , its width is formed larger than the width of the cutout portion 45.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 48 is an alignment reference surface serving as a position reference in the width direction of the storage position of the recording sheet 12, and in this embodiment, a part of the housing 21 is used.

Further, reference numeral 71 is a tamper which vertically penetrates the opening 47 formed in each bin tray 40, and moves the recording sheet 12 accommodated in each bin tray 40 in the direction of the arrow to the alignment reference surface 48. The recording sheet 12 is aligned by pressing it in the width direction. Therefore, the recording sheet discharged to the bin tray is aligned in a predetermined storage position with the positioning flange 42 as a reference in the discharge direction and the alignment reference surface 48 as a reference in the width direction. Incidentally, reference numeral 49 is a notch for gripping for facilitating taking out of the recording sheet 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive system for the tamper 71 has a pair of movable support mechanisms 72, 73 for supporting the tamper 71 so that the tamper 71 can be moved back and forth along the width direction of the bin tray 40, and the respective movable support mechanisms 72, 73. And a power transmission system 80 for driving 73. In this embodiment, the movable support mechanisms 72, 73 rotatably support a ball screw shaft 75 between a pair of bearing brackets 74 (one of which is not shown),
A nut 76 is screwed onto the ball screw shaft 75, and the nut 76 is fixed to the upper and lower ends of the tamper 71. The power transmission system 80 includes a tamper drive motor (stepping motor in this embodiment) 81.
And two drive pulleys 82 and 83 fixed to the output shaft of the tamper drive motor 81, and the movable support mechanisms 7
The driven pulley 8 fixed to the ball screw shafts 75 of 2, 73
4, 85, the drive pulleys 82, 83 and the driven pulley 8
Timing belt 86, which is stretched between 4 and 85,
And 87.

The nut 76 of the lower movable support mechanism 73 is provided with a projecting piece 77 for position detection.
At a home position sensor 78 (a transmissive optical sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged to face each other) provided corresponding to the home position, the home position sensor 78 outputs a low level signal, for example. A signal is output to detect that the tamper 71 has reached the home position.

The apparatus control system in this embodiment is composed of a microcomputer system as shown in FIG. In the figure, the microcomputer system is C
It consists of PU171, ROM172, RAM173, R
A sorting processing program, a stapling processing program, and the like are stored in advance in the OM 172, and the CPU 151 executes each program and RAM.
A predetermined control signal is created by performing input data processing while appropriately exchanging data with the 153.

In such a system, the sheet discharge sensor 38, the upper limit position detection sensor 65, the bin tray home position sensor 66, the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 13
0, the tamper home position sensor 78, the stapling process start switch (SW) 51, the stapling mode selection switch (SW) 53, and the like are input as input data to the CPU 171 via the input interface circuit 174. A feed motor 17 for driving each roller of the sheet conveying system 30 by each control signal from the CPU 171 via an output interface circuit 175.
3. Solenoid 17 for driving the switching gate 39
4, bin drive motor 58, stapler drive motor 10
7, the stapler advancing / retreating drive motor 115, the processing position moving drive motor 135, the tamper drive motor 81, and other control devices, and the control devices are appropriately controlled.

Further, in this embodiment, the main body side CPU 176 provided on the copying machine main body 10 side and the CPU 1
Data communication is being performed with 71,
Various information such as the document size and the number of document copies by the ADF is loaded into the CPU 171.

In the sorter of the present embodiment, the drive system for moving the bin tray up and down, the processing position moving system of the stapler, and the advancing / retreating moving system have been previously filed by the applicant of the present application and have already been published. Since it is the same as the description in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-82793, the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, various types of tamper 71 in this embodiment
The setting position will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 5 (a)
Home position P₀From size to standard position P₁What
The set tamper 71 is shown, and the recording sheet 12
In this state, the sheet distribution stage S ₁Bind set to
It is discharged to the ray 40. At this time, the tamper 71 and the recording system
While a gap is provided between the recording sheet 12 and
A gap is provided between 12 and the alignment reference plane 48, and
Recording sheets discharged to the bin tray 40 along the direction A
12 is prevented from colliding with the tamper 71 and the alignment reference surface 48.
It has stopped.

Further, FIG. 5B shows the tamper 71 set from the size-based reference position P ₁ to the sheet alignment position P ₂ , whereby the recording sheets 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40 are aligned with the alignment reference surface. It is pressed against 48 and aligned with a predetermined storage position.

Of the set positions of these tampers 71, each set position except the home position P ₀ is determined by the size of the recording sheet 12. That is, the main body side CPU1
The sorter-side CPU 171 creates a drive signal for the tamper drive motor 80 based on the size information of the recording sheet 12 fetched from the tamper drive unit 76, and the tamper drive motor 80 that rotates forward or backward by a predetermined amount in response to the drive signal.
Is moved to each set position corresponding to the size of the recording sheet 12.

The tamper 71 set to the sheet aligning position P ₂ needs to press the recording sheet 12 against the alignment reference surface 48 with a certain pressing force, and the recording sheet 1
Since the size of 2 has an error of several mm according to the JIS standard, the distance x between the tamper 71 and the alignment reference surface 48 in FIG. 5B is set smaller than the lower limit of the size of the recording sheet 12 according to the JIS standard. Has been done. Therefore, when the tamper 71 is set to the sheet aligning position P ₂ , the recording sheet 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40 is bent as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the tamper 71 is moved from the sheet alignment position P ₂ to the size-specific reference position P ₁ , there is a concern that a buckling phenomenon may occur on the recording sheet 12 and the alignment state may be lost.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the speed at which the tamper 71 is moved from the size-based reference position P ₁ to the sheet alignment position P ₂ is V ₁ , and the speed at which the tamper 71 is moved from the sheet alignment position P ₂ to the size-based reference position P ₁ is when a V _2, and controls the moving speed of the tamper 71 such that V _1> V _2.

FIG. 6 shows control signals of the tamper drive motor 81 corresponding to the basic tamping operation of the tamper 71. The basic tamping operation is to move the tamper 71 from the size-specific reference position P ₁ to the sheet alignment position P ₂
After the recording sheet 12 is pressed against the alignment reference surface 48, the recording sheet 12 is moved and set again to the size-based reference position P ₁ . In this control signal, the tamper 71
The compared to the time t ₁ is moved to the sheet aligning position P ₂ side, the time for moving the tamper 71 to size by standard positions P ₁ side is set longer t _2, the speed V ₂ is higher than V ₁ It seems that it is too late. As a result, the tamper 71 is slowly separated from the end of the recording sheet 12, and the buckling phenomenon of the recording sheet 12 is effectively prevented when the tamper 71 is moved to the size-based reference position P ₁ . can do.

FIG. 7 shows a tamper control flow during execution of the sorting process. This control flow will be described along the flow of the sorting process. When the sorting process is started and the size information of the recording sheet 12 is taken into the sorter 20 (ST1), the tamper 71 is first moved and set from the home position P ₀ to the size-based reference position P ₁ (ST2), and the copying machine body 10 is moved. The recording sheet 12 taken in from the sorter 20 is conveyed to the sheet distribution stage S ₁ in this state. At this time, the bin tray 40 is set to the home position. When the recording sheet 12 is discharged to the uppermost bin tray 40a at the sheet distribution stage S ₁ , the bin tray 40 is raised by one pitch in synchronization with the timing when the sheet discharge sensor 38 changes from ON to OFF. In this way, with respect to the first page of the copy original, the recording sheets 12 are started to be stored from the uppermost bin tray 40a, and the bin tray 40 is moved up to sequentially store the recording sheets 12 in the bin trays 40 (for example, n stages). Accommodate. Next, with respect to the second page of the document, conversely, the recording sheets 12 are started to be accommodated from the n-th bin tray 40n, the bin tray 40 is lowered by one pitch, and finally the recording sheets 12 are placed on the uppermost bin tray 40a. Accommodate. After that, the above operation is repeated for each page of the copy document.

When the CPU 171 counts the number of ejected recording sheets 12 based on the change in the signal of the sheet ejection sensor 38 (ST3) and determines that the job for the first page of the copy document is completed (ST4), the control of FIG. The tamper 71 is caused to perform a basic tamping operation using the signal (ST
5). After that, the CPU 171 checks whether or not the job for the last page of the copy document is completed (ST
6) If not completed, ST3 to ST5 are repeated for each job related to each document page. As a result, the recording sheets 12 stored in the bin trays 40 in the job of each original page unit are sequentially aligned at predetermined storage positions with the alignment reference surface 48 as a reference. On the other hand, if it is determined in ST6 that the job relating to the last page of the copy document is completed, the tamper 71 is set to the home position P ₀ and the sorting process is completed (ST7).

As described above, in the sorting process of this embodiment, the speed V _{2 at} which the tamper 71 retreats from the contact position with the edge of the recording sheet 12 is made slower than the speed V _{1 at} which the tamper 71 advances to the contact position. Therefore, the buckling phenomenon does not occur on the recording sheet 12 in the bin tray 40 during the tamping operation. Therefore, at the end of the sorting process,
It is possible to create a state in which the recording sheet 12 is aligned with a predetermined storage position in the bin tray 40.

Next, the stapling process in this sorter will be described. First, when the sorting process is completed and the stapling process is started, the CPU 17
In No. 1, the bin tray 40 is lowered by one pitch, and the bin tray 40 which is finally set to the sheet distribution stage S ₁ in the sorting process is set to the post-processing stage S ₂ . Whether or not the sorting process has been completed is determined by the CPU of the main body if copy work is being performed by the ADF.
If it is recognized by the data communication with the 176, and if the copy operation is performed without using the ADF, the user can select the start switch 5 provided on the sorter operation panel.
It is recognized by the operation of 1. Whether or not the stapling process is necessary and the stapling process position is selected by the operation panel on the copying machine main body 10 side or the operation panel on the sorter 20 side, and data relating to these is taken into the sorter side CPU 171.

Next, the CPU 171 sets the stapler 100 to the selected stapling processing position based on the data fetched from the main body side CPU 176, and causes the stapling basic operation to be performed at the processing position. Here, the basic operation of stapling is that the stapling needle is driven into the stapling execution position from the retracted position and is driven into the edge of the recording sheet 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40.
After that, it means the operation of retracting to the retracted position.

During this stapling process, the tamper 7
1 is set from the size-based reference position P ₁ to the sheet alignment position P ₂ in correspondence with the above-mentioned stapling basic operation. Regarding the movement control of the tamper 71 at this time, two kinds of control programs are stored in the ROM 172 according to the number of the recording sheets 12 accommodated in each bin tray 40. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the control signal of the tamper drive motor 81 sent from the CPU 171 in each control program. FIG. 8A shows the case where the number z of the recording sheets 12 accommodated in each bin tray 40 is less than the predetermined value N. , (B) are the recording sheets 12 in each bin tray 40.
The case where the number z of accommodated sheets is equal to or more than the predetermined value N is shown.

In the present embodiment, the value shown in the following table was used as the predetermined value N.

[Table 1]

In the above table, the value of the predetermined value N is changed according to the stapling processing position because the critical value at which the bending of the recording sheet occurs when the tamper 71 is set to the sheet aligning position P ₂ is the bin tray 40. This is because each of the notches 44 to 46 for stapling that is formed in the above is different. That is, since the cutout portion 44 corresponding to the corner staple position P ₁ has a small cutout width, the bin tray 40
Even if the number of recording sheets stored in
The recording sheet 12 pressed by the tamper 71 does not bend at the position of the cutout portion 44. On the other hand, since the notch portion 46 corresponding to both the single staple position P ₃ and the rear dual staple position P ₂ has a large notch width, the recording sheet 12 pressed by the tamper 71 is bent to the position of the notch portion 46. Is likely to occur, and this deflection cannot be eliminated unless 30 or more recording sheets 12 are stored in the bin tray 40.

If the recording sheet 12 is flexed corresponding to the selected stapling process position, when the stapler 100 advances from the retracted position to the stapling process position, This causes a problem that the recording sheet comes into contact with the recording sheet and the alignment state of the recording sheet is lost. Therefore, in this embodiment, the value of the predetermined value N is changed according to the stapling position.
This value can be appropriately selected according to the design of the bin tray, the elasticity of the tamper, and the like.

The timing chart of FIG. 8 will be described below along the tamper control flow during execution of the stapling process shown in FIG. At the start of the stapling basic operation, the CPU 171 first moves and sets the tamper 71 to the sheet alignment position P ₂ (FIG. 9, ST1). This ST
1 is the same regardless of the number z of recording sheets accommodated in the bin tray 40. At this time, the size information of the recording sheet 12 required for setting the tamper 71 to the sheet alignment position P ₂ is C on the main body side during the sorting process.
The data fetched from the PU 176 to the sorter CPU 171 is used as it is. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the tamper drive motor 81 starts moving the tamper 71 to the sheet alignment position P ₂ side for a while, the advancing / retreating drive motor 115 causes the stapler 10 to move at the timing T _1.
0 is advanced to the stapling execution position.

As a result, when the stapler 100 moves from the retracted position to the stapling execution position, the recording sheet 12 is pressed against the alignment reference surface 48 by the tamper 71, and the stapler 10 has advanced.
Even when 0 comes into contact with the recording sheet 12, the alignment state of the recording sheet 12 is not broken.

After this, the CPU 171 causes the bin tray 40
It is checked whether or not the number z of recording sheets accommodated in the ROM 172 is equal to or more than the number N preset in the ROM 172 (ST2), and if less than N, the tamper 71 is moved to the size-based reference position P ₁ . (ST3). Control signal of the tamper drive motor 81 at this time (see FIG. 8A)
Is the same as the control signal for the basic tamping operation (see FIG. 6), and the tamper 71 slowly moves at the speed V ₂ to the recording sheet 1.
Separated from the end of 2. Therefore, even if the tamper 71 is set from the sheet alignment position P ₂ to the size-specific reference position P ₁ , the buckling phenomenon does not occur on the recording sheet 12.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the setting of the stapler 100 to the stapling execution position is completed at timing T2 after the tamper 71 starts moving to the size-based reference position P ₁ side, the CPU 171 drives the stapler. The motor 107 is activated to drive the staples into the recording sheet 12.

At this time, since the tamper 71 has already started to move to the size-based reference position P ₁ side, the tamper 7
The distance between 1 and the alignment reference surface 48 is sufficiently larger than the recording sheet size, and the bending of the recording sheet 12 that occurs when the tamper 71 is set to the sheet alignment position P ₂ has already been eliminated. Therefore, the recording sheet 12
It is possible to make the quality of the stapling process uniform with no variation in the driving position of the staple needle with respect to.

In parallel with this, in the tamper control flow of FIG. 9, the CPU 171 confirms whether the stapler 100 has finished driving the staples (ST4). It is checked whether or not the bin tray 40 of is the final bin tray (S
T5).

On the other hand, in ST2 of the tamper control flow, the number z of recording sheets stored in the bin tray 40 is N.
If it is determined that the above is the case, the CPU 171 causes the tamper 71
With the sheet alignment position P ₂ set, the stapler drive motor 107 is activated at the timing T _{2 to} drive the staples into the recording sheet 12.

As described above, if the number of recording sheets 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40 is N or more,
Even if the tamper 71 is set to the sheet alignment position P ₂ , it can be determined that the recording sheet 12 is not bent. Therefore, even if the staple needle is driven into the recording sheet 12 with the tamper 71 set to the sheet alignment position P ₂ , the staple needle driving position on the recording sheet is always the same, and the quality of the stapling process is not deteriorated. .

When the number of recording sheets 12 accommodated in the bin tray 40 approaches the maximum number that can be stapled, when the stapler 100 performs the operation of driving the staples, this operation causes the recording sheets 12 to be aligned. The quality of the stapling process can be improved by driving the staples while pressing the recording sheet with the tamper 71.

In parallel with this, in the tamper control flow of FIG. 9, the CPU 171 confirms whether the stapler 100 has finished driving the staples (ST6). _The tamper 71 is moved to ₁ at speed V ₁ (ST7), and then it is checked whether or not the bin tray 40 to be stapled is the final bin tray (ST5). When the tamper 71 is moved in ST7, since the recording sheet 12 has already been subjected to the stapling process, the tamper 71 sets the size-based reference position P ₁ at the same speed as when the tamper 71 is set to the sheet alignment position P _2. Even when set to, the alignment state of the recording sheet 12 is not broken by the buckling phenomenon.

Then, in any of the control programs, the bin tray 40 to be subjected to the stapling processing is ST5.
If it is determined that is the final bin tray, the CPU 171
Sets the tamper 71 to the home position P ₀ and completes the movement control of the tamper 71 in the stapling process (ST8). If it is determined in ST5 that the stapling target is not the final bin tray, CP
U171 ends the movement control of the tamper with respect to the bin tray 40 while the tamper 71 is set to the size-based reference position P ₁ .

As described above, in this embodiment, when the tamper 71 is set to the sheet aligning position P ₂ , the bin tray 40 is
Based on the problem that the recording sheet 12 inside is bent,
As a result of improving the movement control of the tamper 71 in the sorting process and the stapling process, the alignment quality of the recording sheet or the stapling process quality can be improved.

[0071]

As described above, according to the sheet distribution / accommodation apparatus of the present invention, the speed V _{1 at} which the tamper advances to the contact position with the edge of the recording sheet and the speed at which the tamper retracts from the contact position. there is relationship V _1> V ₂ is between V _2, since the buckling phenomenon in the recording sheets stored in the bin tray can be suppressed from occurring, alignment of the recording sheets stored in the bin tray Can be reliably performed.

Further, the tamper is set at a position separated from the end of the recording sheet to perform the post-processing on the recording sheet according to the number of the recording sheets stored in the bin tray. It is possible to prevent the recording sheet from being bent and perform the post-processing at a fixed position on the recording sheet, and it is possible to always maintain a constant post-processing quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sheet distribution / accommodation device apparatus (sorter) of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram showing an example of.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a post-processing stage S ₂ of a sorter according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a tamper drive system of the sorter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the sorter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a tamper setting position of the sorter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing control signals of a tamper drive motor in a basic tamping operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing tamper movement control in a sorting process.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing control signals of the tamper drive motor in the basic stapling operation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing tamper movement control in the stapling process.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state where the recording sheet is bent when the tamper is set to the sheet alignment position.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the aligned state of the recording sheet is broken by the stapler that has caught the edge portion of the recording sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Image recording device, 12 ... Recording sheet, 20 ... Sheet distribution / accommodation device (sorter), 40 ... Bin tray, 71 ... Tamper, 100 ... Stapler (post-processing means)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G03G 15/00 534

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A tray for accommodating and accommodating recording sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus, and a tray arranged so as to penetrate the tray, and retracted along the surface direction of the tray to be accommodated in the tray. In the sheet distribution / accommodation device, a bar-shaped tamper that appropriately comes into contact with the end of the recording sheet and a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on one side edge of the recording sheet accommodated in the tray are provided. V ₁ the rate of entry into the contact position, the tamper is when the rate at which retracts from the contact position with the end of the recording sheet was V _2, is V _1> V ₂ of but with the end of the recording sheet A sheet distribution / accommodation device characterized by the above. 2. A tray for accommodating recording sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus in a collimated manner, and a tray arranged so as to penetrate the tray, and retracted in the surface direction of the tray to be accommodated in the tray. In the sheet distribution / accommodation device, a bar-shaped tamper that appropriately abuts on an end of the recording sheet and a post-processing unit that performs a post-processing on one side edge of the recording sheet stored in the tray are provided. When the post-processing is performed by the processing means, when the number of recording sheets accommodated in the tray is less than the predetermined number N (N is a natural number), the tamper is set to a position separated from the end of the recording sheet. A sheet distribution / accommodation apparatus characterized in that when the number of sheets is a predetermined number N (N is a natural number) or more, the tamper is set at a contact position with an end portion of a recording sheet. 3. The sheet distributing and accommodating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tamper is temporarily placed in a contact position with an end portion of the recording sheet at the start of post-processing regardless of the number of recording sheets accommodated in the tray. A sheet distribution / accommodation device characterized in that the sheet is set and then set again at a position according to the number of recording sheets.