JPH0763965B2 - Sheet binding device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sheet binding device that stacks fed sheets and binds the sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A sheet binding apparatus that staples sheets fed from a copying machine or the like is provided with a mechanism for aligning a plurality of sheets to be bound.

However, this aligning mechanism has a drawback that the structure of the mechanism is complicated and expensive because it is configured to align the sheet in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, the tray on which the fed sheets are stacked is provided with an inclination so that the sheets are aligned in the inclined direction when they fall onto the tray. There is proposed a sheet binding device in which a stapler is provided on the lower side of an inclined tray so as to press the sheet.

In such an apparatus, a skewed sheet drops onto the tray and the alignment member is pressed against the sheet to align in one direction, but in this state, the sheet still hits the lower side of the inclined tray. Since it is not in the closed state, the alignment in the tilt direction has not been completed yet. Therefore, if the binding operation is performed in this state, binding failure will occur.

Further, in the above-mentioned apparatus, if the skewed sheet falls on the tray and the aligning member is pressed against the sheet and retracted to a position away from the sheet, the sheet slides down in the inclination direction of the tray. However, when the sheet slides down, the sheet may slip in the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction and slide down. If the sheet is moved to the binding operation as it is, the binding failure also occurs.

[Object] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet binding device having a simple configuration capable of favorably binding a perfectly aligned sheet. is there.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 100 is a main body having an image reading function and an image recording function, 300 is a circulation type document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as RDF) for automatically feeding documents, and 400 is a paper folding device that folds a paper at a predetermined position. The device is a finisher (post-processing device) having a sorting function and a stapling function, and these 300 to 500 devices can be freely used in combination with the main body 100.

A. Main unit (100) In the main unit 100, 101 is a platen glass on which an original is placed,
103 is an illumination lamp (exposure lamp) for illuminating the original, 105,1
Reference numerals 07 and 109 respectively denote a scanning reflection mirror (scanning mirror) for changing the optical path of the reflected light of the original document, 111 denotes a lens having focusing and variable magnification functions, and 113 denotes a fourth reflection mirror (scanning mirror) for changing the optical path. . 115 is an optical system motor for driving the optical system, and 117, 119 and 121 are sensors.

131 is a photosensitive drum, 133 is a main motor for driving the photosensitive drum 131, 135 is a high-voltage unit, 137 is a blank exposure unit, 139 is a developing device, 141 is a transfer charger, 143 is a separation charger, and 145 is a cleaning device. .

151 is the upper cassette, 153 is the lower cassette, 155 and 157
Is a paper feed roller, and 159 is a registration roller. Also, 161
Is a conveyor belt that conveys the recording paper on which an image has been recorded to the fixing side, 163 is a fixing device that fixes the conveyed recording paper by thermocompression bonding, and 167 is a sensor used during double-sided recording.

The surface of the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 131 is composed of a photoconductor and a seamless photosensitive member using a conductor, and the drum 131 is rotatably supported by a shaft and operates in response to the pressing of a copy start key described later. The motor 133 starts rotation in the direction of the arrow in this figure. Next, when the predetermined rotation control of the drum 131 and the potential control processing (preprocessing) are completed, the original placed on the original table glass 101 is illuminated by the illumination lamp 103 integrated with the first scanning mirror 105, The reflected light of the original is reflected by the first scanning mirror 105, the second scanning mirror 107, and the third scanning mirror 107.
Scanning mirror 109, lens 111, and fourth scanning mirror 113
An image is formed on the drum 131 via the.

The drum 131 is corona charged by the high voltage unit 135.
After that, the image (original image) irradiated by the illumination lamp 103 is slit-exposed, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 131.

Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 131 is developed by the developing roller 140 of the developing device 139 and visualized as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by the transfer charger 141 as described later. .

That is, the transfer paper in the upper cassette 151 or the lower cassette 153 is fed into the main body device by the paper feed roller 155 or 157, and is fed in the direction of the photosensitive drum 131 with accurate timing by the registration roller 159, and is transferred to the latent image tip. The leading edge of the transfer paper is aligned. After that, the transfer charger 141
The toner image on the drum 131 is transferred onto the transfer paper by passing the transfer paper between the transfer paper and the drum 131. After completion of this transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the drum 131 by the separation charger 143, guided to the fixing device 163 by the conveyor belt 161, and fixed by pressing and heating, and then the discharge roller 165.
Is discharged to the outside of the main body 100.

After the transfer, the drum 131 continues to rotate and the surface thereof is cleaned by the cleaning device 145 including a cleaning roller and an elastic blade.

B. RDF (Circulating Document Feeder) (300) In RDF300, 301 is a stacking tray for setting documents. Reference numerals 302 and 303 denote document size detection sensors, which are provided at predetermined intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the document. The size of the document in the width direction is determined by both sensors 302 and 303.
It is possible to make a determination by checking whether or not the document is being detected, or whether only one of the sensors 303 (however, the sensor 303 is on the back side of the paper surface) is detecting the document. A more accurate size can be determined by increasing the number of this type of sensor. In addition, the size in the length direction is measured by the sensor.
It can be determined by the time when the document is detected by 303 (or 302).

Also, in this RDF300, from the stack tray 301 to the sheet path 304
The original sent to the exposure surface through the sheet path 305 can be stacked on the stack tray 301 again. Further, 307 is a sensor for detecting the circulation of the original.

The more detailed operation of the RDF 300 is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-206619 filed by the present applicant, but is omitted here because it is not directly related to the present invention.

C. Paper Folding Device (400) The paper folding device 400 performs half-folding in which the recorded transfer paper is folded at approximately its central position, and Z-folding in which two predetermined positions are folded into three substantially Z-shaped sections. In this paper folding device 400, 401 is a flapper that guides the transfer paper downward when folding the paper, 403
And 405 are paths (conveyance paths), and 407 and 409 are folding rollers.

In the paper folding device 400, when Z-folding is designated by a Z-folding key which will be described later, the flapper 401 is turned on to guide the recorded paper to the lower path 403, and the leading end of the paper is cut at the end of the path 403. When stopped, the sheet portion folded in 1/4 through the roller 407 hits the end of the path 405, and the sheet is folded in 1/2 and guided again from the roller 407 through the roller 409 to the finisher 500. When half-folding is specified by the half-folding key described later, the recorded paper is folded in half at the path 403, and then the roller 409 is not moved to the path 405.
Is discharged to the initiator 500. On the other hand, when the folding key is not designated and the sheet is not folded, the flapper 401 is turned off and the recorded sheet is directly discharged to the finisher 500.

D. Finisher (500) In the finisher 500 for sorting or stapling recorded paper, 501 is a path switching discharge flapper for selectively switching to either one of the sorting path 503 and the staple path 505, and 507 is A staple tray for temporarily stacking and storing the recorded paper before being stapled, 509 a width regulating plate for lateral width regulation provided on the staple tray 507, 511 staples a plurality of recorded papers whose width is regulated by the width regulating plate 509. A stapler (document binding machine) 513 is a stacker tray for storing stapled recorded paper, and the width aligning plate 509 is drive-controlled by a stepping motor (not shown). Reference numeral 515 is a sorting tray for sorting recording paper that is not stapled. The recorded paper discharged from the main body 100 or the pedestal 200 is half-folded or Z-folded by the paper folding device 400 according to the designation of the key, and then discharged to the swing-type sorting tray 515 of the finisher 500. Alternatively, the recorded sheets ejected to the staple tray 507 and ejected to the staple tray 507 are width-regulated by the width alignment plate 509 for every part of the designated number of sheets, and the stapler 5
It is bound at 11 and dropped to the stacker tray 513.

That is, in the finisher 500, when the staple mode is selected by the staple key described later, the discharge flapper 501 is turned on to discharge the recorded paper to the staple tray 507 via the path 505, and when the specified number of sheets is reached. According to an instruction from the main body 100, the width aligning plate 509 and the stapler 511 are turned on, and the recorded paper is stapled. After that, the stapled paper is dropped to the stacker tray 513. By repeating this operation, a plurality of recorded documents which are gathered and stapled are completed. Reference numeral 517 is a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of staples, and for example, a reflection type sensor is used.

When the stapling process is not selected, the discharge flapper 501 is turned off and switched to the sorting side, and the recorded paper is discharged to the sorting tray 515 through the path 503.
At that time, according to an instruction from the main body 100, it is possible to stack the recorded papers by shifting the right and left by 30 mm in units of a good number of sheets. FIG. 2 shows an arrangement configuration example of the operation panel provided in the main body 100 described above. The operation panel has a key group 600 and a display group 700 as described below.

E. key group (600) 602 is an all reset key, which is pressed to return to the standard mode.

Reference numeral 604 denotes a copy start key (copy start key), which is pressed to start copying.

A clear / stop key 605 has the function of a clear key during standby (standby) and a stop key during copy recording. This clear key is pressed to cancel the set number of copies. The stop key is pressed when interrupting continuous copying. After the copying at the time of pushing is completed, the copying operation is stopped.

A numeric keypad 606 is pressed to set the number of copies.

Reference numerals 608 and 609 denote copy density keys, which are pressed when manually adjusting the copy density. 610 is an AE key for automatically adjusting the copy density according to the density of the original
Press to cancel (automatic density adjustment) and switch density adjustment to manual (manual). Reference numeral 611 denotes a cassette selection key, which is pressed to select the upper cassette 151 and the middle cassette 153. Also, when a document is placed on the RDF300,
APS (automatic paper cassette selection) can be selected by this key 611. When APS is selected, a cassette with the same size as the original is automatically selected.

Reference numeral 612 denotes a unity size key, which is pressed when making a copy at the same size (actual size). Reference numeral 613 denotes an auto scaling key, which is pressed to automatically reduce or enlarge the image of the original according to the designated transfer paper size. 614 and 615 are zoom keys,
Press to specify any magnification between 142%. 616 and 617 are fixed-size variable keys, which are pressed to specify reduction / enlargement of the fixed size.

Reference numeral 625 denotes a staple key, which is pressed when the sheets after recording are stapled. 626 is a Z-fold key, A3 or B4
Press to fold a size of recorded paper into a Z-shaped cross section. 627 is a half-fold key, which is pressed to fold an A3 or B4 size recorded sheet in half.

Reference numeral 628 denotes a sort key, which lights up in the standard mode when the sorting tray (sorter) 515 is connected. At this time, when canceling the sort mode or not setting the sort mode, the key 628 is pressed. Reference numeral 629 denotes a group key, which makes a plurality of copies from one original and stores them in the sorting tray 515 for each bin if the sorting tray 515 is connected.

F. Display Group (700) In FIG. 2, 701 is an LCD (liquid crystal) type message display, for example, one character is formed by 5 × 7 dots and a 40 character sentence message can be displayed.

Reference numeral 705 denotes a copy number display, which displays a copy number or a self-diagnosis code. Reference numeral 706 denotes a cassette to be used, which indicates which one of the upper cassette 151 and the middle cassette 153 is selected.

Reference numeral 708 denotes an AE display, which lights up when AE (automatic density adjustment) is selected by the AE key 610. 710 is a ready / weight indicator, which is a two-color LED of green and orange. When ready (when copying is possible), green lights up,
Orange lights when waiting (when copying is not possible).

G. Controller (800) FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration example of the controller 800 of the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 801 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) that performs arithmetic control for executing the present invention, and for example, N
EC (NEC Corporation) microcomputer μCO
Use M87AD. Reference numeral 803 is a read-only memory (ROM) in which a control procedure (control program) as shown in FIG. 5 according to the present invention is stored in advance, and the CPU 801 is connected via a bus according to the control procedure stored in the ROM. Control each component. Reference numeral 805 denotes a random access memory (RAM) which is a main storage device used as a storage area for input data, a work storage area, or the like.

807 is an interface (I / O) that outputs a CPU 801 control signal to the load of the main motor 133 and the like, and 809 is an interface that inputs an input signal of the image destination sensor 121 and sends it to the CPU 801.
811 is an interface for controlling the input / output of the key group 600 and the display group 700. These interfaces
The 807, 809, and 811 use, for example, an NEC input / output circuit port μPD8255.

The display group 700 is each display in FIG.
You are using an ED or LCD. Further, the key group 600 is each key in FIG. 3, and the CPU 801 can know which key is pressed by a known key matrix.

CPU801 is RDF300, paper folding device 400, and finisher 5
It is connected to 00 via a bus line and operates each device.

FIGS. 4-1 to 4-3 are detailed views of the staple tray portion of the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4-3, the sheet discharged from the main body is discharged onto the staple tray 507 by the discharge roller 530, and is aligned vertically by the belt 531 suspended on the roller 530. On the other hand, the lateral alignment is performed by moving the horizontal width regulating fixed plate 506 and the movable width shifting plate 509 in the arrow direction as shown in FIGS. The width adjusting plate 509 is driven by a stepping motor 508 via a rack and pinion, and a home position sensor 510 for detecting a reference position of the stepping motor 508 positions the width adjusting plate. The sheet bundle aligned on the staple tray 507 by the fixed plate 506 and the movable width-shifting plate 509 is stapled at its end by a stapler 511,
After that, the stopper 519 is released so that the solenoid 521 is turned on to drop the stapled sheet bundle onto the stack tray 513 at the lower portion and store it. Further, 523 is a sensor for detecting a sheet on the staple tray, and 533 is a sensor for detecting a trailing edge of the sheet when the sheet discharged from the main body is discharged onto the staple tray. Then, the rollers 530, the belt 531 and the like are rotated by a conveyance motor (not shown). Above the transport motor,
Stepping motor 508, solenoid 521 and sensor 523,533
Is connected to and controlled by the CPU of FIG.

The detailed operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 5 and the drawing shown in FIG.

As the operation in the staple mode, first, at step 101, the stepping motor 508 is driven to move the width-shifting plate 509 to the home position 510, and the motor is controlled to be turned off when the home position 510 is turned on (6th step). -1 position) and by driving the transport motor. Then, in step 102, the width adjusting plate 509 is set to the sheet size +
The stepping motor 508 is driven to move to the position of 10 mm, the home position sensor is turned off, and then a predetermined number of clock steps are advanced to stop at the position shown in FIG. 6-2. For example, if 1 step = 0.33 mm, sheet size = B5 = 182 mm, and the distance from the home position sensor 510 to the fixed plate 506 is 300 mm, the predetermined number of clocks =
(300-182-10) ÷ 0.33 = 327 clocks.

Then, the sensor 533 detects the trailing edge of the sheet discharged from the main body by the sensor 533 (step 103), and the sheet stacking timer counts the time required to convey the sheet until it falls to the staple tray. (Step104) At that time,
As shown in Fig. 6-2, the width-shifting plate 509 is (sheet size) + 10 mm as shown in Fig. 6-2, but the positional relationship with the sheet is that the fixed plate 506 and the width-shifting plate 509 are spaced by 5 mm each. , This is to prevent stacking defects from being caught or climbed up when the sheets are discharged onto the staple tray.

At the end of the timer, the drawstring plate is moved to the position just the sheet size (step 105). If the sheet is normal at that time, as shown in FIG. It should be brought closer to the position where it comes in contact with the fixed plate 506, while the vertical direction should come to the position where it comes into contact with the stopper 519 by the belt 531. However, for example, when the sheet falls on the tray, it is slanted as shown in FIG. 6-4. In the case where it is moving, even if the width-shifting plate is moved close to it, it may remain halfway at a position where the vertical direction does not contact the stopper 519 as shown in FIG. 6-5. This is because the sheet cannot be moved by the belt 531 because the sheet is pressed by the fixed plate when the width adjusting plate approaches.

In this state, if the stapler is operated immediately after the completion of sheet ejection in step 106, there is a risk that the uppermost one sheet is not stapled. Therefore, in step 107, the width of the width-shifting plate 509 is made to reciprocate 10 mm again to ensure that the sheet is 6th
It is arranged so as to come to a predetermined proper position in the figure.

After that, even when the staples are operated in step 108, the width-shifting plate holds down the sheet bundle so as not to escape laterally. When the stapling is completed, the width-shifting plate is stopped at the sheet size + 10 mm (step 109), and the solenoid is set to drop the sheet bundle to the stack tray.
Turn on 521 and release stopper 519 (step11
Perform 0).

Then, in step 111, after the sheet bundle passes through the staple tray paper detection sensor 523, after waiting for a certain time, that is, the time when the trailing edge of the sheet bundle passes through the stopper 519, the solenoid is turned off and the stopper is set to remove the sheet bundle. It is normally stored in the stack tray 513.

[Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, for example, when the skewed final sheet falls on the stacking means, the aligning member is first pressed against the sheet to cause the stacking means to move in a direction different from the inclination direction. After aligning the sheet, the aligning member is retracted to a position away from the sheet, the sheet that slides down due to the inclination of the stacking surface is brought into contact with the abutting member, aligns in the inclination direction, and then the aligning member is pressed again. As a result, the binding is performed after the misalignment in the direction different from the inclination direction of the stacking means, which occurs when the sheets slide down due to the inclination of the stacking surface, is aligned, and thus the sheets that have been perfectly aligned can be properly bound. it can. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a sheet binding device that can perform good binding with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an image recording apparatus equipped with a sheet post-processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the operating portion of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. Block diagrams showing the control section of the image recording apparatus shown in FIGS. 4-1 to 4-3 are diagrams showing details of the stapling section, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of control according to the present invention. 1 to 6-5 are views for explaining the operation of the width-adjusting member. 100: Image recording device 300: RDF 400: Paper folding device 500: Finisher

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet stacking unit having an inclined stacking surface for stacking fed sheets, and an abutting member for stopping a sheet sliding down due to the inclination of the stacking surface, and a sheet stacking unit stacked on the stacking unit. An aligning member that can be pressed in a direction different from the inclination direction of the stacking surface to align the stacked sheets, a binding unit that binds the sheets stacked on the stacking unit, and a sheet to the stacking unit. And a control unit that presses the alignment member against the sheets stacked on the stacking unit at a predetermined timing after being fed, and then retracts the alignment member to a position away from the sheets. , At a predetermined timing after the final sheet is fed to the stacking means, the aligning member is pressed against the sheets stacked on the stacking means, and then in the inclination direction of the stacking surface. The aligning member is retracted to a position away from the sheet so that the sheet slides down and abuts against the abutting member to stop, and the aligning member is pressed again against the sheet, and binding is performed by the binding means. Sheet binding device.