JPH0776453A - Sheet material subsequent treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry a sheet material to a stack tray after subsequent treatment (stapling) without avoiding a staple. CONSTITUTION:A stapler 22 comprises an upper unit 27 and a lower unit 28 which are separated from each other. The upper unit 27 is installed on the same plane as an upper guide plate 24. The lower unit 28 is installed on the same plane as a lower guide plate 25. By this constitution, the sheet material after subsequent treatment is carried to a stack tray 12 passing through between the upper and lower units of the stapler 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention performs post-processing such as binding processing by a binding needle or punching processing of binding holes on a sheet material discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile. The present invention relates to a sheet material post-processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet material post-processing apparatus for performing post-processing such as binding processing by a binding needle or punching processing of a binding hole on a sheet material discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile ( Finisher) is known.

FIG. 4 shows the overall construction of a conventional sheet material post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus.

The sheet material post-processing apparatus 1A performs a binding process with a binding needle on the sheet material S discharged from the image forming apparatus (copying machine) 2A.

First, the flow of the sheet material S in the image forming apparatus 2A and the sheet material post-processing apparatus 1A will be described.

The sheet materials S fed one by one from the sheet feeding section 3 are sent to the transfer section 4, where the toner image on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the sheet surface by the transfer charger 6.

The sheet material S after the transfer of the toner image in the transfer section 4 is sent to the fixing device 7, where the transferred toner image is fixed on the sheet surface.

The sheet material S after the fixing process of the toner image in the fixing device 7 is sent to the sheet material post-processing device 1A connected to the image forming apparatus 2A by the paper discharge roller pair 8.

Here, when the processing (binding processing) mode is selected, the sheet material S fed into the sheet material post-processing apparatus 1A passes through the first sheet material conveying path 9 and passes through the stapler (sheet material rearward). The binding process is performed by the processing unit 10 and the sheets are discharged onto the stack tray (paper discharge stacking unit) 12 outside the machine.

Further, when the post-processing mode is not selected, the sheet material S fed into the sheet material post-processing apparatus 1A is discharged onto the stack tray 12 outside the machine through the second sheet material conveying path 11. To be paper.

When the post-processing mode is selected, the flapper 14 installed immediately downstream of the pair of transport rollers 13 is installed.
Is switched to the position shown by the solid line, and the flapper 14 is switched to the position shown by the dotted line when the post-processing mode is not selected.

Next, a structure for binding the sheet material S passing through the first sheet material conveying path 9 by the stapler 10 will be described.

The first sheet material conveying path 9 is inclined so that it becomes lower toward the downstream side. A part of the first sheet material conveying path 9 can be switched between an inclined state (a state shown by a dotted line) and a substantially horizontal state (a state shown by a solid line) by rotating around the support shaft 15A. It is composed of 15.

The buffer tray 15 is used for temporarily stacking the sheet material S, and is usually in the state shown by the solid line. A predetermined number of sheet materials S discharged from the image forming apparatus 2A are placed on the buffer tray 15 in the state shown by the solid line.
Is temporarily loaded.

The sheet material S fed onto the buffer tray 15 has its tip position regulated by a stopper member 16 and is aligned by an alignment paddle 17. Here, the stopper member 16 is fixedly installed at the side of the tip of the buffer tray 15, and the stapler 10 is fixed to the stopper member 1.
It is installed on the side of 6 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow.

When a predetermined number of sheet materials S are fed onto the buffer tray 15, the stapler 10 moves in the direction of the buffer tray 15 to bind the sheet material bundle on the buffer tray 15 with a binding needle and return it to the original position. Return. In this case, the stapler 10 passes through a slit (not shown) formed in the stopper member 16.

The stapler 1 used here is used.
The 0 type is a type in which the upper unit supported by the lower unit swings to perform needle driving.

When the stapler 10 which has finished the binding work returns to the original position, the buffer tray 15 moves down to the position shown by the dotted line. As a result, the sheet material bundle bound by the binding needles slides down from the buffer tray 15 under its own weight, and is discharged onto the stack tray 12 outside the machine by the pair of paper discharge rollers 18.

When the rear end of the sheet bundle passes through the pair of discharge rollers 17, the buffer tray 15 returns to the position shown by the solid line.

The sheet material S passing through the second sheet material conveying path 11 is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 19 and 20, and a pair of discharge rollers 18 conveys the stack tray 1 outside the apparatus.
2 is ejected to the top.

[0021]

However, in the sheet material post-processing apparatus of the above-mentioned conventional example, the sheet material after the post-processing (needle stitching) is stacked on the stack tray 12
In order to convey the sheet to the stopper member 16 and the stapler 10.
In order to avoid this, the buffer tray 15 must be rotationally moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line by a drive mechanism (not shown). The second sheet material conveying path 11 through which the sheet material S passes when the post-processing mode is not selected is required. First sheet material conveying path 9 and second sheet material conveying path 11
Requires the flapper 14 to select. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the post-processed sheet material can be conveyed to the discharged sheet stacking section without avoiding the sheet material post-processing means. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material post-processing apparatus that allows the sheet material when the post-processing mode is not selected to pass through the same sheet material transport path as the sheet material when the post-processing mode is selected. To do.

[0023]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a sheet material (S) which is being conveyed to a predetermined discharged sheet stacking section (12) is temporarily stopped at a predetermined position, and the sheet material which is temporarily stopped is stopped. The sheet material post-processing device (S) performs a predetermined post-processing by the sheet material post-processing means (22).

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the sheet material post-processing means (22) by a plurality of divided bodies (27, 28) which are separated from each other, and the sheet material post-processing means. Each divided body of (22) (27, 2)
8) is installed at a predetermined interval at positions where the sheet material (S) temporarily stopped at a predetermined position is sandwiched.

[0025]

According to the sheet material post-treatment device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, each divided body (2) of the sheet material post-treatment means (22).
7, 28) is in a state where the conveyance of the sheet material (S) is not blocked except during the post-processing operation.

Therefore, the post-processed sheet material (S) can reach the discharged sheet stacking section (12) through between the divided bodies (27, 28) of the sheet material post-processing means (22). Further, the sheet material (S) when the post-processing mode is not selected is also the divided body (27, 28) of the sheet material post-processing means (22).
It is possible to reach the discharged sheet stacking unit (12) through the space.

Thus, the sheet material conveying path for passing the sheet material (S) after the post-processing from the sheet material post-processing means (22) and the sheet material (S) when the post-processing mode is not selected. Etc. are unnecessary.

The reference numerals in parentheses are for reference to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of a sheet material post-processing apparatus of the present invention connected to an image forming apparatus.

The sheet material post-processing apparatus 1B performs binding processing by a binding needle on the sheet material S discharged from the image forming apparatus (copying machine) 2B.

In the description of the sheet material post-processing apparatus 1B, the same members and the like as those of the conventional sheet material post-processing apparatus 1A are designated by the same reference numerals, and those which are structurally and functionally unchanged. Will not be described.
The same applies to the image forming apparatus 2B.

In the case of the sheet material post-processing apparatus 1B, the sheet material S when the post-processing (binding processing) mode is selected.
And the sheet material S when the post-processing mode is not selected
Passes through the same sheet material conveying path 21 and stack tray 1
2 is ejected to the top.

When the post-processing mode is selected, the sheet material S is temporarily stopped on the sheet material conveying path 21, stapled by the stapler 22, and then discharged onto the stack tray 12. .

When the post-processing mode is not selected, the sheet material S passes through the sheet material conveying path 21 without being stopped and is discharged onto the stack tray 12.

The sheet material S passing through the sheet material conveying path 21 is
The sheet is conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 13 and 23, and is discharged onto the stack tray 12 by the pair of discharging rollers 18.

The sheet material conveying path 21 is composed of upper and lower guide plates 24 and 25 arranged at a predetermined interval.

A stapler 22 for stapling the sheet material S being conveyed to the stack tray 12 is installed downstream of the sheet material conveyance path 21.

A shutter member 26 is provided immediately downstream of the stapler 22 for temporarily stopping the sheet material S when the post-processing mode is selected and for restricting the tip position of the sheet material S. ing.

The stapler 22 is composed of upper and lower units (divided bodies) 27 and 28 which are separated from each other. The upper and lower units 27 and 28 are installed on the same plane as the upper and lower guide plates 24 and 25.

The upper and lower units 2 installed in this way
A portion between the sheets 7 and 28 constitutes a part of the sheet material conveying path 21. Therefore, the facing surfaces of the upper and lower units 27 and 28 are shaped to function as upper and lower guide plates.

Although the detailed structure of the stapler 22 will be described later, stapling in the stapler 22 is performed by moving the movable portion of the upper unit 27 to the lower unit 28 side.

When the stapler 22 finishes stapling,
Between the upper and lower units 27 and 28, the sheet material conveying path 21 is again provided.
Function as part of.

When the post-processing mode is selected, the shutter member 27 moves from the retracted position shown by the dotted line to the position shown by the solid line to close the sheet material conveying path 21. by this,
The front end position of the sheet material S being conveyed to the stack tray 12 is regulated by the shutter member 27, and the sheet material S is temporarily stopped in the sheet material conveyance path 21.

When a predetermined number of sheet materials S are stacked in the sheet material conveying path 21, the pair of conveying rollers 12 and 23 temporarily stop rotating. At the same time, the stapler 22 is driven to perform stapling.

When the stapler 22 finishes stapling, the shutter member 27 moves to the retracted position, and the pair of conveying rollers 13 and 23 start rotating again. As a result, the staple-bound sheet material bundle is sent to the paper discharge roller pair 18.

When the post-processing mode is not selected, the shutter member 27 is retracted to the retracted position, and the transport roller pair 1
2 and 23 are rotating continuously.

FIG. 2 shows a structural example of the stapler 22.

The upper unit 27 is attached to a base 29 fixed to the body of the sheet material post-processing apparatus so as to be movable in the vertical direction (arrow direction). The flat bottom plate 29A of the base 29 is arranged on the same plane as the upper guide plate 24, and functions as an upper guide plate.

A plurality of vertical guide grooves 30, 31 are formed on the side plate 29B of the base 29, and a plurality of support shafts provided on the side surfaces of the upper unit 27 are formed in the guide grooves 30, 31. 32 and 33 are movably fitted.

A staple gear 34 is attached to a side plate 29B of the base 29, and the rotation of the staple gear 34 is carried out by a crank arm 36 which swings vertically around a support shaft 35 so that the upper unit 27 is rotated. It is transmitted to the support shaft 32.

A drive motor 37 is attached to the staple gear 34.
Is transmitted via the gear train 38. When the staple gear 34 makes one rotation from the position (home position) shown, the upper unit 27 descends to a predetermined position by the swing motion of the crank arm 36 and returns to the position shown again.

In one stapling operation of the stapler 22, as described above, the staple gear 34 is rotated once by the drive motor 37 to drive the upper unit 27 by one stroke.

The lower unit 28 is fixed to the main body of the sheet material post-processing apparatus. The flat top plate 28A of the lower unit 28 is arranged on the same plane as the lower guide 25 and functions as a lower guide plate. An anvil 39 is attached on the top plate 28 for bending the legs of the binding needle driven into the sheet bundle SA by driving the upper unit 27.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the construction of the needle feeding / needle striking mechanism portion incorporated in the upper unit 27.

On one side of the needle cutting member 40, a needle cartridge 42 that stores a band-shaped binding needle (stapler needle) 41, and one binding needle 41 that is stored in the needle cartridge 42 A needle feeding member 43 that feeds each one is installed.

The binding needle 41 accommodated in the needle cartridge 42 is pressed by the needle pressing member (leaf spring) 44 of the needle cartridge 42 at a predetermined pressure, and the needle feeding member 4
3 makes it possible to send it out smoothly.

Further, the frontmost needle 41A of the binding needle 41 always projects to the other side of the needle cutting member 40.

On the other side of the needle cutting member 40, a driver 45 for separating the leading edge needle 41A from the band-shaped binding needle 41 and driving it into the sheet bundle SA, and the needle cutting member 4
A needle holding member 46 that holds the center portion of the most advanced needle 41A protruding from 0 that is bonded, and a needle bending member 47 that bends both ends of the most advanced needle 41A that is held by the holding member 46 and is not bonded. Is installed.

The driver 45 moves in the vertical direction (arrow direction) along the side surface of the needle cutting member 40. The driver 45 descends when the head 45A is pushed by the upper unit 27 that moves downward.

The needle holding member 46 is attached to the support member 49 via a biasing spring 48. This needle holding member 4
6 is brought into contact with the side surface of the needle cutting member 40 by the urging force of the urging spring 48, and holds the most advanced needle 41A protruding from the side surface.

The needle bending member 47 is interposed between the driver 45 and the supporting member 49, and when the driver 45 descends, it is pushed by the pushing claw 50 and descends.

Next, the operation of the needle feed and needle driving mechanism will be described.

Now, the upper unit 27 moves downward,
When the driver 45 descends, at the same time, the needle bending member 47
Also, it is pushed by the push claws 50 and descends to bend both ends of the most advanced needle 41A held by the needle holding member 46 by 90 degrees to form both feet.

When the driver 45 is further lowered, the protrusion 47A of the needle bending member 47 presses the needle feeding member 43 as shown by an imaginary line. As a result, the needle feeding member 43 is distorted and the feeding claw 43A retracts.

At this time, since the most advanced needle 41A has already been bent in a U shape, the binding needle 41 does not move backward,
Only the feed claw 43A moves backward to prepare for the next needle feed.

When the driver 45 is further lowered, the pushing claw 50, which has pressed the needle bending member 47, changes its position.
It deviates from 7, and only the driver 45 continues to descend.

When the tip of the driver 45 that continues to descend presses the tapered surface of the needle holding member 46, the needle holding member 46 retracts against the biasing spring 48 as shown by an imaginary line.

The driver 45, which continues to be more effective, cuts the most advanced needle 41A bent in a U shape and drives it into the sheet material bundle SA. The driver 45 holds the needle 4 until both legs of the needle 41A are bent into a predetermined shape by the anvil 39.
Type 1A.

A driver 45 having finished driving the needle 41A
Returns to rise. Along with this, the protrusion 47A of the needle bending member 47 is disengaged from the needle feeding member 43, and the pressing on the needle feeding member 43 is released.

When this pressing is released, the feed claw 43A returns to the original position and the binding needle 41 is fed out by the amount corresponding to the staple.

In this embodiment, the stapler for binding the sheet material with the binding needle is applied to the sheet material post-processing apparatus provided with (sheet material post-processing means), but the present invention is
The present invention can be widely applied to a sheet material post-processing apparatus including other sheet material post-processing means such as a puncher for punching binding holes in a sheet material.

[0073]

As described above, in the sheet material post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the sheet material post-processing means is composed of a plurality of divided bodies, and the sheet when the post-processing operation is not performed. Since the space between the divided bodies of the material post-processing means becomes a part of the sheet material conveying path, the sheet material after the post-processing is discharged between the divided bodies without avoiding the sheet material post-processing means. Can be transported to the paper stacking section. Further, the sheet material when the post-processing mode is not selected can also be conveyed to the discharged sheet stacking section through the respective divided bodies of the sheet material post-processing means.

Therefore, a means for avoiding the post-processing sheet material from the sheet material post-processing and a sheet material conveying path for passing the sheet material when the post-processing mode is not selected are unnecessary, and the structure is simple and inexpensive. A sheet material post-treatment device can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet material post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration example of a stapler included in the sheet material post-processing device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration example of a staple feeding / stapling mechanism portion in the stapler.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a conventional sheet material post-processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Stack Tray (Paper Discharge Stacking Section) 21 Sheet Material Conveying Path 22 Stapler (Sheet Material Post-Processing Means) 27 Upper Unit (Divided Body) 28 Lower Unit (Divided Body) S Sheet Material

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material that is being conveyed to a predetermined discharged sheet stacking unit is temporarily stopped from being conveyed to a predetermined position, and the sheet material post-processing means performs a predetermined post-treatment on the temporarily stopped sheet material. In the sheet material post-processing device, the sheet material post-processing means is composed of a plurality of divided bodies, and each divided body of the sheet material post-processing means is temporarily stopped at a predetermined position. A sheet material post-processing apparatus, characterized in that the sheet material is installed at predetermined positions at a position sandwiching the sheet material. 2. The sheet material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each divided body of the sheet material post-processing means also serves as a part of a sheet material conveying path. 3. The sheet material post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material post-processing means is a binding device that binds a plurality of sheet materials with a binding needle. 4. The sheet material post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material post-processing means is a punching device that punches a binding hole in the sheet material.