JPH09309663A - Finisher - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient finisher saving the operator from troublesomely commanding the paper size and stapling position at its manual stapling process. SOLUTION: A stapler unit 70 for stapling a bunch of sheets S inserted from the outside thereinto is provided with a sensor SE43 for detecting the transverse length L of the bunch of sheets S, and is driven by a motor M43 to move from its home position Z in the direction of an arrow (f). Based on the moved distance the length L is detected. The stapler unit 70 moves in the opposite direction to the arrow (f) while stapling on the basis of the detected length L the bunch at a position S4 for the back stapling mode or at positions S3 and S2 for the side stapling mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a finisher, and more particularly to a finisher for stapling a stack of sheets discharged from a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer is provided with a finisher for sorting image-formed sheets and stapling them. As the stapling process, corner stapling at one corner and side stapling at one end of a sheet bundle at two positions are performed based on the operator's selection.
In the side staple mode, the staple position differs depending on the paper size. When the stapling process is performed on the stack of sheets discharged from the copying machine and accumulated, the side staple position can be automatically determined because the sheet size is known in advance. On the other hand, when the operator performs side stapling on a stack of sheets inserted in a specified tray, the operator specifies the sheet size or stapling position and then instructs manual stapling to execute the specified stapling position. It was configured to drive staples into.

[0003]

In the manual stapling process, it is troublesome for the operator to specify the paper size and the stapling position one by one, and there is a possibility that the operator may erroneously specify them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a finisher which is easy to use and does not require the operator to specify the paper size and the staple position one by one in the manual stapling process.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the finisher according to the present invention is provided with a tray for stapling, into which a sheet bundle can be inserted from the outside, and a sheet bundle set on the tray. A staple unit for driving a staple into an end portion, a moving unit for reciprocating the staple unit along the end portion of the sheet bundle, a sensor for detecting a sheet size that reciprocates integrally with the staple unit, and a manual staple unit. An input means for inputting execution of processing and a control means for controlling execution of stapling processing are provided. When the execution of the manual stapling process is input from the input unit, the control unit controls the moving unit to move the stapling unit forward so that the sheet is printed based on the detection result of the sensor and the moving amount of the stapling unit. Calculate the size of the bundle and
The staple position is set based on the calculated size of the sheet bundle.

In the above structure, the operator inserts a desired bundle of sheets into the tray for manual stapling,
It suffices to input execution of staple processing. The sensor moves with the stapling unit based on the stapling execution input, the size of the inserted sheet bundle is calculated, and the stapling position is automatically determined. That is, the control unit automatically determines the optimum staple position based on the sheet bundle size. If the finisher is capable of selecting a plurality of types of staple modes, the optimum staple position may be determined by adding the type of staple mode selected to the sheet bundle size.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary for the operator to specify the staple position one by one, the risk of incorrect designation is eliminated, and a finisher with good usability can be obtained.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a finisher according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to a staple sorter connected to an electrophotographic copying machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrophotographic copying machine, and 10
Is a staple sorter. The copier 1 forms an image on a sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method, and includes a circulation type automatic document feeder 5 at an upper portion thereof. The automatic document feeder 5 sequentially feeds a group of documents stacked on a tray onto a platen glass, and discharges the document from the platen glass when exposure processing is performed for the number of copies (number of copies) designated by an operator. Return to top. If copying is still necessary after a group of originals has made one round, the second and third rounds of original transport processing are further performed. The automatic document feeder 5 has a function of counting the number of conveyed documents.

As shown in FIG. 2, the staple sorter 10 has a large-capacity non-sort tray 20, a bin assembly 30 having 20 bins 31, and a bundle of sheets contained in each bin 31. The chucking units 40 and 40a, the stapling unit 70, the sheet conveying section 80, and the sheet conveying gate 100.

The staple sorter 10 can process the image-formed sheets discharged from the copying machine 1 in the following modes. Non-sort tray 20 without sorting paper
Processing for loading and storing on top (non-sorting), paper is stored in each bin 3
1 sorting in page order (sorting), sorting of sorted sheet bundles (sorting / stapling), processing of taking out stapled sheet bundles from each bin 31 and stacking and storing them in the non-sort tray 20 (sorting / stacking) Further, a process for sorting the sheets into each bin 31 for each page (group), a process for stapling the sheet bundle sorted for each page (group / sort), and taking out the stapled sheet bundle from each bin 31 for non-printing Processing to stack and store in sort tray 20 (group / stack)
Is feasible. Further, a process of inserting a desired sheet bundle into the bin 31 ₁ shown in FIG. 2 and stapling (manual stapling) can be executed.

Next, the internal structure of the staple sorter 10 will be described in detail. First, the paper transport unit 80 includes a pair of receiving rollers 81 for receiving the paper discharged from the copying machine 1.
A switching claw 82 for switching a paper transport direction; a first transport path 83 extending in a substantially vertical direction;
And a second transport path 90 extending substantially horizontally to the bin assembly 30 side. The switching claw 82 is rotatably mounted on the pin 82a as a fulcrum based on the on / off state of the solenoid SL50. Switching claw 82
Is set at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 when the solenoid SL50 is off. At this time, the sheet received by the receiving roller pair 81 is guided by the curved right side surface of the switching claw 82 and sent to the first transport path 83. When the solenoid SL50 is turned off, the switching claw 82 slightly rotates clockwise. At this time, the sheet is guided by the upper surface of the switching claw 82 and sent to the non-sort tray 20 through the sheet transport gate 100 described below.

The first transport path 83 includes guide plates 84, 85, 8
6 and 87, a punching mechanism 120 that forms a binding hole at the leading end or the trailing end of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction is installed in the middle section. Details of the punch mechanism 120 are omitted.

The second conveying path 90 includes a pair of conveying rollers 91, 9
2 and guide plates 93, 94, and is rotatable about 90 ° about a support shaft 95 as a fulcrum. At the time of the sort mode or the group mode processing, the second transport path 90 is set at the transport position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the paper sent from the first transport path 83 is sent to each bin 31. During the sheet take-out process described below, the second conveyance path 90 is rotated about 90 ° clockwise about the support shaft 95 to stand up (see FIG. 6), and is retracted from the sheet conveyance position.

Further, the sheet conveying section 80 has a transmissive sensor SE21 for detecting the sheet and a sensor SE53 for detecting that the second conveying path 90 is set at the retracted position.
Is installed. The roller pairs 81, 91, 92 are rotationally driven by the motor M50.

The bin assembly 30 has 20 stages of bins 31.
₁ ...... 31 consist _20, each bin 31 is placed inclined at a predetermined interval, a spiral groove pins 32 provided at the lower side is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (not shown) installed in the vertical direction Is engaged. By rotating the drive shaft forward / reversely by the motor M60, each rotation of the drive shaft causes each bin 3
1 goes up and down one pitch. The position of the bin assembly 30 shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 is the lower limit position (home position), and at this time, the first bin 31 ₁ is in the stapling unit 7.
0. Hereinafter, when the bin assembly 30 is set at the home position, the first bin 31 ₁
Position referred to as level X ₁ of. When the drive shaft further rotates once (normal rotation), the first bin 31 ₁ rises to the level X ₂ ,
In this level X ₂ is fed sheets from the sheet transport unit 80. Further the drive shaft rotates 1, first bin 31 ₁ rises to the level X _3, is taken out of the sheet bundle at this level X _3. The process of taking out a bundle of sheets will be described in detail below.

Further, in this bin assembly 30, a sensor (not shown) for detecting that each bin 31 is set to the lower limit position (home position) and the drive shaft make one rotation so that each bin 31 is separated. A sensor (not shown) for detecting that the pitch has increased by one pitch is installed. Further, a transmissive sensor SE34 for detecting the presence / absence of paper on each bin 31 is installed.

On the other hand, the bin assembly 30 is provided with first and second chucking units 40, 40a for sandwiching a bundle of sheets and pulling out or returning from the bin 31. First chucking unit 40 is attached to a position corresponding to a bin 31 set on the level X _1. The second chucking unit 40a has the level X
It is attached at a position corresponding to the bin 31 set in ₃ . The chucking unit 40, 40a is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the guide frame 57 is attached to a single movable frame 55 in two steps, that is, the guide groove 57 is integrally formed with the frame 55.
(See FIG. 3).

In the lower chucking unit 40 shown in FIG. 4, a pair of upper and lower chucking claws 41 and 42 having an elastic member 43 are provided at one ends of links 44 and 47 to pins 45 and 48.
And the links 44 and 47 are further connected to the solenoid SL30. The links 44 and 47 are rotatable around the support shafts 46 and 49 as fulcrums. The chucking claws 41, 42 are supported by a guide member (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction.
Is off, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the claw 41 is located above the bin 31 set at the level X ₁ , and the claw 42 is
Is located directly below the bin 31. Solenoid SL30
When is turned on, the link 44 rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft 46 as a fulcrum, and the link 47 rotates clockwise about the support shaft 49 as a fulcrum. As a result, the claw 41 is lowered and the claw 42 is raised, and the side portions of the sheet bundle on the bin 31 are clamped. A notch 33 is formed on a side portion of each bin 31 so that the bins 31 can be clamped by the claws 41 and 42 and the bundle of sheets can be moved by a predetermined distance.

The upper chucking unit 40a is intended to sandwiched the stack of sheets on the bin 31 set at the level X _3, made of the same configuration as the lower chucking unit 40 described above, in the same member the drawings The same reference numeral is attached with "a".

As shown in FIG. 3, the chucking units 40 and 40a are movable to a home position Y ₁ , a chucking position Y ₂ and a withdrawal position Y _3, which are retracted from the bin 31. Therefore, the fixed frame 56
A guide groove 57 is formed on the chucking unit 40,
The roller 58 attached to the movable frame 55 holding 40a was engaged with the guide groove 57.

Further, a belt 62 is stretched endlessly on pulleys 60 and 61 rotatably provided on a fixed frame 56, and a part of the belt 62 is connected to a movable frame 55. The pulley 60 is normally / reversely rotated by a motor M30 provided on the back surface of the fixed frame 56 via a speed reduction mechanism 63. The guide groove 57 is composed of a curved portion and a straight portion, and when the roller 58 is located at the left end (see FIG. 3) of the curved portion, the chucking units 40, 40a are set to the home position Y ₁ . When the belt 62 rotates in the clockwise direction based on the forward rotation of the motor M30, the roller 58 moves to the right in the curved portion, and the chucking unit 4
0 and 40a move in an arc shape. When the roller 58 moves to the boundary point between the curved portion and the straight portion, the chucking units 40 and 40a are located at the chucking position Y ₂ . The chucking units 40, 40a sandwich the sheet bundle at this position Y ₂ . Further, when the motor M30 rotates in the forward direction, the roller 58 moves rightward along the straight line portion and reaches the right end of the straight line portion, whereupon the motor M30 is stopped. At this time, the chucking unit 40,40a moves to pull-out position Y _3, and conveys the sheet bundle by the stroke of the Y ₂ -Y _3, drawn from the bin 31 (see FIG. 7). The pull-out position Y ₃ is a stapling position by the stapling unit 70 in the level X ₁ , and a delivery position of the sheet bundle to the sheet transport gate 100 described below in the level X ₃ .

On the other hand, at the lower end of each bin 31, the bin 31
Stopper 3 for regulating the lower end of the paper stored above
4 is attached. Each stopper 34 is always set in an upright position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2 by a spring member (not shown). The chucking units 40, 4
A rod (not shown) is attached to 0a, and when the chucking units 40 and 40a move from the chucking position Y ₂ to the pull-out position Y ₃ , the stopper 34 is tilted by the tip of the rod and the bin 31 of the sheet bundle is pulled. It is possible to take out from.

The chucking units 40, 40a
SE30 for detecting that the vehicle is set to the home position Y ₁ , the chucking position Y
Sensor for detecting that it has moved to a ₂ SE31, sensor SE32 for detecting that it has moved is placed in a drawer position Y _3.

The chucking units 40 and 40a having the above-described structure move in the same direction as the positions Y ₁ -Y ₂ -Y ₃ , respectively, and pick up a bundle of sheets from the bins 31 set at the levels X ₁ and X _3. To move. Therefore, the movement guide means (guide groove 57 and the like) need only have a single structure and can be simplified. Moreover, it is only necessary to install a single motor M30, and the drive mechanism can be simplified. Further, since the pair of chucking claws 41, 42 and 41a, 42a in each chucking unit 40, 40a are arranged on the same axis, the sandwiching property of the sheet bundle is good, and the solenoids SL30, SL30a. The operability is also good.

Next, the paper transport gate 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the paper transport gate 100 includes a box 101 provided with a pair of rollers 102 and 103 and paper guide plates 104 and 105. The rollers 102 and 103 can be driven forward / reversely by a motor M21. The sheet transport gate 100 can be moved up and down by being guided by a guide member (not shown), and a motor M20 is provided as a driving source. The home position of the sheet conveying gate 100 is the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and at this home position, the gate 100 guides the sheet conveyed from the receiving roller pair 81 by the upper surface of the switching claw 82 to the rollers 102, 103. Is conveyed to the left in FIG. 2 and is fed onto the non-sort tray 20.

On the other hand, since the sheet conveying gate 100 receives the stapled sheet bundle, it can be lowered to a position corresponding to the bin 31 set to the level X ₃ (FIG. 6).
reference). In this transfer position, the gate 100 holds the bundle of sheets pulled out of the bin 31 by the second chucking unit 40a and the rollers 102 and 103.
It is sandwiched by (see FIG. 7). At this time, the second chucking unit 40a releases the sheet bundle from being pinched, and at the same time, the rollers 102 and 103 are driven to rotate forward, and the sheet bundle is bin 3
1 Remove from above (see FIG. 8). Paper bundle is completely bin 3
When exiting from 1, the normal rotation of the rollers 102 and 103 is stopped, and at the same time, the gate 100 rises (see FIG. 9). When the gate 100 rises to a predetermined height, the rollers 10
2, 103 are reversed, and the bundle of sheets that has been sandwiched is discharged onto the non-sort tray 20 (see FIG. 10). Next, the gate 100 descends to the delivery position (see FIG. 11), and the stacking operation is repeated.

In the stacking operation of the above-mentioned sheet bundle, it goes without saying that the bin assembly 30 is raised by one pitch. Further, the sheet bundle stack operation is performed in parallel with the stapling process for the sheet bundle on the bin 31 set to the level X ₁ .

The sheet conveying gate 100 normally discharges the stapled sheet bundle to the non-sort tray 20 at the home position shown by the solid line in FIG. Non-sort tray 20
Is capable of accommodating and storing a large amount of paper, and in order to ensure the consistency of the paper, the gate 100 is raised further from the home position to an arbitrary height between the upper limit position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. Can be stopped. The ascending / stopping position corresponds to a position where the height of the paper discharged from the rollers 102 and 103 keeps a constant distance from the uppermost surface of the paper stacked and accommodated on the non-sort tray 20. That is, gate 1
00 rises with a predetermined drop relative to the uppermost surface of the sheet to a height at which the next sheet bundle can be discharged.

In order to enable the above operation, as shown in FIG. 2, above the non-sort tray 20, a sensor S for detecting the presence / absence of paper on the non-sort tray 20 is provided.
E33, a sensor SE23 for detecting the uppermost surface of the sheet on the non-sort tray 20 (the upper surface of the tray 20 when there is no sheet) is provided. Further, a sensor SE20 for detecting the home position of the gate 100 and a sensor SE22 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet bundle in the gate 100 are provided.

On the other hand, a cover 21 is installed at a position facing the lower end of the non-sort tray 20 as shown in FIG. The cover 21 is for regulating the trailing end of the sheet discharged onto the non-sort tray 20 in the discharging direction, and rises in synchronization with the sheet conveying gate 100, and when the gate 100 descends. It is configured to be held in its raised position. That is, the cover 21 has a vertical frame portion 22a and a horizontal frame portion 22b, which are integrally guided by a guide member (not shown) and can be raised and lowered. A frame 29 having a ratchet 29a is fixed to the main body frame 11 of the staple sorter 10, and a pawl member 24 attached to the cover 21 via a bracket 23 is engaged with the ratchet 29a. The claw member 24 is rotatable counterclockwise with the pin 24a as a fulcrum, and its rotation is regulated clockwise.

When the paper transport gate 100 is set to the home position, the cover 21 is set to the lower limit position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, and the claw member 24 is engaged with the ratchet 29a at the lowermost stage. Non-sort tray 2
When the number of sheets stored on 0 is large, the gate 100 rises higher than the home position, and at this time, the horizontal frame portion 22b is pushed up by the box 101, and the cover 21 rises. At this time, the claw member 24 rotates counterclockwise around the pin 24a as a fulcrum and gets over the ratchet 29a step by step. When the rise of the gate 100 is stopped, the ratchet 29 with which the claw members 24 face each other
When the gate 100 is lowered next, the cover 2 is engaged.
1 holds the state of being stopped at that position. By the above operation, the rollers 102, 103 are discharged when the sheet bundle is discharged.
The nip portion and the upper end 21a of the cover 21 maintain a constant distance.

The upper limit of the cover 21 is the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. When the sheet is removed from the non-sort tray 20 by the operator, the clockwise rotation regulation of the claw member 24 is released (for example, the regulation member (not shown) is retracted from the regulation position by driving the solenoid), and the cover is removed. 21 descends to the lower limit position.

Next, the staple unit 70 will be described. The staple unit 70 has a well-known electrically driven structure, and includes a head portion 71 capable of attaching and detaching a cartridge containing a staple, and an anvil portion 72 that receives and bends a staple ejected from the head portion 71. . In this staple unit 70, the end portion of the sheet bundle pulled out from the bin 31 set to the level X ₁ by the first chucking unit 40 is located at one front corner (hereinafter, referred to as corner staple) and at the center portion. 2 (hereinafter referred to as side staples) or one position at the back side corner (hereinafter referred to as back side staples). Accordingly, the staple unit 70 has the front side of the staple sorter 10 as a home position, is movable toward the back side, stops at a predetermined position, drives in staples, and returns to the home position.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.
The stapling unit 70 is mounted on a carriage 73 that is movable on a guide plate 75 via rollers 76, and the carriage 73 is connected to a belt 79 that is normally / reversely driven by a motor M41. A guide groove 77 is formed in the guide plate 75, and the pins 74 a, 74 b, 74 c of the carriage 73 are engaged with the guide groove 77, whereby the carriage 7
3 (staple unit 70) is guided along the leading edge of the sheet bundle S. The guide groove 77 has the left end portion in FIG. 13 bent toward the pin assembly 30 side.
The home position Z of the staple unit 70 is the position where 4a has moved to the end of this bent portion. In addition, the carriage 73 is provided with a protruding piece 73a so that the sensor SE4
2 detects the protruding piece 73a at the home position Z.

At the home position Z, the staple unit 70 is set at an angle of 45 ° with respect to the front corner of the sheet bundle S.
Corner stapling is performed at. The staple position at this time is S ₁ . When the motor M41 is driven in the normal direction, the staple unit 70 is guided by the linear portion of the guide groove 77 and moves to the back side (direction of arrow f),
As described below, the width direction length L of the sheet bundle S is detected. In the side staple mode, the staple unit 70 moves from the back side in the direction opposite to the arrow f, and temporarily stops at the staple positions S ₃ and S ₂ and drives the staples into the sheet bundle S. In the back side staple mode, the staple is driven at the staple position S ₄ .

The corner staple position S ₁ is a constant position regardless of the sheet size, but the side staple positions S ₂ , S ₃ and the back side staple position S ₄ change according to the width direction length L of the sheet bundle. However, the staple positions S ₂ , S ₃
And the distance N from the side of the sheet bundle to the staple position S ₄ are constant. In the automatic stapling process, the paper size (length L) is known when the image is formed by the copying machine 1. Therefore, the staple position S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ is automatically determined according to the paper size, and the motor M41
The stapling operation may be executed by controlling the on / off of.

On the other hand, the present staple sorter 10 is also capable of manual staple processing. In this case, level X
_The operator directly inserts a desired sheet bundle onto the bin 31 _{1 in 1} . The sheet bundle is sandwiched by the first chucking unit 40 and pulled out from the bin 31 ₁ to the staple unit 70. In the manual stapling process, in the side stapling mode and the back side stapling mode, it is necessary to detect the paper size (length L) in order to determine the stapling position S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ . Therefore, the sensor SE43 is fixed to the stapling unit 70, and the motor M43 is driven prior to the stapling operation to move the stapling unit 70 from the home position Z in the direction of the arrow f when executing the side stapling mode and the back side stapling mode. This movement is performed until the sensor SE43 detects the rear side of the sheet bundle S, and the width direction length L of the sheet bundle S is calculated by counting the movement distance. And
The staple position S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ is determined based on the length L. After that, the stapling operation is executed while returning the stapling unit 70 in the direction opposite to the arrow f.

FIG. 14 shows an operation panel 150 for manual stapling provided on the staple sorter 10. A corner staple selection switch S is provided on the operation panel 150.
W1, a side staple selection switch SW2, a back side staple selection switch SW3, and a manual staple execution switch SW4 are provided. Further, although not shown, an operation panel is also installed on the copying machine 1, and various keys for setting the number of copies and the operation mode of the staple sorter 10,
Switches are provided. Of course, the operation panel 150 for manual stapling may be incorporated in the operation panel on the copying machine 1.

FIG. 15 shows a copying machine 1 and a staple sorter 1.
0 shows a control circuit. The control circuit is ROM 171 and RA
It is configured around a CPU 170 having M172,
The CPU 170 follows the motors M20, M21, M30, M4 according to the program stored in the ROM 171.
1, M50, M60, solenoid SL30, SL30
a, SL50, etc. are controlled. Further, signals from the switches, sensors, etc. are input to the CPU 170. Further, the CPU 170 communicates with another CPU, for example, the CPU 173 which controls the automatic document feeder 5 and exchanges necessary data.

The control procedure by the CPU 170 will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. First, various flags and counters used in the flowchart will be described.

Manual staple permission flag F10:
When the switch SW4 is turned on, the switch SW4 is set to "1" to permit execution of the manual stapling process. Corner staple permission flag F11: Set to "1" when the switch SW1 is turned on, and the staple position S
Permit execution of corner staple mode for ₁ . Side staple permission flag F12: switch SW
3 is set to "1" by is turned on, to allow the execution of the side staple mode for stapling position S _2, S _3. Incidentally, when the flag F11, F12 are reset both at "0" means to execute the far side staple mode for stapling position S _4.

Side staple first flag F1
3: Set to “1” after the first stapling operation is completed in the side staple mode, and permit the second stapling operation. Movement amount counter K: Counts the movement amount of the staple unit 70. Size counter L:
The amount of movement of the stapling unit 70 for detecting the size of the sheet bundle during the manual stapling process is counted.

FIG. 16 shows the main routine of the CPU 170. When the power is turned on and the program starts,
First, various control parameters and various devices are initialized in step S1, and an internal timer is started in step S2. The internal timer determines the time required for one routine, and the time is preset in step S1. Then, steps S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S
When each sub-routine of 8 is called sequentially to perform the necessary processing, and when the end of the internal timer is confirmed in step S9,
It returns to step S2.

Step S4 is a subroutine for the manual stapling process. On the other hand, the automatic stapling process for the bundle of sheets discharged from the copying machine 1 and accumulated on the bin 31 is executed in the subroutine of step 6, but this control procedure is omitted.

17 to 27 show a subroutine of the manual stapling process executed in step S4 of the main routine. Here, first, in step S10, the count value of the state counter is checked, and the following processing is executed according to the count value (0 to 9, initially reset to 0).

When the state counter is 0, various modes of manual stapling are set. That is, in steps S11, S12, and S13, the mode selection switch SW1,
It is determined whether SW2 and SW3 are on or off. Switch SW
If 1 is on, the corner staple permission flag F11 is set to "1" and the side staple permission flag F12 is reset to "0" in step S14. If the switch SW2 is on, the flag F11 is reset to "0" in step S15, and the flag F11 is reset.
Set 12 to "1". If the switch SW3 is on, the flags F11 and F12 are set to "0" in step S16.
Reset to. Next, after confirming that the manual stapling execution switch SW4 is turned on in step S17, the manual stapling permission flag F10 is set to "1" in step S18. Further, step S1
At 9, the state counter is set to 1.

When the state counter is 1, when it is confirmed in step S20 that the manual staple permission flag F10 is set to "1", the state counter is set to 2 in step S21.

When the state counter is 2, the first chucking unit 40 holds the sheet bundle inserted by the operator on the bin 31 ₁ set to the staple level X ₁ . That is, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the chucking position sensor SE31 is on, and when it is off, the motor M30 is normally rotated in step S25. As a result, the first chucking unit 40 moves from the home position Y ₁ to the chucking position Y ₂ . When the first chucking unit 40 reaches the chucking position Y ₂ , the sensor SE31 is turned on (YES in step S22), and the motor M30 in step S23.
And the solenoid SL30 is turned on.
As a result, the bundle of sheets is sandwiched by the first chucking unit 40. Next, in step S24, the state counter is set to 3.

When the state counter is 3, the sheet bundle sandwiched by the first chucking unit 40 is placed in the bin 31 ₁
To the staple processing position. That is, step S
At 26, it is determined whether or not the pull-out position sensor SE32 is on. If it is off, the motor M30 is normally rotated at step S29. Now, the first chucking unit 40
At the same time, the sheet bundle moves from the chucking position Y ₂ to the pull-out position Y ₃ . When the first chucking unit 40 reaches the pull-out position Y ₃ , the sensor SE3
2 is turned on (YES in step S26), and step S2
At 7, the motor M30 is stopped. Next, step S28
Set the state counter to 6.

When the state counter is 4 (see steps S44 and S49), it means that the stapling operation is completed, and the first chucking unit 40 is returned to the chucking position Y ₂ . That is, step S30
In step S33, it is determined whether the sensor SE31 is on or not. If the sensor SE31 is off, the motor M30 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the bundle of sheets stapled together with the first chucking unit 40 starts to return to the chucking position Y ₂ . When the first chucking unit 40 returns to the chucking position Y ₂ , the sensor SE31 is turned on (YES in step S30), the motor M30 is stopped and the solenoid SL30 is turned off in step S31. This releases the bundle of sheets. Next, the state counter is set to 5 in step S32.

When the state counter is 5, the first chucking unit 40 is returned to the home position Y ₁ and this manual stapling process subroutine is terminated. That is, in step S34, it is determined whether or not the sensor SE30 is on. If it is off, the motor M30 is rotated in the reverse direction in step S39. This causes the first chucking unit 40 to start returning to the home position Y ₁ . When the first chucking unit 40 returns to the home position Y ₁ , the sensor SE30 is turned on (step S
If YES at 34), the motor M30 is stopped at step S35. Next, in step S36, the manual stapling permission flag F10 is reset to "0", and step S3
At 7, the size counter L (see step S55) is reset to 0. Further, the state counter is reset to 0 in step S38.

When the state counter is 6, the operation mode of the staple unit 70 is determined. That is, it is determined in step S40 whether the sheet bundle detection sensor SE43 is on. If it is off, the sheet bundle does not exist at the stapling position, so the state is set to 4 in step S44, and the first chucking unit 40 is returned.
If the sensor SE43 is on, it is determined in step S41 whether the corner staple permission flag F11 is "1". If the flag F11 is set to "1", the state counter is set to 7 in step S42. In the corner staple mode, the staple unit 70 operates at its home position Z at this time, and the staples are driven into the sheet bundle at the staple position S ₁ . If the flag F11 is reset to "0", it means that the side staple mode or the back staple mode is selected. In this case, the state counter is set to 8 in step S43 to detect the size of the sheet bundle.

When the state counter is 7 (see steps S42 and S65), it is first determined in step S45 whether or not the stapling operation is completed. The stapling operation here is the time when the staple is driven to the staple position S _{1 in the} corner staple mode, and as described below, the staple is driven to the staple position S ₃ in the side staple mode. At that time, in the back side staple mode, the staple is driven into the staple position S ₄ . When such stapling operation is completed, it is determined in step S46 whether the side staple enabling flag F12 is "0". Here, if the flag F12 is reset to "0", it means that the corner staple mode or the back side staple mode is selected. In this case, the next stapling operation is not necessary, the state counter is set to 4 in step S49, and the first chucking unit 40
At the same time, the sheet bundle is returned.

On the other hand, if the flag F12 is set to "1" (NO in step S46), it means that the side staple mode is selected, and whether the side staple fast flag F13 is "1" in step S47. To determine. If the flag F13 is set to "1", the stapling operation for the first time has already been completed, and the determination at step S45 was the second stapling operation. Therefore, the flag F13 is set to "0" at step S48. The state counter is set to 4 in step S49, and the sheet bundle is returned together with the first chucking unit 40. If the flag F13 is reset to "0", the flag F13 is set to "1" in step S50, and step S51 is performed for the second stapling operation.
Then, the movement amount corresponding to the staple interval M is set in the movement amount counter K. Next, in step S52, the state counter is set to 9.

When the state counter is 8, the length L of the sheet bundle is detected and the first stapling operation in the side staple mode (position S ₃ ) or the back side staple mode (position S ₄ ) The amount of movement of the staple unit 70 is determined in order to perform the above. That is, step S
If it is determined that the sensor SE43 is turned on in step 53, step S
The motor M41 is normally rotated at 54, and 1 is added to the size counter L at step S55. Here, the sensor SE is moved together with the staple unit 70 by the normal rotation of the motor M41.
43 moves in the direction of arrow f (see FIG. 13), and the counter K
Will be added. When the sensor SE43 reaches the back side of the sheet bundle and turns off (NO in step S53), the motor M41 is stopped in step S56. At this time, the count value of the size counter L corresponds to the width direction length L of the sheet bundle.

Next, in step S57, it is determined whether or not the side staple permission flag F12 is "0". Flag F
If 12 is reset to "0", for performing the back side stapling mode, sets the movement amount corresponding to the interval N from the side edge of the sheet bundle to the stapling position S ₄ to the moving amount counter K in step S58 Then, the state counter is set to 9 in step S60. On the other hand, if the flag F12 is set to "1", for performing first stapling operation of the side stapling mode (position S _3), the moving amount counter K in step S59 '(L-M)
Set the movement amount corresponding to "/ 2". Further, the state counter is set to 9 in step S60.

When the state counter is 9, the stapling unit 70 is moved from the back side in the direction opposite to the arrow f by the value set in the counter K in steps S51, S59 and S59. That is, when it is determined that the counter K is not 0 in step S61, the motor M41 is rotated in the reverse direction in step S62, and the counter K is decremented by 1 in step S63. When the counter K is decremented to 0, step S
The motor M41 is stopped at 64, and the state counter is set to 7 at step S65. Here, the stapling operation is performed, and the staples are driven into the sheet bundle at the positions S ₂ , S ₃ or S ₄ .

The finisher according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof. In particular, the present invention may be applied to a staple sorter connected to a printer that outputs image information transferred from a host computer as a hard copy, in addition to the copying machine 1.

Further, the configurations of the bin assembly 30 and the sheet conveying section 80 are arbitrary. For example, if the copying machine or printer has an image memory function and forms a desired number of images in page order, only one bin 31 may be provided. Alternatively, a bin dedicated to stapling may be provided separately from the sort bin.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a staple sorter and a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the staple sorter.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a chucking unit in the staple sorter.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the chucking unit, a part of which is a cross section.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing the upper portion of the staple sorter.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of stapling and sheet bundle taking out / stacking in a staple sorter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet bundle removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staples and sheet bundle removal / stacking in the staple sorter, and is a continuation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staple and sheet bundle removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of staple and sheet bundle removal / stacking in the staple sorter, continued from FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of stapling and sheet bundle take-out / stacking in a staple sorter, continued from FIG.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view showing a moving mechanism of the staple unit.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a moving mechanism of the staple unit.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an operation panel on a staple sorter.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a CPU of the control circuit.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stapling processing.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a manual stapling process subroutine, continued from FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stapling processing, continued from FIG. 25.

27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of manual stapling processing, continued from FIG. 26.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... copier 10 ... staple sorter 31 ₁ ... bin (manual staple tray) 70 ... stapling unit 170 ... CPU S ... paper stack _{S 1, S 2, S 3} , S 4 ... stapling position SE43 ... sheet bundle size detection Sensor M41 ... Motor for moving staple unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A finisher for stapling a stack of sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and stacking the stack of sheets, wherein a tray for stapling can be inserted from the outside, and the tray is set on the tray. A staple unit for driving staples at the end of the sheet bundle, a moving unit for reciprocating the staple unit along the end of the sheet bundle, and a sensor for detecting the sheet size that reciprocates integrally with the staple unit. Input means for inputting execution of manual stapling processing; and when execution of manual stapling processing is input from the input means, the moving means is controlled to move the stapling unit forward to detect the detection result of the sensor and stapling. Calculate the size of the sheet bundle based on the movement amount of the unit, and A finisher comprising: a control unit that determines a staple position based on a size of a sheet bundle.