JPH09325547A - Postprocessor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a postprocessor simple in structure and capable of highly accurately positioning a head member by establishing the position of the head member to a post-processing position by engaging a positioning member with the head member. SOLUTION: A guide shaft 2 is attached at the device main body 1 of a postprocessor, and a head carrier 3 is movably supported to the guide shaft 2. The head member 4 performs post-processing for a recording medium at a specified postprocessing position. A head holding member 5 is disposed between the head member 4 and the head carrier 3, and holds the head member 4 so as to vary the position and the posture of the head member 4 for the head carrier 3. A moving controlling means sends the head carrier 3 to the postprocessing position along the guide shaft 2. The positioning member 6 is attached at the main body 1 of the postprocessor corresponding to the post- processing, and is engaged with the head member 4, so that the position of the head member 4 is established at the postprocessing position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing at a predetermined post-processing position on a recording medium discharged from an image forming apparatus and stored in a tray. The present invention relates to a post-processing device that performs stapling, punching and the like on the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a post-processing apparatus of this type is arranged adjacent to a recording medium ejection side of an image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. A head 10 that is connected to a control device (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”) receives a recording medium ejected from the image forming apparatus 1, stores it in a tray 6, and then performs post-processing.
Is a mechanism for moving to a predetermined post-processing position and performing post-processing at this post-processing position. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-2
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 19601 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-101620 disclose a post-processing device having a structure as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, head carriers 13 and 14 respectively carrying a stapler head 12 and a clinching head 11 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "head") are provided with respect to rod-shaped members 15 and 16 called "guide shafts". The head belts 13 and 14 are movably attached to the head carriers 13 and 14, respectively.
31 is attached, this timing belt 3
These head carriers 13, 14 are driven by the drive mechanisms 41-43 for driving the guide shafts 15, 16
Move along. The stepping motor 42 that drives the drive mechanisms 41 to 43 is controlled by a controller (not shown). On the other hand, a home position sensor S1 for detecting the position of the head carrier and sensors S2, S3 for setting the limit of the moving range of the head carrier are connected to the control device.
The control device recognizes the position of the head carrier based on the signals from 1 to S3, and in the state before and after the post-processing,
The stepping motor 42 is controlled to return the head carriers 13 and 14 to the home position.

Next, when the recording medium ejected from the image forming apparatus is received and the recording mediums are aligned on the tray, the control device moves to the post-processing position with respect to the stepping motor 42 based on the signal from the CPU. Send a command signal to move. This command signal instructs the stepping motor 42 to rotate by a predetermined number of pulses, and the stepping motor 42 receiving this command signal stops after rotating by the commanded number of rotations. The head carriers 13 and 14 move on the guide shaft according to the rotation speed, and stop moving when the stepping motor 42 stops. Then, a head body moving motor (not shown) attached to the head carrier 14 carrying the stapler head 12 pushes up the stapler head 12 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The needle is driven into the recording medium while the recording medium is sandwiched between the clinching head 11 and the clinching head 11. When the stapling operation is completed, the tip of the needle that has been struck in this way, penetrating the recording medium and projecting to the opposite side of the stapler head 12 is bent by the clinching head 11, and when the stapling operation is completed, the head carrier 13,
14 returns to the home position again.

However, in the post-processing apparatus having the structure as shown in FIG. 6, since the operation of positioning the head at the post-processing position is performed by pulse-controlling the stepping motor 42, the positioning accuracy of the head is determined by the stepping motor. It depends on the precision of 42. Therefore, in the above post-processing apparatus, the high-precision stepping motor 42 must be used, but the high-precision stepping motor is expensive, which has been a factor of increasing the manufacturing cost of the post-processing apparatus. Further, in the conventional method of positioning the head by controlling the pulse of the stepping motor 42, since the feedback operation for compensating for the malfunction of the stepping motor 42 is not performed, the pulse control of the head by the stepping motor 42 is performed. The positioning accuracy is limited, and it is difficult to completely eliminate the head stop position from the post-processing position. Therefore, various improvements have been proposed in the past in order to improve the positioning accuracy of the head.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-144818, a drive mechanism including a timing belt and a motor is attached to each head carrier of a stapler head and a clinching head attached above and below a tray, and the upper and lower heads are attached. A pair of positioning optical sensors are attached to both ends of the facing surface of the recording medium, and the positioning optical sensors detect the edge of the recording medium, so that the stapling is performed at a predetermined distance from the edge of the recording medium. An aftertreatment device for ringing is disclosed.

However, in such an apparatus, when the optical sensor for positioning detects the edge of the recording medium, the motor of the drive mechanism is stopped to stop the movement of the head carrier, and the position where this head carrier stops is the post-processing position. However, it is difficult to completely eliminate the error when the optical sensor detects the edge of the recording medium. Further, there is a delay time from the detection of the edge of the recording medium by the positioning optical sensor to the stop of the head carrier, and during this delay time, the head carrier moves and the position of the head becomes greater than the post-processing position. It shifts. Therefore, there is a limit in positioning the position of the head to the post-processing position by using a non-contact means such as an optical sensor, and some error is unavoidable.

Another problem different from the above positioning is that
In a head that performs post-processing such as stapling and punching at the post-processing position, a strong force for stapling and punching is applied to the recording medium from the head, so the reaction force of this force passes through the head and passes through the guide shaft. Act on. When the guide shaft bends due to this reaction force, the position of the head shifts from the post-processing position, and accurate post-processing cannot be performed. Therefore, as the guide shaft, it is necessary to use a rigid material that can withstand this reaction force or a guide shaft having a large diameter. However, using a rigid material or one with a large diameter will increase the manufacturing cost, and a guide shaft with a large diameter will require a large space for mounting the guide shaft, which will reduce the size of the device. There is a problem that it becomes an obstacle.

[0009]

Therefore, as a result of intensive studies on the post-processing apparatus which does not have the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have found that the position and posture of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier. While the head carrier is sent to the post-processing position by the movement control means, a positioning member is attached to a position corresponding to the post-processing, and the position of the head member is changed by engaging the positioning member with the head member. The present invention has been completed by finding that the above problem can be solved by adopting a configuration in which the post-processing position is determined.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device having a simple structure and capable of positioning the head with high accuracy.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device which can prevent a strong force from acting on the guide shaft in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a post-processing apparatus for accommodating a recording medium discharged from an image forming apparatus in a tray and performing post-processing on the recording medium. A guide shaft attached to the guide shaft, a head carrier movably supported with respect to the guide shaft, a head member for post-processing the recording medium at a predetermined post-processing position, and an arrangement between the head member and the head carrier. A head holding member for holding the head member so that the position and the posture of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier; a movement control means for feeding the head carrier along the guide shaft to the post-processing position; A position that is attached to the main body of the post-processing apparatus corresponding to processing and fixes the position of the head member to the post-processing position by engaging with the head member. A post-processing apparatus and a fit member.

In the present invention, the head carrier is movably attached to the guide shaft, and is a member for feeding the head member to the post-processing position by the movement control means while carrying the head member. The structure and shape of the head carrier is movably attached to the guide shaft,
The head member is not particularly limited as long as it can carry the head member, but typically has a groove or hole for movably attaching to the guide shaft, and has a carrying portion for carrying the head member. Is mentioned.

In the present invention, the movement control means means
A means for controlling the movement of the head carrier, typically a stepping motor, a gear train, a pulley,
There is a series of devices including a drive mechanism including a timing belt and a control device that controls a stepping motor with a pulse signal.

In the present invention, the head member is a member for performing post-processing at a predetermined post-processing position of the recording medium accommodated in the tray, and specifically, for example, a head for stapling or punching. Is mentioned. The head member in the present invention typically has a cubic or rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a post-processing surface that faces the recording medium and performs post-processing on the recording medium, and a back surface located on the opposite side of the post-processing surface. , And a side surface connecting the post-processing surface and the back surface. Further, it is preferable that the rear surface has an engaging portion for positioning, for example, a recessed portion or hole having a taper narrowed from the surface of the rear surface toward the inside or a concave portion. Further, the head member is a head body that directly performs post-processing on a recording medium like a stapler,
It may be provided with a mechanism that is composed of a frame member (head frame) that supports this, and that moves the head main body in the direction of approaching the recording medium by the head main body moving motor provided in the frame member.

In the present invention, the head holding member is a member which is mounted between the head member and the head carrier and holds the head member on the head carrier so that the position and the posture of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier. The head holding member is typically mounted at a position such as between the side surface of the head member and the carrying portion of the head carrier so as not to interfere with the post-processing operation of the head member.
The structure, shape, material, size, etc. of the head holding member can be attached between the head member and the head carrier,
It is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the head member on the head carrier so that the position and the attitude of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier, but is not particularly limited.
Typically, a spring or a rod-shaped elastic body, etc.
Examples thereof include a method of attaching to the head member and the head carrier by a method such as screwing, fitting, adhesion, and welding.

In the present invention, the positioning member is a member that is attached to the main body of the post-processing apparatus corresponding to the post-processing and engages with the head member to fix the position of the head member to the post-processing position. The positioning member is attached to a position corresponding to post-processing of the main body of the post-processing device. Here, the position corresponding to the post-processing is a position where the position of the head member can be determined as the post-processing position. Specifically, for example, the guide shaft 1 in FIG.
A plate-like member is attached to the lower side of 6a in parallel with the tray, and a perpendicular position is drawn from the post-processing position on the recording medium to the plate-like member or a position around that position.

The structure and shape of the positioning member can be attached to the main body of the post-processing apparatus and can be fixed to the post-processing position by engaging with the head member. Although not particularly limited, for example, a pin in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium housed in the tray, a convex protrusion, a V-shaped or a concave depression, etc. may be mentioned. The mounting method of the positioning member is such that the head member can be securely engaged with the head member when the post-processing is performed to determine the position of the head member, and the engagement with the head member can be easily canceled after the post-processing. The shape and the mounting method are not particularly limited. For example, a method such as adhesion, welding, screwing, fitting, or the above-mentioned projections or depressions may be integrally formed on a flat plate member arranged in parallel with the tray, and this flat plate member may be attached to the main body of the post-processing apparatus. . Further, by forming a portion of the flat plate-like member, which comes into contact with the back surface of the head member at the time of post-processing, into a flat surface inclined with respect to the recording medium, the posture of the head member at the time of performing the post-processing is changed to the recording medium. It can also be tilted with respect to. Further, a linear moving means such as a solenoid is attached to the positioning member, and when performing post-processing, the linear moving means moves the positioning member itself in a direction approaching the back surface of the head member. It is also possible to fix the position of the head member to the post-processing position by engaging with the head member.

In the post-processing apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium is sent from the image forming apparatus, the stepping motor is rotated by a command signal from the control apparatus, and the guide shaft is held with the head member carried on the head carrier. Is fed to the post-processing position. At this time, the position at which the head member is fed does not have to be an accurate post-processing position, and a position within a certain range from the accurate post-processing position, that is, the engaging portion provided on the back surface of the head member and the positioning member. When the head member and the positioning member are close to each other in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium, the head member changes its position or posture with respect to the head carrier, thereby facilitating easy operation. It suffices if it has been sent to a position where it can be engaged with the positioning member.

Next, in the post-processing apparatus having a structure in which the head main body of the head members can be freely moved in and out by the head main body moving motor attached to the head frame, the head main body moving motor is controlled by the head main body moving motor based on a command signal from the control device. Since the head main body is operated and moves in the direction approaching the paper surface of the recording medium, the head frame is pressed in the direction away from the paper surface of the recording medium by the reaction of the head main body moving motor. Then, the pressed head frame approaches the flat plate-shaped member on the back side of the head frame. At this time, there is a positioning member near the engaging portion on the back surface of the head frame, and even if the positions of the engaging portion and the positioning member are slightly deviated, the head frame has a position or attitude with respect to the head carrier. Since the head frame is attached so that it can be changed, the head frame is displaced relative to the head carrier to move in a direction closer to the position of the positioning member, and the engaging portion on the back surface of the head frame engages with the positioning member. By the matching, the position of the head member is determined as the post-processing position.

On the other hand, in a device having a mechanism in which the positioning member itself is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium by a linear movement means such as a solenoid, the linear movement means operates based on a signal from the control device, The positioning member itself moves in the direction of approaching the recording medium. Then, also in this case, similarly to the above, even if the positions of the positioning member and the engaging portion on the back surface of the head member are slightly displaced, the head member is displaced with respect to the head carrier and the engaging portion of the head member and the positioning pin are Are engaged, the position of the head member is determined as the post-processing position.

As described above, since the operation of determining the position of the head member at the post-processing position is performed by the engagement of the head member and the positioning member, the positioning accuracy when the head member is positioned at the post-processing position. Is improved.

Further, since the head member is held in a state in which the position and the posture of the head carrier can be changed, a strong force acts on the head member in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium on the tray. However, since the force is absorbed by the change in the position and posture of the head member, the force does not directly act on the guide shaft. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a rigid material that can withstand such a strong force or to increase the diameter of the shaft. Further, since the posture of the head member can be freely changed, the posture of the head member can be fixed at the post-processing position.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) The present invention will be described below based on a post-processing apparatus which is a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic view of the post-processing apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along a plane parallel to AA in FIG. The post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a post-processing apparatus that stores a recording medium discharged from the image forming apparatus in a tray and performs post-processing on the recording medium, and is arranged in parallel with the tray of the post-processing apparatus. A guide shaft 2 attached to a flat plate-shaped member (apparatus body) 1, a head carrier 3 movably supported with respect to the guide shaft 2, and a stapler for post-processing a recording medium at a predetermined post-processing position. A spring (head) which is disposed between the head 4 (head member) and the stapler head 4 and the head carrier 3 and holds the stapler head 4 so that the position and the attitude of the stapler head 4 can be changed with respect to the head carrier 3. (Holding member) 5 and a control device for feeding the head carrier 3 to the post-processing position along a guide shaft, a stepping motor, a gear train, And a timing belt (movement control means) and a plate-like member 1 corresponding to the above-mentioned post-processing, and are engaged with the stapler head 4 to fix the position of the stapler head 4 to the post-processing position. A pin (positioning member) 6 is provided.

In the post-processing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two guide shafts 2 are arranged parallel to the recording medium 8 accommodated in the tray 7 and in the width direction of the recording medium. A head carrier 3 is attached to this guide shaft 2. The stapler head 4 is attached to the head carrier 3 via eight springs 5, and the back surface of the stapler head 4 (the surface facing the positioning pin 6) has a hole 4a into which the pin of the positioning pin 6 engages. The hole 4a has a tapered shape that is wide near the back surface of the stapler head 4 and narrows toward the back. The stapler head 4 is composed of a head body 4b and a head frame 4c, and the head body 4b is the head frame 4
A head body moving mechanism (not shown) composed of a head body moving motor and a gear train attached to c is movable in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium.
A driving force is applied to the head carrier 3 by a timing belt 9, and the timing belt 9 is controlled by a control device (not shown). On the other hand, a flat plate-shaped member 1 is attached to the side opposite to the recording medium with respect to the guide shaft 2 in parallel with the recording medium 8 contained in the tray 7, and three positioning pins 6 are provided on the flat plate-shaped member 1. It is installed.

A clinching head 14 is attached to the upper side of the recording medium 8 in the figure at a position just opposite to the stapler head 4, and comprises a head main body 14b and a head frame 14c like the stapler head 4.
It is carried by the head carrier 13, the spring 15, and the timing belt 19. Positioning pins 16 are attached to the flat plate-shaped member 11, and each of the clinching head 14, the head carrier 13, the guide shaft 12, the flat plate-shaped member 11 and the positioning pin 16 has the stapler head 4 and the head carrier 3 respectively. ,
The guide shaft 2, the flat plate-shaped member 1 and the positioning pin 6 are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other with the recording medium 8 as the center.

When performing the post-processing in this embodiment, first, the recording medium ejected from the image forming apparatus is received by the post-processing apparatus, and at the same time, the CPU of the image forming apparatus transfers to the control apparatus of the post-processing apparatus. A signal is sent. Then
This control device issues a pulse signal for instructing the stepping motor to move the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14 to the post-processing position, and this signal causes the stepping motor to rotate. The timing belt is driven, and the driving force in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 is transmitted to the head carriers 3 and 13. Then, the head carriers 3 and 13 are fed to the post-processing position while carrying the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14, respectively. And
At this stage, the positions of the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14 are not accurately positioned at the post-processing position, but as shown in FIG. 2, they have been sent at least near the positioning pins 6 and 16. Flat plate members 1, 1
1 are pressed toward the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14, respectively, so that the positioning pins 6, 1
Pins 6 are close to positions where they can be easily engaged with the holes 4a, 14a on the back surface of the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14, respectively.

Next, based on a signal from the control device, the head body moving motors attached to the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14 are operated to record the head bodies 4b and 14b on the head frames 4c and 14c, respectively. When moving in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the medium and approaching the recording medium, a force in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium acts on the head frames 4c and 14c as a reaction of the force of the head body moving motor. As a result, the head frame 4c receives a downward force in the figure and the head frame 14c receives an upward force in the figure. Then, the head frame 4c moves to the lower side in the drawing and the head frame 14c moves to the upper side in the drawing. At this time, the holes 4a, 14a and the positioning pins 6, 16 provided on the back surface of the head frames 4c, 14c.
Are close to a position where they can be easily engaged with each other, so that the holes 4a, 14a and the positioning pins 6, 16 are engaged with each other,
As a result, the positions of the stapler head 4 and the clinching head 14 are fixed to the post-processing positions.

(Second Embodiment) In the post-processing apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the head frame 4c serves as a reaction of the head main body moving motor and the positioning pin 6 is used.
Post-processing similar to that of the first embodiment, except that the positioning pin 6 itself moves by the force of the solenoid 6a to engage with the hole 4a on the back surface of the stapler head 4 instead of moving in the direction approaching It is a device. In the post-processing apparatus of this embodiment, the position of the stapler head 4 can be determined as the post-processing position even in the post-processing apparatus that does not have a mechanism for the head frame 4c to approach the positioning pin by means of a head body moving motor. The effect of is obtained.

(Third Embodiment) In the post-processing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide shaft 17 is attached also in the direction orthogonal to the guide shaft 2 (Y direction in the drawing). The post-processing device similar to that of the first embodiment is attached via the support member 18, the movement control means is attached also in the Y direction, and the positioning pin 6 is attached also on the side of the flat plate member at a position corresponding to the Y axis direction. The post-processing apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment except that. The post-processing apparatus of this embodiment has a unique effect that positioning and post-processing can be performed in the Y direction as well as the X direction in the drawing.

[0031]

The head member is held by the holding member so that the position of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier, and the operation for determining the position of the head member at the post-processing position is performed by the head member and the positioning member. Is performed by engaging with, the positioning accuracy of the head member can be improved without increasing the positioning accuracy when the head carrier is moved by the movement control means. Further, even when a strong force is applied to the head member, since the head member is held by the holding member so that the position and the posture of the head carrier can be changed, the strong force does not act directly on the guide shaft. Therefore, the guide shaft does not need to be made of a rigid material and have a robust structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a post-processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a post-treatment device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a post-treatment device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of a post-processing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic layout diagram of an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic view of a conventional post-processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Flat plate member, 2 ... Guide shaft, 3 ... Head carrier, 4 ... Stapler head (head member), 5 ... Spring (head holding member), 6 ... Positioning pin (positioning member).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing apparatus for accommodating a recording medium discharged from an image forming apparatus in a tray and performing post-processing on the recording medium, the guide shaft being attached to a main body of the post-processing apparatus, A head carrier that is movably supported with respect to the guide shaft, a head member that performs post-processing on a recording medium at a predetermined post-processing position, and a head member that is disposed between the head member and the head carrier. A head holding member for holding the head member so that the position of the head member can be changed, a movement control means for feeding the head carrier to the post-processing position along a guide shaft, and a device of a post-processing device corresponding to the post-processing. A positioning member attached to the main body for fixing the position of the head member to the post-processing position by engaging with the head member. Aftertreatment device. 2. The head holding member is a member for holding the head member so that the position and the posture of the head member can be changed with respect to the head carrier, and the positioning member holds the position and the posture of the head member at the post-processing position. The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing device is a fixing member.