JPH0986779A - Motor-driven stapler and post-treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prohibit the operation of a motor-driven stapler and prevent the occurrence of a stapling error by providing a unit connection output means for detecting whether the motor-driven stapler is mounted within a device for the use thereof in such a state as built into the device or the like. SOLUTION: A post-treatment device attached to an image forming device has a stapler unit, and the connector of a wire harness is coupled to an input and output terminal for operating the stapler unit. Also, the stapler unit is internally provided with a unit connection output means 92 as a unit detection part, and the wire harness connector is also coupled to the means 92. According to this construction, the unit detection signal of the stapler unit is sent to a main control panel via the wire harness and when the stapler unit is demounted, the unit detection signal is not sent to the main control panel. Thus, a signal is outputted to the effect that a subsequent stapling process cannot be performed.

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 incorporating an electric stapler and a stapler unit for binding a bundle of sheets with staples.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are many post-processing devices that receive transfer paper (sheets) discharged from an image forming apparatus and perform collation or sorting, paper alignment, and staple binding.

There are also many proposals in which a stapler unit (electric stapler) in the post-processing apparatus is configured to be removable. That is, the electric stapler is not limited to a single unit incorporated in the post-processing apparatus, but is marketed independently to enhance versatility.

[0004]

However, many of the conventional devices do not detect the attachment / detachment of the stapler unit. In this case, even after the stapler unit is removed, the stapler unit is not detected. Even if the user selects the post-processing mode including the staple binding and performs the copy operation because the processing mode can be selected, there is a problem that the actually completed copy paper bundle is not stapled.

Further, even if a detection means for detecting attachment / detachment of the stapler unit is provided, it is provided at the vicinity of the stapler unit with a sensor, a micro switch, etc., through a mechanical mechanism, and is inexpensive. However, it was difficult to configure as a unit because of the layout restrictions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric stapler and a post-processing device.

A first object of the present invention is to construct a stapler unit detecting means for detecting attachment / detachment of an electric stapler when the electric stapler is incorporated in a post-processing apparatus without any restriction on layout, and to provide a sensor and a micro switch. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric stapler that can be inexpensively configured without using the above.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an electric stapler which does not cause any inconvenience such as the electric stapler not operating even though it should be connected.

A third object of the present invention is to prevent the user from selecting a post-processing mode including stapling without knowing that the stapler unit has been removed, and after the copying work, the bundle of copy papers completed. An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device that can eliminate the problem that staples have not been made.

A fourth object of the present invention is to make effective use of post-processing functions other than stapling, that is, to perform a collated, sorted, and aligned copy sheet bundle in the apparatus, and the user himself / herself An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device that can perform bookbinding work by binding using a stapler.

[0011]

A first object of the present invention is to provide an electric stapler, which is used when the electric stapler is incorporated in an apparatus or the like in an electric stapler for binding various paper bundles such as originals or copy sheets with staples. This is achieved by the first means provided in the electric stapler with unit connection output means for detecting whether or not the apparatus is mounted in the apparatus.

The above-mentioned second object is, in the first means,
This is achieved by the second means in which the output signal of the unit connection output means is integrated with a connector for connecting the input / output signals necessary for operating the electric stapler.

The third object is to collect or sort and align the sheets in a post-processing device that receives the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus, and collates or sorts the sheets, aligns the sheets, or staples the sheets. A stapler unit for stapling a bundle of transfer sheets is detachably installed in the post-processing device. Unit connection output means is provided in the stapler unit, and the output signal causes the stapler unit to be installed in the post-processing device. A stapler unit detection unit for detecting whether or not the stapler unit is attached is provided, and when the stapler unit detection unit detects that the stapler unit is not attached, control is performed to prohibit the selection of the post-processing mode for stapling. It is achieved by the third means described above.

The above-mentioned fourth object is, in the third means,
Even when the stapler unit detecting means detects that the stapler unit is not mounted in the post-processing apparatus, the collating or sorting mode is controlled by the fourth means.

The above-mentioned fourth object is, in the third means,
Even when the stapler unit detection means detects that the stapler unit is not mounted in the post-processing apparatus, the paper alignment mode is controlled by the fifth means.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire image forming system apparatus.

The system device comprises an image forming device (main body) 1 and a post-processing device 2.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an ADF 3, a large capacity sheet feeding unit 4 and the like.

The post-processing device 2 has sheet aligning, stapling, and punching functions. In addition to the post-installed leading edge tray 5, a proof tray 11, a large number of bins 12, a jogger 13, a front door 14, etc. are shown. Has been done.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the drive system of the post-processing apparatus.

Conveying motor 15, punch motor 16, proof discharging roller 17, proof conveying roller 18, punch roller 19, sorter conveying roller 20, bin discharging roller 2
1, stapler unit 22, chuck unit 23,
A chuck moving motor 24, a bin lift motor 26, a stapler moving motor 27, a helical cam shaft 28, a rear end releasing motor 29, a bin discharging motor 30 and the like are shown.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the electrical system of the post-processing apparatus.

In addition to a part of the above construction, the switching solenoid 31, the punch substrate 32, the entry bin sensor light emitting section 3
3, proof discharge sensor 34, entrance sensor 35, door switch 36, punch home sensor 37, full sensor 3
8, punch unit 39, stapler home sensor 4
0, staple presence / absence sensor 41, stapler motor 42, paper presence / absence sensor 43, chuck solenoid 44, diagonal home sensor 45, chuck movement solenoid 46, chuck home sensor 47, entry bin sensor light receiving section 49, bin pulse sensor 50, jogger motor 51. , A bin home sensor 52, a jogger home sensor 53, a rear end release open sensor 54, a rear end release close sensor 55, a main control plate 56, and the like are shown.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the post-processing apparatus.

In addition to a part of the above construction, a proof guide plate 61, a switching claw 62, a main body discharge roller 63, a sorter guide plate 64, a moving rail 65, a rear end fence 66, casters 67, a stopper guide 68, etc. are shown. Has been done.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the post-processing device.

The stapler unit 22 is detachably provided on the moving member 71, and is fixed on the moving member 71 with a screw 1.
It can be done with books. This fixing method may use a lock lever by a mechanical mechanism, a fixing pin, or the like other than the screw.

The moving member 71 is movably supported by the stay member 72 in the direction of the arrow A, whereby the stapler unit 22 can be moved and stapled at a desired position of the sheet bundle.

The chuck unit 23, the upper chuck arm 73, and the lower chuck arm 74 are provided with two pairs of chuck arms.

In such a structure, the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 63 of the main body to the post-processing device 2 is divided by the switching claw 62 into a proof portion and a sort / stack portion. The sheets switched to the proof section are discharged and stacked on the proof tray 11 by the proof transport roller 18, the proof guide plate 61, and the proof discharge roller 17. The sheet conveying path to the proof tray 11 is made as short as possible to shorten the first copy, and the image is on the top and is ejected to the top of the post-processing apparatus 2 so that the user can easily take it. It is easy to see.

Further, the conveying capacity on the proof side is compatible with all sheets that can be discharged by the image forming apparatus 1. Therefore, even if the sorting / stacking side cannot support, the proof side needs to be increased. (Specifically, the distance between rollers, the number of rollers, the roller material of the rollers, the pressing force of the rollers, the shape of the guide plate, the bending radius of the guide plate, etc.).

The sheets switched to the sort / stack side are discharged to the bin 12 via the punch unit 39 by the sorter transport roller 20, the sorter guide plate 64, and the bin discharge roller 21.

The switching (moving) of the bin 12 is performed based on an instruction signal from a main body controller of the image forming apparatus 1 (which may be built in the main body or separately provided outside). After stacking a certain number of sheets into the same bin during stacking, and after discharging one sheet into the bin during sorting, the bin lift motor 26 is turned on based on the instruction signal, and the helical cam shaft 28 rotates once. Then, the bottle 12 is moved up or down. The vertical direction or the selection of the discharge bin is also based on the main body instruction signal.

The sheets discharged to the bin 12 are moved to the end of the bin by the jogger 13 after a predetermined time after the completion of discharging, and the sheets are aligned. The sorting / stacking is completed by repeating this bin discharging-sheet aligning operation.

Completion of sorting / stacking is instructed by the main body controller. After the completion of discharging the sheet in the post-processing device in response to the completion instruction, the conveyance motor 15,
The bin discharge motor 30 is stopped.

Here, when the punch mode is selected, the punch motor 16 is turned on based on the time when the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the entrance sensor 35 by the instruction signal of the main body controller, and the sheet conveying speed is set. The punch dies are operated in synchronism, and holes are punched one by one without stopping the sheet.

When the staple mode is selected, after sorting / stacking is completed, the bin 12 from which the final sheet has been discharged is moved to the staple position.

In the embodiment of the present invention, since the sheet discharge bin position and the staple position are continuous, it is only necessary to move them up or down one bin. When the stapled bin is completely moved to the staple position, the jogger 1
3 is moved to the end face based on the sheet size to prevent the displacement due to the chuck. After that, the chuck moving solenoid 46 is turned on, and the two pairs of upper and lower chuck arms 73, 7 are
4 is moved in the sheet bundle direction on the bin 12. When the movement of the upper and lower chuck arms 73 and 74 is completed, the chuck solenoid 44 is turned on to turn the upper and lower chuck arms 73 and 7
4 is closed and the sheet bundle is held. Upper and lower chuck arm 7
When the holding of the sheet bundle by 3,74 is completed, the jogger 13 is returned to its original position.

The rear end releasing motor 29 is operated to release the bottle rear end fence 66. When the release is completed, the stapler moving motor 27 is turned on and the chuck unit 23 is moved toward the stapler unit 22.

After the sheet bundle has completed moving in the direction of the stapler unit 22, stapling is performed at the position and number determined by the staple mode. The embodiment of the present invention has four modes of front diagonal (home), front parallel, back parallel, and two parallel.

When the stapling is completed, the chuck unit 23 is moved (returned) by turning on the stapler moving motor 27 in the opposite (home) direction to the previous direction. The amount of movement at this time is slightly larger (about 1 mm in the embodiment of the present invention) than that in the stapler direction so that the rear end of the sheet bundle does not get in the way when the rear end fence 66 of the bin is returned. When the return of the sheet bundle is completed, the trailing edge release motor 29 is turned on to return the bin trailing edge fence 66 to the original position.

When the return of the bottle rear end fence 66 to the original position is completed, the chuck solenoid 44 is turned off, the upper and lower chuck arms 73 and 74 are released, and then the chuck moving solenoid 46 is turned off to move the upper and lower chuck arms 73 and 74.
74 is retracted.

Here, the chuck solenoid 44 uses a keep (latch) solenoid and holds the position (both on and off) without energization. This is because even if the front door 14 is opened when the bottle rear end fence 66 is opened, or the power supply to the chuck solenoid 44 is stopped due to the power being turned off, the upper and lower chuck arms 7
This is to prevent the sheet bundles 3, 74 from opening and the sheet bundle from falling and scattering in the machine, and for low power consumption.

Since the stapling target bin has been stapled, the bin 12 is moved to the next stapling target bin, the sheet bundle is stapled in the same manner, and these steps are repeated until the stapling target bin is exhausted.

Now, the stapler unit 22 will be described in more detail.

Input and output for operating the stapler unit 22 are connected by an electric wire harness (not shown). This wire harness is for stapler unit 22
A flexible board, a flex-resistant harness, or the like may be used depending on the number of movements, the layout space, and the like. The connection of the electric wire harness to the stapler unit 22 is by a connector.

The stapler unit 22 is provided with a unit connection output means (unit detection section) described later, and this output signal is also connected to the connection connector of the electric wire harness.

The unit detection signal of the stapler unit 22 is connected to another harness (not shown) via the electric wire harness and finally input to the main control plate 56 shown in FIG.

The main control plate 56 controls the drive of each motor and solenoid of the post-processing device, reads in input signals from each sensor and switch, and controls each operation based on the input signals.
Communication control is performed such as receiving an instruction signal from the image forming apparatus, reporting the operation status of the post-processing apparatus, failure occurrence status, etc. to the image forming apparatus.

When the stapler unit 22 is attached to the moving member 71 and the electric wire harness is connected, the stapling can be performed, so that all the post-processing modes can be selected, and the image shown in FIG. The user can select a post-processing mode including staple binding on the operation panel of the forming apparatus 1 to perform a copy operation.

When the stapler unit 22 is removed, the unit detection means in the main control plate 56, to which the unit detection signal of the stapler unit 22 is input, determines that the stapler unit is not installed.

Therefore, when the post-processing mode for stapling is instructed from the image forming apparatus, the main processing board 56 which is the control means of the post-processing apparatus cannot execute the post-processing mode for stapling. Sends a signal to the user side and controls so that the user cannot make a selection. Alternatively, a signal that the stapler unit 22 is not attached is transmitted from the control plate 56 of the post-processing device to the image forming device side,
When the user tries to select the post-processing mode for stapling by the control unit in the image forming apparatus, the control is prohibited so that the stapler unit 22 is not attached to the display unit of the operation panel. Alternatively, a display indicating that the stapling mode cannot be selected may be output so that the user can control why the stapling mode cannot be selected.

The post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured so that the collating, sorting, and sheet aligning operations are not hindered even when the stapler unit 22 is removed. Therefore, even if the stapler unit 22 is not mounted, the main control plate 5 in the post-processing apparatus can be selected so that each mode of gathering, sorting and paper alignment can be selected.
6 or by the control means of the image forming apparatus so that it can be effectively used as a post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the stapler unit (electric stapler), FIG. 7 is the same rear view, and FIG. 8 is the same front view.
FIG. 9 is a top view of the same.

A board 81 for controlling the stapler unit 22 is attached to the stapler unit 22. In the embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 81 is attached on the right side in FIG.
Any position may be adopted as long as it is an optimum position in consideration of ease of layout, space efficiency, etc., and the electric wire may be arranged without the substrate.

FIG. 10 is an internal circuit diagram of the substrate of the stapler unit.

In this board, a power line for supplying a stapler motor (DC motor) 42 which is a drive source for operating the electric stapler, homing of staples for stapling operation for detecting the operating state of the electric stapler → sheet bundle Penetration to → → Home sensor that detects a return to the home position after a series of movements such as bending (clinching) of the penetrated portion, cartridge detection switch 91 that detects whether a staple cartridge is set in the electric stapler, A needle detection switch (needle presence / absence sensor) 41 for detecting the presence / absence of a needle in the set needle cartridge, a pattern of the sensor, a power source Vcc of the switches, and a GND are provided.

When connecting these power source lines, signal lines such as sensors and switches to external control means, patterns are arranged at each pin number of the connector so that they can be connected by one connector.

The unit connection output means 92 of the embodiment of the present invention is also grouped together in the connector, and the circuit has a simple structure in which it is only connected to the GND line.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the stapler unit attachment / detachment detector.

When the signal from the unit connection output means 92 shown in FIG. 10 is input from the unit detection section 101 to the CPU 102, the level of the input port becomes "L" in the state where the electric stapler is connected and the state is not connected. Since it becomes “H”, the attachment / detachment state of the electric stapler can be detected, and the unit connection detection means of the electric stapler can be constructed with a very inexpensive configuration.

The unit connection output means 92 and the unit detection section 101 may be combined, or both may be provided separately.

Although a DC motor is used as a drive source in the present invention, a stepping motor, an AC motor, a solenoid or the like can also be used as a drive source. Further, the home sensor 40 for detecting a series of operations may be replaced by a micro switch or the like, and a sensor for detecting setting of the cartridge and detection of presence / absence of a needle may be used. In some cases, the cartridge detection and needle presence / absence detection mechanism may be deleted in order to reduce the cost.

In the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, in the electric stapler (22) for binding various paper bundles such as a document or a copy sheet with staples, the electric stapler (22) is used as an apparatus or the like. Since the electric stapler (22) is provided with the unit connection output means 92 for detecting whether or not the electric stapler (22) is mounted in the apparatus when used by incorporating it, By providing the unit connection output means 92, there is also a case where the unit connection output means 92 also serves as a unit detection means for detecting attachment / detachment of the electric stapler (22) when the electric stapler (22) is incorporated in the post-processing apparatus. ) Can be configured without layout restrictions, and can be inexpensively configured without using a sensor, a microswitch, or the like. As a result, the electric stapler (22)
With the device removed, the operation related to stapling is prohibited, and it is displayed that the electric stapler (22) is not installed in the apparatus. Can be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the connector for connecting the output signal of the unit connection output means 92 to the input / output signal necessary for operating the electric stapler (22). The output signal of the unit connection output means 92 is integrated with the electric stapler (2
By supplying the power from 2) and outputting from the same sensor output as each sensor, it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness of connecting a plurality of connectors. In the case where separate connectors are used, the power supply, the connector for each sensor output is being output, and the unit detection connector is not connected, or vice versa, for control purposes, the electric stapler ( 22) may not work even though it should be connected, but if the same connector is used, it can operate as a unit detection equal electric stapler (22). It is possible to eliminate defects.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, in the post-processing device 2 that receives the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 and performs collation or sorting, paper alignment, staple binding, etc. A stapler unit 22 for stapling a bundle of transfer sheets that are collated or sorted and aligned is detachably configured in the post-processing apparatus 2, and unit connection output means 92 is provided in the stapler unit 22. A stapler unit detection means (101) for detecting whether or not the stapler unit 22 is mounted in the post-processing apparatus 2 by the output signal is provided, and the stapler unit 22 is mounted by the stapler unit detection means (101). If it is detected that there is no stapler, control is performed to prohibit the selection of the post-processing mode for stapling. Because the way, the stapler unit 22 in the post-processing apparatus 2 can detect whether or not it is attached. Therefore, when the stapler unit 22 is not attached, the control means in the post-processing apparatus 2 can control so that the post-processing mode for stapling cannot be selected. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 is informed that the stapler unit 22 is not installed, the control unit in the image forming apparatus 1 prohibits the selection of the post-processing mode for staple binding, and the stapler unit 22 is installed in the operation unit. It is possible to perform control such as issuing a message indicating that there is no. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from selecting the post-processing mode including stapling without knowing that the stapler unit 22 has been removed, and the finished copy sheet bundle is not stapled after the copying operation. Can be eliminated.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the stapler unit 2 is detected by the stapler unit detecting means.
Even when it is detected that No. 2 is not mounted in the post-processing apparatus 2, the collation or sorting mode is controlled so that it can be selected, or the stapler unit detection means causes the stapler unit 22 to be in the post-processing apparatus 2. Even when it is detected that the stapler unit 22 is not attached to the paper, the paper alignment mode is controlled so that it can be selected.
Since the sorting and paper alignment operations are not hindered, the collation, sorting, and paper alignment post-processing modes can be selected even when the unit detection unit detects that the stapler unit 22 is not mounted. To do. Therefore, even when the stapler unit 22 is removed due to a failure or the like, the post-processing functions other than stapling can be effectively used, and the collation,
The binding work can be performed by binding the sorted and aligned copy paper bundles by using a manual stapler.

[0069]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the electric stapler itself is provided with the unit connection output means, so that when the electric stapler is incorporated in the post-processing apparatus, the stapler unit for detecting attachment / detachment of the electric stapler is detected. The detection means can be configured without any restrictions on layout, and can be inexpensively configured without using a sensor, a microswitch, or the like. As a result, when the electric stapler is removed, the operation related to the stapler is controlled so as to be prohibited, or the electric stapler is not installed in the apparatus is displayed. It is possible to provide a good device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing the output signal of the unit connection output means to the same connector as the power supply of the electric stapler and the output of each sensor, the trouble of having to connect a plurality of connectors is eliminated. If it is removed and if separate connectors are used, the power supply and sensor output connectors are connected, and the unit detection connector is not connected, or vice versa, the electric stapler is connected for control. However, if the same connector is used, unit detection is in a state where it can operate as an electric stapler, so the electric stapler should be connected. Inconvenience such as not operating does not occur.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the stapler unit is not installed in the post-processing apparatus, the control means in the post-processing apparatus controls the post-processing mode for stapling so that it cannot be selected. Or a message indicating that the stapler unit is not attached to the image forming apparatus, prohibiting the selection of the mode for stapling by the control means in the image forming apparatus, and indicating that the stapler unit is not attached to the operation unit. By performing control such as issuing, the user is prevented from selecting the post-processing mode including stapling without knowing that the stapler unit has been removed, and after the copying work, the finished stack of copy paper is stapled. It is possible to eliminate problems such as not being repaired.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, even if the stapler unit is removed due to a failure or the like, the stapler unit is collated and sorted, and the operations of aligning the sheets are not hindered. , The post-processing function other than stapling can be effectively utilized, that is, the collated, sorted, and aligned copy paper stack is performed by the device, and the user himself can also perform bookbinding work by binding using a manual stapler. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire image forming system apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a drive system of the post-processing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrical system of the post-processing device.

FIG. 4 is a front configuration diagram of a post-processing device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the post-processing device.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a stapler unit.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the stapler unit.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the stapler unit.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the stapler unit.

FIG. 10 is an internal circuit diagram of a substrate of the stapler unit.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a stapler unit attachment / detachment detection unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 stapler unit 92 unit connection output means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Norihisa Masamura 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Yokota Building Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electric stapler for binding various paper bundles such as a manuscript or copy paper with staples, when the electric stapler is used by being incorporated in an apparatus or the like,
An electric stapler comprising unit connection output means for detecting whether or not the electric stapler is mounted in the apparatus. 2. The electric motor according to claim 1, wherein an output signal of the unit connection output means is integrated with a connector for connecting an input / output signal necessary for operating the electric stapler. Stapler. 3. A post-processing apparatus for receiving transfer paper discharged from an image forming apparatus to perform collation or sorting, paper alignment, staple binding, etc., and a bundle of transfer paper sorted or sorted and aligned. The stapler unit for stapling the sheets is configured to be detachable in the post-processing device, and unit connection output means is provided in the stapler unit, and whether or not the stapler unit is mounted in the post-processing device is determined by this output signal. A stapler unit detection unit for detecting the stapling unit is provided, and when the stapler unit detection unit detects that the stapler unit is not mounted, the stapler unit is controlled so that the selection of the post-processing mode for stapling is prohibited. And post-processing equipment. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the stapler unit detection means detects that the stapler unit is not mounted in the post-processing apparatus.
A post-processing device characterized in that the collating mode or the sorting mode is controlled so that it can be selected. 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the stapler unit detection means detects that the stapler unit is not mounted in the post-processing apparatus.
A post-processing device characterized in that the paper alignment mode is controlled so that it can be selected.