JPH10129921A - Paper sheet post-processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability in pulling out a staple unit, and reduce the cost related to attachment of a front cover. SOLUTION: A front cover 101 is fixed to a proximal side end of a staple unit D. A handle 103 is provided on an upper center of the front cover 101, and two leg parts 104 are provided on a bottom side. When the staple unit D is pulled out toward the proximal side of a device body to perform the work, the handle 103 is held, and the front cover 101 is pulled toward the proximal side, and the staple unit D is pulled out together with the front cover. Because the leg parts 104 are provided, the staple unit D is not overturned even in the pulled-out condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing having a sheet aligning tray section for stacking sheets in a aligned state, and a staple unit having a stapler for binding sheets stacked on the sheet aligning tray section. Related to the device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus capable of easily performing jam processing in a staple unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet aligning tray section for stacking sheets in a state where sheets are aligned, and a stapler unit having a stapler for binding sheets stacked on the sheet aligning tray section are provided. 2. Description of the Related Art A paper post-processing apparatus that staples a bundle of image-formed sheets to be bound and performs bookbinding is widely known. In such a sheet post-processing apparatus, the staple unit can generally be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus main body for operations such as jam processing or refilling of the staple. In addition, to prevent foreign substances such as dust and dust from entering the inside of the machine, or to prevent a user from entering the inside by mistake and getting involved in an accident, and for aesthetic reasons, etc. , Front cover (exterior cover) on the front of the stipple unit (the side facing the user and operator)
Is provided.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art, when a jam occurring in the staple unit is cleared,
Alternatively, when refilling the staple, the front cover is opened by rotating the front cover horizontally with respect to the main body side plate, and then the staple unit is pulled out of the apparatus main body. Therefore, when performing an operation on the staple unit, two operations, that is, opening the front cover and pulling out the staple unit, must be performed, and there is a problem that the operability is poor and it takes time. Further, in order to rotatably hold the front cover on the main body side, a hinge member is required, and there is also a problem that the cost is increased.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus capable of improving operability when pulling out a staple unit and reducing costs associated with attaching a front cover.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus in which a foot portion is provided on a front cover to prevent the staple unit from falling when pulled out.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus in which a caster is provided on the front cover to prevent the stipple unit from falling over when pulled out, and to further reduce the operating force when pulled out. It is to provide.

[0007]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet aligning tray section for stacking sheets in a state where sheets are aligned, and a staple unit having a stapler for binding sheets stacked on the sheet aligning tray section. A sheet post-processing apparatus for stapling and binding a bundle of image-formed sheets discharged from a sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus;
A solution is provided by a first means in which a slide mechanism for pulling out the staple unit is provided, a front cover is attached to the front surface of the staple unit, and the staple unit can be pulled out to the front side together with the front cover. . The second problem is solved by the first means, wherein the front cover is provided with a fall-preventing foot for holding the pulled-out staple unit substantially horizontally in the front cover. You. The second problem is solved by the third means, wherein the foot for preventing the fall is integrated with the front cover in the second means. The third problem is solved by the first means, wherein the front cover is provided with a caster for holding the stipple unit in a pulled-out state substantially horizontally.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

The paper post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a paper discharge section of the image forming apparatus 1, and the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is directly discharged by a switching claw 2 to a paper discharge tray (shift tray). 3, a first transport path A for sorting and stacking, a second transport path B for stapling or reversing, and a sheet that has entered the second transport path B due to the reverse rotation of the transport roller 8 is returned to the first transport path A again. And a third transport path C leading to the second transport path. 2a is the center of rotation of the switching claw 2. The paper discharge tray 3 arranged at the most downstream side of the third transport path C has a function of stacking both sheets that are not stapled and sheets that are stapled.

A transport roller 4 and a driven roller 5 for receiving the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 are provided near the entrance of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and an entrance sensor S1 is provided immediately before the roller. The leading and trailing edges of the conveyed sheet are detected.

The switching claw 2 is disposed downstream of the transport roller 4, and the transport direction is changed by a solenoid and a spring (not shown) to a first transport path A and a second transport path B.
Can be changed in either direction. A transport roller 6 and a driven roller 7 driven by the transport roller 6 are arranged in the first transport path A, and guide the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 directly to the discharge tray 3. Also, in the second transport path B for stapling and reversing, the transport roller 8 and the driven roller 9 provided with a brush, which will be described later, are provided.
And at the time of reversal, to the third transport path C.

The other units shown in FIG. 1 will be described later with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view (side view when FIG. 1 is the front side) of the staple unit D, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the same. The stapling unit D includes a stapler 10 that performs stapling, a jogger fence 11 for aligning sheets in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, a discharge belt 12 for discharging stapled sheets to the discharge tray 3, And a paper discharge claw 13 fixed thereto, a staple tray 20, a reference fence 21, and the like. S2 is a sensor for detecting the position of the paper discharge claw 13, and adjusts the position of the paper trailing end so that the position of the rear end of the paper is always constant even with different paper sizes.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sheet reference for staple is arranged outside the maximum width of the sheet when the sheet is inverted.

Here, the paper discharge claw 13 has a function as a fence for aligning the edges of the paper on a staple tray (a paper alignment tray portion described in the claims) 20 and a paper discharge tray for transferring the stapled paper bundle. It also has the function of sending out to 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the sheet discharging section. A paper discharge roller 14 and a paper discharge driven roller 17 that follows the paper discharge roller 14 are disposed at a paper discharge port to the paper discharge tray 3, and discharge paper that is not stapled, stapled, and inverted paper. The sheet is discharged to the paper tray 3. The paper discharge driven roller 17 is normally at a position in contact with the paper discharge roller 14, but can be moved around the fulcrum a together with the paper discharge guide plate 18 to the position indicated by the one-dot chain line as necessary. . The discharge tray 3 can be moved in the vertical direction along the guide plate 22 by the vertical guide rollers 15.
It is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). The discharge tray 3 can also be moved by a shift guide roller 16 in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction (vertical direction in the figure), and the shift operation is also performed by a drive mechanism (not shown). S3 is an upper surface detection sensor for detecting the upper surface of the discharged paper, and a discharge tray so that the upper surface of the discharged and stacked paper is always at a fixed position with respect to the discharge roller 14. The height of 3 is adjusted. FIG.
, 23 indicates a reversing guide, and S4 indicates a reversing entrance sensor.

The operations include a sort / stat mode in which sheets are directly discharged to the discharge tray 3 one by one without performing stapling, a staple mode in which sheets are discharged after stapling, and a stapling mode in which sheets are inverted and then discharged. It is divided into three modes: a paper reversal mode.

Hereinafter, each mode will be described separately. (1) Sort / stack mode The switching claw 2 is located at the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1, and the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is sent to the first transport path A, and is transported to the paper discharge port by the transport rollers 6. Sent. At this time, the paper discharge driven roller 17 is always in contact with the paper discharge roller 14 while being pressed by its own weight, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 3 by this. The discharged sheets are sequentially discharged by the predetermined number of sheets to the discharge tray 3, and the sensor S3 detects the upper surface thereof, so that the upper surface of the sheet is adjusted so that the upper surface is always at a constant height. It is stacked on the paper tray 3. If necessary, the paper discharge tray 3 performs a shift operation in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction to sort the paper. Also, in a reversing mode to be described later, the discharge tray 3
Performs a similar operation.

(2) Staple mode The switching claw 2 is at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is reversed and guided to the second transport path B.
It is transported to the staple unit D. At this time, the paper discharge claw 13 is moved on the transport path of the staple tray 20 by the sensor S2 such that the rear end of the paper is always at a fixed position with respect to the transport roller 8. A brush roller 8 'larger than the diameter of the roller 8 is provided coaxially with the transport roller 8, so that the leading edge of the sheet abuts the paper ejecting claw 13 and the trailing edge of the staple tray 20 It is stacked with being pressed in the direction.

Next, the jogger fence 11 moves the reference fence 21 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the sheets are stacked in a state where they hit the reference fence 21 and the paper discharge claws 13. Each time a sheet enters the staple tray 20, the same operation is repeated, and the sheets are stacked in an aligned state. Next, the stapling operation is performed by the stapler 10, and the stapled sheet bundle is conveyed in the direction of the discharge roller 14 by the discharge claw 13 serving as the reference in the conveyance direction, and discharged onto the discharge tray 3. Is done. After the paper is ejected, the sheet abuts against the guide plate 22 by its own weight, and is stacked with its rear ends aligned. The sheet bundle stacked for a predetermined number of copies is controlled so that the upper surface of the sheet is always at a fixed position, as in the sort / stack mode.

(3) Reversing Mode The switching claw 2 is located at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 similarly to the staple mode, and the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is reversed to the second transport path B. Be guided. At this time, the tip of the switching claw 2 is pressurized in a state of being overlapped with the reversing guide 23, and the sheet is conveyed so as to push it away. Next, when the trailing end passes through the switching claw 2, the transport roller 8 rotates in the reverse direction, and the sheet is switched back in the inverted state and sent to the third transport path C, and again transported through the first transport path A. The sheet is sent to a sheet discharge port by the roller 6. The reverse rotation timing of the transport roller 8 is obtained from the output of the reverse entrance sensor S4. At this time, the paper discharge claw 13 fixed to the paper discharge belt 12 has escaped to a position where it does not hit the leading end of the paper guided to the second transport path B. This position is set by a sensor S2 that detects the position of the paper discharge claw 13.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the staple unit is accommodated.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the same when the staple unit is pulled out.

As shown in FIG. 5, a front cover 101 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body, and an upper cover 102 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. Front cover 101 is handle 1
03 is pulled out to the near side. The upper cover 102 is configured to open its interior by rotating upward. If a paper jam occurs at the paper entrance, the upper cover 102 is opened to expose the inside, and the paper is jammed. In the case of jam processing in the staple unit D (including jam in the second transport path B), the staple unit D is pulled out. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the front cover 101 is attached to the front end of the stipple unit D and fixed integrally therewith.
When the grip 103 is grasped and the front cover 101 is pulled out to the front side, the stipple unit D is pulled out horizontally by being guided by a slide mechanism (not shown), and is exposed to the front side of the apparatus main body. In this state, it is possible to perform an operation such as a jam removal in the staple unit D or a needle replenishment in the stipple 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3).

In the first embodiment, the staple unit D can be pulled out to the front side together with the front cover 101. Therefore, when the staple unit D is pulled out, the front cover 101 is pulled. Operation can be completed, and operability can be improved. Further, since a hinge for rotating and holding the front cover 101 with respect to the apparatus main body is not required, cost reduction and weight reduction can be realized.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the staple unit is pulled out.

When the staple unit D is pulled out, the balance is deteriorated, and there is a possibility that the staple unit D may fall down (the tip portion contacts the floor surface). Is provided. This foot 1
04 is set at a height with a gap from the apparatus main body installation surface.

In the second embodiment, the provision of the foot portion 104 can prevent the tipping of the staple unit D when the staple unit D is pulled out while providing the above-described effects.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view when the staple unit is pulled out in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
And formed integrally. In the third embodiment, the foot portion 105 is formed integrally with the front cover 101, thereby simplifying the configuration while providing the above-described effects.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention when the staple unit is pulled out.

In the fourth embodiment, the front cover 101
Rollable casters 106 are provided at two locations on the bottom of the slab. The diameter of the caster 106 is set to be substantially the same as the height from the apparatus main body installation surface to the bottom surface of the front cover 101.
That is, when the staple unit D is pulled out, the front cover 101 with the casters 106 is always in contact with the installation surface of the apparatus main body, thereby preventing the apparatus from falling. In the fourth embodiment, the caster 106 prevents the staple unit D from falling when the staple unit D is pulled out, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. Of course, a smooth withdrawal can be realized.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the staple unit can be pulled out to the front side together with the front cover, so that when the staple unit is pulled out, it is possible to perform one operation of pulling the front cover, Operability can be improved. Further, since a hinge for rotating and holding the front cover with respect to the apparatus main body is not required, cost reduction and weight reduction can be realized. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the front cover is provided with the foot, it is possible to prevent the staple unit from falling when the staple unit is pulled out. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the fall prevention foot is integrated with the front cover, the fall when the staple unit is pulled out can be prevented, and the configuration is simplified. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the casters are provided on the front cover, it is possible to prevent the stipple unit from falling when pulled out and further reduce the operating force when the staple unit is pulled out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the staple unit.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the staple unit is accommodated.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view when the staple unit is pulled out.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention when a staple unit is pulled out.

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention when a staple unit is pulled out.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention when a staple unit is pulled out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 front cover 103 handle 104, 105 foot 106 caster

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Yamada 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Masahiro Tamura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes a sheet aligning tray unit that stacks sheets in a aligned state, and a staple unit having a stapler for binding sheets stacked on the sheet aligning tray unit. In a sheet post-processing apparatus for stapling and binding a bundle of image-formed sheets to be printed, a slide mechanism for pulling out the staple unit is provided, and a front cover is attached to a front surface of the staple unit, A sheet post-processing apparatus wherein the staple unit can be pulled out to the front side together with the front cover. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front cover is provided with a fall-preventing foot for holding the pulled-out staple unit substantially horizontally. . 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the overturning prevention foot is integrated with a front cover. 4. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a caster for holding the stipple unit in a pulled-out state substantially horizontally is provided on the front cover.