JPH10175766A - Sheet post processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfy a request for complicated sorting by locating a paper ejecting bin storing recorded sheets processes at a matching and binding stage at an easy-to-use location and providing the paper ejecting bins by a sufficient number. SOLUTION: After a plurality of recorded sheet X in a piled state which are collected at a matching and binding stage 50 are arranged to a matching state, the recorded sheets are bound with a staple while the recorded sheet area discharged from the matching and binding stage 50. In the front part of a body of equipment 4 of a sheet post processor 1A, that is, on the side of an operator, a paper ejecting bin unit 90 having a plurality of paper ejecting bins 91 aligned in the vertical direction is provided. Processed recorded sheets X which are discharged from the matching and binding stage 50 are collected in a state that the recorded sheets X are classified into corresponding paper ejecting bins 91. A sheet fetching stage 10 to which recorded sheets X from an image forming device are supplied is provided with upper and lower horizontal guide 11, 12 which are kept with space in which a sheet of recorded sheet can be passed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a recorded sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a sheet post-processing apparatus for aligning pages of a recorded sheet and binding them by stapling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a recorded sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus is usually in a state in which an image recording surface faces upward. Therefore, when the recorded sheet is processed by a sheet post-processing apparatus. However, simply placing the sheets in the stacking order in the order of taking in the recorded sheets does not allow page alignment or binding since the page order is reversed. For this reason, conventionally, for example, according to JP-A-6-56324 and JP-A-2-276691, after turning over the recorded sheet taken in from the image forming apparatus, the recorded sheet in the stacked state is bound. A sheet post-processing apparatus has been proposed.

That is, the former sheet post-processing apparatus includes a pair of sheet supply rollers capable of nipping a recorded sheet taken in, and changing the nip positions of these sheet supply rollers with respect to a discharge tray (discharge bin). By this, the front and back of the captured recorded sheet are reversed, and the pages of the recorded sheet are aligned. Further, in the latter sheet post-processing apparatus, the recorded sheet taken in from the image forming apparatus is classified into a sorting pass that only performs page alignment of the recorded sheet, and a staple path that performs page alignment and binding of the recorded sheet. And the processed recorded sheets are discharged to two independent discharge trays provided in each of the sorting path and the staple path.

[0004]

However, in these conventional sheet post-processing apparatuses, the direction of discharging the recorded sheet discharged from the sheet post-processing apparatus is considered even if the reversed side of the recorded sheet is considered. Is in the same direction as the sheet taking-in direction of the recorded sheet taken into the sheet post-processing apparatus, so that the position of the discharge tray attached to the sheet post-processing apparatus is located on the side of the housing far from the operator. In order to collect the recorded sheets, the operator had to walk to the position of the discharge tray away from the image forming apparatus and collect the recorded sheets.

In the latter sheet post-processing apparatus having independent two-system paths, the number of paper discharge trays is limited, and it is not possible to satisfy the complicated sorting request required from the image forming apparatus, and the complicated sorting is not performed. There is also a problem that the waiting time in the case of a request becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus, it is an object of the present invention to make the position of the paper discharge bin easy to use, and to provide a sufficient number of sheets to satisfy complicated sorting requirements. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus having a discharge bin.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are aligned and bound, and then discharged onto a discharge bin. A sheet post-processing device for taking in the recorded sheet, changing a conveyance direction of the recorded sheet in a direction intersecting a sheet taking-in direction, and aligning the recorded sheet in a collecting / stacking state. The present invention proposes a sheet post-processing device that performs alignment and binding processing of the recorded sheets in a binding stage, and stores the recorded sheets processed in the aligned binding stage in a discharge bin.

In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an alignment stitching stage and collected on the alignment stitching stage. In a sheet post-processing apparatus that staples the plurality of recorded sheets and then discharges the sheets onto a discharge bin, the direction in which the recorded sheets are taken into the upper part of the housing and intersects the sheet taking-in direction. A sheet take-in stage for changing the conveying direction of the recorded sheet is provided, and the recorded sheet can be moved up and down to collect and stack and align the plurality of the recorded sheets in a stacked state. An alignment stitching stage having a suitable sheet mounting table is provided below the sheet take-in stage,
A sheet reversal conveyance path for taking the recorded sheet from the sheet take-in stage and reversing the recorded sheet to the aligning and binding stage is arranged on the intake side of the aligning and binding stage. A sheet post-processing apparatus will be described in which a paper output bin unit having a plurality of paper output bins arranged vertically and capable of storing the recorded sheets is located in front of an operator of the housing.

According to the present invention, the following objects are achieved: 1) A plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an alignment stitching stage and collected on the alignment stitching stage. In a sheet post-processing apparatus that staples a plurality of the recorded sheets and then discharges the sheets onto a discharge bin, a sheet take-in stage capable of switching back the taken-in recorded sheets is provided at an upper part of a housing. An alignment binding stage having a vertically movable sheet mounting table for aligning and binding a plurality of the recorded sheets placed in a stacked state by collecting the recorded sheets; Sheet reversing means for feeding the recorded sheet from the sheet take-in stage and reversing the recorded sheet to the alignment binding stage A delivery path is arranged on the intake side of the aligning and stitching stage, and a delivery bin unit having a plurality of delivery bins arranged in a vertical direction capable of storing the processed recorded sheets is provided in front of the operator of the housing. Positioned sheet post-processing apparatus, 2) sequentially transporting a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from the image forming apparatus to the aligning and binding stage, and transferring the plurality of recorded sheets collected on the aligning and binding stage. In a sheet post-processing device that discharges onto a paper discharge bin after stapling, a sheet take-in stage that can take in the recorded sheet is provided at an upper portion of a housing, and the recorded sheet is collected. An alignment binding stage having a vertically movable sheet mounting table for aligning and binding a plurality of recorded sheets placed in a stacked state is located below the sheet take-in stage. A sheet reversal conveyance path for feeding the recorded sheet discharged from the sheet take-in stage in the sheet taking-in direction of the recorded sheet, and feeding the recorded sheet, which has been turned upside down, to the alignment binding stage. A sheet discharging unit having a plurality of sheet discharging bins arranged in the vertical direction which can be arranged on the intake side of the aligning and stitching stage and which can store the recorded sheet after processing is positioned in front of an operator of the housing. It can also be achieved by a post-processing device.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10 show a sheet post-processing apparatus 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
An outline of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A will be described. The recorded sheets X ejected one by one from the image forming apparatus 2 indicated by phantom lines are taken into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A upward with respect to the paper surface of FIG. 2 while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. The recorded sheet X, which does not require alignment and binding in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A, is moved to the upper part of the housing 4 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A by the rotational movement of the discharge roller 3 above the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A. Is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 5 composed of Then, the recorded sheets X that need to be processed by the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A are sequentially supplied one by one to a sheet taking stage 10 in the housing 4, and the sheet taking stage 10 Is changed in a different direction, is taken up by a sheet reversal conveyance path 30 described in detail later, and is collected from the sheet reversal conveyance path 30 on an alignment binding stage 50 that can move up and down.

The plurality of recorded sheets X in the stacked state collected on the aligning and binding stage 50 are arranged in the aligned state and then closed by staples while being discharged from the aligning and binding stage 50. Are combined. At the front of the casing 4 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A, that is, at the operator side, a paper output bin unit 90 having a plurality of paper output bins 91 aligned in the vertical direction is provided. The processed and recorded sheets X are collected in a state where they are classified into the corresponding discharge bins 91.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sheet take-in stage 10 to which a recorded sheet X from the image forming apparatus 2 is supplied is vertically and horizontally maintained at an interval through which one recorded sheet X can pass. The upper horizontal guide plate 11 includes two pairs of intake driven rollers 13 aligned in the take-in direction A, and a direction changing driven roller oriented at right angles to the intake driven rollers 13. 14 is attached.

On the surface of the lower horizontal guide plate 12, cutout windows 15 corresponding to the respective intake driven rollers 13 and the direction change driven rollers 14 are formed. An intake drive roller 16 and a direction change drive roller 17 that can be in contact with the driven roller 13 and the direction change driven roller 14 are disposed so as to be able to protrude and retract. That is, both the take-in drive roller 16 and the direction changing drive roller 17 attached to the lower portion of the lower horizontal guide plate 12 are usually settled below the notch window 15 and the corresponding take-in It can roll on the driven roller 13 and the direction changing driven roller 14.

FIG. 3 shows a drive control section of the take-in drive roller 16 and the direction change drive roller 17 typified by the direction change drive roller 17, and a direction change drive driven by a drive motor 18 and a timing belt 19. The roller 17 is pivotally supported by a support arm 21 centered on a fulcrum shaft 20, and an operation arm 23a of an electromagnetic solenoid 23 is engaged with the support arm 21 urged in one direction by an urging spring 22. Therefore, when the electromagnetic solenoid 23 is excited,
The direction changing drive roller 17 is settled below the notch window 15, and the direction changing drive roller 17 is raised above the notch window 15 by the force of the urging spring 22 due to the demagnetization of the electromagnetic solenoid 23, and the direction changing driven roller 14 is rotated. , And the recorded sheet X sandwiched between the same direction conversion driven roller 14 can be conveyed.

An exit roller 31 is disposed at an exit portion of the sheet take-in stage 10, and the direction changing drive roller 1 is provided.
7 and the recorded sheet X whose conveyance direction has been changed by the direction changing driven roller 14 is sent to a sheet reversing conveyance path 30 arranged adjacent to the aligning and stitching stage 50 in the horizontal direction. At 30 the front and back are reversed. The sheet reversing conveyance path 30 shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 5 includes a plurality of endless vertical conveyance belts 34 that are continuous with the curved guide plate 33, and the vertical conveyance belts 34 face each other in the vertical direction. It is bridged between the lower sprocket 35 and the upper sprocket 36 in the state.

A pressing tape 37 for fixing the leading end to the sheet mounting table 51 of the aligning and stitching stage 50 is stretched over the upper part of each of the vertical conveying belts 34.
These pressing tapes 37 and the corresponding vertical transport belts 34
The recorded sheet X can be held between the recording sheet X and the surface of the recording sheet X. That is,
The tape base winding 38 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a rotation characteristic in the winding direction, and the pressing tape 37 guided from the tape base winding 38 is provided with the guide roller 39 at the exit of the curved guide plate 33 and the sheet. Curved relay guide 5 of sheet mounting table 51 for picking up recorded sheet X from reverse transport path 30
2, the sheet placing table 5 via the lower guide roller 40.
The top ends are fixed to the tape stays 53 on the upper surface of the device 1, respectively. Therefore, since the upper sprocket 36 is driven clockwise in FIG. 2 by the transport motor 41, the recorded sheet X guided by the curved guide plate 33 is
The sheet is conveyed downward along the sheet reversing conveyance path 30 in a state where it is prevented from dropping by the attachment, and is taken up by the relay guide 52 of the aligning and binding stage 50 described above.

FIG. 4 shows an alignment stage up-and-down mechanism 6 for raising and lowering the sheet table 51 of the alignment stitching stage 50 described above.
0, a vertically extending guide groove 55 is formed between a pair of vertical guide frames 54F and 54B opposed to each other in the front-rear direction. These guide grooves 55 are rotatable on both sides of a vertically movable plate 56. The driven piece 57 is supported by the driven piece 57. An upper drive shaft 58 and a lower driven shaft 59 are provided above and below the guide frames 54F and 54B, respectively, and are provided between the upper drive sprocket 61 and the lower driven sprocket 62 provided on the upper drive shaft 58 and the lower driven shaft 59. An upper and lower timing belt 63 that partially secures the upper and lower movable plates 56 is stretched.

A support bracket 64 extending in a substantially horizontal direction is fixed to the upper and lower movable plate 56 in a cantilever manner, and the alignment bracket 64 is provided on the support bracket 64 extending immediately below the sheet take-in stage 10. The sheet mounting table 51 of the binding stage 50 is mounted. Therefore, according to the alignment stage up / down mechanism 60 having such a structure, the upper mounting shaft 58 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown) to move the sheet mounting table 51 with respect to the respective output bins 91 of the output bin unit 90 in the vertical direction. The corresponding position of is calculated,
The recorded sheet X that has been processed in the alignment binding stage 50 is discharged and collected on the designated sheet mounting table 51.

The sheet mounting table 51 shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a relay guide 52 opened upward facing the vertical transport belt 34, and a recorded guide taken in the relay guide 52. The sheet X is positioned on a smooth placing surface 66 inclined by the rotational movement of the relay roller 65 located at the exit. That is, as can be understood from FIG. 2, the placement surface 66 on which the captured plurality of recorded sheets X can be collected in a stacked state has a higher discharge side of the recorded sheets X. Recorded sheet X collected on placing surface 66
Are in a state where the rear end is aligned with the rear end cursor 67 provided on the capturing side due to their own weight.

As shown in FIG. 6, on one side of the sheet mounting table 51, a side edge cursor 68 for aligning the position of the side edge of the collected recorded sheet X and the aligned recorded sheet A stapler 85 is provided in which staples are driven into X and bound. That is, the sheet mounting table 51
An alignment belt 72 driven by a reversible alignment motor 71 is stretched over an alignment frame 69 that straddles the frame, and the width of a recorded sheet X formed on the upper side 69 a of the alignment frame 69 is stretched over the alignment belt 72. An alignment plate 75 that can reciprocate along the width direction groove 73 is fixed.

The lower end of the matching plate 75 is inserted into an open window 76 formed on the side of the mounting surface 66 opposite to the stapler 85. When the recorded sheet X is reciprocated in the width direction, one side edge of the recorded state of the recorded sheet X positioned on the mounting surface 66 abuts against the side edge cursor 68, and the recorded sheet X Are aligned in the width direction.

In order to take out the processed recorded sheet X, a plurality of transport belts 77 extending in the transport direction of the recorded sheet X are provided on the sheet mounting table 51 of the alignment and binding stage 50. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the transport belts 77 disposed in the belt groove 66a of the above-described loading surface 66 includes a transport section driven sprocket 78 and a transport section drive sprocket provided on the loading side and the ejection side of the sheet loading table 51. A transport motor 81 (shown in FIG. 2) that is stretched between 79 and drives the transport unit drive sprocket 79.
Is driven clockwise in FIG.

Further, a catch claw 82 which can protrude from the belt groove 66a onto the mounting surface 66 is fixed to a part of the transport belt 77, so that the transport belt 81 is driven by the transport motor 81. At this time, the hooking claw 82 engages with the trailing edge of the aligned recorded sheet X,
The recorded sheet X is moved toward the recorded sheet X. As shown in FIG. 2, there is an approach distance L between the leading end of the recorded sheet X located on the mounting surface 66 and the staple driving position of the stapler 85, so that the At this time, since an adjustment force due to the forced movement acts between the recorded sheets X, irregularities in the transport direction of the recorded sheets X in an inconsistent state are automatically corrected.

Since the structure of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A has the above-described configuration, the recorded sheet X taken in the sheet taking-in direction A intersects with the sheet taking-in direction A at the sheet taking stage 10. After the sheet is turned upside down and turned upside down in the sheet reversing conveyance path 30, the sheet is aligned and bound by the aligning and binding stage 50, and is accommodated in the discharge bin unit 90 arranged on the front side of the operator. Will be. Therefore, the operator located in front of the image forming apparatus 2 needs
The processed recorded sheets accommodated in the paper discharge bin 91 can be collected simply by reaching for the paper discharge bin 91 aligned in the vertical direction. Further, since the number of the discharge bins 91 of the discharge bin unit is not particularly limited, a structure which can sufficiently cope with complicated sorting and the number of closed copies required in the image forming apparatus 2 can be obtained.

Although the structural portion of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A according to the illustrated embodiment has the above-described structure, the transport system for the recorded sheet X includes a sheet detecting sensor SS1 to a sheet detecting sensor as shown in FIG. SS5 is disposed, and these sheet detection sensors SS1 to SS5
The conveyance state of the recorded sheet X is monitored by the detection signal of (1).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the image forming apparatus 2 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A. As will be understood from FIG.
Information such as the processing mode, the number of originals, the number of prints, and the like from the image forming apparatus 2 is read into the control device CPU A, and the sheet take-in stage 10,
The vertical position of the sheet mounting table 51 with respect to the designated discharge bin 91, the sheet reversing conveyance path 30, the conveyance motor 81 and the alignment motor 71 of the alignment stitching stage 50, the stapler 85, and the paper discharge bin unit 90 are controlled. The details of these control operations will become clear later.

Next, the actual processing operation of the recorded sheet X in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A described above with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 will be described. 8, when the power of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A is turned on, the upper and lower timing belts and the transport belt 77 are driven (step S1), and the recorded sheet X
The recorded sheet X remaining in the conveyance path is discharged to the paper discharge bin unit 90, and then the take-in drive roller 16 and the direction change drive roller 17 are also driven to rotate (step S2), and are put into the sheet take-in stage 10. The remaining recorded sheet X is similarly discharged to the discharge bin unit 90.

Next, it is checked by the sheet detection sensor SS1 that there is no remaining recorded sheet X on the sheet take-in stage 10 (step S3).
When the recorded sheet X on which an image is recorded is taken into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A, the take-in drive roller 16 is raised and pressed against the take-in driven roller 13, and at the same time, the take-in drive roller 16 rotates. Driven. In this case, the direction changing drive roller 17 stops rotating and is lowered from the notch window 15. Therefore, the recorded sheet X is completely drawn into the sheet take-in stage 10 by the rotational movement of the take-in drive roller 16.

After the recorded sheet X is completely drawn into the sheet taking stage 10, the passage of the trailing end of the recorded sheet X is checked by the sheet detecting sensor SS1 (step S4), and the taking-in drive roller 16 stops. (Step S5), the take-in drive roller 16 is lowered, and the direction change drive roller 17 is raised and pressed against the direction change driven roller 14, and the direction change drive roller 17 is rotationally driven (Step S6). , Same direction conversion drive roller 1
7, the direction is changed to a direction perpendicular to the above-described take-in direction A, and conveyed through the sheet take-in stage 10 (step S7).

Thereafter, the recorded sheet X is moved by driving the vertical conveying belt 7734 of the sheet reversing conveying path 30.
Alignment stitching stage 5 through sheet reversing conveyance path 30
From the relay guide 52 of No. 0, the sheet advances on the mounting surface 66 of the sheet mounting table 51. Since the mounting surface 66 is in an inclined state, the recorded sheet X slides on the mounting surface 66, and the rear end thereof moves rearward. It stops in a state where it has hit the end cursor 67. When the leading edge of the recorded sheet X is detected by the sheet detection sensor SS3 (step S8) at the time of shifting to the alignment binding stage 50, a timer for controlling the alignment unit of the alignment binding stage 50 is set (step S9). ) And the placement surface 6 described above
After waiting for the stationary time of the recorded sheet X on Step 6 (Step S10), the alignment motor 71 is started (Step S11),
The alignment plate 75 is reciprocated one time so that the side edge of the recorded sheet X located on the mounting surface 66 abuts on the side edge cursor 68.

The steps from the loading of the recorded sheets X to the alignment operation by the alignment unit are performed based on the information from the image forming apparatus 2 in a predetermined number of pages.
Alternatively, the process is repeated until a predetermined number of recorded sheets X are stacked on the placing surface 66. When the alignment operation of the predetermined number of recorded sheets X is completed (step S12),
The alignment plate 75 is retreated to a position separated from the recorded sheet X in the stacked state (step S13).

Next, in the aligning and binding stage 50, the transport motor 81 is started (step S14), and the transport belt 77 is moved.
The recorded sheet X in the stacked state aligned by the hooking claw 82 fixed to the stapler 85 is conveyed toward the stapler 85.
In this case, since the approach distance L is provided between the leading end of the recorded sheet X at the alignment position and the stapler 85, even if the recorded sheet X is not aligned in the transport direction, the hooking claw By the rapid forced movement by 82, the irregular state of the recorded sheet X is naturally corrected. After the conveyance of the recorded sheet X by the conveyance belt 77 is started, it is checked whether or not there is a stapling command (step S15). If there is a stapling command, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of stapling points ( Step S16) will be performed.

If there are a plurality of binding instructions, the process proceeds to the step of FIG.
It is checked whether or not the sheet X has been transported to the first binding position (step S17). When the recorded sheet X has been transported to the first binding position, the transport belt 77 is temporarily stopped (step S18). The stapler 85 is operated (Step S19), and the recorded sheet X being conveyed is closed with staples.

Thereafter, when the operation of the stapler 85 is completed (step S20), the driving of the transport belt 77 is restarted (step S21), and the recording sheet X is bound by the hooking claw 82 of the transport belt 77 for the second time. (Step S22), the transport belt 77 is stopped again at the second binding position (Step S23), and the stapler 85 is stopped.
Is operated again (step S24).

The second binding is completed (step S2).
5) After that, the transported belt 77 is driven (step S26), and the recorded sheet X that has been bound is discharged from the alignment binding stage 50. The recorded sheet X corresponds to the alignment binding stage 50. The conveyance belt 77 is stopped after the trailing end of the recorded sheet X from the alignment stitching stage 50 is detected by the sheet detection sensor SS5 (step S26). (Step S27), and all the processing operations are completed.

If it is checked in step S15 whether there is a binding command, if there is no binding command signal, steps S16 to S25 are omitted, and the driving of the transport belt 77 is continued (step S28). )
Then, the process proceeds to step S26, in which the alignment staging stage 50
, The recorded sheet X is discharged. further,
At the time of checking the binding mode in step S16, if there is only one binding position, the process proceeds to FIG. 10, and the transported belt 77 conveys the recorded sheet X to the one binding position, and the same one binding position. When reaching the alignment position (step S29), the transport belt 77 is temporarily stopped (step S30). Therefore, the transport belt 7
After stopping the stapler 7, the stapler 85 is operated (step S31), the recorded sheet X is stapled by stapling, and after the operation of the stapler 85 is completed (step S32), the drive of the transport belt 77 is restarted (step S33). Returning to step S26, the recorded sheet X bound on the discharge bin 91 is discharged.

The position of the aligning and binding stage 50 in the vertical direction with respect to the discharge bin unit 90 is determined by the number of discharge bins used in accordance with the collation of the recorded sheets X transmitted from the image forming apparatus 2 and the signal of the number of sheets to be bound. It is determined by the selection signal 91. In other words, one or a plurality of output bins 91 for collecting the recorded sheet X are designated according to the page alignment signal or the number of sheets to be bound from the image forming apparatus 2, and the designated output bin 9 is designated.
The height of the sheet mounting table 51 of the aligning binding stage 50 is adjusted in advance to a height corresponding to 1, and the recorded sheet X processed by the aligning binding stage 50 is discharged to the discharge bin 91.

FIG. 11 shows a sheet post-processing apparatus 1B according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view in a direction perpendicular to FIG. That is, similarly to the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus 1A of the first embodiment, the recorded sheet X taken in from the sheet taking-in direction A is taken into the housing 4 by the taking-in roller 100, and the recorded sheet X that does not require processing is taken. The sheet X is discharged to the discharge tray 5 by switching of the switch 101. Also, a recorded sheet X that requires page alignment and binding in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1B
Is supplied to the switchable sheet take-in stage 10A, which is a feature of the second embodiment, and is switched back from the sheet take-up stage 10A to the sheet reversal conveyance path 30A, and is captured in the aligned binding stage 50A in a stacked state. And the sheet mounting table 51A of the matching binding stage 50A
After the above processing, the sheet is discharged and stored in a specified discharge bin of a discharge bin unit (not shown). In the case of the second embodiment, the discharge bin unit is provided above the paper surface of FIG.

In the case of the second embodiment, the direction-changing driven roller 14 and the direction-changing driving roller 17 described in the first embodiment are not provided. After the recorded sheet X is completely taken in between the upper and lower horizontal guide plates 11 and 12, it is reversed and the recorded sheet X can be fed into the sheet reversing conveyance path 30A. For this purpose, the upper and lower horizontal guide plates 11, 1
A backflow prevention member 102 composed of a piece of Mylar paper or the like is located at the entrance 2. Also, the sheet reversing conveyance path 30A
Has a path guide 43 extending vertically along the front side of the housing 4, and the upper end 43 a of the path guide 43 is
The sheet take-in stage 10A is used to take in the recorded sheet X discharged from the sheet take-in stage 10A.
A plurality of distribution ports 45 which are continuous with the upper and lower horizontal guide plates 11 and 12 and open toward the sheet mounting table 51A are opened at an intermediate portion of the path guide 43.
Is provided with gate members 76 which are independently opened and closed by actuators not shown.

The sheet mounting table 51A, which can be moved vertically by a vertical movement mechanism (not shown), has a substantially horizontal mounting surface 6.
6A, the sheet mounting table 51A can be stopped at a height corresponding to the discharge bins arranged in the vertical direction of the discharge bin unit. An alignment member 75A that can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the sheet mounting table 51A is provided at the entrance side of the sheet mounting table 51A, and a stapler 85A is disposed on the sheet mounting table 51A opposite to the alignment member 75A. And
Due to the reciprocating movement of the alignment member 75A, the recorded sheet X deposited on the mounting surface 66A becomes a stapler 85A.
, And after being closed by the stapler 85A, the paper is discharged upward in FIG.

Therefore, the sheet post-processing apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, and is taken into the sheet reversing and conveying path 30A by the reverse rotation of the taking-in drive roller 16A at the sheet taking stage 10A. The recorded sheet X is placed on the sheet mounting table 5 of the alignment stitching stage 50A.
Since it is guided by the gate member 76 which is opened and closed according to the position of 1A and is collected on the sheet mounting table 51A,
It has the same function as the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A described above. Further, since the sheet discharge bin unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1B is disposed in front of the operator, as in the case of the first embodiment, the operator located in front of the image forming apparatus 2 can handle the sheet. , The processed recorded sheet X stored in the paper discharge bin can be collected.

FIG. 12 shows a sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to a third embodiment of the present invention, which is the same as FIG.
Is a side sectional view in a direction perpendicular to FIG. That is, similarly to the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus 1A of the first embodiment, the recorded sheet X taken in from the sheet taking-in direction A is taken into the housing 4 by the taking-in roller 100, and the recorded sheet X that does not require processing is taken. The sheet X is discharged to the discharge tray 5 by switching of the switch 101. The recorded sheet X that needs to be aligned and bound by the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C is supplied to the forward-feeding sheet taking stage 10B, which is a feature of the third embodiment, and is fed to the sheet taking stage 10B. 10B, the sheet is sent to the sheet reversing conveyance path 30 and collected in a stacked state on the aligning and binding stage 50B.
After being processed on the sheet mounting table 51B of the matching binding stage 50B, the sheet is discharged and stored in a specified discharge bin of a discharge bin unit (not shown). In the case of the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the same discharge bin unit is provided above the plane of FIG.

In the case of the third embodiment, the direction-changing driven roller 14 and the direction-changing driving roller 17 described in the first embodiment are not provided. Only the normal rotation is possible, and the recorded sheet X can be fed into the sheet reversing conveyance path 30B. A sheet reversing conveyance path 30B continuous with the upper and lower horizontal guide plates 11 and 12 of the sheet take-in stage 10B.
Is similar to that of the first embodiment.
Vertical conveying belt 34 stretched between the upper sprocket 36 and the pressing tape 3 guided from the tape winding 38
The relay guide 52 fixed to the sheet mounting table 51B of the aligning and binding stage 50B faces the vertical transport belt 34.

The sheet mounting table 51B which can be moved up and down by a vertical movement mechanism (not shown) has a substantially horizontal mounting surface 66B as in the case of the second embodiment. The paper can be stopped at a height corresponding to the paper discharge bins arranged in the vertical direction of the paper discharge bin unit. An alignment member 75B that can reciprocate in the length direction of the sheet mounting table 51B is provided at the entrance side of the sheet mounting table 51B.
A stapler 85B is arranged on the sheet mounting table 51B on the opposite side of the stapler 85B from the stapler 85B by the reciprocation of the alignment member 75B. After being closed by the stapler 85B, the paper is discharged upward in FIG.

Therefore, since the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment has such a configuration, it is taken into the sheet reversing conveyance path 30B by the forward rotation of the taking drive roller 16B at the sheet taking stage 10B. The recorded sheet X thus collected is collected on the sheet mounting table 51B of the alignment binding stage 50B, and thus has the same function as the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus 1A. Further, the sheet discharge bin unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C is disposed in front of the operator as in the case of the first and second embodiments. The structure is such that the recorded sheet X processed and accommodated in the paper discharge bin can be collected only by reaching the hand of the located operator.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, after performing the direction conversion and the front / back inversion with respect to the take-in direction, the page alignment and the binding are performed, so that a plurality of The position of the discharge bin unit having the above discharge bins is a convenient position for the operator, and a plurality of discharge bins can be vertically adjacent to each other, so that the installation area is reduced. Further, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, since the number of output bins is not particularly specified, it is possible to sufficiently cope with a complicated sorting request required from the image forming apparatus, and to reduce a waiting time in the case of a complicated sorting request. There is an effect that can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is partially cut away.

FIG. 2 is an overall side sectional view of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a drive unit of a direction changing drive roller used in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alignment stage vertical mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a sheet reversing conveyance path and an alignment binding stage of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alignment unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a control flow from the start of the sheet post-processing apparatus to the alignment process in the binding mode.

FIG. 9 is a control flow from the alignment process to the binding process of the sheet post-processing apparatus in the binding mode.

FIG. 10 is a control flow from the binding step to the end of discharge of the sheet post-processing apparatus in the binding mode.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken in a direction perpendicular to FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a direction perpendicular to FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Take-in direction X Recorded sheet 1A, 1B, 1C Sheet post-processing device 2 Image forming device 10, 10A, 10B Sheet take-in stage 30, 30A Sheet reversal conveyance path 34 Vertical conveyance belt 37 Pressing tape 43 Path guide 45 Distribution port 50, 50A, 50B Alignment binding stage 51, 51A, 51B Sheet mounting table 52 Relay guide 66, 66A, 66B Mounting surface 76 Gate member 85, 85A, 85B Stapler 90 Output bin unit 91 Output bin

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 10, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 11

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Added

[Correction contents]

FIG.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet post-processing device for aligning and binding a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus, and then discharging the sheets onto a discharge bin. The conveying direction of the recorded sheet is changed in a direction intersecting with the sheet taking-in direction, and the alignment and binding process of the recorded sheet is performed by an alignment stitching stage in which the recorded sheet is placed in a collecting / stacking state. And a sheet post-processing apparatus for storing the recorded sheets processed in the matching and binding stage in a discharge bin. 2. A plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an aligning and binding stage, and the plurality of recorded sheets collected on the aligning and binding stage are stapled. Then, in the sheet post-processing apparatus that discharges the sheet onto the output bin, the sheet receiving apparatus takes the recorded sheet into the upper part of the housing and changes the conveyance direction of the recorded sheet in a direction intersecting the sheet taking-in direction. An alignment stitching stage having a vertically movable sheet mounting table for aligning and binding a plurality of the recorded sheets placed in a stacked state by collecting the recorded sheets is provided. A sheet provided below the take-in stage, for feeding the recorded sheet from the sheet take-in stage and turning the recorded sheet upside down to the alignment binding stage; An operator of the housing arranges a paper discharge bin unit having a plurality of the paper discharge bins vertically arranged so as to accommodate the recorded sheets after processing, with a reverse reversing conveyance path disposed on the intake side of the aligning and binding stage. A sheet post-processing device which is located in the foreground. 3. A plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an aligning and binding stage, and the plurality of recorded sheets collected on the aligning and binding stage are stapled. After that, in a sheet post-processing device for discharging onto a discharge bin, a sheet take-in stage capable of switching back the taken-in recorded sheet is provided at an upper portion of the housing, and the recorded sheet is collected and deposited. An alignment binding stage having a vertically movable sheet mounting table for performing alignment and binding of the plurality of recorded sheets placed in a state is provided below the sheet taking stage, and the A sheet reversing conveyance path for taking the recorded sheet and turning the recorded sheet inverted upside down to the aligning and binding stage is provided on the intake side of the aligning and binding stage. A sheet discharge bin unit having a plurality of discharge bins arranged in a vertical direction capable of storing the recorded sheet after processing, the discharge bin unit being positioned in front of an operator of the housing. . 4. A plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an aligning and binding stage, and the plurality of recorded sheets collected on the aligning and binding stage are stapled. After that, in the sheet post-processing device for discharging onto the output bin, a sheet take-in stage capable of taking in the recorded sheets is provided at the upper part of the housing, and the recorded sheets are collected and put into a stacked state. An alignment stitching stage having a vertically movable sheet mounting table for aligning and stitching the plurality of recorded sheets is provided below the sheet take-in stage, and the alignment stitching stage is provided in a sheet taking-in direction of the recorded sheets. A sheet reversal conveyance path for feeding the recorded sheet discharged from the sheet take-in stage and reversing the recorded sheet to the alignment binding stage Is disposed on the intake side of the aligning and binding stage, and a discharge bin unit having a plurality of vertically aligned discharge bins capable of storing the processed recorded sheets is positioned in front of the operator of the housing. A sheet post-processing device characterized by the above-mentioned.