JPH10175767A - Sheet post processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfy a complicated sorting request by providing a sheet placing plate with permitted vertical movement which is arranged adjacently to a paper ejecting bin unit in the horizontal direction of the unit and can be rested at a location corresponding to each paper ejecting bin at a matching and binding stage. SOLUTION: A supporting bracket 64 extending in a roughly horizontal direction is fixed in cantilever manner to a vertically movable plate 56. On the supporting bracket 64 extended just under a sheet fetch stage 10, a sheet placing plate 51 of a matching and biding stage 50 is mounted. Therefore, the corresponding location in the vertical direction of the sheet placing plate 51 for each paper ejecting bin 91 of a paper ejecting bin unit 90 is indexed by driving of an upper starting shaft 58 by a stepping motor in a matching stage upper and lower mechanism of this structure. Recorded sheets X for which processings are terminated at the matching and binding stage 50 are discharged/ collected on the designated sheet placing plate 51.

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 Conventionally, a sheet post-processing apparatus for aligning pages of a recorded sheet on which an image is recorded by an image forming apparatus and binding the sheets by stapling is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-76190. Known sheet post-processing devices are known. In other words, this sheet post-processing apparatus includes two independent inclined conveying paths capable of discharging paper to different discharge trays, respectively, in a conveying system for taking in recorded sheets. Are provided with staplers for binding recorded sheets.

That is, in this sheet post-processing apparatus, a series of processing steps such as collecting, aligning, binding, and discharging captured recorded sheets require a certain amount of time. During the processing step, the recorded sheet is collected on the other transport path to reduce waiting time as much as possible.

[0004]

However, since the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus has a structure in which staplers are respectively arranged on the fetch side of each transport path, the stapling position of the recorded sheet is set after the recorded sheet. Since it is limited to the end side, there are many problems. First, in the closing process, the collected recorded sheets are kept stationary in the transport path, so after stapling by stapler, the recorded sheets are completely discharged from the transport path that is longer than the recorded sheets to be handled. It takes a long time to perform the processing, and it is not possible to efficiently process the recorded sheet, resulting in a difference between the processing performance of the high-speed image forming apparatus and the processing performance of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

When it is necessary to close a plurality of places on the collected recorded sheet with staples, prepare a plurality of staplers adjacent to each other in the width direction of the recorded sheet, or Although the stapling is performed with one stapler that can be moved to the stapler, the former structure increases the production cost due to the increase in the stapler, and the latter movable stapler causes the stapler movement time to be longer. Thus, there is a problem that the processing time becomes longer. Further, in the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus in which staplers are located on two independent inclined paths, the number of paper ejection trays is limited because the paper ejection trays are in one-to-one correspondence with these staplers. However, there is a problem that the complicated sorting request required from the image forming apparatus cannot be satisfied, and the waiting time in the case of the complicated sorting request becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus, the object of the present invention is to shorten the processing time, stapling a recorded sheet with a staple during conveyance of the recorded sheet, An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sufficient number of output bins that can satisfy complicated sorting requirements.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from an image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to an alignment stitching stage and captured by the alignment stitching stage. A sheet post-processing device that staples a plurality of collected recorded sheets with staples and then discharges the sheets onto a discharge bin, wherein a discharge bin unit that stores the recorded sheets after binding is vertically A plurality of output bins aligned in a direction, wherein the alignment stitching stage is disposed adjacent to the output bin unit in a horizontal direction and can be stopped at a position corresponding to each of the output bins. The present invention proposes a sheet post-processing apparatus including a vertically movable sheet mounting table. According to the present invention,
For the same purpose, a plurality of recorded sheets taken in from the image forming apparatus are sequentially conveyed to the aligning and binding stage, and the plurality of recorded sheets collected on the aligning and binding stage are stapled together. And a sheet post-processing device that discharges the recorded sheets onto a discharge bin.
An output bin unit that stores the recorded sheets after binding includes a plurality of the output bins that are aligned in the vertical direction. These output bins are arranged in a vertical direction corresponding to the sheet mounting table by a bin vertical mechanism. This can also be achieved by a sheet post-processing device that is adjusted in position.

Further, in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1) according to a designated position of the sheet mounting table on a sheet transporting path from a take-in position of the recorded sheet to the sheet mounting table. A sheet post-processing device having a sheet reversing conveyance path for guiding the recorded sheet to the sheet mounting table, 2) the sheet reversing conveyance path, a vertical conveyance belt for vertically conveying the captured recorded sheet, A presser tape capable of holding the recorded sheet between itself and the vertical conveyance belt and being placed in a tension state between the sheet mounting table and the device fixing unit, wherein the sheet mounting table includes the vertical conveyance belt. 3) a sheet post-processing device having a relay guide for picking up the recorded sheet sent in 3), wherein the sheet reversing conveyance path includes a vertical guide for guiding the captured recorded sheet. And a plurality of feed rollers provided adjacent to each other in the feed direction of the path guide, and provided on the path guide so as to correspond to a vertical stationary position of the sheet mounting table. A sheet post-processing apparatus including a plurality of gate members for directing a completed sheet toward the sheet mounting table will be described.

[0009] In the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention which can achieve the above-mentioned object, the sheet mounting table includes:
It can be put to practical use as one having an inclined placing surface with the discharge side of the recorded sheet raised.

[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.

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 pulled into the sheet take-in stage 10, the passage of the rear end of the recorded sheet X is checked by the sheet detection sensor SS1 (step S4), and the take-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 the vertical conveying belt 7734 of the sheet reversing conveying path 30 to drive the sheet X.
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 sheet X to the aligning operation by the aligning unit are performed based on 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.

After that, 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 determined in step S15 that there is no binding command, and 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 copies. 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.
The same components as those of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A according to the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. The feature of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment resides in a modified sheet reversal conveyance path 30A. That is, the sheet take-in stage 1 in the sheet post-processing device 1B
0, alignment stitching stage 50, alignment stage up-down mechanism 6
0, the stapler 85, and the paper discharge bin unit 90 have exactly the same structure as that of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A of the first embodiment described above.
First, the sheet is taken in by the sheet take-in stage 10, collected by the sheet placing table 51 of the aligning and binding stage 50 via the sheet reversing conveyance path 30 A which is a feature of the second embodiment, and aligned on the sheet placing table 51. The recorded sheet X in the deposited state is stapled by a stapler 85 attached to the sheet mounting table 51.
Then, the paper is discharged and stored in the specified discharge bin 91 of the discharge bin unit 90.

The sheet reversing conveyance path 30A, which is a characteristic,
A path guide 4 extending vertically along the rear side of the housing 4
The upper end 43a of the path guide 43 is opened toward the exit roller 31 at the exit of the sheet take-in stage 10 so that the recorded sheet X discharged from the sheet take-in stage 10 can be taken in. The pass guide 4
A plurality of pairs of feed rollers 44 that are vertically adjacent to each other are arranged in the middle part of 3. A plurality of distribution ports 45 opened toward the relay guide 52 supported by the sheet mounting table 51 are opened at an intermediate portion of the path guide 43, and these distribution ports 45 are provided with an actuator (not shown). The gate members 76 which can be opened and closed independently of each other are located.

Accordingly, since the sheet reversing and conveying path 30A of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment has the above-described configuration, the recorded sheet taken in from the sheet take-in stage 10 to the sheet reversing and conveying path 30A. X is
Guided by a gate member 76 which is opened and closed according to the position of the sheet mounting table 51 of the sheet take-in stage 10, and collected on the sheet mounting table 51, the same functions as those of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A described above. It can be.

FIG. 12 shows a sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
The same components as those of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A according to the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. The main features of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment are a deformed and fixed alignment stitching stage 50A and a discharge bin unit 90A whose position can be adjusted vertically. That is, the configuration of the sheet take-in stage 10 in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C is exactly the same as that of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1A of the first embodiment described above. Capture stage 10
And a sheet reversing conveyance path 30 described in detail later.
The collected sheets X collected by the sheet mounting table 51 of the aligning and binding stage 50A via B and aligned on the sheet mounting table 51 are stapled by a stapler 85 attached to the sheet mounting table 51. After being closed, the sheets are discharged and stored in the specified discharge bin 91A of the discharge bin unit 90A.

Starting from the sheet reversing conveyance path 30B, the sheet reversing conveyance path 30B has a path guide 43A extending vertically along the rear side of the housing 4, similarly to the sheet reversing conveyance path 30A described above. The upper end portion 43a of the path guide 43A is adapted to take in the recorded sheet X discharged from the sheet take-in stage 10.
The lower end exit 43b of the path guide 43A is opened toward the exit roller 31 at the exit of the sheet take-in stage 10.
The relay guide 52 of the aligning and binding stage 50A fixed to the housing 4 is opened.

A plurality of vertically adjacent discharge bins 91A constituting a discharge bin unit 90A are arranged on the discharge side of the aligning and binding stage 50A. The height can be adjusted to a height corresponding to the sheet mounting table 51 of the alignment and stitching stage 50A by a bin driving belt 93 driven by a bin vertical mechanism, that is, a bin motor 92.

That is, a bin guide rail 94 extending in the vertical direction is installed facing the discharge side of the sheet mounting table 51, and a plurality of discharge bins are mounted on a bin movable bracket 95 movable along the bin guide rail 94. 91A is fixed in a state of being aligned vertically. In addition, the bin movable bracket 95 is provided with the bin driving sprocket 9 facing vertically.
6 is fixed to the bin driving belt 93 that is wound between the bin 6 and the bin driven sprocket 97. By controlling the bin motor 92 with a sorting signal, the designated discharge bin 91A is made to correspond to the alignment binding stage 50A. Will be.

Therefore, since the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment has the above-described configuration, the recorded sheet X taken into the sheet reversing conveyance path 30A from the sheet taking stage 10 is placed on the same sheet stacking apparatus. The paper is collected on the mounting table 51, stapled by the stapler 85 while being conveyed on the sheet mounting table 51, and stapled to the specified discharge bin 91A adjusted to the height corresponding to the sheet mounting table 51. The recorded sheet X is stored. Therefore, even with the structure of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment, the same function as that of the above-described sheet post-processing apparatus 1A can be obtained.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an alignment stitching stage capable of relatively adjusting the position in the vertical direction and a discharge bin unit having a plurality of discharge bins are provided. The collected recorded sheets are collected in a stacked state on the aligning and binding stage and bound, and the processed recorded sheets are distributed from the aligning and binding stage to the designated output bin unit, so that the processing time is short. In addition, the recorded sheets can be stapled while the recorded sheets are being conveyed, and a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sufficient number of discharge bins that can satisfy complicated sorting requirements can be achieved.

[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 an overall side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an overall side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Take-in direction X Recorded sheet 1A, 1B, 1C Sheet post-processing device 2 Image forming device 10 Sheet take-in stage 30, 30A, 30B Sheet reversal conveyance path 34 Vertical conveyance belt 37 Pressing tape 43, 43A Path guide 45 Distribution port 50, 50A Alignment binding stage 51, 51A Sheet mounting table 52 Relay guide 60 Alignment stage up-down mechanism 66 Mounting surface 76 Gate member 85 Stapler 90, 90A Paper discharge bin unit 91, 91A Paper discharge bin 93 Bin drive belt 94 Bin guide Rail 95 bin movable bracket

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. 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. A sheet post-processing device that discharges the sheets onto a discharge bin, wherein the discharge bin unit that stores the recorded sheets after binding is provided with a plurality of the discharge bins that are aligned in a vertical direction; The binding stage includes a vertically movable sheet mounting table that is disposed adjacent to the discharge bin unit in a horizontal direction and can be stopped at a position corresponding to each of the discharge bins. Post-processing device. 2. A sheet reversing conveyance path for guiding a recorded sheet to a sheet conveyance path from a take-in position of the recorded sheet to a sheet mounting table in accordance with a designated position of the sheet mounting table. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The sheet reversing conveyance path is capable of nipping the recorded sheet between a vertical conveyance belt for vertically conveying the captured recorded sheet and the vertical conveyance belt, and A holding tape which is placed in a tension state between the mounting table and the apparatus fixing section, wherein the sheet mounting table has a relay guide for picking up the recorded sheet fed by the vertical transport belt. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to 1. 4. The sheet reversing conveyance path includes a path guide extending in a vertical direction for guiding the captured recorded sheet, a plurality of feed rollers provided adjacent to the path guide in the feeding direction, and 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of gate members provided on the path guide corresponding to a vertical stationary position of the sheet mounting table to direct the recorded sheet toward the sheet mounting table. 4. Sheet post-processing equipment. 5. 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. And a sheet post-processing device for discharging the sheet onto a discharge bin, wherein the aligning and stitching stage includes a sheet mounting table for keeping the recorded sheet in a stacked state, and accommodates the recorded sheet after the binding. The discharge bin unit includes a plurality of the discharge bins arranged in a vertical direction, and the position of the discharge bins is adjusted to a vertical position corresponding to the sheet mounting table by a bin raising / lowering mechanism. Sheet post-processing equipment. 6. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet mounting table has an inclined mounting surface in which a discharge side of the recorded sheet is raised.