JPH11180628A - Sheet after-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a stapling-processing component member of a sheet afterprocessing device, to easily and quickly perform assembling and adjusting work and maintenance work, and to decrease the manufacturing cost price. SOLUTION: In a sheet after-processing device, an image formed sheet carried out from an image forming device is discharged to a discharge paper tray by a discharging means after being stapled. In this case, a pair of staplers 50A, 50B for stapling image formed sheets P having various sizes are so constituted as to be parallel moved and rotated by one driving source M5. Staple processing is performed in relation to the small-sized sheet by parallel moving the staplers 50A, 50B in the width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, while, staple processing is performed in relation to the large-sized sheets by the parallel movement and rotation of the staplers 50A, 50B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet receiving an image formed by an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer or a printing machine, performing a binding process (staple process) by a stapler, and then discharging the sheet. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus for discharging a sheet onto a sheet discharge tray by means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet post-processing apparatus called a finisher is used as an apparatus for collating and binding a plurality of image-recorded sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus for each copy by a stapler.

The finisher has a function connected to an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer, and is driven in accordance with a sequence operation of a copy or print process.

Therefore, for an image forming apparatus capable of performing a large amount of image forming processes at a high speed, a finisher capable of performing a function at a high speed following the processing speed is required. .

[0005] As an example of a sheet post-processing apparatus, an image-formed sheet carried out from an image forming apparatus is post-processed by sheet post-processing means (staplers, shift means, bookbinding means, punching means, etc.) and then discharged. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray by the means.

A finisher capable of performing such high-speed processing has already been disclosed in JP-A-60-142359 and JP-A-60-142359.
Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 0-158463 and 62-239169, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 62-288002, 63-267667, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-276691, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-41991 are disclosed.

The image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-277591 has a first staple mode in which one position is bound to the end of a recording sheet and a second staple mode in which two positions are bound near the center of the recording sheet. And a position of a predetermined size is arbitrarily input and set, regardless of the size of the recording paper, so as to be bound.

[0008]

A conventional sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first staple process for binding large-sized and small-sized sheets to one end of a recording sheet at an oblique position, and a process for staple processing in the vicinity of the center of the recording sheet. In the case where the second stapling process for binding at two parallel positions can be selectively performed, dedicated driving means for linearly moving and rotating the pair of left and right staplers, respectively, are required.

That is, first driving means for linearly moving the pair of left and right staplers in parallel to predetermined positions, respectively;
There are provided second and third driving means for rotating the stapler by a predetermined angle in order to bind the pair of left and right staplers obliquely. Therefore, at least three dedicated drive motors for driving these drive means and control means for controlling these drive motors are required.

For this reason, the number of components of the drive motor, the drive means, and the control means increases, the structure becomes complicated, and the number of assembly steps increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

An object of the present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and simplification of a staple processing member of a sheet post-processing apparatus makes assembly and adjustment work and maintenance work easy and quick. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet post-processing device that is not executable and achieves a reduction in manufacturing cost.

[0012]

A sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object staples an image-formed sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus, and then discharges the sheet to a paper discharge tray by a discharge means. In a sheet post-processing apparatus, a pair of staplers for stapling sheets of various sizes on which images have been formed are configured to be capable of being driven in a parallel movement and a rotation by one drive source, and are capable of driving various small-sized sheets. Further, the stapling process is performed by moving the stapler in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, and stapling the large-sized sheets by the parallel movement and rotation of the stapler.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of the sheet post-processing apparatus (finisher). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet reversing conveyance section and a sheet discharge section of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

The sheet post-processing apparatus is installed with its position and height adjusted so that the receiving portion of the sheet P coincides with the discharge port of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus (copier, printer, etc.).
The image forming apparatus is connected to a control system so as to be driven in response to the operation of the main body.

The sheet P introduced into the receiving section is
By the swing switching of the switching gate (branch plate) 1,
Switching is performed between the upper transport path a and the lower transport path b.

Ejection roller pair 1 of image forming apparatus main body 100
The sheet P discharged from the sheet feeder 01 is passed through the upper conveying path a by switching the switching gate 1 of the receiving section, is sandwiched by the pair of discharge rollers 2, and is fixedly arranged at the uppermost stage of the sheet post-processing apparatus. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 10.

On the other hand, the switching gate 1 of the receiving section
Of the sheet P that has passed through the lower conveying path b due to the switching of
Is conveyed while being nipped by an intermediate conveyance roller pair 3 composed of a driving roller and a pinch roller, passes through a conveyance path c formed of a fixed guide plate, and is nipped by a conveyance roller pair 5 above the sheet reversing conveyance drum 4. The sheet is conveyed onto the peripheral surface of the sheet reversing conveyance drum 4. The conveying roller pair 5 is rotated in the arrow direction by the drive motor M _A. Sheet reversal transport drum 4
It is driven to rotate in arrow direction by the drive motor M _B. A sheet pressing member (hereinafter, referred to as a gripper) 6 is swingably supported near the peripheral surface of the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4. The gripper 6 is biased by a spring and is swung by a cam mechanism (not shown).

The leading end of the sheet P sent from the nip position of the pair of carrying rollers 5 to the peripheral surface of the sheet reversing carrying drum 4 is connected to the leading end of the gripper 6 opened by the cam mechanism and the sheet reversing carrying drum 4. Is pressed into contact with the peripheral surface of the rotating sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 and the tip of the gripper 6 which is biased by spring, and is sandwiched between the V-shaped gap between the reversing conveying drum and the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4. It is transported with. At the time of this sheet conveyance, the peripheral speeds of the conveyance roller pair 5 and the sheet reversal conveyance drum 4 are equal.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are partial sectional views showing a sheet conveying process of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

In FIG. 3 (a), the leading end of the sheet P is pressed against the leading end of the spring-biased gripper 6 on the peripheral surface of the rotating sheet reversing / conveying drum 4, and is conveyed while being nipped. When the speed of the conveying roller pair 5 is increased, the leading end of the sheet P is held by the gripper 6, but the speed near the rear end of the sheet P is increased by the conveying roller pair 5, so that the sheet P The sheet P is sent out excessively, and the intermediate portion of the sheet P is separated from the peripheral surface of the sheet reversing conveyance drum 4 and swells outward.

In FIG. 3B, as the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 continues to rotate, the moment the rear end of the sheet P separates from the nip position of the pair of conveying rollers 5, the pair of conveying rollers 5 Inverted by the conveying force and the rigidity of the sheet P,
The sheet is separated from the peripheral surface of the sheet reversal conveyance drum 4. Sheet P
The gripper 6 separates from the sheet P when the leading end reaches the sheet leading end contact member (hereinafter, referred to as a stopper) 7 and reaches the sheet leading end contact reference surface 7S and stops.

As the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 continues to rotate, two sheet aligning members rotatably supported at two positions in the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 as shown in FIG. 8A and 8B successively rub the vicinity of the leading end of the sheet P to stop the leading end of the sheet P by bringing the leading end of the sheet P into contact with the sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S of the stopper 7 to stop the sheet P in the conveying direction of the sheet P. Align. The leading end of the aligned sheets P is placed on the intermediate discharge tray 92, and the rear end is placed on the movable discharge tray 21 and the fixed discharge tray 22 of the upper discharge tray 20.

As described above, the sheet conveying path of the sheet on which an image has been formed is the same in both the staple processing mode and the non-staple processing mode. Also, the sheet leading end abutting reference surface is set the same in both the staple processing mode and the non-staple processing mode.

Further, the sheet front end abutting reference surface 7S
Is located inside both end faces of all sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 even when the sheet P is shifted in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.

The stapling process means that the sheets P conveyed in reverse from the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4 are sequentially stacked on the intermediate discharge tray 92, aligned in the width direction by the aligning means 9, and stopped at the leading end of the sheet. 7, the binding process by the stapler 50 is performed. The non-staple process is a process of alternately shifting the sheet bundle stacked on the intermediate discharge tray 92 by the aligning means 9 and a process of turning the sheet P reversely conveyed from the sheet reverse conveyance drum 4 so that the image forming surface faces downward. Means to directly discharge the paper to the paper discharge tray 20.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 and the reference surface 7S of the stopper 7 against the sheet front end.

The sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S is a sheet reversing conveyance drum 4 for holding and reversing the sheet leading end.
Is located on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from immediately below the rotation center axis. That is, the distance L between the vertical line indicated by the broken line immediately below the rotation center axis of the sheet reversing and conveying drum 4 and the sheet front end abutting reference surface 7S is set at a predetermined distance, for example, about 10 mm downstream in the sheet conveying direction. did. This allows
The leading end of the sheet P nipped by the spring-biased gripper 6 and the sheet reversing conveyance drum 4 surely strikes the sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S and stops.
Is rotated together with the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4 to prepare for the subsequent sheet gripping.

At least two sheets P are provided in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, and the sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S is movable in the sheet width direction in response to the movement of the stapler 50 for performing the stapling process. .

The upper part of the sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S is formed as a curved surface 7R curved toward the sheet side. The curved surface 7R is formed as a curved surface having a radius of curvature of about 30 mm. Even when a large number of sheets P curled upward at the leading end of the conveyed sheet P are stacked, the leading end of the sheet P advanced to the stopper 7 is blocked by the curved surface 7R and pushed downward. Accordingly, the leading end of the sheet P does not get over the sheet leading end abutting reference surface 7S.

Next, the leading end of the sheet P is brought into contact with the sheet leading end contacting reference surface 7S of the stopper 7 (FIG. 4C).
In the process shown in (1), the alignment member 91 is aligned (width alignment) in the width direction of the sheet P (direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction).
I do. Alternatively, when the shift mode is set, the width alignment is performed by alternately shifting the shift alignment member 91 to a plurality of predetermined positions. After the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4 completes one rotation and the positioning of the first sheet P is completed, the second sheet P is sent to the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4, and the same conveyance as described above is performed. Positioned and stopped. When the number of sheets P positioned in contact with the stopper 7 reaches a predetermined number, the stapler 50 drives the staples into predetermined positions of the sheets P and binds them. Alternatively, when the shift mode is set, the shift matching member 91
, The paper is aligned (width alignment), and is brought into contact with the stopper 7. When performing simple discharge in the non-staple processing mode, the paper is aligned and the stopper 7 is moved.
Contact.

The stopper 7 is provided with a stapler 50 described later.
Is fixed on a moving table of the, and can be moved integrally.

FIGS. 1 and 5A show staple processing,
Alternatively, the sheet P that has been subjected to the non-staple processing (shift processing, simple paper discharge) is subjected to a movable paper discharge member (hereinafter, referred to as a movable paper discharge tray) 21 and a fixed paper discharge member (hereinafter, referred to as a fixed paper discharge tray).
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of discharging on a top 22.

In FIG. 1, a drive motor M1 of the discharging means 11 drives and rotates the disk 12 via a drive transmission system including a timing belt TB and gears G1 and G2. The other end of the crank 13, one end of which is supported at an eccentric position of the disk 12, is connected to a discharge arm 14 that can swing about a fulcrum shaft 15.
Is rotatably supported by a part of. The disk 12 driven and rotated by the drive motor M1 causes the crank 13 to eccentrically move, and further causes the discharge arm 14 to swing. The swinging movement of the discharge arm 14 causes the distal end 1 of the discharge arm 14 to move.
4A presses the leading end of the sheet P that has completed the sheet post-processing, and pushes the sheet P toward the movable sheet discharge tray 21 and the fixed sheet discharge tray 22 of the upper sheet discharge tray means 20 from the position where the sheet P abuts. The sheet P pushed out by the discharge arm 14 slides on the upper surfaces of the movable discharge tray 21 and the fixed discharge tray 22, and then the leading end of the sheet P descends by its own weight, and the sheet P moves to the stopper surface 21 </ b> B of the movable discharge tray 21. Stop by contact.
Since the leading end portion 14A of the discharge arm 14 advances to a position near vertically above the stopper surface portion 21B of the movable discharge tray 21, the sheet bundle remains on the sheet stacking surface 21A of the upper discharge tray means 20 without leaving the post-processing portion. Migrate reliably.

Since the upper discharge tray means 20 and the lower discharge tray means 30 have the same shape, the upper discharge tray means 20 will be described below as a representative.

The upper discharge tray means 20 includes a fixed discharge tray 22, a movable discharge tray 21, and a support shaft 23 for swingably supporting one end of the movable discharge tray 21 on the fixed discharge tray 22. And a spring member 24 for urging the other end of the movable sheet discharge tray 21 upward.

The sheet stacking surface 22A of the fixed discharge tray 22 is
The leading end portion of the stacked sheets is formed with a high slope, and the rear end portion is formed with a low slope. A curved auxiliary stopper surface portion 22B is integrally formed on the lower side of the inclined surface.

The fixed sheet discharge tray 22 is locked and fixed to the lifting means of the sheet post-processing apparatus main body by a locking member (not shown), and is driven to move up and down.

The sheet stacking surface 21A of the movable discharge tray 21 is
The spring member 2 is located between the sheet stacking surfaces 22 </ b> A on both sides of the fixed sheet discharge tray 22 and can be engaged with the support shaft 23 to swing.
4, the locking surface comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) of the fixed sheet discharging tray 22, and is stopped at the upper limit position.
The upper end of the spring member 24 is positioned at the bottom of the movable discharge tray 21 and fixed by a locking member. The lower end of the spring member 24 is positioned so as to be loosely fitted in a concave portion provided at the bottom of the fixed sheet discharge tray 22.

After the sheet discharged by the discharge means 11 is discharged onto the sheet stacking surface 21A, the sheet slides down on the sheet stacking surface 21A by its own weight, and the rear end of the sheet is moved to the stopper surface 21B. , And is conveyed by the rotating paper discharge roller 27, stops on the stopper surface 21B, and is aligned.

The upper surface 14B of the discharge arm 14 has an arc shape and extends rearward. Discharge arm 14
Swings to the left as shown in the figure and moves forward, there is no gap between the sheet reversing / conveying drum 4 and the discharge arm 14 because the upper surface 14B extends to the rear. There is no risk of being inserted and pinched.

FIG. 5B is a view showing a state in which a large number of sheets P which have been subjected to the staple processing or the non-staple processing are discharged onto the movable discharge tray 21 and the fixed discharge tray 22 and stacked. .

When a large number of sheets P are stacked on the upper discharge tray means 20 and exceed a predetermined weight, the movable discharge tray 21 is supported by the weight of the sheets P against the urging force of the spring member 24. It swings down about the shaft 23. Even when the sheets P are stacked on the movable sheet discharge tray 21 and descend, the leading ends of the sheets P come into contact with the stopper surface portions 21B, stop and are aligned. In the above-described sheet stacking process, the leading end of the sheet P is brought into contact with the stopper surface 21B of the movable discharge tray 21 that can be moved up and down, and the leading end is aligned. Therefore, no frictional resistance is added to the leading end of the sheet P. The movable discharge tray 21 descends smoothly.

When the sheet P is further stacked on the sheet stacking surface 21A and exceeds the top, the leading end of the sheet P
The stationary sheet discharge tray 22 stops upon contact with the auxiliary stopper surface portion 22B.

In FIG. 1, the sensor detects that the post-processed sheets P stacked on the movable discharge tray 21 of the upper discharge tray means 20 are full (upper limit of the load). When the signal is generated, the control unit (not shown) drives the tray lifting drive motor M2 of the lifting drive unit 40,
The upper discharge tray means 20 is raised. That is, by driving the drive motor M2, the gears G5, G6, G7, G8,
The gear train composed of G9 and G10 drives and rotates the driving pulley 41. A drive wire 43 is wound between the drive pulley 41 and an upper driven pulley 42. By the driving rotation of the driving pulley 41, the driving wire 43 reciprocates in the vertical direction.

The base of the frame of the upper discharge tray means 20 is fixed to a part of the drive wire 43 by a discharge tray hanging bracket. The frame 26 of the upper discharge tray 20 and the frame 36 of the lower discharge tray 30 are connected by a connecting rod 45. That is, a long groove 451 is formed in the connecting rod 45, and the pin 46 fixed to the frame 26 of the upper discharge tray means 20 comes into sliding contact with the connecting rod 45. Further, the vicinity of the lower end of the connecting stick 45 is fixed to the frame 36 of the lower sheet ejection tray means 30.

When the upper discharge tray means 20 is moved upward by the drive wire 43, the pins 46 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the frame 36 of the upper discharge tray means 20 are connected to the connecting rod 45. Only the upper discharge tray means 20 is moved upward in sliding contact with the long groove portion 451. When the pin 46 abuts on the uppermost end of the long groove 451 of the connecting rod 45, the moved upper discharge tray means 20 and the stopped lower discharge tray means 30 have a maximum separation distance.

The upper discharge tray means 20 is provided with the driving wire 4
3, the pin 46 of the upper discharge tray 20 moves the connecting stick 45 upward in a state of contact with the long groove 451, and is fixed to the lower end of the connecting stick 45. The lower discharge tray means 30 is lifted and moved. Therefore, the upper discharge tray means 20 and the lower discharge tray means 30 move upward integrally while maintaining the maximum separation interval.

FIG. 6 shows the shift aligning means 9 and the stapler 50.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the post-processing unit 60 in which a post-processing member composed of the post-processing unit 60 and the discharging means 11 are integrally formed and arranged, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the post-processing unit 60, and FIG.

The shift aligning means 9 is disposed near the upper part of the unit substrate 61 of the post-processing unit 60, and moves one aligning member (hereinafter, referred to as an aligning plate) 91A on the left side shown in FIGS. It comprises a first unit 90A and a second unit 90B on the right side in the drawing for moving the other alignment member (hereinafter referred to as an alignment plate) 91B. Since these two units 90A and 90B are arranged symmetrically and have substantially the same structure, the first unit 90A will be described below as a representative.

The aligning plate 91A also serves as a housing for the post-processing unit 60, and a carriage 94A which can linearly reciprocate by sliding on a guide bar 93A fixedly supported in an intermediate discharge tray 92A.
It is fixed to. The carriage 94A is fixed to a part of a timing belt 97A stretched between a driving pulley 95A and a driven pulley 96A by a fixing member 98A. The driving pulley 95A has a driving motor M as a driving source.
3 is driven and rotated via gears G11 and G12. P
S1A is a home position sensor. Similarly, the second unit 90B is linearly reciprocated by the drive motor M4 of another drive source via the gear train and the timing belt 97B. In this way, the matching plates 91A, 91
B each have a dedicated drive motor and are independently movable.

The intermediate discharge tray 92 is divided into a central intermediate discharge tray 92 and intermediate discharge trays 92A, 92B on both sides thereof, and is fixedly mounted. The upper surfaces of these intermediate discharge trays 92, 92A, 92B are fixed. It forms the same plane and forms a sheet mounting surface on which the sheet P is mounted. The intermediate discharge trays 92, 92A, 92B are fixed on the unit substrate 61.

The base of the discharge arm 14 is
1 is swingably supported by a fulcrum shaft 15 provided horizontally at the center of the sheet P in the paper width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet P near the bottom. The upper end 14A of the discharge arm 14 has a central intermediate discharge tray 92 and left and right intermediate discharge trays 92A and 92B.
Is inserted into the gap formed between
Is protruded above the sheet placement surface of the intermediate discharge trays 92, 92A, 92B, and is set to be higher than the height when the sheets are loaded at the maximum.

The distal ends of the stoppers 7A and 7B which are positioned in contact with the distal end of the sheet P are provided one by one on the left and right sides outside the distal end 14A of the discharge arm 14, and are movable. The upper ends of the distal ends of the stoppers 7A and 7B are set at substantially the same height as the distal end 14A of the discharge arm 14.

The base of the stopper 7A is a movable table 51 which can hold and move a stapler (staple unit) 50A.
A. The base of the stopper 7B is fixed to a movable table 51B that can hold and move a stapler (staple unit) 50B. Therefore, the stopper 7
A and 7B move in the paper width direction as the staplers 50A and 50B move straight.

The stoppers 7A and 7B shown in the figure are provided inside the staplers 50A and 50B, respectively.
By providing each of them outside B, it may be made to contact both ends of the large-sized sheet to ensure the positioning.

The stapler 50A is supported on the movable table 51A so as to be able to swing horizontally. The stapler 50B is supported on the movable table 51B so as to be horizontally swingable. Moving table 51
A and 51B are the upright plate portions 6 of the unit substrate (substrate) 61.
Guide bar 52 fixed and supported horizontally by 1A, 61B
A, 52B, and can move linearly.

The drive motor M5 fixed near the bottom of the unit substrate 61 includes gears G11, G12, G13, G1.
4 and a timing pulley 53A, 53
The timing belt 54 is rotated via B. The moving table 51A is locked to the timing belt 54 by a locking member 55A, and the moving table 51B is locked to the timing belt 54 by a locking member 55B. When the timing belt 54 is rotated in one direction by the drive of the drive motor M5, the moving table 51A and the moving table 51B move linearly in opposite directions. That is,
Due to the forward rotation of the drive motor M5, the movable table 51A and the movable table 51B move outwardly away from each other and stop at a predetermined position.
A and the moving table 51B move inward away from each other and stop at a predetermined position.

At this predetermined position, the stapler 50A installed on the movable table 51A and the stapler 50B installed on the movable table 51B drive the staples on the sheet P at two locations in parallel.

When the staple is hit obliquely to the corner of the sheet P, the movable table 51A and the movable table 51B move linearly outward in opposite directions to each other, and the maximum sheet size A
It is stopped by the 3-size staple movement and locked by locking means (not shown). In this stop position, a fixing pin (cam follower) 56A fixed to the stapler 50A
Is located at one end of a Z-shaped grooved cam portion 63A formed in a cam plate 62A fixed to the unit substrate 61. A fixing pin (cam follower) 56B fixed to the stapler 50B is located at one end of a Z-shaped grooved cam portion 62B formed in a cam plate 63B fixed to the unit substrate 61.

When the drive motor M5 is continuously driven to rotate, the fixing pin 56A is moved along the groove cam 63A formed in the cam plate 62A, and is moved to the other end along the inclined surface of the groove cam 63A. Moved towards. This fixing pin 5
The stapler 50A is swung by the movement of 6A and stops at a predetermined angle (for example, 45 °). At the same time, fixed pin 56B
Is moved along the grooved cam portion 63B formed in the cam plate 62B, and is moved toward the other end along the inclined surface portion of the grooved cam portion 63B. By the movement of the fixing pin 56B, the stapler 50B is swung to a predetermined angle (for example, 45 °).
Stop at

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the trajectory of the fixing pin 56A for moving the groove cam portion 63A and the rotation of the stapler 50A. FIG. 10A is a plan view showing the movement of the fixing pin 56A and the movement of the stapler 50A in a state where the staples are driven in the horizontal direction of the small-size sheet, and FIG. It is a top view which shows the movement of the fixed pin 56A in the state which drives a needle, and the movement of the stapler 50A.

A grooved cam portion 63A formed in the cam plate 62A.
Has a Z-shape composed of a parallel straight portion parallel to the moving direction of the stapler 50A and an inclined surface portion.

By driving the drive motor M5, a fixed pin 56A provided on a rotary table 57A mounted on a movable table 51A that moves linearly from an initial position (home position) (not shown) can start moving near point A. is there. Point A is a position where the staple SP1 can be driven into one corner of the small-sized (B5R, B6) sheet P.

When the stapler 50A mounted on the rotary table 57A on the moving table 51A is moved and stopped at the point B, the staples SP2 are placed at two points near the center in the width direction of the A4R size sheet P at the point B. Can be driven.

Before the fixing pin 56A reaches the point B,
The rotation of the stapler 50A is released by a lock mechanism (not shown), and the stapler 50A can swing. After the fixing pin 56A reaches the point B and moves obliquely to the point C along the inclined surface,
The turntable 57A and the stapler 50A are rotated about 45 ° on the movable table 51A.

After the fixing pin 56A reaches the point C, the stapler 50A is inclined by about 45 ° while the rotary table 57A is locked by the moving table 51A by the locking mechanism and moves parallel to the point D along the parallel straight line portion. It moves with the held state.

When reaching the point D, the position is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the stapler 50A is stopped. D
The point is a position where a staple is driven into one corner of the sheet P of the maximum size (for example, A3 size).

The operator sets in advance whether the staple is to be stapled at one place on the front side of the sheet P or the staple is stapled at one place at the back side.

A size smaller than the maximum size (for example, B4
When the staple is to be stapled on the sheet P of the size P, the driving motor M5 is driven in the reverse direction, the moving table 51A is moved backward, the movement is started from the point E, and the stapling is performed at the point F at one corner of the sheet P. Driving the needle.

After the stapling at the point F, the stapler 50A is unlocked, and when the fixing pin 56B moves obliquely from the point G to the point H, the stapler 50A is swung to return to the original parallel position. . Further, the fixing pin 56B moves to the point A near the home position and stops.

Similarly, the fixing pin 56B is moved along the groove cam portion 63B formed in the cam plate 62B, and is moved toward the other end along the inclined surface of the groove cam portion 63B. By the movement of the fixing pin 56B, the stapler 50B moves in parallel and rotationally, stops at a predetermined position, and
2. Attach a staple at two places near the center or one corner.

FIG. 11 shows the alignment plate 91 during the stapling process.
It is a schematic plan view which shows operation | movement of A and 91B.

FIG. 11A shows a sheet P of a normal size.
1 shows a state in which staple processing is performed with 1 being width-aligned. As shown in FIG. 6, the alignment plates 91A and 91B are respectively driven by dedicated drive motors M3 and M4 for the home position sensor P.
It moves from the initial position where S1A and PS1B are located to a position slightly wider than the sheet width of the sheet P1, and waits. Sheet P1
Is sent to the vicinity of the staplers 50A and 50B,
The sheet P is moved to a position slightly narrower than the sheet width, and the side edge of the sheet P is hit to perform width alignment. At the time of the width alignment, the leading ends of the sheets P are brought into contact with the respective sheet leading end abutting reference surfaces 7S of the stoppers 7A and 7B to align the leading ends.

After a predetermined number of sheets P1 reach the leading end 14A of the discharge arm 14, the stapler 50A, 50B
Staples SP _A and SP _B are stapled (stapled). The trailing end of the stapled sheet P1 is connected to the discharge arm 1
By the swing of 4, the sheet is ejected by its leading end portion 14A and ejected to the sheet ejection tray means 20 (or 30).

FIG. 11B shows a small size (for example, B5R
This shows a state in which a sheet P2 having a size of A5R size, 5.5 × 8.5 inch size, etc.) is width-aligned and stapling is performed.

When the stapling process is performed on the small-sized sheet P2, one of the alignment plates 91B starts to move from the initial position each time the sheet P2 is fed from the sheet reversing conveyance drum 4 to the stapler 50A, 50B and abuts the stopper 7. Then, the side edge of the sheet P2 is pressed to shift the sheet P to one side, and the other alignment plate 91A starts moving from the initial position and strikes the side edge of the sheet P2 to perform width alignment. After the width matching finish, drive the staples SP _B to one end of the sheet P2. Also at the time of the shift alignment, the leading end of the sheet P is brought into contact with the sheet leading end abutting reference surfaces 7S of the stoppers 7A and 7B to align the leading ends.

The reference surfaces 7S of the stoppers 7A and 7B which abut on the sheet leading ends are set so as to be located inside both end surfaces in the sheet width direction of the sheet P of the minimum size even when the sheet P is shifted. I have.

FIG. 11C is a plan view showing sheets of various sizes and stapling positions. The stapler 50
A and 50B are moved by a driving source (not shown) and stop at predetermined positions different for each sheet size, and the staple SP
_A and SP _B are stapled. When stapling on the small-sized sheet P2, the staplers 50A and 50B cannot approach the predetermined stapling position by the discharge arm 14 or the like arranged near the center. Is moved to the other matching plate 91A side, and then stapled.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the matching plates 91A and 91B during the shift processing.

FIG. 12A shows a state where an odd-numbered sheet bundle is processed. When the shift mode (offset mode) is set, the alignment plates 91A and 91B move the same distance from an initial position that is equidistant with respect to the center line R in the conveyance direction of the sheet P, and the sheet width corresponds to the sheet size. Stopping at a slightly wider first position, the sheet bundle is received, post-processed and discharged.

FIG. 12B shows a state in which the even-numbered sheet bundle is shifted. After the even-numbered sheet bundle is received at the same position as the odd-numbered sheet bundle, the matching plates 91A, 9
1B moves and stops at a position unequal to the center line R in the transport direction of the sheet P, and is post-processed and discharged. Note that the width alignment may be performed in this shift mode.

FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a state in which staples SP _A and SP _B are hit at two positions at equal intervals with respect to the center line R of sheets P of various sizes. FIG.
(B) is a stapler 50A, 50B that strikes these two places.
It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning. Stapler 50A, 50B
, Said from the center line R of the sheet P equidistant distance A ₀ has been tilted disposed at the home position (shown in broken line position), the two places striking is specified, is rotated by a driving means to be described later Thus, the sheet P is disposed in a posture parallel to the center line R of the sheet P abutted on the stoppers 7A and 7B.
The staples SP _A and SP _B are hit at two places on the sheet P in parallel by the staplers 50A and 50B arranged in parallel.

FIG. 14A shows staples SP _A and SP _{B at} one end of the leading end Pa of a sheet P of various sizes.
It is a top view which shows the state which hits either. FIG. 14 (b)
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the arrangement and movement of the staplers 50A and 50B to be hit at two places.

The stapler 50A, 50B linearly moves in the direction parallel to the sheet end Pa from the position A3 in a state where the stapler 50A is tilted by 45 ° from the parallel position, and moves a predetermined distance A ₂ , 50A.
Staples in the stapling position of the _{A 3} SP A, SP
Hit _B.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a sheet post-processing apparatus connected to a copying machine has been described. However, a sheet post-processing apparatus used in connection with an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile, or a light printing machine or the like. Is also applicable.

[0087]

According to the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, assembling adjustment work and maintenance work of the sheet post-processing apparatus can be easily performed.
It became feasible quickly and improved mounting accuracy and work safety were achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet reversing conveyance unit and a sheet discharge unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a sheet conveying process of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a sheet conveying process of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a sheet conveying process of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a post-processing unit in which a post-processing member including a shift aligning unit, a stapler, and a discharging unit is integrally formed and arranged.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the post-processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the post-processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a locus of a fixed pin moving a groove cam portion and rotation of a stapler.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the movement of a fixing pin and a stapler in a state where a staple is driven into a small-sized sheet, and a plan view showing the movement of a fixed pin and a stapler in a state where a staple is driven into a large-sized sheet.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing the operation of a matching plate during stapling processing.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of a matching plate during a shift process.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state where staples are hit on two places of sheets of various sizes, and a plan view showing an arrangement of the stapler.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a state where staples are struck at corners of sheets of various sizes, and a plan view showing the arrangement and movement of the stapler.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Sheet reversing and conveying drum 6 Sheet holding member (gripper) 7, 7A, 7B Sheet abutting member (stopper) 8A, 8B Sheet aligning member 9 Shift aligning means (aligning means) 11 Discharging means 14 Discharge arm 14A Tip 20 Upper discharge tray means (discharge tray) 30 Lower discharge tray means (discharge tray) 40 Elevating drive means 50, 50A, 50B Stapler (staple unit) 51A, 51B Moving table 56A, 56B Fixing pin (cam follower) 57A, 57B Turntable 60 Post-processing unit 61 Unit substrate (substrate) 62A, 62B Cam plate 63A, 63B Groove cam portion 91, 91A, 91B Alignment member (alignment plate) 92, 92A, 92B Intermediate ejection tray M _A , M _{B, M1, M2, M3,} M4, M5 drive motor P sheet R conveyance direction Center line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Kazuki Hinomi, 873-10 Terao, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama (72) Yuji Kanazawa 5-27 Kichijoji Kitamachi, Musashino City, Tokyo (72) Takashi Yoshida, Inventor 10-10 (72) Inventor Mamoru Tomotsune 2-6-1, Nakamachi, Asaka-shi, Saitama (72) Inventor, Yoshihiko Nishimoto 73-1, Yudaira, Akiruno-shi, Tokyo

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet post-processing apparatus for stapling an image-formed sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus and then discharging the sheet to a discharge tray by a discharge unit. A pair of staplers to be processed is configured to be able to be driven for translation and rotation by one drive source, and for various small-size sheets, the staples are moved in parallel in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. A sheet post-processing apparatus that processes and staples various large-sized sheets by parallel movement and rotation of a stapler. 2. The stapler according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the stapler is performed by a cam plate fixed to a sheet post-processing apparatus main body and a cam follower fixed to the stapler.
4. The sheet post-processing device according to 1. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation driving force of the stapler is performed by a driving force of the driving source for moving the stapler in parallel. 4. A cam follower fixed to the stapler moves along a forward movement path or a backward movement path of a groove cam portion formed on the cam plate, and the cam follower moves on a forward movement path of the groove cam portion. Wherein the stapler is angularly deflected from the parallel movement to the rotational movement when the cam follower moves along the return path of the groove cam portion when the cam follower moves along the return path of the groove cam portion. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. For the various small-size sheets,
Stapling is performed on two side edges of the sheet by a pair of left and right staplers.
2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of right and left staplers performs stapling processing at one corner of the sheet.