JPH11199123A - Sheet treating device, and image forming device equipped with the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain constitution for an endless belt-like feeding member unhinderable in the matching movent of sheets at the time of matching operation. SOLUTION: In constitution having an endless belt-like feeding member 190 where a discharge roller 7b is contacted to a surface side antislipping surface to form discharge nipping part, in a condition where a discharge roller 7a and one inner surface side portion are wound on a portion of a matching means and the roller surface of the roller 7a respectively; a floating roller 191 contacting an inner peripheral surface in the lower side, and a pulling means 192 for pulling and actuating the roller 191 in a required direction are provided on the feeding member 190, and the feeding member 190 is deformed via the roller 191 by the pulling means 192 in the respective action of padlling and matching means, thereby shunting the feeding member 190 to an upper position unhinderable in the respective action.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as a copying machine or an LBP, and an image forming apparatus having the same. A sheet processing apparatus improved so as to be able to effectively perform good alignment processing of the bundled sheet bundle while also consolidating the sheets by the alignment means in the processing operation of the sheet alignment processing, particularly, in the sheet alignment processing operation. And an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as an image forming apparatus having a sheet processing apparatus, a first processing means (registered) for aligning and forming an image-formed sheet and binding a part of the sheet bundle as needed. An apparatus in which a processing tray (hereinafter referred to as a “processing tray”) and a second processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a “stack tray”) that receives and stores an aligned sheet bundle or a staple-bound sheet bundle for each bundle is described. For example, many techniques have been proposed and implemented, including the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-144370.

FIG. 32 shows a schematic configuration of a matching section in a conventional sheet processing apparatus of this type.

In this figure, a conventional sheet processing apparatus includes a pair of discharge rollers 701 including a lower discharge roller 701a and a discharge roller 701b for discharging a sheet P from a sort path 700, and a processing tray unit 800 for receiving the sheet P to be discharged. , And a stack tray 900 for stacking a bundle of sheets discharged after the processing.

The lower discharge roller 70 of the discharge roller pair 701
1a, knurl belts 702 are wound around several places in the axial direction between the unloading rollers 701b, and each sheet guide 703 is placed at an appropriate position between the knurl belts 702.
Is arranged.

The processing tray unit 800 has a processing tray inclined by positioning the downstream side (upper left side in the figure) upward and the upstream side (lower right side in the figure) downward with respect to the sheet P discharge direction. 701 and the rear end stopper 7 at the upstream end
02, a pair of left and right alignment members 703 in the sheet width direction, a bundle discharge roller pair 704 including a pair of lower and upper bundle discharge rollers 704a and 704b arranged on the downstream side of the processing tray 701, and a front end. Upper bundle discharge roller 70 on the lower surface
4b, a swing guide 705 for supporting the upper bundle discharge roller 704b so as to be able to be separated from the lower bundle discharge roller 704a, and a pull-in paddle 706 disposed above the intermediate portion.

In this case, the lower and upper bundle discharge rollers 704 a and 704 b of the lower and upper bundle discharge rollers 704 are controlled by the swing guide 705.
The sheet P from the pair of discharge rollers 701 is received on the processing tray 701 in an open state in which the upper bundle discharge roller 704b is separated from the upper bundle discharge roller 704a, and the upper bundle discharge roller 704b is transferred to the lower bundle discharge roller 704a at the end of the reception. And the lower bundle discharge roller 70
By rotating the sheet 4a clockwise, the received sheet P is urged to be pulled back on the processing tray 701 toward the upstream rear end stopper 702, that is, upstream, and then separated again.

The sheet P urged to the upstream side continues its retraction action by the rotation of the retraction paddle 706 and is aligned by the operation of each alignment member 703.
In addition to this, the feeding action of the sheet end by the rotation of the knurl belt 702 is added, and the sheet P is abutted on the trailing end stopper 702 via each sheet guide 703, thus completing the alignment operation.

Subsequently, the sheet bundle aligned on the processing tray 701 is subjected to a binding process or the like at the aligned position, and further, is further transferred to the lower bundle discharge roller 704a.
4b and the lower bundle discharge roller 704
By rotating a in the counterclockwise direction, the processed sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 900.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, a part of the aligning means 700 is formed to feed the sheet P together with the pull-in paddle 706 to the upstream rear end stopper 702 on the processing tray 701. The knurl belt 702 is used when the alignment member 703 moves the sheet P in the width direction, particularly at the end of the alignment movement.
There is an undesired problem that the movement of the aligned sheet P in the width direction may be hindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem.
An object of the present invention is to provide a knurl belt which does not hinder the alignment movement of the sheet during the alignment operation, and furthermore, a sheet processing apparatus capable of obtaining a configuration of this kind of endless belt-shaped feeding member, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a loading surface for receiving and stacking sheets is formed, and at least a rear surface is provided at an upstream side in a receiving direction. A first stacking tray means provided with an end stopper, a discharge roller, and a discharge nip in which a discharge roller is brought into contact with a non-slip surface on a front surface side in a state in which a part of the inner surface is wound around a roller surface of the discharge roller; A sheet discharging means having an endless belt-like feeding member forming a portion, for discharging the conveyed sheet onto the loading surface of the first loading tray means, and receiving the sheet on the loading surface of the first loading tray means. Paddle means for urging the sheet toward the upstream side to draw the rear end of the sheet into the rear end stopper, thereby positioning the sheet at a fixed position in the conveying direction, and the sheet in accordance with the urging to the upstream side by the paddle means. Carry the bundle Aligning means for aligning from both sides orthogonal to the direction, binding means for binding the sheet bundle aligned by the aligning means, and discharging the sheet bundle bound by the binding means onto a second stacking tray means And a bundle discharging means, wherein the feeding member of the sheet discharging means has a floating roller contacting the inner peripheral surface at a lower side closer to the loading surface of the first loading tray means with respect to the discharge roller. And a pulling means for pulling the floating roller in a required direction. In each operation of the paddle means and the aligning means, the pulling means does not hinder the feed member via the floating roller by the pulling means. It is characterized by being able to be evacuated to.

Therefore, in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the sheet is aligned by the aligning means, the feeding member can be deformed so as to be pulled upward by the operation of pulling the idle roller by the pulling means. ,
This makes it possible to smoothly move the sheet in the width direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transfer means for transferring an image to a sheet surface and a fixing means for fixing the transferred image to form an image on the sheet surface. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 for processing and discharging a sheet on which an image is formed by said image forming apparatus.

Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
With the above-described operation in the sheet processing apparatus, the productivity of the entire apparatus is improved.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus having the same will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
Here, an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus will be described.

FIG. 31 is an overall sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus (copier) system including the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the apparatus configuration shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus (copying apparatus) 300 includes an original mounting table 401 such as a platen glass for reading an automatically fed original D, a light source 402, and a lens. A document reading unit 400 including a system 403 and the like, and a sheet feeding unit 50 for an image forming sheet
0, an image forming section 600, and a sheet processing apparatus 1 for processing and stacking the image-formed sheets P discharged from the discharge roller pair 302 after image formation.

Cassettes 501 and 50, which accommodate sheets P and are removably mounted on the apparatus main body, are provided in a paper feeding unit 500.
2 and a deck 504 arranged on the pedestal 503 are provided. The image forming section 600 includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum 601, a primary charger 602 around the drum, and an exposure section 6.
03, a developing device 604, a transfer charger 605, a separation charger 606, a cleaner 607, and the like, and a fixing device 608 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 600 via a transport device 301.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 300 having the above configuration will be described.

When a paper feed signal is output from the control device 310 in the apparatus main body, the cassettes 501 and 50 of the paper feed section 500 are output.
Sheet feeding from the second or deck 504 is started. On the other hand, the original D placed on the original
Is read by the light from the light source 402 and the lens system 4
The light is irradiated on the surface of the photoconductor drum 601 through the photoconductor 03. The photoreceptor drum 601 is charged in advance by a primary charger 602, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum surface by the irradiation of the reading light, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner of the developing device 604. Thus, a corresponding toner image is formed.

The sheet P fed from the sheet feeding unit 500 is
The skew is corrected by the registration roller 505, and the sheet is fed to the image forming unit 600 at the same timing.
Next, in the image forming unit 600, after the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 601 is transferred onto the sheet P by the transfer charger 605, the sheet P on which the toner image has been transferred is transferred.
Is charged to the opposite polarity by the separating charger 606 and is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 601.

Thereafter, the sheet P is conveyed to the fixing device 608 by the conveying device 301, and the transferred image is permanently fixed by the fixing device 608. Then, the sheet P on which an image is formed in this manner is discharged to the sheet processing apparatus 1 by the discharge roller pair 302.

Next, a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

<< Overview of Overall Sheet Processing Apparatus >> First, the main components of the sheet processing apparatus will be described.

FIG. 1 is an overall sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “finisher”) 1 shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an inlet roller pair for receiving the sheet P discharged from the discharge roller pair 302 of the image forming apparatus 300, and 3 Is a first conveying roller pair for conveying the received sheet P,
Reference numeral 31 denotes a sheet detection sensor on the entrance side for detecting the passage of the sheet P. A punch unit 50 punches a hole near the rear end of the conveyed sheet.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a relatively large-diameter roller (hereinafter, referred to as a "buffer roller") arranged in the course of conveyance, and conveys the sheet P by pressing the sheet P against the roll surface by pressing rollers 12, 13, and 14 arranged around the outside. .

Reference numeral 11 denotes a first switching flapper, which selectively switches between the non-sort path 21 and the sort path 22. Reference numeral 10 denotes a second switching flapper, which switches between a sort path 22 and a buffer path 23 for temporarily storing sheets P. 33 is the non-sort path 21
The sensor 32 detects the sheet P in the buffer path 23, and the sensor 32 detects the sheet P in the buffer path 23.

Numeral 6 denotes a second conveying roller pair of the sort path 22. Numeral 129 temporarily accumulates the sheets P, aligns the accumulated sheets P, and stapler 101 of the stapling unit 100 (binding means). Is a processing tray unit including a processing tray 130 provided for performing stapling processing. On the discharge end side of the processing tray (first stacking tray) 130, one discharge roller constituting a bundle discharge roller pair (bundle transfer means), here, a lower discharge roller 180a as a fixed side is disposed. . 7
Is a first path for discharging the sheet P onto the processing tray (first stacking tray) 130 disposed on the sort path 22.
A discharge roller pair 9 is a non-sort path 21.
And a second discharge roller pair for discharging the sheet P onto the sample tray 201.

180b is supported by the swing guide 150, and when the swing guide 150 comes to the closed position,
This is an upper discharge roller that is pressed against the lower discharge roller 180a and discharges the sheets P on the processing tray 130 onto the stack tray (second stacking tray) 200 in a bundle. Reference numeral 40 denotes a bundle stacking guide that supports a rear end (rear end with respect to the bundle discharge direction) of a stack of sheets stacked on the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201. ing.

<< Detailed Description of Staple Unit >>
2 (side view corresponding to the main section), FIG. 3 (plan view in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2) and FIG. 4 (rear view in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 2). This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

A stapler (binding means) 101 is fixed on a movable table 103 via a holder 102.

The moving table 103 has a set of stud shafts 104 and 105 fixed parallel to the trailing edge of the sheets stacked on the processing tray 130.
Rolling rollers 106 and 107 are rotatably mounted on the rolling rollers 106 and 107, respectively.
Reference numeral 107 denotes a series of hole-shaped guide rails 108a and 108 which are similarly formed by being drilled in parallel with the fixing base 108.
b, 108c.

Each of the rolling rollers 106, 107 has a flange 106a, 107a having a diameter larger than the hole width of a series of hole-shaped guide rails 108a, 108b, 108c, while a moving table 103 for holding the stapler 101. The support table 109 is provided at three places on the lower surface side of the moving table 103. The moving table 103 is provided with a series of hole-shaped guide rails 108a, 108a.
b, and moves on the fixed base 108 along 108c.

Here, the series of hole-shaped guide rails 10
As can be seen from FIG. 3, 8a, 108b and 108c are formed from the main guide rail hole portion (108a), the left end guide rail hole portion (108b) which is branched from the left end side and parallel to the left end side. It is formed in a shape comprising a right end guide rail hole portion (108c) which is branched and parallel. Therefore, when the stapler 101 is located on the left end side due to the rail shape of each part, the rolling roller 106 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 108b, and the rolling roller 107 is located in the left end of the rail hole portion 108a. Respectively, is maintained in a right-tilted posture in a state of being inclined to the right side by a predetermined angle, and when located in the middle portion,
Each rolling roller 106, 107 is a rail hole portion 108a.
And is maintained in a non-tilted parallel posture,
When located at the right end, the rolling roller 107 is moved into the right end of the rail hole portion 108c, and the rolling roller 106 is moved into the right end of the rail hole portion 108a, and is inclined by a predetermined angle to the left. In this state, the posture is maintained to the left and the posture is changed by an operation cam (not shown).

The stapling unit 100 is provided with a position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of the stapler 101. In a normal case, the stapler 101 is waiting at the home position on the left end side. .

<< Detailed Description of Stapler Moving Mechanism >>
The moving mechanism of the stapler 101 will be described in detail.

One rolling roller 106 of the moving table 103
The pinion gear 106b below the flange 106a
Are formed integrally, and a belt pulley 106c is integrally provided above. The pinion gear 106b is
It is connected via a drive belt stretched between an output pulley of the drive motor M100 on the base surface and a belt pulley 106c, and is meshed with a rack gear 110 fixed to a fixed base 108 along the rail hole. , Mobile platform 10
Numeral 3 is movable in the sheet width direction together with the stapler 101 in response to the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor M100.

The stud shaft 111 extending downward from the lower surface of the moving table 103 is provided with a stopper falling roller 112. The details of the stopper falling roller 112 will be described later. In order to avoid abutment between the rear end stopper 131 and the stapler 101, the rear end stopper 131 plays a role of rotating the rear end stopper 131.

<< Detailed Description of Rear End Stopper >> Next, the rear end stopper 131 which abuts and supports the rear end edge of the sheet P on the processing tray 130 will be described in detail.

The rear end stopper portion 131 is provided on the processing tray 13.
0, and has an abutting support surface 131a that abuts against and supports the trailing edge of the sheet P. The abutting support surface 131a
On the lower surface side of 30, it is swingable downward about the pivot pin 131 b as indicated by an arrow. Further, the cam surface 132a, which is pressed against the stopper falling roller 112 in contact with the stopper falling roller 112, is provided.
The main link 132 is provided so as to abut against the abutment plate 136, and swings about a shaft 134 fixed to a frame (not shown) against a tension spring 135. For the pin 132b at the upper end,
One end is slidably connected to an elongated hole at the other end of the connection link 133 pivotally supported by a pin 131c at a rear end stopper 131.

Accordingly, in this case, with respect to the rear end stopper portion 131 which is in an interference relationship with the stapler 101 with the movement of the moving table 103, the stopper falling roller 112 of the moving table 103 moves the cam surface 132 a of the main link 132. By pressing, it swings to the non-interference position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure, thereby avoiding collision with the stapler 101. Then, after the stapling process described later is completed, when the movable table 103 returns to the home position, the rear end stopper 131 also returns to the original state. here,
For the stopper falling roller 112, the stapler 101
In order to keep the rear end stopper 131 at the avoidance position during the operation of (2), a plurality (three in this case) are provided in the moving direction of the moving table 103.

On both sides of the holder 102 holding the stapler 101, a staple stopper (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2) 113 having a support surface having the same shape as the butting support surface 131a of the rear end stopper 131 is provided. Is provided so that the trailing edge of the sheet can be supported even when the trailing end stopper 131 is at the avoidance position.

<< Overview of Processing Tray Unit >>
Processing tray unit 129 including the processing tray 130
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The processing tray unit 129 includes a processing tray 130, a rear end stopper 131, an aligning means 140, a swinging guide 150, a pull-in paddle 160, and a bundle discharge roller pair 1.
80 and a knurl belt (endless belt-shaped feeding member) 190 driven by the first discharge roller pair 7 described above.
And is constituted by.

In this case, with respect to the processing tray 130, the downstream side (upper left side in the figure) is positioned upward and the upstream side (lower right side in the figure) is positioned lower than the sheet bundle discharging direction. The sheet guide 130c and the knurl belt 190, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the sheet width direction, and the knurl belt 190, and the above-described rear end stopper 131 are arranged at a lower end portion on the upstream side, which is set in an inclined state. In addition, in the intermediate portion, alignment means 140 occupying external positions corresponding to both left and right sides of the sheet P and including a retraction paddle 160 described later is arranged. In addition, a swing guide 150 including a pull-in paddle 160 and a bundle discharge roller pair 180 described later is arranged in an upper portion that is also on the downstream side, specifically, substantially in an upper region of the processing tray unit configuration.

Here, the knurl belt 190 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a non-slip knurl is formed on the entire outer periphery and formed into a required diameter, and has flexibility that can be deformed in the rotation direction. The discharge roller 7a on the lower side, that is, the processing tray 130 side
And a rotatable roller 191 which is rotatably wound around and is rotatably rotated in contact with the lower inner peripheral surface of the knurl belt 190.
In particular, at the start of the aligning operation performed following the paddle operation, the floating roller 191 is towed by the towing actuator (towing means) 192 toward the rear side in the figure, and eventually to the support surface 131a side of the rear end stopper 131. As a result, the sheet P is drawn toward the inside of the upper sheet guide 130c and deformed (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), so that the sheet P does not interfere with the support surface 131a.

The sheet P discharged from the first discharge roller pair 7 is subjected to its own weight and the action of a retraction paddle 160 described later, and the feeding action of the sheet P on the lower surface side of the knurled belt 190. While the trailing edge of P is guided downward by each sheet guide 130c,
The user slides on the processing tray 130 until the rear end stopper 131 abuts against the abutting support surface 131a.

Further, at the upper end of the processing tray 130, as described above, one lower discharge roller 180a constituting the bundle discharge roller pair 180 is disposed, and the lower front end of the swing guide 150 is provided. The other discharge roller pair 180a, 180b is rotatably and normally rotatable by a drive motor M180. Have been.

<< Detailed Description of Alignment Means >> Next, the alignment means 140 which constitutes the other of the main parts of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and FIGS. It will be described in detail based on.

A pair of aligning members 141 and 142 constituting the aligning means 140 are independently arranged on the surface of the processing tray 130 so as to oppose the lower part and the upper part (corresponding to both side edges of the sheet P) in the drawing. And a first alignment member 141 on one lower side and a second alignment member 142 on the other upper side.
Are alignment surfaces 141 perpendicular to the processing tray 130 for pressing and supporting the sheet side end surfaces.
a, 142a, and rack gear portions 141b, 142b for supporting the sheet back surface. Each of the rack gear portions 141b, 142b is formed in the vertical direction (in the width direction of the sheet P) opened in the surface of the processing tray 130. (Corresponding), and is disposed on the lower surface side through a pair of guide grooves 130a and 130b.

In other words, in summary, each of the alignment surfaces 141a and 141a is disposed on the upper surface of the processing tray 130.
The rack gears 141b and 142b are mounted on the lower surface of the rack gear 2a so as to be movable in the alignment direction.

Then, each rack gear portion 141b, 142
b, each drive motor M141, M1
The individual pinion gears 143 and 144 driven to be rotatable forward and backward by 42 are meshed with each other, whereby the first and second alignment members 141 and 142 can be respectively moved in the alignment direction. . Here, the first and second
A position sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position of each of the alignment members 141 and 142 is provided. In a normal case, the first alignment member 141 has a lower end portion and the second alignment member 142 has a lower end. Are waiting at each home position set at the upper end.

<< Detailed Description of Swing Guide >> Next, the swing guide 150 will be described in detail.

The swing guide 150 is located at the front end of the lower surface corresponding to the downstream side (left side in the figure) as described above, and is located at the upper discharge roller 180b which contacts the lower discharge roller 180a of the bundle discharge roller pair 180. And is pivotally supported by a support shaft 151 at the rear end of the lower surface corresponding to the upstream side (right side in the figure), and is swingably supported.
In this case, the rotary cam 152 can be swung by the control drive, and the closed position where the lower discharge roller 180a is brought into contact with the upper discharge roller 180b is set as the home position. Is provided.

In a normal case, when each of the sheets P is discharged onto the processing tray 130, the sheet P is opened (a lower discharge roller 180a with respect to the upper discharge roller 180b).
Is moved to the upper side of the swing guide 150) so that the operations of discharging and aligning the sheet P and the pulling-in paddle operation described below can be performed without any trouble. When discharging the sheet bundle after the processing on 130 onto the stack tray 200,
The state shifts to the closed state (the upper discharge roller 180b abuts against the lower discharge roller 180a, and the swing guide 150 swings downward).

<< Detailed Description of Retraction Paddle >> Next, the retraction paddle 160 will be described in detail.

The pull-in paddle 160 is fixed to the drive shaft 161 above the processing tray 130, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 5 by a drive motor M160 at an appropriate timing. The length of the paddle is set to be slightly longer than the distance to the surface of the processing tray 130, and the home position is a position where the first discharge roller pair 7 does not hinder the discharge of the sheet P onto the processing tray 130. (Position indicated by solid line in FIG. 5)
Is set to

When the sheet P is discharged onto the processing tray 130 in this state, the pull-in paddle 160
Is rotated counterclockwise, so that the processing tray 1
The sheet P ejected onto the sheet 30 and the trailing edge of the sheet P are pulled in until they abut against the abutting support surface 131a of the trailing end stopper 131. Thereafter, after waiting for a predetermined time, a position sensor (not shown) is used. It stops at the detected home position position with good timing.

<< Detailed Description of Stack Tray and Sample Tray >> Next, the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 can be selectively used depending on the situation. The stack tray 200 arranged below is selected when receiving a sheet bundle for copy output, printer output, etc. Is selected when receiving sheets for sample output, interrupt output, output when the stack tray overflows, function output, output when jobs are mixed, and the like.

The stacking tray 200 and the sample tray 201 are held by tray base plates 202 and 203, respectively, and are fixed to the base plates 202 and 203 via mounting frame plates 204 and 205, respectively. , M201
Is used, it is possible to move independently in the up and down directions independently of each other. In this case, since both are configured in almost the same mode, here, mainly the stack tray 200 side is used. Only mentioned.

That is, a pair of frames 250, 250 are provided at both ends of the sheet processing apparatus 1 in the vertical direction, and rack gears which also function as vertical guide rails for the frames 250, 250 respectively. Members 251 and 251 are attached, and a rear end portion extending from one of the tray base plates 202 (corresponding to the left end side with respect to the sheet width direction) is opposed to the same (similarly to the right end side). 1 is provided rotatably on the rear end portion extended from the mounting frame plate 204.
By using a pair of guide rollers 206 and 207, each of the guide rollers 206 and 207 is fitted into each corresponding guide rail portion, thereby holding the stack tray 200 so as to be able to move up and down, and By engaging the restricting member 208 with the folded edge, the play in the sheet width direction is restricted and restricted.

On the other hand, the rotation output of the stepping motor M 200 is transmitted to the drive shaft 213 via the timing belt 211.
To the pulley 212. The drive shaft 213 is provided with a ratchet wheel 215 urged by a spring 216 and capable of sliding only in the axial direction. The ratchet wheel 215 is engaged with the drive gear 214 on the shaft in one direction. Let me do it. Further, for the drive gear 214,
Idler gears 218 disposed at both ends of the driven shaft 217,
218 is engaged with each of the idler gears 21.
8, 218 mesh with the rack gear members 251, 251 via lifting gears 219, 219, respectively.
That is, the stack tray 200 can be vertically moved up and down via a drive system including these gear trains.

The drive gear 21 on the drive shaft 213
Ratchet wheel 215 which is unidirectionally biasedly engaged with the wheel 4
Is provided when the stack tray 200 is lowered so that, for example, the drive system is not broken by foreign matter or the like. Here, a required amount of biasing force is applied to the spring 216. The stack tray 200
Only when the motor rises, the motor is protected by idling against the urging force of the spring 216 in response to a preset condition. If this idling condition, that is, an abnormality occurs, the stepping motor is immediately turned on. M200
In order to stop the drive of the idler gear 218, a sensor such as a clock slit formed in a flange portion of the idler gear 218 is detected by the sensor S201. The sensor S2
01 is also used for step-out detection during normal operation.

Next, the arrangement of each sensor for controlling the vertical position of the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 will be described.

The sensor S202 is connected to the sample tray 201.
And detects that the sample tray 201 is located in a range that belongs to an area from the upper limit position detection sensor S203a to the processing tray sheet surface detection sensor S205.

The sensor S203b is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged onto the sample tray 201 from the second discharge roller pair 9 has reached a predetermined number. From S204, it is arranged at a position equivalent to 1000 sheets.

The sensor S203c is a sensor for detecting that the number of sheets P discharged from the processing tray 130 onto the sample tray 201 has reached a predetermined number.
It is arranged at a position equivalent to 000 sheets.

The sensor S203d is connected to the stack tray 20
Numeral 0 is a sensor for limiting the height of the stacking amount when receiving the sheets P from the processing tray 130, and is disposed at a position corresponding to the number of stacked sheets 2000 from the sheet surface detection sensor S205.

The sensor S203e is connected to the stack tray 20
It is a sensor that sets the lower limit position of 0.

Each of the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 has a sheet presence detection sensor 2
06a and 206b are arranged.

Of these sensors, only the sheet surface detection sensors S204 and S205 are of a light transmission type that detects the presence or absence of light by transmitting light from one side edge to the other side edge of the sheet P. Here, each sheet surface detection sensor S20 is used as the sheet surface detection method.
4, the initial state is a state in which the trays 200 and 201 are lifted from the lower part of S205 to a position covering the trays.
After the sheet is stacked, the sensor is lowered until the optical axis of the sensor appears, and then is repeatedly raised until the optical axis of the sensor is covered again.

<< Detailed Description of Punch Unit >> Next, the punch unit 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The punch unit 50 comprises a punching means 60 and a lateral registration detecting means 80.

In the punching means 60, a required number of sets, here a pair of left and right punch members 61 and each die member 62 combined with each of the punch members 61 are provided in a predetermined direction in the left and right direction (corresponding to the sheet width direction). Are arranged in the casing 63 at a punch interval of
Are rotatable in synchronization with each other in the directions indicated by arrows B and C when driven by the punching motor 66, and normally stand by at the home position in FIG.

In this state, the sheet detection sensor 31
The punching motor 66 is driven at a predetermined timing after detecting the rear end of the sheet P into which the sheet P to be introduced (see FIGS. 1 and 13 and 14) is introduced. Die hole 62b
Are engaged with each other to form a desired punch hole in the corresponding portion of the sheet P. Then, in this case, the rotation speed of the punch member 61 and the die member 62 is made to coincide with the rotation speed of the conveyance roller pair 3 (see FIG. 1) and, consequently, the conveyance speed of the sheet P in the direction of the arrow A, so that the conveyance halfway Simultaneous punching is possible.

On the other hand, the punch casing 63 holding the punch member 61 and the die member 62 has guide rollers 68, 68 which are vertically positioned and rotatably supported by support shafts 69, 69. And each guide roller 6
8 and 68 are inserted into the respective guide rails 67 and 67 parallel to the width direction of the sheet P to enable movement in the corresponding direction, and, as shown in FIGS. A pinion gear 70 driven to rotate by a not-shown perforating means moving motor with respect to the rack gear 63a formed in FIG.
And a perforation means initial position detection sensor 71 having a light receiving portion 71a on the end surface.

For this reason, the perforating means 60 is moved in the directions of arrows D and E (the width direction of the sheet P) perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the sheet P by the driving of the perforating means moving motor, and the perforating means initials with the movement. The position detecting sensor 71 can detect the initial position defining section 52 of the punching means on the apparatus main body side. In this case, the initial position of the punching means is the sheet reference position corresponding to the skew of the sheet P or the shift amount of the lateral registration. Set a few mm forward.

The lateral registration detecting means 80 is provided adjacent to one end of the perforating means 60 so that the rack gear 8 on the side edge is provided.
By meshing the pinion gear 1a with a pinion gear 82 that is driven to rotate by a lateral registration moving motor (not shown), the sheet P can similarly be moved in the directions of arrows D and E perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the sheet P (the width direction of the sheet P). One end of the sensor arm 81 near the sheet P is provided with one side edge of the sensor arm 81 in the direction of arrows D and E perpendicular to the detection conveyance direction A (the width of the sheet P). The lateral registration detection sensor 83 having a light receiving portion 83a that is movable in the direction (direction) and detects one side edge of the sheet P is provided.
Is provided with a horizontal registration initial position detection sensor 85 having a light receiving portion 85a that is parallel to.

For this reason, similarly to the case of the perforating means 60, the lateral registration detecting means 80 is driven by the lateral registration moving motor to drive in the directions of arrows D and E perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the sheet P (in the width direction of the sheet P). ), And the horizontal casing initial position detection sensor 85 moves the punch casing 63
The horizontal registration initial position defining portion 63b corresponding to the corresponding end face can be detected, and in this case, the horizontal registration detection sensor 83 can be set at a position corresponding to the selected sheet size.

When detecting the side edge of the sheet P, after the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P, the punching means moving motor is driven at a predetermined timing to drive the punching means 60 and The lateral registration detection sensor 83 is moved, and the light receiving portion 83a of the
This is detected and stopped by being blocked by the side edge of the. That is, the punching position for the sheet P can be aligned with the end of the sheet.

Next, the sheet P in the sheet processing apparatus
Will be described.

<< Flow of Sheet P in Non-sort Mode >>
When the user designates the setting of the paper ejection mode of the image forming apparatus to be non-sorted, the first switching flapper 11 of the sheet processing apparatus 1 moves the sheet P to the non-sort path 21 as shown in FIG. In this state, the entrance roller pair 2, the first transport roller pair 3, and the buffer roller 5 are respectively driven to rotate, and
The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is taken into the apparatus and conveyed to the non-sort path 21.
Then, when the rear end of the sheet P is detected by the non-sort path sensor 33, the second discharge roller pair 9 is driven to rotate at a speed suitable for stacking, and discharges and stacks the sheet P onto the sample tray 201. .

<< Flow of Sheet P in Staple Sort Mode >> When the user specifies the staple sort as the discharge mode setting of the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1st switching flapper 1
The first and second switching flappers 10 are switched to receive the sheet P on the sort path 22 side. In this state, the entrance roller pair 2, the first transport roller pair 3, and the buffer roller 5 are driven to rotate, respectively. The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is taken into the apparatus and conveyed toward the sort path 22. And sheet P
When the trailing end of the roller has passed through the roller 14 at the final stage, it is discharged onto the processing tray 130 by the knurled belt 8 and the roller 7b of the discharge roller 7a constituting the first discharge roller pair 7. In this case, since the swing guide 150 is opened upward, the upper discharge roller 108b is separated from the lower discharge roller 180a of the bundle discharge roller pair 180, and the retreat tray 170 is protruded to the protruding position. Even when the sheet P is discharged onto the processing tray 130 by the first discharge roller pair 7 in this manner, the leading end of the sheet P does not sag and the return failure described below does not occur. Of the sheet P is favorably improved.

The sheet P discharged onto the processing tray 130
Starts to return to the rear end stopper 131 side due to its own weight, and in addition to this, the return operation is promoted by the counterclockwise rotation of the paddle 160 stopped at the home position. When the rear end of the sheet P hits the rear end stopper 131 and stops, the rotation of the paddle 160 is also stopped, the sheets P are aligned by the alignment members 141 and 142, and then the sheet bundle is bound by the stapling operation. The sheet bundle is stacked on the stack tray 200 by the discharge operation by the bundle discharge roller pair 180 with the swing guide 150 closed.

On the other hand, during this time, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300, as shown in FIG.
The switching operation of the switching flapper 10 causes the buffer roller 5
At a point where the leading edge of the next sheet P has advanced a predetermined distance from the entrance sensor 31 when the leading end of the next sheet P has advanced a predetermined distance from the entrance sensor 31, as shown in FIG. As shown, the rotation of the buffer roller 5 causes the first sheet P1 to be two times larger than the _first sheet P1.
In a state in which the _second sheet P2 is overlapped earlier by a predetermined length, the sheet P2 is wound around the buffer roller 5 again as shown in FIG. 19, and further, as shown in FIG. Similarly than winding the buffer roller 5 also eyes of the sheet P _3, then re-switch the second switching flapper 10, three sheets of superposed by thus shifting the tip at a time predetermined length sheet P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃
To the sort path 22.

At this time, the bundle discharging operation of the sheet bundle has been completed. Here, as shown in FIG. 21, the bundle discharging is rotating forward in the discharging direction while the swing guide 150 is closed. rollers 180a, 180b once the sheet P ₁ in three coming is the transport, P _2, P _3, receives. Then, as shown in FIG. 22, when the end of the three sheets P passes through the first discharge roller pair 7a, 7b and comes into contact with the surface of the processing tray 130, the bundle discharge roller pair 180a, 1
As shown in FIG. 23 (b), before the rear end of the three sheets P is brought into contact with the surface of the rear end stopper 131, for example, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), when the three sheets P approaching each other with the gaps b, b approach each other with an interval a left between the ends of the three sheets P and the surface of the rear end stopper 131, as shown in FIG. 150 is opened to separate the bundle discharge roller pair 180a and 180b. Then, the fourth and subsequent sheets P pass through the sort path 22 similarly to the operation of the first copy, and
It is discharged on 30. For the third copy and thereafter, the same operation as that of the second copy is repeated, the sheets are stacked on the stack tray 200 corresponding to the set number of copies, and the process ends.

As described above, in the plurality of sheets P, each sheet P is offset in the transport direction. That is, the sheet P ₂ relative to the seat P ₁ is offset to the downstream side, the sheet P ₃ is offset to the downstream side with respect to the sheet P _2. Here, the offset amount between the sheets P and the separation start timing of the pair of rollers of the swing guide 150 are determined by the bundle discharge roller pairs 180a and 180a.
This is related to the settling time of the sheet P depending on the return speed between 0b. That is, it is determined by the processing capacity of the image forming apparatus 300, and in the present embodiment, the sheet discharge roller has a conveying speed of 750 mm / s, an offset amount b = about 20 mm, and a bundle discharge roller return speed of 500 mm / s. spacing start position, the rear end is the end of the sheet P ₁ stopper 131
The timing is set at a point of time when the sheet reaches about 40 mm (the value of the interval a) before being hit against the surface.

<< Explanation of Sort Mode >> After the user sets a document on the document reading unit 400 of the image forming apparatus 300, the user designates the sort mode on the operation unit (not shown) and turns on the start key (not shown). . As a result, the entrance roller pair 2 and the first conveyance roller pair 3 convey the sheet P and stack it on the processing tray 130 as in the staple sort mode, as shown in FIG. Matching means 14
FIG. 25 shows a state in which a small number of sheets are stacked on the processing tray 130 while aligning the sheet bundle on the processing tray 130.
As shown in (1), the swing guide 150 descends in the closing direction, and conveys the small number of sheet bundles.

Next, the conveyed sheet P is again wound around the buffer roller 5 similarly to the case of the staple sort mode, and the processing tray 13 after the bundle discharge is completed.
Drained above zero. Here, it is desirable that the number of the minority bundles to be discharged is 20 or less according to experimental results. The number of sheets is set so that the number of original sheets ≧ the number of sheets to be discharged ≦ 20 is satisfied.

Therefore, if the number of bundles to be discharged when a program is set is set to five, if the number of originals is four, the bundle is discharged four by four. If the number of originals is 5 or more, for example, if it is 14, the originals are divided into 5 + 5 + 4, and aligned and discharged in a bundle.

When all the bundles of the first set have been discharged, the alignment member 141 on the left side moves together with the alignment member 142 on the right side, and the alignment position of the second copy is changed to the alignment position of the first copy. Offset (the details of this operation will be described later). The second set is aligned at the offset position, and a small number of sheets are discharged in bundles similarly to the first set. When the second copy is completed, each of the alignment members 141 and 142 returns to the position where the first copy has been aligned, and matches the third copy. In this way, as shown in FIG. 26, all the set number of copies are ended while shifting the sheet bundle.

<< Description of Matching and Stapling Operations >> First,
When there is no sheet P on the processing tray 130, that is, when the first sheet P (three sheets) of the job is discharged, as shown in FIG. The right and right alignment members 141 and 142 are moved in advance to positions PS11 and PS21 that have slightly escaped outward with respect to the width of the sheet P to be discharged.

As described above, when the rear ends of the three sheets P are supported by the rear end stopper 131 and the lower surfaces thereof are supported by the support surfaces 141c and 142c of the alignment members 141 and 142, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 28, the alignment members 141 and 142 move to the positions PS12 and PS22 to move and align the sheet P to the first alignment position 190. Thereafter, the one alignment member 141 returns to the position PS11 and waits for the sheet P to be subsequently discharged, and when the sheet is discharged, moves to the position PS12 again to remove the discharged sheet P to the first position. Move and align to one alignment position 190.

At this time, the other alignment member 142 functions as a reference position by continuing to stop at the position PS22. The above operation is continued until the bundle reaches the last sheet P. Therefore, since the alignment operation is performed in this manner, for example, it is possible that the end of the moving sheet P as shown in FIG. 29 collides with the end of the support surface 142c and buckles. Absent.

The sheet bundle of the first set after the alignment is completed is stapled and discharged as needed, and is transported and stacked on the stack tray 200.

Subsequently, the second sheet P (three sheets) is discharged to the processing tray 130. At this time, each alignment member 1
41 and 142 are the positions PS11 and PS2 as in the first copy.
1, the alignment position is the second alignment position 1
Move to 91. The second alignment position 191 is located to the right by a predetermined amount L with respect to the first alignment position 190, as shown in FIG.

That is, thereafter, bundle stacking is performed on the stack tray 200 while changing the alignment position for each sheet bundle, and sorting and stacking based on the offset amount L becomes possible.

Here, regarding the offset amount L,
It may be changed between the sort mode and the staple mode. For example, in the staple mode, an amount L ₁ (about 15 m
m), and in the sort mode, by setting the amount L ₂ (about 20 to 30 mm) at which the visibility of bundle identification is improved, the alignment movement distance in the staple mode can be shortened and the processing speed can be improved.

Next, in the stapling mode, the stapler 101 is in standby at a desired clinch position for the sheet bundle to be aligned, and staples when the discharge of the last sheet P of the bundle and the alignment are completed. Things. As described above, the alignment position of the sheet bundle is
The stapler 101 moves in accordance with the offset amount L for each bundle.

Also, regarding the configuration in which the stapler 101 moves in the binding mode (left side end diagonal binding, right side end diagonal binding, two-position binding),
As described above. However, in this configuration, the range in which the same staple attitude (horizontal and each inclined state) can be maintained is limited, and furthermore, there are many sheet widths for stapling, and the same alignment for different binding modes. There is a case where stapling cannot be performed at the position, so that the first and second alignment positions 190 and 1 corresponding to the respective binding modes are set.
91 may be changed.

[0104]

As described in detail in the above embodiment, according to the present invention, a discharge roller is wound around a part of the aligning means, and a part of the inner surface is wound around the roller surface of the discharge roller. In the configuration having an endless belt-shaped feed member that forms a discharge nip portion by contacting the discharge roller with the non-slip surface on the front side, the feed member has a floating roller that contacts the inner peripheral surface on the lower side,
And, a pulling means for pulling the floating roller in a required direction is provided, and in each operation of the paddle means and the aligning means, the feed member is deformed through the floating roller by the pulling means,
Since the sheet is retracted to an upper position that does not hinder each operation, the hindrance of the alignment movement at the time of sheet alignment by the feed member is eliminated, and the smoothness of the alignment movement can be easily achieved with a simple configuration. There are excellent features.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

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

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the staple unit viewed from the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the stapler viewed from the direction of arrow b in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of the swing guide and the processing tray.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing the knurl belt and the belt moving mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a processing tray and an alignment member moving mechanism of the same.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same stack tray moving mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a sensor arrangement diagram around the stack tray.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the punch unit.

FIG. 11 is an operational side view of the same punch unit.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the same punch unit.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a horizontal registration sensor moving mechanism of the punch unit.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a horizontal registration sensor moving mechanism of the punch unit.

FIG. 15 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the non-sort mode according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 17 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 18 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 19 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 20 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 21 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 22 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 23 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the staple sort mode.

FIG. 24 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the same sort mode.

FIG. 25 is an operation diagram of the sheet processing apparatus in the same sort mode.

FIG. 26 is an operation diagram of a sheet processing apparatus in the same sort mode.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a processing tray illustrating an operation of aligning the sheet bundle in the same.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of a processing tray illustrating an operation of aligning the sheet bundle in the same.

FIG. 29 is a front view of the processing tray showing an operation of aligning the sheet bundle.

FIG. 30 is a plan view of a processing tray showing an operation of aligning the sheet bundle.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional explanatory view schematically showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a sheet aligning unit in a conventional sheet processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

P sheet 1 Sheet processing device 2 Inlet roller pair 3 First transport roller pair 5 Large diameter roller (buffer roller) 6 Second transport roller pair 7 First discharge roller pair 9 Second discharge roller pair 10 Second switching flapper 11 First Switching flapper 12, 13, 14 Pressing roller 21 Non-sort path 22 Sort path 23 Buffer path 33 Sheet detection sensor in non-sort path 32 Sheet detection sensor in buffer path 40 Bundle stacking guide 50 Punch unit 100 Staple unit (binding means) 101 Stapler (binding means) 102 Holder 103 Moving table 104, 105 Stud shaft 106, 107 Rolling roller 106a, 107a Flange 108 Fixed table 108a, 108b, 108c Hole guide rail 109 Support roller 110 Rack gear 111 Stud shaft 1 12 Stopper Roller 113 Staple Stopper 129 Processing Tray Unit 130 Intermediate Tray (Processing Tray, First Loading Tray) 130a, 130b Guide Groove 130c Sheet Guide 131 Rear End Stopper 131a Butt Support Surface 131b Pivot Pin 131c Pivot Pin 132 main link 132a cam surface 132b pivot pin 133 connecting link 134 shaft 135 extension spring 136 abutment plate 137 main link 140 alignment means 141, 142 alignment member 141a, 142a alignment surface 141b, 142b rack gear 143, 144 pinion gear 150 swing Movement guide 160 Retraction paddle 180 Bundle discharge roller pair (transfer means) 180a Lower discharge roller 180b Upper discharge roller 190 Knurl belt (endless belt-shaped feed means) 191 192 Tow actuator (towing means) 200 Stack tray (second stacking tray) 201 Sample tray 300 Image forming device 301 Transport device 302 Discharge roller pair 400 Document reading unit 401 Document mounting table 402 Light source 403 Lens system 500 Paper feed unit 501 , 502 cassette 503 pedestal 504 deck 505 registration roller 600 image forming unit 601 photosensitive drum 602 primary charger 603 exposure unit 604 developer 605 transfer charger 606 separation charger 607 cleaner 608 fixing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first stacking tray means having a stacking surface for receiving and stacking sheets and having a rear end stopper disposed at least upstream in a receiving direction, a discharge roller, and a roller surface of the discharge roller. An endless belt-shaped feeding member that forms a discharge nip portion by contacting a discharge roller with a non-slip surface on the front side in a state in which a part of the inner side is wound around the first stacking part. A sheet discharge unit for discharging the sheet on the stacking surface of the tray unit, and a sheet received on the stacking surface of the first stacking tray unit is urged toward the upstream side so that the rear end of the sheet is drawn into the rear end stopper. Paddle means for positioning the sheet bundle from both sides perpendicular to the conveying direction in accordance with the urging by the paddle means toward the upstream side; and A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a binding unit that performs binding processing of a sheet bundle; and a bundle discharge unit that discharges the sheet bundle bound by the binding unit onto a second stacking tray unit. Comprises, with respect to the discharge roller, a floating roller contacting an inner peripheral surface on a lower side close to a loading surface of the first loading tray means, and a pulling means for pulling the floating roller in a required direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, at the time of each operation of the paddle unit and the aligning unit, the pulling unit allows the feed member to be retracted to a position that does not hinder each operation by the idler roller. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet surface, comprising: an image transfer unit that transfers an image onto a sheet surface; and a fixing unit that performs a fixing process on the transferred image. An image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 for processing and discharging an image-formed sheet.