JPH1160043A - Paper sheet binding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper sheet binding device having a simple structure which can bind sheets at plural positions, and which can speedily bind them at corners thereof. SOLUTION: A paper sheet binding device comprises an elevatable conveying means 32 for conveying a bundle of paper sheets, a support means 34 for supporting a binding means 32 so as to change the angle of the same, and a gear train for turning the support means 34 in one direction in association with the descent of the conveying means for nipping the bundle of sheets by the conveying means, and for turning the support means 34 in the other direction in association with the ascent of the conveying means. When the bundle of sheets are bound at a corner thereof, the binding means 32 is set to be oblique while when it is bound at one side end, the binding means 32 is set to be parallel. Then, the bundle of sheets is fed onto the conveying means in order to bind the bundle of sheets at plural positions in the parallel position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet binding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle, and more particularly, to a sheet bundle binding apparatus capable of binding an oblique corner and a parallel side edge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a binding device for binding one end of a sheet bundle has a configuration as described below.

A sheet (sheet) on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus is discharged at a predetermined timing from a predetermined discharge port of a main body of the image forming apparatus. The sheet is received from a receiving port of the binding device, and is nipped and transported by a transport roller. Thereafter, a predetermined number of sheets are aligned and stacked on a stacking unit for temporarily stocking sheets for binding. When a predetermined number of sheets accumulate in the stacking unit, the image forming apparatus temporarily stops discharging the sheet, and binds a designated portion of the sheet by a binding unit such as a binding staple at this timing. In this conventional paper binding configuration, the paper binding mechanism is orthogonal to the paper transport direction due to the variety of paper directions and paper sizes and the difference in the binding position and the number of bindings depending on the user's usage. It is proposed to be able to move in the direction in which the paper is ejected and bind a plurality of portions at the trailing end of the ejected sheet.

Next, a sheet bundle in which a part of sheets is bound is
A discharge roller disposed inside the apparatus and retracted from the sheet rotates, and is nipped and conveyed by sandwiching the sheet bundle with an opposite sheet discharge roller, thereby being provided on a side surface of the apparatus. It is discharged onto the loading tray. By repeating this operation, a predetermined number of bound sheets are sequentially stacked on the stacking tray. This stacking tray is also configured to be able to move up and down because it also serves as a stacking part for temporary stock of a part of the paper when the paper is bundled, so that it can be moved downward for stacking according to the thickness of the discharged paper. To move to.

[0005]

However, the above conventional example has the following problems.

(1) In order to bind one or more ends of a sheet bundle with a binding mechanism, it is necessary to move the binding mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, and bind the sheet bundle. This takes time, which hinders the improvement of the paper discharge speed. Further, since the binding mechanism has to be moved almost by the width of the sheet, the mechanism is complicated and a large amount of power is consumed for the movement. As a result, the cost of the apparatus itself has increased, and it has been difficult to provide an inexpensive apparatus.

(2) When binding a plurality of portions of a sheet bundle, misalignment of the sheet bundle is likely to occur.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following features.

(1) The binding means is provided on one of the left and right sides in a direction substantially parallel to the sheet conveying direction. In the case of one-position oblique binding, after the sheet bundle is aligned, the sheet bundle is immediately bound at an oblique position by a binding unit having a home position substantially oblique to the transport direction.

Next, in the case of two-position binding, after the sheet bundle is aligned, the sheet bundle is moved to a predetermined position. In conjunction with this, the binding means moves the direction of the binding staple in the sheet conveyance direction. Rotate until it is almost parallel to the direction. When the sheet has moved to a predetermined position, the binding means has already been arranged at a parallel angle. Then, a second binding operation is performed. Since the binding time required for sheet binding can be shortened, the throughput of the binding operation is greatly improved.

(2) In order to eliminate misalignment when binding a plurality of portions of the sheet bundle, the aligning operation is performed each time in the direction perpendicular (intersecting) with the sheet conveying direction before the binding operation of the sheet bundle is started. Was performed at least once. This makes it possible to correct the consistency of the sheet bundle shifted during the conveyance before the binding operation in the next step.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing the configuration of the present invention best, and the configuration in FIG. 1 will be described below. Reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus, and an image formed by the image forming apparatus is transferred to a transfer material P (sheet or sheet), and is conveyed to a sheet binding apparatus A connected below the main body of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, 1a is a sheet cassette, 1b is a separation feed roller, 1c is a registration roller, 1d is a photosensitive drum, 1e is a fixing roller, 1f is a flapper, 1g is a discharge roller, 1h is a discharge roller, and 1j is a discharge tray. Reference numeral 1k denotes a transport roller.

Reference numeral A denotes a binding device main body connected to a predetermined position on the lower side of the image device main body 1. 2 is a pair of entrance conveyance rollers arranged at the entrance of the paper, 3 is an entrance sensor for detecting that the paper has entered the binding device A, 4 is a guide plate for guiding the paper P to the next process, 5 is a paper A pair of transport rollers for transporting and stacking P to the binding unit in the next process;
Reference numeral 6 denotes an upper guide plate for conveying the sheet by the conveying roller pair 5, and the sheet is stacked by the upper guide plate 6
The tip is guided to 0 (FIG. 4). Reference numeral 7 denotes a first swing guide for preventing the paper P from running out when the paper P is stacked and for stably guiding the leading end of the paper to the roller pair in the next process. Numeral 8 has a plurality of first transport rollers 8a arranged on the leading end axis in the paper width direction, and can be repeatedly moved up and down at a predetermined timing by a motor M1 via a clutch (not shown). This is a first swing arm that can move up and down. The transport roller 8a is driven to rotate by a motor M3 and a belt 8b. Reference numeral 9 denotes a first opposing transport roller provided opposite to the first transport roller 8a and provided on a lower surface of a loading section on which sheets are sequentially loaded. The first transport roller 9 is driven by a driving section of the motor M5 at a predetermined timing. It is configured to be able to drive and rotate. The belt 8b is hung between the swing shaft 8c of the arm 8 and the shaft of the roller 8a. Reference numeral 10 denotes a second swing guide having the same function as that of the first swing guide 7, and reference numeral 11 denotes a sheet detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the stacking unit. 12
Is a motor M having the same function as the first swing arm 8
A second swing arm that swings by the second arm 2, and a plurality of second transport rollers 12a are supported by a plurality of shafts. Reference numeral 13 denotes a second opposing roller having the same function as the first opposing roller 9. The transport roller 12a includes a motor M4, a belt 12
b. Reference numeral 14 denotes a side aligning mechanism for aligning the ends in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction,
The mechanism unit has a drive motor M6, and when a sheet is stacked on the stacking unit, the side of the sheet is pressed a plurality of times with a predetermined pressing force toward the center of the sheet each time the stack is stacked on the stacking unit. Align the edges of The belt 12b is hung between the swing shaft 12c of the arm 12 and the shaft of the roller 12a. Reference numeral 15 denotes the sheet aligning mechanism section 14 with the sheet interposed therebetween.
The abutting reference surface provided at the opposed position, the side position can be aligned by abutting the opposite end of the paper pressed by the paper alignment mechanism unit 14 against the reference surface 15. (FIG. 2). Reference numeral 16 denotes a sheet leading end stopper gate for stopping the leading end of the sheet and aligning the sheet in the sheet conveying direction, and is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction (FIGS. 2 and 4). Stopper gate 1
Numeral 6 is rotatably driven by a motor M7 by a clutch 17 so as to be selectively movable between a paper stopper position and a retracted position.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a staple unit that binds a predetermined position of the aligned sheet bundle at a predetermined angle with a binding staple, and has a configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a drawing showing the home position of the stapler unit 18, which is set at an oblique position where the stapling of the oblique binding is performed with an inclination of about 30 degrees. Reference numeral 32 denotes a staple head unit for binding the sheets, reference numeral 33 denotes a stapler head holding unit for supporting the stapler head unit, and reference numeral 34 denotes a turntable arranged below the support unit 33 and rotatable at an arbitrary angle. It is. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the turntable 34 is rotated to the parallel binding position in conjunction with the conveyance of the sheet bundle. The term “parallel” means a degree along the sheet end surface. 19 is bound (stapled)
Reference numeral 20 denotes a sheet bundle tray for stacking a sheet bundle, reference numeral 20 denotes a stacked sheet bundle, reference numeral 21 denotes a discharge roller pair for discharging sheets to the tray 19, and reference numeral 22 denotes a sheet roller for simply aligning the leading ends of the sheet bundle 20. This is a sheet bundle front end stopper. Stopper 22
Is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 shows a stapler unit table driving section for changing the stapling position angle of the stapler unit.
In the figure, reference numeral 51 denotes a groove provided on the turntable 34, and a worm gear 52 a provided coaxially with the toothless gear 52 meshes with the groove 51. Accordingly, the stapler unit 18 on the turntable 34 rotates by a predetermined angle due to the rotation of the toothless gear 52. Reference numeral 53 denotes a gear provided on the axis of the second swing arm 12 which can move up and down, and meshes with the gears 56 and 54 alternately by moving up and down. The gear 54 is a gear provided on the shaft of the second opposing roller 13. The gear 55 is an idler gear. The force of the motor M4 is transmitted to the gear 53 via a belt.

The operation of the paper binding apparatus according to the present invention in the above configuration will be described below. Image forming apparatus 1
The sheet P on which an image is formed on the sheet is conveyed and guided to the entrance of the sheet binding apparatus A by a discharge roller of the image forming apparatus 1 (not shown). The leading end of the sheet is caught by the pair of entrance conveyance rollers 2, and the sheet P is conveyed into the sheet binding apparatus. The paper P that has entered
When the leading end cuts the entrance sensor 3, the accurate position of the sheet P is notified (detected) to the sheet binding apparatus A. The sheet is conveyed to the sheet stacking section B by the conveying roller pair 5, but at this time, the first swing arm 8
Is waiting in the upper position. Also, the first opposing roller 9 does not rotate. The paper enters the nip portion where the first transport roller 8a and the first opposing roller 9 are opened (at this time, the nip portion is in a separated state), and the paper is transported for a predetermined time from the entrance sensor 3. After that, the first swing arm 8 is lowered by the operation of a clutch (not shown), and the sheet is sandwiched between the first transport roller 8 a and the first opposing roller 9. When the first sheet is discharged and there is no paper loaded on the loading unit (detected by the paper presence sensor 11), the first opposing roller 9 also rotates the paper by the first driving roller 8a by the rotational driving force. Together with the paper in the paper transport direction. Also, when loading the next paper sheet on which the paper has already been loaded on the loading section, the first opposing roller 9 stops without having a rotational driving force, and the paper is transported only by the first transport roller 8a. It is transported downstream in the direction. That is, the conveyed sheet slips with the sheet stacked below. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyed sheet P stops at the leading end of the sheet P, which abuts against the stopper gate 16, and the first conveying roller 8a slips on the sheet. By these steps, the sheet P is stacked with the leading end thereof aligned with the sheet stacking section B. Thereafter, the first swing arm 8 is moved upward again by the clutch (not shown) due to the reverse rotation of the motor M1, and enters a standby state.

Next, the paper is aligned by the paper alignment mechanism 14. This is performed each time one sheet of paper is stacked on the stacking unit, and the abutting unit 15 facing the stacking unit is used.
Then, the paper side is pressed against the abutting portion of the stapler unit 18 to perform the side alignment.

The above-described operation for one sheet of paper P is repeated until the set target number of sheets is stacked on the sheet stacking section. The sheet bundle formed by performing all of these steps proceeds to the next stapling step. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the staple process and the operation of the sheet when first stopping at two places will be described.

When the leading end of the sheet abuts against the stopper gate 16 and is aligned and the sheet bundle is prepared, the first swing arm 8 and the second swing arm 12 are lowered by the clutch.
As a result, the sheet bundle is nipped by the transport rollers 8a and 12a and the opposing rollers 9 and 13, respectively. The transport speed of the nip portion of the first transport roller 8a and the transport speed of the nip portion of the second transport roller 12a are configured such that the first transport roller portion speed ≦ the second transport roller portion speed. Therefore, when the sheet bundle is transported by two pairs of rollers, the downstream transport speed (second transport roller 1
2a and the transport speed of the second opposed roller 13) are faster than the transport speed on the upstream side, so that the paper is always transported in a taut state. By carrying in this manner, the aligned sheet bundle is transported to a predetermined position while maintaining the aligned state. Due to such a sheet bundle transport mechanism, the alignment of the sheets is not disturbed. In addition, if the sheet aligning unit 14 is configured to move downstream in the transport direction together with the transport of the sheet bundle, both ends of the sheet will be constrained, and the disturbance of the sheet alignment can be further reduced.

In synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet bundle, the stapler unit 18 rotates from the oblique binding position (FIG. 3A) at the home position to the parallel binding position (FIG. 3B). This operation will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the second swing arm 1 is used to transport the sheet bundle.
When 2 moves down, the gear 53 on its axis meshes with the gear 54 on the axis of the second opposing roller 13. As a result, the gear 52 rotates in the direction of arrow R, and rotates to the position where the gear teeth are missing (FIG. 5a). Due to this rotation, the stapler unit 18 is rotated at an angle parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. Thereafter, the gear 55 idles.

Next, the sheet bundle conveyed to a predetermined position is stopped at that position (rollers 8a, 12a, 9, 1).
Then, the first stapling (parallel stapling) is executed by the stapler 18 by the rotation of the motor M8. As a result, the sheet bundle is bound at one location by the binding staple. At this time, the first transport roller 8
a and the second transport roller 12a firmly nip the sheet bundle, so that the sheet bundle does not shift due to stapling. Next, the first opposing roller 9, the second opposing roller 13, and the paper discharge roller pair 21 have the same timing, start rotating again, and convey the sheet bundle to the next predetermined position. go. The paper discharge roller pair 21 has the following relationship with the nip transport speed of the second transport roller unit.

Second transport roller speed ≦ discharge roller speed The above relationship is the same as the relationship between the first transport roller speed and the second transport roller speed described above. It is possible to

The sheet bundle conveyed by a predetermined amount (the predetermined amount is counted by a counter) by the conveying roller group is stopped at a predetermined position by stopping the rotation of the conveying roller group. The second binding needle is bound (parallel binding). In this way,
The sheet bundle stopped in two places is conveyed by the rotation of the conveying roller group again, and is discharged to the discharge stacking tray 19.
Load sequentially. When the discharge is completed, the first and second swing arms 8, 12 are raised. At the same time, in the stapler unit 18, the gear 53 meshes with the gear 56 as the second swing arm 12 moves upward. This engagement causes the gear 52 to rotate in the direction of arrow U and continue to rotate until the gear is missing (FIG. 5b).
The rotation of the gear 52 causes the turntable 43 of the stapler 18 to rotate and return to the home position (FIG. 3A). On the other hand, the leading end of the discharged sheet bundle is simply aligned by the leading end stopper 22.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the oblique binding is performed at one position at the leading end of the sheet bundle. In the case of the oblique binding at the leading end, the same process is performed until the above-described paper alignment. Since the second swing arm 12 remains raised, the stapler unit 18 is thereafter tilted by about 30 to 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 and is positioned as the home position on the upstream side in the sheet transport direction. Therefore, as soon as the sheet bundle alignment process is completed, the sheet bundle is stapled at that position. At the same time, the stopper gate 16 is released by the clutch 17. Thereafter, the sheet bundle is conveyed downstream by the first pair of conveying rollers 8a and 9 and the pair of second conveying rollers 12a and 13; after being conveyed to the pair of discharge rollers 21, the sheet bundle tray 19 is conveyed by the group of conveying rollers. It is discharged above and loaded. After discharging, the first and second swing arms 8 and 12
Rises, so that the staple unit 18 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
State.

Next, the configuration of the sheet alignment tray at the binding timing after the alignment of the sheet bundle will be described. FIG.
6A is a simplified diagram for explaining a problem that has occurred in the conventional alignment tray, where 61 is a sheet bundle, 62 is an operating jaw (anvil) of the stapler 18, and 6.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a cam rotated by a gear in the stapler unit. Reference numeral 64 denotes a head, which pushes out a needle by a built-in hammer. In FIG. 6A, since the sheet bundle is stacked on the fixed alignment tray 60, only the end of the sheet bundle is lifted by the operating jaw 62 of the stapler 18. As shown in the figure, since the sheet bundle has a narrow range in which the sheet can be lifted, the aligned ends often shift, resulting in poor matching.

As shown in FIG. 6B, in the sheet aligning tray which can be set in the binding device of the present invention, the aligning tray 160 is used.
Has a rotation center 64, and a rotatable end 160 a is rotatably connected to the lower jaw of the stapler at one end 65 by a pin 65.
a. With this configuration, when the sheet bundle is bound, the alignment tray is moved to the rotation center 6.
4, the paper bundle moves upward (FIG. 6 (c)), and the alignment of the ends of the paper bundle as shown in FIG. 6 (a) does not occur. When the anvil 62 is pushed up, as shown in FIG.
The sheet is pushed out by the hammer portion of the head 64, the tip is bent by the anvil, and the sheet bundle is bound.

In FIG. 6B, a cam link 63a is rotatably supported by a shaft 63c.
One end supports the cam follower 63b, and the other end supports the operating jaw 62. The cam 63 is rotated by the motor M8, and the cam portion 63d is rotated by the cam follower 63b.
To swing the cam link 63a. Cam part 63d
Is passed, the cam link 63a is moved to the end 16 of the alignment tray.
It turns clockwise under its own weight of 0a and restores the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a drawing that best illustrates the configuration of the roller positions according to the present invention. The configuration in FIG. 8 will be described below. 61 is a sheet bundle bound by the stapler, 72 is a binding staple binding the sheet bundle, and the bent portion of the staple after binding is not sufficiently bent. Such a binding needle is formed when the thickness of the paper is increased,
This may occur when the durability of the stapler unit is deteriorated. Reference numeral 21 denotes a part of a pair of discharge rollers provided downstream of the stapler unit 18 in the sheet transport direction, and both upper and lower rollers are configured to nip the sheet bundle with a sufficient pressing force. Further, the discharge roller 21 has a nip portion of the above-described pressurized configuration only in a portion where the binding needle passes in the longitudinal direction (there is a spring only in the needle passing portion).

In the above configuration, the bound sheet bundle 61 in which the binding needles 72 are not sufficiently bent passes through the roller pair 73. The binding needle 72 is nipped between the pair of rollers 21 and transported, so that an insufficiently bent portion is brought into close contact with the sheet by the pressing force. By this pressure, the binding staples are brought into close contact with the paper almost in parallel (parallel) without lifting, as shown at 74 in FIG. 8B.

By the above operation, the binding staples are sufficiently brought into close contact with the sheet, so that when the sheet is ejected, it does not get caught on another sheet bundle of ejected sheets. Even if the bending of the needle is slightly loose, the stapler unit has sufficient margin for the durability of the stapler unit because it is closely attached by the roller pair 21 having the above configuration. At the same time, the thickness of the staple portion is reduced, leading to an increase in the stacking capacity of the sheet bundle and an improvement in the stacking alignment performance.

The pressure roller is not limited to the discharge roller pair, and may be provided exclusively between the discharge roller and the second transport roller. In the case of such exclusive use, it is only necessary to provide a roller only at a portion where the needle passes.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a drawing showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
Reference numerals 1 and 82 denote rollers having conductivity. In the present invention, SUS metal rollers were used. 83 and 84 are
A pressure spring that presses the SUS rollers 81 and 82 with a predetermined pressure, and 85 is a metal sheet binding needle having conductivity.
P is a sheet bundle, and 86 is a detection unit that is connected to the metal rollers 81 and 82 and detects that the sheet bundle is bound by a binding staple by passing a small current between the metal rollers. With the above configuration, the sheet bundle bound by the binding staples passes through the nip of the metal rollers 81 and 82, so that a predetermined number of binding staples are surely applied to the sheet bundle by the detection unit. The binding can be detected. In addition, it is possible to confirm whether or not the binding staple is bound at a predetermined position by matching the transport timing of the sheet bundle (by counting the time from the start of transport to the detection of the staple). . This is a very effective configuration for detecting an error of a binding staple due to a paper bundle misalignment or the like. When an error occurs, an alarm is generated and the device is stopped.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since stapling at a plurality of locations can be performed in a state where the binding unit that binds the sheet bundle is in a fixed position, it is possible to simplify the sheet binding unit and the configuration of the apparatus itself. Further, since the binding position of the sheet binding means may be fixed, the throughput of the binding operation can be significantly improved.

Further, since the binding means rotates in association with the conveyance of the sheet bundle, there is no need to provide a special binding means rotating means, and the cost is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a main cross-sectional view of a printer including a paper binding device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a top view of the paper binding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view for explaining the operation of the paper binding mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a sheet binding section according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotation mechanism of the stapler unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a sheet alignment tray unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of a mechanism for pressing a binding needle.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of binding error detection.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 8, 12 Swing arm 8a, 12a Conveyance roller 9, 13 Opposing roller 14 Paper alignment unit 18 Paper binding mechanism (stapler unit)

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yasuyoshi Hayakawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet binding apparatus for binding a sheet bundle with a binding staple at a predetermined position, wherein a binding angle of a binding unit is changed in conjunction with sheet conveyance. A paper binding device that binds a sheet bundle at more than one location. 2. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binding unit is rotatable and is set at an oblique binding position and a parallel binding position. 3. The binding means is normally set at an oblique binding position, and binds at a corner of a sheet bundle.
Paper binding device. 4. A sheet bundle is conveyed by lowering an oscillating roller to nip the sheet bundle, and in response to the lowering operation, the binding means is turned and set to a parallel binding position. Paper binding device. 5. A switching mechanism that switches according to the elevation of the swing roller.
5. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a gear train, wherein the binding device pivots in one direction by passing through one gear train, and the binding device pivots in the other direction by passing through another gear train. 6. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gear train includes a notch gear, and the notch gear meshes with a rotary table of the binding means. 7. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each time the binding operation is performed, the aligning means is operated to align and align the sheet bundle in a direction crossing the sheet conveying direction.