JPS63235258A - Post treatment device for sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to easily use a title device even by an unaccustomed operator by arranging a means for starting the stapling operation by use of a stapling device, in a sheet bundle insertion port in a sheet alignment tray device. CONSTITUTION:In the case of using a finisher 23 by a manual insertion staple mode, when the operator opens a cover 77, and inserts a bundle of sheets S onto a staple tray 52a by manual insertion, a sensor 74 detects the bundle of sheets S. Further, when a manual switch 80 is turned on, a control device rotates a belt 73b to cause the bundle of sheets S to abut against a stopper 63 so as to align the sheets S, and further, a sidewise moving plates is moved toward a stationary plate 87 so as to sidewise move the bundle of sheets S. When the loading amount of the bundle of sheets S detected by a thickness sensor is less than the capability of a stapler 75, the latter is operated to staple the bundle of sheets S, and thereafter, the belt 73 is stopped so as to separate the sidewise moving plate. When the bundle of stapled sheets S is taken out after opening the cover 77, the sensor 74 is turned off so that a series of workings is completed. Thus, it is possible to enhance the simplification of the post sheet treatment device even by an accustomed operator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device used with image forming apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as copying machines) such as copying machines, printing machines, and laser beam printers. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device that is connected to a copying machine and stacks, aligns and staples sheets discharged from the copying machine.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, sheet post-processing devices that perform stapling have stacked and aligned sheets ejected from a copying machine and stapled one corner of the sheet bundle using a binding device (hereinafter referred to as a stapler). Ta.

←→ Problems to be Solved by the Invention In addition, in recent years, the above-mentioned sheet post-processing device has been used not only to stabilize sheets discharged from copying machines.
A stapler that can manually stabilize a bundle of sheets separate from the above-mentioned sheets has been devised, and there is a need for a sheet post-processing device that is even easier to use in consideration of the case where it is used by an inexperienced operator. .

B) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes an insertion port for inserting a manual sheet bundle into a sheet alignment tray device, and a sheet stack inserted through the insertion port. A starting means for starting the binding operation by the binding device on the manually fed sheet bundle, and upon receiving a start signal from the starting means, the binding device starts the manual feeding sheet bundle inserted into the sheet alignment tray device from the insertion slot. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the sheet alignment tray device so that the sheet bundle continues to be stacked on the sheet alignment tray device even after the binding operation is completed.

(e) Operation Based on the above-described configuration, when a manually fed sheet is inserted into the sheet alignment tray device from the insertion opening and a start signal from the starting means is transmitted to the control means, the manually fed sheet bundle is 1llI
It is bound by a binding device. After the binding operation is completed, the sheet bundle continues to be stacked on the sheet alignment tray device, and the operator takes out the bound sheet bundle from the insertion slot.

(f) Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below along with the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the copying machine 1 has a copying machine main body 3 containing a copying section 2, and the main body 3 includes a platen 5, a light source 6, mirrors 7, 8, 9, 10, and a lens 11. , sheet S
It is equipped with two cassettes 12 and 13 for storing paper feed rollers 15 and 13, respectively.
6 are arranged. Then, the paper feed rollers 15 and 16
A pair of registration rollers 17 is disposed downstream of the rollers 17, and the copying section 2 is disposed downstream of the rollers 17. Further, downstream of the copying section 2, an intrusion belt 19 and a fixing member @20 are arranged. A pair of paper discharge rollers 21 is disposed downstream of the fixing device 20, and a paper folding device 22 and a finisher 23 are disposed downstream of the pair of paper discharge rollers 21 adjacent to the subject body 3. is provided.

On the other hand, the copying machine main body 3 is provided with an automatic document feeder 25 on its upper part, and the feeder 25 has a document tray 26 on which documents M are stacked. A paper feed roller 2 for feeding the document M on the tray 26 is placed near the tray 26.
7 is disposed, and downstream of the roller 27, a separation belt 29 that rotates counterclockwise and a conveyor belt 30 that rotates counterclockwise are disposed. Moreover, the belt 30
A sensor 31゜3 that detects the size of the document M is downstream of the
2 are disposed in a transverse direction is shape with respect to the original this feeding direction, and downstream of the sensors 31 and 32, a drive roller 3
A conveyor belt 36 is stretched between the roller 3 and the driven roller 35 . Furthermore, the document discharge section 37 on the left side of the belt 36 has a
A flapper 39 is disposed, and around the flapper 39 there is a conveyance path 4 that is switched and guided by the flapper 39.
G, 41°42 are provided. Then, the conveyance path 4
A pair of reversing rollers 43 is disposed on the conveyance path 41, and a pair of discharge rollers 45 is disposed on the conveyance path 41.

Further, the sheet discharge port 46 of the folding device 22 and the sheet inlet port 47 of the finisher device 23 are connected so as to match. Further, the sheet inlet 49 of the folding device 22 is connected to match the sheet discharge port 50 of the copying machine 1, and the sheet S carried out from the copying machine 1 is folded into a predetermined shape by the folding device 22. Furthermore, it is configured so that it can be sent to the stacker section 51 or stapling section 52 of the finisher device 23 for accumulation, or to be stapled and processed. Then, the folding unit W22 is folded into the folding device main body 5.
3. A pair of carry-in rollers 55 is disposed facing the sheet carry-in port 49 provided on the upper right side, and an inlet deflector 56 is disposed downstream of the pair of carry-in rollers 55 so as to be switchable in two directions. Sheet S sent from port 49
The sheet is configured to be guided and conveyed to passing conveyance #157 or to sheet folding conveyance $59. Further, a pair of discharge rollers 60 is disposed at the downstream end of the passage conveyance path 57, and the sheet discharge port 46 is provided downstream of the pair of discharge rollers 6o. It is installed at the same horizontal level as 49. Further, on the downstream side of the sheet folding conveyance path 59, a folding means A for folding the sheet S in two or Z-folding is arranged.
is connected to the passing conveyance path 57 by a paper discharge conveyance path 61. Further, the finisher device 23 has its device main body 6
A stacker section 51 that includes a stacker tray 51a and can be moved vertically and reciprocally by a driving means such as a motor is arranged above the left side of the stacker section 2, and further below the stacker section 51, a staple tray 52m of a stay bluff 52 is arranged. A stopper 63 is provided at the lower end of the step tray 52a to support one end of the sheet S on the tray 52a.
are arranged so that they can be moved freely. Furthermore, the staple portion 5
A storage tray 65 is disposed below 2, and is configured such that the sheet S on the staple tray 52a is dropped into the storage tray 65 by movement of the stopper 63.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a sheet inlet 47 is provided at the front of the main body 62 of the finisher device 23, and the sheet inlet 47 is connected to the sheet outlet 50 (the first one) of the copying machine 1. (See Figure 2). A pair of carry-in rollers 66 is disposed at the sheet carry-in entrance 47, and an inlet deflector 67 constituting a switching means is disposed downstream of the pair of carry-in rollers 66 so as to be switchable in two directions. It is configured to convey the sheets S sent from the stacker 47 to the stacker section conveyance path 69 or to the stipple section conveyance path 70. Further, a pair of conveyance rollers 71 and a sensor 72 are arranged in the staple section conveyance path 70, a pair of stapling section discharge rollers 73 is disposed downstream of the pair of rollers 71, and a pair of discharge rollers 73 is disposed downstream of the pair of rollers 71; A portion of a belt 73b, the lower end of which is in contact with the staple tray 52a, is wound around the lower roller 73a.
3m, and aligns the sheet S carried out onto the staple tray 52a in the longitudinal direction (at the rear in the carrying out direction) along the stopper 63. and,
The stopper 63 is connected to a solenoid 76, and when the solenoid 76 is turned on, the stopper 63 is retracted from the tray surface of the stacker tray 52a. Furthermore, a stay bluff 5. is provided above the base end side of the staple tray 52a. is installed and configured to staple the sheets S on the stable tray 52a, and the tray 52a is configured to staple the sheets S on the stable tray 52a.
A sensor 74 is provided to detect the presence or absence of. A protective cover 77 is disposed on the staple tray 52a, and the cover 77 is supported by a hinge 79 so as to be openable and closable. Further, a manual button 80 is arranged on the main body 62 of the apparatus above the cover 77, and the button 80 is used to switch the stay bluff 52 from the automatic stapling mode to the manual mode.

As shown in FIG. 4, the staple tray 52a has a loading amount detection device 9 for detecting the loading amount of sheets S.
181 is disposed, and the device 81 includes a holding plate 82 swingably supported by a shaft 82m, a solenoid 83 connected to the holding plate 82 and swinging the holding plate 82,
It is composed of a spring 85 connected to the holding plate 82 on the opposite side of the solenoid 83, and a reflection type optical sensor 86 that overlaps or separates from one end 82b of the holding plate 82 to turn on and off.

The staple tray 52a also has a fixing plate 87 on the front side of the tray 52a, as shown in detail in FIG. 5Ta).
is installed upright, and on the back side there is a width plate 89 and a stepping motor 90. It is movably arranged by a pinion 91 and a rack 92 (see FIG. 5(b)).

Furthermore, a home position sensor 93 is arranged on the back side of the step tray 52m, and the sensor 93 is configured to detect the home position of the width adjusting plate 89.

Further, a sheet edge detection device M94 for detecting the edge of the sheet S is disposed on the fixing plate 87.
4, as shown in FIG. It is comprised of a lamp 95 arranged and a sheet edge sensor 96 that receives the light of the lamp 95 and turns on, and that the light of the lamp 95 is blocked by the sheet S and turns off.

Furthermore, the copying machine 1 is equipped with a control section 97, as shown in FIG. The copying machine main body 3 side includes an output interface 102 that outputs control signals to loads such as the main motor, an input interface 103 that inputs detection signals from each sensor, and each large-scale oyster. The operation signal from 105 is input to each display 106.
Input/output interface 1 that emits display signals to
It is connected to 07. Further, each load, each sensor, etc. of a finisher 201, a folding device 22, and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as RDF) 25 attached to the copying machine 1 are also connected via respective interfaces (not shown).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

A case in which the automatic stapling mode is set in the finisher 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

A bundle of originals is loaded on the original tray 26 of the RDF 25, and the bundle of originals is detected by the original presence/absence sensor (not shown) Cζ and the CP
When the information is transmitted to the U99, the CPU 99 determines that the document bundle has been set on the RDF 25 based on the detection signal of the document presence/absence sensor (Sl).

Then, use the input key 105 to set the stapling mode to automatic 32) and set the number of copies S3).
Furthermore, the sheet size is selected (S4).

Next, when a copy start key (not shown) is turned on (S5), a transport motor (not shown) is turned on (S6).
. As a result, the paper feed roller 27 rotates to feed the document from below, and the document is further transferred to the separation belt 29 and the transport belt 30.
The sheets are separated one by one and conveyed to the conveyor belt 36. Then, the original is transported to the exposure position on the platen 5 by the transport belt 36 (37), and the image is further read by the light source 6, the mirror 7° 8.9, 10, and the lens 11, and the image is transferred to the copying section 2. It is formed.

On the other hand, the sheet S from the cassette 12.13 is transferred to the paper feed roller 1.
5 and 16, and the sheet S is further conveyed by a pair of registration rollers 17 in synchronization with the image formed on the copying section 2. Then, the image of the rate S is copied by the copying section 2, and further transported to the fixing device 20 by the transport section 19 (S8).

At this time, the document is conveyed from the platen 5 to the conveyance belt 36 to the conveyor belt 36, and when the trailing edge passes the flapper 39, the document is conveyed to the conveyance path 41, and then the document is conveyed to the conveyance path 40 by the discharge roller 45.
The document is discharged onto the document tray 26 (S9). Then, the image is fixed on the sheet S by the fixing device 20, and the sheet S is further discharged to the discharge port 50 by the pair of paper discharge rollers 21. Then, copy! When the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 50 of the I11 is conveyed from the sheet import port 49 of the folding device 22 to the population deflector 56 by the rotation of the pair of carry-in rollers 55, and the passing mode is instructed to the folding device 22, The deflector 56 guides it to a passing conveyance path 57 . Then, the sheet passes through the conveyance path 57 and is discharged from the sheet discharge port 46 by a pair of discharge rollers 60. Further, when the folding mode is instructed to the folding device 22, the sheet S is guided to the sheet folding conveyance path 59 by the entrance deflector 56, and then conveyed to the folding means A through the conveyance path 59.

Next, the sheet S is subjected to a process such as folding in half or Z-folding by the folding means A, and is conveyed to the paper discharge conveyance path 61.
The sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path 61 to a pair of discharge rollers 60, and further discharged from the sheet discharge port 46 by the pair of rollers 60. Then, the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 46 of the folding device 22 is carried in by the pair of carry-in rollers 66 from the sheet carry-in port 47 of the finisher M23. Further, the sheet S is conveyed to the stipple portion conveyance path 70 by the flapper 67, and further conveyed to the discharge roller pair 73 while being pinched by a pair of conveyance rollers 71. At this time, the sheets S are detected by the sensor 72 and transmitted to the control section 97, so that the control section 97 counts the number of sheets S. On the other hand, the sheet S is discharged onto the stipple tray 52a by a pair of discharge rollers 73, and then abutted against a stopper 62 by a belt 73b to align the front and rear positions (S
10). Further, the sheet S is brought closer to the fixed plate 87 by the width adjustment plate 89 to align the left and right positions (311), and the width adjustment operation is performed in the first step as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7 (al). The CPU of the control unit 97 counts the number of sheets S based on the detection signal of the sensor 72 when the copied sheet S is discharged onto the staple tray 52a.
The count of the number of sheets already stored in 99 is 0 (S111). Then, based on this count value, CP
U99 moves the width adjusting plate 89 from the home position to the selected sheet size position, and loads the first sheet S.
The stepping motor 90 is controlled so as to contact the fixed plate 87 and align the left and right positions (3112). Further, the detection signal from the sensor 72 that detects the passing of the first sheet S is transmitted to the CPU 99 via the interface 103, and as a result, the number of sheets counted in the CPU 99 becomes 1, and the CPU 99 changes the number of sheets to the value of the number count. The blocking width plate 89 is moved to a position 10 m away from the sheet size (3114). Furthermore, if the sheet number count is not 0 in the aforementioned 5 IOI, that is, the second and subsequent sheets S..., the width adjustment plate 89 moves from a position 10- away from the sheet size to the sheet size position, so that the left and right positions are changed. are aligned (S113).

Then, the CPU 99 increments the sheet number counter by 1 and repeats the operations from S7 to 311 until the document stack stacked on the document tray 26 of the RD F 25 has been circulated (312). Next, when the east part of the copy sheet is created for the part of the document bundle, the CPU 99 compares the value of the sheet number counter with the number of sheets that the stay rough 5 can print.
3) If the number of sheets in the sheet bundle S exceeds the ability of the stabilizing bluff 5, a warning is displayed on the display 106 that it cannot be stabilized (314). In addition, if the number of sheet bundles S... does not exceed the capacity of the stay bluff 5,
The CPU 99 detects the staple tray 52 by the sensor 74.
The presence or absence of the sheet bundle S on a is checked (515), and the stay bluff 5 is operated (816). The operation of the stay bluff 5 is as shown in detail in the flowchart in FIG.・
The movement of... is restricted (8161). Next, the stay bluff 5 is operated to perform stapling work on the sheet bundle S..., and when the work is completed (8162), the width adjusting plate 89 is moved 10 mm from the sheet size position (S
163).

Then, the sheet bundle S... is dropped and stored in the storage tray 65 (817). Further, as detailed in the flowchart of FIG. 7 (el), the dropping operation is performed by turning on the solenoid 76 by the CPU 991 to retract the stopper 63 from the tray surface of the staple tray 52a (3171). ... are conveyed on the surface of the stipple tray 52a by the belt 73b. At this time, the sensor 74 detects the rear end of the sheet bundle S...
When the CPU 99 turns off (3172), the CPU 99
When the fall timer (not shown) in U99 is activated and the fall timer stops after a predetermined time, that is, at the time required for the rear end of the sheet bundle S... to pass the stopper 63 (8
173), set the solenoid 76 to 0FFL, and set the stopper 63
is moved to the home position (S174).

Then, the CPU 99 repeats the operations from S7 to 317 until the number of copies set in S3 described above is reached, and subtracts 1 from the copy number setting counter until the counter reaches 0.
When the set number of copies of the sheet bundle S... is created (
sis). Next, the CPU 99 performs a width adjustment return operation of the width adjustment board 9 (319). Further, as shown in detail in the flowchart of FIG. 7(d), the centering return operation returns the width centering plate 89 to the home position (319).
1) When the line width adjustment plate 89 is detected by the home position sensor 93, a detection signal from the sensor 93 is transmitted to the CPU 99 via the interface 103. Then, the CPU 99 turns off the unillustrated transport motor of the finisher 23 based on the detection signal! , to end all work (S20).

Further, when using the finisher 23 in the manual stapling mode, the operator opens the cover 77 and the sheet bundle S...
When you manually insert ・ onto the staple tray 52a,
The sensor 74 detects the sheet bundle S and turns on. (
321). Then, the operator presses manual switch 8.
0 is turned ON (322), the CPU 99 receives the ON signal of the switch 80 via the interface 103.
executes the manual stapling mode program stored in the ROM 100. Then, the CPU 99 drives a transport motor (not shown) (823) to
Rotate 3b. Next, the sheet bundle S manually fed onto the stipple tray 52a is brought into contact with the stopper 63 by the belt 73b and aligned in the front-back direction. Furthermore, the CPU 99 drives the stepping motor 90 to move the width shifting plate 89 to the fixed plate 87, and the sheet bundle S...
When the edge of ・ is detected by the sheet edge sensor 96,
The stepping motor 90 is set to 0FFL to stop the movement of the width shifting plate 89 (324). Next, the CPU 99 turns on the solenoid 83 of the load amount detection device 81 (325
), swing the presser plate 82 and press one end 82c of the presser plate 82.
is brought into contact with the sheet bundle S...

As a result, the other end 82b of the holding plate 82 comes off the thickness sensor 86, which is a reflective optical sensor, and the sensor 86 becomes OF.
If F (326), the CPU 99 receiving the OFF signal from the sensor 86 determines that the thickness of the sheet bundle S... exceeds the stapling capacity of the staple rough 5, and issues a warning to the display 106 that stapling is not possible. (827)
. Further, when the end 82b of the holding plate 82 overlaps the thickness sensor 86 and the sensor 86 is turned on, the sensor 86 is turned on.
The CPU 99 receiving the signal determines that the thickness of the sheet bundle S is within the binding capacity of the stay bluff 5, and turns off the solenoid 83 (828). Next, CPU99
The operator operates the stay bluff 5 to stipple the sheet bundle S (329).

Then, the CPU 99 turns off the transport motor as soon as the stapling work is completed! Then, the rotation of the belt 75 is stopped, and the stepping motor 90 is further driven to return the convergence plate 89 to the home position (330).

Next, the operator opens the cover 77 of the staple tray 52a and removes the stapled sheet bundle S...
When the sensor 7 is taken out from above the staple tray 52a, the sensor 7
4 is 0FFL (S31), the manual stapling mode ends.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the manually fed sheet bundle S.

After the binding operation is completed, the sheets contact the stopper 63 on the staple tray 52a and continue to be stacked between the belt 73b and the tray 52a. Bundle S... is the belt 73b
When the staple tray 52a is conveyed toward the leading end of the staple tray 52a to a position where it is separated from the sheet bundle S, it becomes easier to take out the sheet bundle S.

Further, when the binding operation of the manually fed sheet bundle S... is completed, the operability is further improved by reporting the completion of the operation on the display 106.

(g) As described in detail, according to the present invention, there is an insertion port for inserting a manual sheet bundle into a sheet alignment tray device, and a binding device starts binding the manual sheet bundle inserted from the insertion port. and upon receiving a start signal from the starting means, staple the manual sheet bundle inserted into the sheet alignment tray device from the insertion slot, and continue to stack the sheet bundle on the sheet alignment tray device even after the binding operation is completed. and a control means for controlling the sheet alignment tray device to continue,
When binding a manually fed sheet bundle, even after the binding operation is completed, the sheet bundle is not stored in the storage device but continues to be stacked on the sheet alignment tray device. It can be easily done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a sheet post-processing device according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an image forming apparatus including a sheet post-processing device. Furthermore, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control means for controlling the entire apparatus. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the load detection device. In addition, FIG. 5 (al is a plan view showing the sheet alignment tray device, (bl is a perspective view showing the drive device for the width shifting plate, and (01 is a side view showing the sheet edge detection device). Furthermore, FIGS. 6 to 8 are flowcharts showing the operation of the present invention. 23... Sheet post-processing device, 52... Sheet alignment tray device, 65... Storage device, 75...
- Binding device, 77... Insertion slot, 80... Starting means, 97... Control means, S... Sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A sheet alignment tray device that aligns sheets conveyed from a document processing position, a binding device disposed at a predetermined position of the sheet alignment tray device, and a storage unit that stores a bundle of sheets bound by the binding device a sheet post-processing device comprising: an insertion port for inserting a manual sheet bundle into the sheet alignment tray device; a starting means for starting a binding operation by the binding device on the manual sheet bundle inserted from the insertion port; Further, upon receiving a start signal from the start means, the manually fed sheet bundle inserted into the sheet alignment tray device from the insertion slot is bound by the binding device, and even after the binding operation is completed, the sheet bundle is A sheet post-processing device comprising a control means for controlling a sheet aligning tray device so as to continue stacking sheets on the sheet aligning tray device.