JPS63310459A - Sheet post-processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of parts in a copier by providing a means for detecting a referential lift of mounting table when no sheet is mounted on and detecting the quantity of sheets mounted thereon. CONSTITUTION:When mounting of sheet onto a mounting table 33 in a finisher 27 is started, the mounting table 33 is lifted by means of an up/down motion motor 62 for tray body 61, a pinion 63 and a rack 65 and contacted with a lower roller 55b so as to push up an upper roller 55a. Then it is detected as a referential lift through a detecting means 60 and the motor 62 is stopped. Then the mounting table 33 is lowered by the predetermined distance to a position where sheets can be mounted through inversion of the motor 62. When copied sheet is discharged through a pair of carrying rollers 50 and a belt 56 then mounted sequentially onto the mounting table 33, the mounting quantity of sheet is detected similarly through the detecting means 60 and the mounting table 33 is lowered again to the position where sheets can be mounted. Consequently, only one detecting means is required and thereby the number of parts can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device used with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, or a laser beam printer. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, a sheet post-processing device equipped with a loading platform that can be raised and lowered is
When starting the operation, the loading platform is initialized by rising until it is properly detected by the initial position detection means, and then the sheets are accumulated on the loading platform, and the system detects that the number of sheets on the loading platform has reached a predetermined amount. Each time the loading amount detection means detected, the loading platform was lowered to a position where the next sheet could be loaded.

→ Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, the above-mentioned sheet post-processing device has an initial position detection means for detecting the initial position and a loading amount detection means, resulting in a loss of 1-up. Further, since the initial position detection means and the load amount detection means are required to have accurate positional accuracy, it takes time to install them.

Means for Solving the Problem The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and includes: detecting the reference position of the lift when the m loading platform is not loaded; The present invention is characterized in that a detection means is provided for detecting the amount of stack 'Ia on the stacking platform when sheets are stacked on the stacking platform.

(e) Operation Based on the above-described configuration, when starting loading, the loading platform is raised and detected by the detection means at the elevated reference position, thereby being initialized. Then, the loading platform is lowered a predetermined distance to a position where sheets can be loaded. Furthermore,
Sheets are loaded one after another on the loading platform, and when the loading amount on the loading platform reaches a predetermined amount, the detection means detects the remaining loading amount, and the loading platform is lowered a predetermined distance to a position where sheets can be loaded again. be done.

(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 main body 3 containing a copying section 2, and the main body 3 has a platen 5, a platen 5,
Light source 6, mirror? , 8-, 9-, and 10-degree lenses 11 and two cassettes 12 and 13 for storing sheets S, and paper feed rollers 15 are mounted above the cassettes 12 and 13, respectively.
, 16 are arranged. A manual feed tray 17 is provided above the cassette 12.
A pair of paper feed rollers 19 is disposed at 7. Further, a registration roller pair 21 is disposed downstream of the paper feed rollers 15 and 16 and the paper feed roller pair 19, and the copying section 2 is disposed downstream of the roller pair 21. Furthermore,
A conveyor belt 22 and a fixing device 23 are downstream of the copying section 2.
A pair of discharge rollers 25 is provided downstream of the fixing device 23 . Then, the discharge roller pair 25
A folding device 26 is provided adjacent to the main body 3 downstream of the folding device 26, and a finisher 27 is provided downstream of the folding device 26.
is attached. Furthermore, the outlet 29 of the copying machine 1, the inlet 30 of the folder M26, the outlet 31, and the inlet 32 of the finisher 30 are provided at substantially horizontal positions. Further, the finisher 30 includes a stack tray 33 that can be raised and lowered, and a staple tray 3 that includes a stapler 34.
5 and a sheet bundle S stapled by the stable tray 35. A pair of carry-in rollers 37 is disposed downstream of the carry-in port 32. A flapper 39 is provided downstream of the roller pair 37, and a stack path 40 and a stack path 41 are provided branching off from the flapper 39.

In addition, the upper part of the main body 3 is equipped with a bulk automatic feeding system M42.
The feeding device 42 includes a document tray 43 for stacking documents, a paper feeding section 45 for feeding documents, a conveyor belt 46 for conveying the documents to a predetermined position on the platen 5, and a reversing belt for reversing the documents. 47 and a discharge section 49 for discharging the original.

Furthermore, as shown in detail in FIG. 1, the finisher 27 includes a pair of transport rollers 509 on the stack path 40! The drive roller 50a of the roller pair 50 is driven by a drive motor 5.
1. A discharge sensor 52 is disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 50, and a discharge roller pair 53 consisting of upper and lower rollers 53a and 53b is disposed downstream of the sensor 52. Further, downstream of the roller pair 53, a discharge roller pair 5 consisting of upper and lower rollers 55a and 55b is provided.
The upper roller 55a is rotatably supported around the upper roller 53a, and the lower roller 55b is rotatably supported around the lower roller 53b. The upper roller 53a and the upper roller 55
A belt 56 is wound around the lower roller 5.
A belt 57 is wound around the roller 3b and the lower roller 55b.

Further, the upper roller 53a and the upper roller 55a are each connected to the drive motor 51 via a clutch 59, and an upper limit sensor 60 is disposed above the upper roller 55. A vertical movement motor 62 is disposed on the tray body 61 of the stack tray 33, and the motor 62 is connected to a pinion 63. Further, the pinion 63 is engaged with a rack 65 attached to the main body of the finisher 27, so that the stack tray 33 can be moved up and down.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The control unit 66 is equipped with a central processing unit (CPU).
) 67, a ROM 69 storing a control program for controlling the CPU 67, and a RAM serving as a main storage device.
70, on the copying machine main body 3 side, an output interface 7 that outputs a control signal to a load such as a main motor.
1. It is connected to an input interface 72 that inputs detection signals from each sensor, and an input/output interface 76 that inputs operation signals from various input keys 73 and outputs display signals to each display 75. Also,
A folding device 26 and a finisher 27 attached to the copying machine 1
The loads and sensors of the automatic document feeder 42 are also connected via an interface (not shown).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained along flowchart 1 in FIG.

On copying machine 1, when the start button (not shown) is pressed (
SL), the documents stacked on the document tray 43 of the automatic document feeder 42 are separated one by one by the paper feed section 45.
The document is fed, and conveyed and placed on the document reference position on the platen 5 by the conveyance belt 46. Then, the manuscript is lamp 6, mirror? , 8, 9, 10 and the lens 11, the image is read and formed on the copy 1s2. Also, at this time, in the finisher 27, the stack tray 33
rises, and the base end of the tray 33 comes into contact with the lower roller 55b, pushing up the upper and lower rollers 55m and 551). Then, when the upper roller 55a is detected by the upper limit sensor 60 (see FIG. 5) and the sensor 60 is turned on (32),
The CPU 67, which receives the ON signal from the sensor 60, reverses the vertical movement motor 62 to lower the stack tray 33. Then, when the tray 33 separates from the lower roller 55b (see FIG. 6) and the upper limit sensor 60 turns OFF (S
3) The CPU 67 further lowers the stack tray 33 for a predetermined time using a timer (not shown) (S4). Then, the sheet S is fed from the cassette 12 or 13 by the paper feed roller 15 or 16, and the sheet S is
It is conveyed by the registration rollers 21 in synchronization with the image formed on the copying section 2 . Then, the sheet S has an image copied thereon by the copying section 2, and is further conveyed to the fixing device 23 by the conveyor belt 22. Then, the image is fixed on the sheet S by the fixing device 23, and the sheet S is conveyed to the folding device 26 from the paper discharge port 29 by the pair of discharge rollers 25. Furthermore, the sheet S may be folded as desired by the folding device 26 or sent to the finisher 27 without being folded. When the stack mode is selected in the finisher 27, the sheet S is guided to a stack path 40 by a flapper 39, and then conveyed to a pair of paper feed rollers 53 by a pair of conveying rollers 50.

At this time, the ejection speed of the sheet S is detected by the ejection sensor 52 and transmitted to the CPU 67.
5 is controlled (S5).

Further, the sheet S is transported by a pair of ejection rollers 53, 55 and a bell l.
-56, 57 and discharged onto the stack tray 33-H. Similarly, the required set number of copies of the original on the original tray 43 are made, and m copies of the same number of sheets S are placed in the stack tray 33 (S6). Then, when all the copies have been completed, the CPU 67 stops the drive motor 51, main motor, etc. (S7). Further, copying is performed and m stacks of sheets S... are placed in the stack tray 33, and the sheets +-S... push up the discharge roller pair 55 (see FIG. 7), and the upper roller 55a is activated by the upper limit sensor. When detected and the sensor turns on (S8), the sensor 60 turns on.
The CPU 67 receiving the signal rotates the vertical movement motor 67 in the downward direction to lower the stack tray 33. Then, the tray 33 is moved to the lower roller 55b! 21 Upper limit sensor 4j When 60 is OFF (39), CP
U67 further lowers the stack tray 33 for a predetermined time using a timer (not shown) and places the next sheet S on the tray 33.
The vehicle is brought into a state where it can be loaded (310). Then, by a similar operation, sheets S are accumulated on the stack tray 33 until the stack tray 33 is detected by a lower limit sensor (not shown).

In the above embodiment, the discharge roller pair 55 rotates to ONI the upper limit sensor 60, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in FIG. 8, a swingable lever 77 is disposed at the upper limit position of the stack tray 33, and when the stack tray 33 reaches the upper limit position, it engages with the lever 77 and activates the upper limit sensor 60. It may be turned on.

(G) As described in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the reference position of the lift when no sheets are loaded on the loading platform, and to detect the position of the rising reference position when the loading platform is loaded with sheets. Since the detection means for detecting the loading amount is provided, the number of parts can be omitted and costs can be reduced, and positional accuracy is not required, making it possible to easily install the detection means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing essential parts of a sheet post-processing device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an image forming apparatus including the sheet post-processing device of the present invention. Further, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control section. Furthermore,
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention. 5 to 7 are front views showing the operation of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 8 is a front view showing another embodiment. 27. Sheet post-processing device, 33. Loading platform, 60.
- Detection means, S sheet.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a sheet post-processing device equipped with a stacking platform that can be raised and lowered to load sheets, the reference position of the lifting platform when no sheets are loaded on the loading platform is detected, and the position when the loading platform is loaded with sheets is detected. A sheet post-processing device comprising: a detection means for detecting the amount of loading on the loading platform. (2) The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the rising reference position is an initial position at the start of operation.