JPH0416392A - Image formation post-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming post-processing device used together with an image forming device such as an electrophotographic device or a printer, and particularly relates to an image forming post-processing device that is connected to an image forming device to perform processing of the image forming device. The present invention relates to an image forming post-processing device that collects and aligns recording sheets ejected from a printer and performs post-processing such as stapling.

[Conventional technology]

After the direct image forming process is completed by the image forming apparatus, multiple sheets of recording paper are discharged to the image forming post-processing apparatus in a predetermined order, and their left and right sides are aligned by a jogger fence, and after the alignment process, the stacked recording sheets are At least one of the left and right ends of the paper is bound by a binding device, such as a stapler, to form a book.

After the binding process is completed, the jogger fence is expanded and, using the jogger fence as a guide, the approximately central portion of the rear end of the stacked recording sheets after the binding process is pushed up and discharged to the paper discharge tray.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in recent years binding devices (e.g. staplers,
The performance of paper staplers has improved, and the number of sheets that can be bound has increased from 20 sheets to 50 to 70 sheets. As the performance of the binding device increases, the total weight of the stacked recording sheets increases as the number of sheets to be bound increases. At this time,
When the discharge belt uses the jogger fence as a guide to push up and eject the center of the rear end of the recording paper stack, the stack of recording paper comes into contact with the jogger fence, and as the number of sheets to be bound increases further, the jogger fence is pushed up. Therefore, there is a possibility that the next alignment process by the jogger fence for the recording paper ejected from the image forming apparatus will be hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a jogger fence from shifting due to a bundle of recording sheets to be bound, and to maintain a constant accuracy in aligning the recording sheets.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention aligns recording sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus according to a predetermined order using a jogger fence, and aligns at least one end of the left and right ends of the weighted recording sheets. In an image forming post-processing device that unfolds the jogger fence after binding and discharges the stacked recording sheets stacked together using the jogger fence as a guide to an output tray, a number detection means detects the number of bound sheets of the recording sheets. The present invention provides an image forming post-processing device comprising: a stepping motor for driving the jogger fence; and a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on a detection signal from the number-of-sheets detection means.

The invention also includes a size detection means for detecting the size of the recording paper, a stepping motor for driving the jogger fence, and a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on a detection signal from the size detection means. The present invention provides an image forming post-processing device.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an image forming post-processing device including a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on detection signals from the sheet number detection means and the size detection means.

(Function) The image forming post-processing device according to the present invention has the following features:
Based on the size of the recording paper (corresponding to the increase in weight), the holding force against the jogger fence is supplemented to always hold the jogger fence at a predetermined setting position.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image forming post-processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the main parts of the image forming and post-processing apparatus will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

The stapler 5 is fixed to a stapler stand 201. The stapler stand 201 is engaged with a guide hole 202a of a stapler slider 202 via a guide pin 203 so as to be movable in one direction as shown in FIG. Furthermore, a shaft 204 is attached to the back side of the stapler stand 201.
is fixed, and the guide roller 20 is fixed to the shaft 204.
5 is rotatably attached. The above stapler
The upper part of the slider 202 has side plates 206 and 207.
The hook is attached so as to be slidable in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. It is in rolling contact with the surface of the stay 210, thereby locking the stapler slider 202 in the rotational direction. Further, a guide cam 211 is fixed to the stay 210, and this guide cam 211
The guide roller 205 is brought into contact with the cam surface formed on the upper end side of the stapler slider 202 so as to rotate, thereby causing the stapler slider 202 to reciprocate in the direction shown in FIG.

At this time, the central portion of the guide cam 211 is formed so as to be downwardly inclined, and the cheapler slider 202 moves along this central portion.

A detection plate 202b is provided at the upper end of the stapler slider 202, and this detection plate 202b is connected to a home position sensor 212 provided on the main body side.
The home position (HP) of the stapler 3 is detected by shielding the detection section of the stapler 3.

A stepping motor M20 for moving the stapler is attached to the side plate 206, and an intermediate portion of a belt 213 driven by the stepping motor M20 is fixed to the stapler slider 202, and the stapler slider 202 is moved as shown in FIG. Move back and forth in the left and right direction.

A jogger fence rod 214 is hung between the side plates 206 and 2070, and a left slider 216 and a right slider 215 are attached to this jogger fence rod 214.
A left jogger fence 218 and a right jogger fence 217 are each fixed to the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217, respectively. The left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217 have a function of aligning a stack of sheets in a stapling operation, and also have the function of aligning a stack of sheets in a stapling operation.
It has a function as a guide member when ejecting a bundle of sheets after binding by extending from the vicinity of the rotation axis (of the rotating shaft) to the vicinity of the paper ejection tray.

Note that 245a is a fur brush that is rotationally driven in synchronization with the discharge roller 219.

The left slider 216 and right slider 215 are fixed to a midway portion of the heald 221 driven by the jogger fence driving motor M21. These left slider 216 and right slider 215 are connected to belt 221
2, so that the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217 can be reciprocated symmetrically in the left-right direction in FIG. Guide rollers 222 are attached to the upper rear sides of the left jogger fence 218 and the right jogger fence 217, and the guide rollers 222 are attached to the side plates 206.
The hook 207 is in contact with the guide stay 223 extending thereto so as to be transferred thereto. The left slider 216 is provided with a detection plate 216a, and the detection plate 216
The home positions (HP) of both jogger fences 218 and 217 are detected by shielding the detection part of the home position sensor 224 provided on the main body side.

At the lower part of the left jogger fence 218 and right jogger fence 217, there are provided reference fences 246 and 247 that move separately from the left jogger fence 218 and right jogger fence 217, and each of these reference fences 246 and 247 The lower end edge of the paper bundle is held against rear end abutting portions 246a and 247a formed in hook shapes at the lower end portions of the paper bundle. Further, each of these reference fences 246 and 247 is connected to a reference fence driving motor M.
The reference fences 246 and 247 are respectively fixed to intermediate portions of different heald parts of the heald 290 driven by the reference fences 24, so that the reference fences 246 and 247 are configured to reciprocate symmetrically in the left-right direction in FIG. There is.

A retaining portion for the stapler 5 is provided between the rear end abutting portions 246a and 247a formed on each of the reference fences 246 and 247, respectively. When the stapler 5 is moving in the upper position, which is the region on both ends of the apparatus, each of the engaging parts is engaged with the stapler 3, and when the stapler 3 is moving in the lower position, which is the central region of the apparatus. The stapler 8 is configured to be detached from the stapler 8 when the stapler 8 is being moved. Furthermore, when the stapler 3 and the reference fences 246 and 247 are connected via the respective retaining parts, the moving force of the stapler 5 is applied to the reference fence 246 and 247.
46.247, and at this time, the reference fence 246.247 moves as the stapler 3 moves.

Incidentally, in reality, one of the two reference fences 246 and 247 is connected to the stapler 8 via the retaining part, and one of the reference fences 24 that is in a state of engagement with the stapler 3 is connected to the stapler 8 through the retaining part.
6.247, the other reference fence 246.247, which is in the detached state, moves symmetrically.

Next, the discharge heald mechanism will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A drive shaft 226 is attached to the upper end portions of the side plates 206 and 207 so as to span the drive shaft 226, and a drive pulley 227 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the drive shaft 226. In addition, the drive boo υ-22
A fixed pulley 228 is provided in the lower part of 7, between which an endless discharge heald 229 is hooked. Release belt 22
The middle part of 9 is hung on the idle pulley 230, and is guided by a guide I''Fj, 250 arranged inside the discharge heald 229 to prevent bending and displacement. A belt drive motor M22 is fixed to the belt drive motor M22, and a heald 233 is connected between a pulley 231 attached to the output shaft of the belt drive motor M22 and a pulley 232 attached to one end of the drive shaft 226. The hook is configured so that the belt driving force is transmitted by passing the belt.Furthermore, a protruding pawl 234 is provided in the middle of the back surface of the discharge heald 229 so as to grasp the paper stack from below. I'm here.

A home position sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the claw 234 is provided inside the discharge heald 229, and this home position sensor detects the position of the claw 234.
The home position (HP) of is detected. The conveying speed (2) of the discharge heald 229 is
Paper ejection linear velocity of 9 ■ Slightly larger than 1 (VZ≧
V1) is set so that the paper stack for the next job is not ejected together with the already bound paper stack.

Further, a hook-shaped rear end abutting portion 250a is provided at the lower end portion of the guide plate 250, and the lower end edge of the paper stack is held against this rear end abutting portion 250a. It has become so.

Note that 250b is a protruding rib formed on the guide plate 250.

Next, the recording paper binding processing operation will be explained.

First, stable operation is selected using the stable key, a document (N sheets) is placed on the document feed tray (RDH1 not shown), and the number of copies (K copies) is input using the numeric keypad, and then the copy start button is pressed. When is pressed, a copy size signal is input from the image forming apparatus main body to the finisher (image formation post-processing device), and the finisher determines whether the size of the recording paper is large enough to be carried into the stable section. . If the size is such that it can be carried into the stable section, the claw 234 of the discharge belt 229
It is determined whether or not is at the home position (HP). If it is not at the home position, the claw 234 of the discharge heald 229 is returned to the home position by the belt drive motor M22. Next, it is detected whether or not the stapler 3 is at the home position. If it is at the home position, the stapler 8 moves based on the copy size signal; if it is not at the home position, it moves to the home position and then copies the The stapler 3 moves based on the size signal.

Further, it is detected whether or not the jogger fence 217, 218 is at the home position (HP), and if the home position is detected, the jogger fence 217, 218 is moved to a predetermined position based on the size signal, If the home position is not detected, the jogger fences 217 and 218 are configured to move until the home position is detected, and then move to a predetermined position in response to the size signal. At this time, the moving location is one side aIII from the size width.
11. Move to a position 2aaon apart on both sides.

Thereafter, when the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by an inlet sensor (not shown), the switching guide member (not shown) is switched toward the stable tray by a switching solenoid (not shown), and the leading edge of the recording paper is Guidance will be provided. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor, high-speed feeding occurs. The switching solenoid is turned off after a predetermined time elapses after passing through the entrance sensor, ie, the time until passing through the switching guide member. Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the stable tray by the discharge roller 219, and while the discharge process is being performed, the recording paper is charged with electricity by a static elimination brush (not shown) fixed to the upper guide plate of the paper discharge section. The current charge is removed. The paper ejection roller 219 is provided with a flap, which bends the recording paper into a wave shape to give it stiffness. When the rear end of the recording paper passes through the discharge roller 219, the rear end of the recording paper is pushed down by the coaxial fur brush 245a, and the rear end abutting portions 250a, 246a, 2
47a so as to abut against each other.

After passing through the lower paper discharge sensor 103 and a predetermined time has elapsed, the jogger fences 217 and 218 that had been waiting until then are rotated forward and backward by the driving motor M21 once or twice, thereby aligning the recording paper in the width direction. After the paper alignment process is executed, the paper is returned to the standby position. The 20-sheet alignment operation is repeated for each recording sheet until a one-jijib end signal is issued from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Next, when a one-job end signal is input from the image forming apparatus main body, the above-described operation is performed again, and then the recording paper stack is held down in the width direction by the jogger fences 217 and 218. Then, the stapler 5 starts driving, and the stack of recording sheets is stapled.

In this binding operation, it is determined whether or not it is stitched in one place.
In the case of spot stitching, after the binding operation is completed, the jogger fences 217 and 218 move to a position slightly away from the paper bundle. If you need to staple in two or more places, use a stapler.
The jogger fences 217 and 218 are moved to a predetermined position by the moving motor M20 and the binding operation is performed again, and after the binding operation is performed, the jogger fences 217 and 218 are returned to a position slightly away from the paper bundle.

To explain the operation of the reference fences 246 and 247 at this time, first, the lower end engaging portion of the reference fence 247 located at the left end in FIG. 2 Move to the right side of Figure 2. Thereafter, as the stapler 3 moves, the reference fence 2
47 is moved to the center side and moved to the position shown in FIG. 2(i). At this time, the other reference fence 246 is also moved symmetrically and brought to the position shown in FIG. 2(iii). When the stapler 3 further moves to the right in FIG. 2 from the position shown in FIG. 2 (1), the stapler 3 moves downward and the reference fence 247
depart from. Therefore, the reference fence 247 and the reference fence 246 will stop at the positions shown in FIGS. 2(i) and (iii), respectively. The stapler 3 passes through the central position shown in FIG. 2(ii).
When the stapler 3 moves to the upper position indicated by i), the stapler 3 is fitted into the retaining portion of the reference fence 246 that is waiting at that position, and thereby the stapler 3 and the reference fence 246 are integrated. It is moved to the right end side in Figure 2. At this time, the other reference fence 247 is also moved symmetrically to the original left end position.

Such stapler 3 and reference fence 246.2
By the operation 47, the stapling operation can be performed at any position other than the range where the stapler 5 is at the lower position.

At this time, the discharge heald 229 is rotated in the direction shown in FIG. is discharged.

It is determined whether or not the last set number of copies (K copies) has been completed, and when finished, the jogger fence 217, 218 and stapler 3 are moved to the home position, and if not yet completed, the above-mentioned operation is executed again. be done.

Next, the jogger fence operation will be explained.

First, when the power is turned on and a mode is selected, the CPU checks the output states of the jogger home position sensor 224 and the tray paper presence/absence sensor, and executes the following operations.

If only jogger home position sensor 224 is turned on, nothing is executed.

If the tray paper presence detection sensor is turned on, a signal indicating that recording paper remains in the stable tray is sent to the main body of the image forming apparatus. When the jogger home position sensor 224 and the tray paper presence/absence sensor are turned off, the jogger drive motor M21 is turned on and the jogger fences 217 and 218 move toward the home position, and when the jogger home position sensor 224 is turned on, the jogger is driven. Motor M21 is turned off.

During copying, at the end of copying, and at the time of restarting copying, if a paper size signal is received after the image forming apparatus starts copying, the jogger drive motor M21 is turned on, the jogger fences 217 and 218 move, and the width of the paper is adjusted. It is stopped at a position a predetermined amount ahead of its size and enters a standby state. When a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the recording paper passes through the paper ejection sensor 103, the jogger drive motor M21 is turned on.
The jogger fences 217 and 218 in the standby position move to perform paper alignment, and are returned to the standby position again. At this time, the jogger drive motor M21 rotates forward and reverse once ~
Repeat several times, this will result in jogger fence 217.2
18, an alignment operation is performed in the width direction of the paper. Such an operation is executed every time recording paper is discharged onto the stable tray.

When the last sheet of the copy set passes through the main body sheet ejection sensor 103, a stable signal is transmitted, and upon receiving this signal, the last sheet is ejected to the stable tray, and after the above paper alignment operation is performed, the paper width is adjusted. The jogger fences 217 and 218 are moved to the position where they hold the direction and are stopped.

When the stable operation is finished, jogger fence 217
．． 218 moves to a position slightly away from both ends of the paper in the width direction. Then, the discharge heald 229 discharges the stack of recording sheets to a paper discharge tray. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the paper from shifting during stabilization, and the jogger fences 217 and 218 are used as guides in the width direction when discharging the recording bundle.

When the above operation is repeated for several copies and the final stack of recording sheets is ejected onto the paper ejection tray, the jogger fence drive motor M21 is turned on and the jogger fences 217 and 218 move toward the home position. , when the jogger home position sensor 224 is turned on, the jogger drive motor M21 is turned off.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of the image forming post-processing device, and includes an image forming device 101 that executes a series of image forming processes, and a receiving data terminal RXD that receives various information signals from the image forming device 101. A control unit 102 inputs predetermined information to the image forming apparatus 101 via a transmission data terminal TXD to control each part of the image forming post-processing apparatus.
(for example, a microcomputer), a paper discharge sensor 103 that detects the number of recording sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 102 into the stable tray and outputs the detection signal to the control section 102, and a stable tray. After the stapler 3 completes the binding process, jogger fences 217 and 218 serve as guides for discharging the bound stack of recording sheets to the paper output tray. Stamping motor M connected and moving jogger fence 217.218
21, a stepping motor driver 105 that drives the stepping motor M21, and a transistor 104 that controls the stepping motor driver 105 based on a control signal from the control section 102.

In the above configuration, the operation of the control system will be explained.

A paper discharge sensor 103 detects the number of recording sheets discharged into the stable tray and outputs the detection signal to the control unit 102. The control unit 102 performs predetermined arithmetic processing based on the detection signal from the paper ejection sensor 103 to count the number of ejected recording sheets, and when the count value exceeds a predetermined value, a control signal (hold current switching signal). By turning on this hold current switching signal, the transistor (T
ri) is set to OFF, and as a result, the potential of the current setting terminal Vref of the stepping motor driver 105 increases, increasing the current value supplied to the stepping motor M21 and increasing the hold torque of the jogger fences 217 and 218.

Further, the size data of the recording paper to be ejected to the image forming post-processing device at the time of operation initiation from the main body of the image forming apparatus 101 is input, and the control unit 102 performs predetermined arithmetic processing based on the data signal, so that the size of the recording paper is It is determined whether the size is large or not, and if it is determined that the size is large, a control signal (hold current switching signal) is output. By turning on this hold current switching signal, the transistor (Tri) is set to OFF, and as a result, the stepping motor driver 105
The potential of the current setting terminal Vref increases, increasing the current value supplied to the stepping motor M21 and increasing the hold torque of the jogger fences 217 and 218.

In the above embodiment, the case of controlling the stepping motor based on the number of recording sheets and the case of controlling the stepping motor based on the size of the recording paper were explained separately, but by inputting the above two pieces of information, It is also possible to control a stepper motor based on

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the image forming post-processing device of the present invention, the number of sheets is detected by the sheet number detecting means for detecting the number of bound sheets of recording paper, the stepping motor for driving the jogger fence, and the detection signal from the sheet number detecting means. Since it is equipped with a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor, it also includes a size detection means for detecting the size of the recording paper, a stepping motor for driving the jogger fence, and a control means for controlling the hold current for the stepping motor. Since the binding process is controlled by the control means for controlling the hold current to the stepping motor, and the control means for controlling the hold current to the stepping motor based on the detection signals from the sheet number detection means and the size detection means, It is possible to prevent the jogger fence from being misaligned due to the bundle of recording sheets, and to maintain a constant accuracy in alignment processing for the recording sheets.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of an image forming post-processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing essential parts of the image forming post-processing apparatus. Explanation of symbols 101--Image forming apparatus 102-Control unit 103--Paper discharge sensor 104-1-Ran register 105--Stepping motor driver M21--Stepping motor 217, 218--Jogger fence 229--Discharging heald S -11 Steepler

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) After aligning the recording sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus in a predetermined order using a jogger fence, and binding at least one end of the left and right ends of the overlapping recording sheets, spreading the jogger fence; In an image forming post-processing device that discharges bound recording sheets stacked together using the jogger fence as a guide to an output tray, the image forming post-processing device comprises: a sheet number detection unit that detects the number of bound sheets of the recording sheets; and a stepping motor that drives the jogger fence. An image forming post-processing apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on a detection signal from the sheet number detection means. (2) aligning the recording sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus in a predetermined order using a jogger fence, binding at least one end of the left and right ends of the overlapping recording sheets, and then spreading the jogger fence; An image forming and post-processing device that discharges bound recording sheets stacked together using the jogger fence as a guide to an output tray, the image forming and post-processing device comprising: a size detection means for detecting the size of the recording sheets; a stepping motor that drives the jogger fence; An image forming post-processing apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on a detection signal from the size detection means. (3) The image forming post-processing according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a control means for controlling a hold current to the stepping motor based on detection signals from the sheet number detection means and the size detection means. Device.