JPH10109809A - Paper post-processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a paper post-processing apparatus capable of performing highly reliable binding processing with a simple configuration. SOLUTION: A staple unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a staple tray 401 for receiving a copy sheet carried in from an image forming apparatus, and a staple tray 4.
01, a side fence 408 serving as a reference surface for regulating one side edge of the copy sheet carried in
08, a jogger fence 402 for abutting and aligning copy paper against a side fence 408, and a stapler 400 for stapling a bundle of sheets aligned on the staple tray 401. The side fence 408 and the jogger fence 402 It can be moved independently depending on the size of the copy paper by an individual drive unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, which is installed at a subsequent stage (paper ejection side) to align copy sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus on a staple tray. A stapling mode in which binding (staple) processing is performed in a bundled state, and the stapled sheet bundle is further discharged to a discharge tray, and copy sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are discharged to a discharge tray as it is. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus having a non-staple mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As described above, copy paper discharged from an image forming apparatus is installed on a staple tray at the subsequent stage (discharge section) of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. And a stapling mode in which the stapled sheet bundle is discharged to a discharge tray, and a non-slip mode in which copy sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are directly discharged to a discharge tray. A sheet post-processing apparatus having a staple mode is widely known. Such a sheet post-processing apparatus has a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus (staple unit). Generally, the staple unit includes a staple tray for receiving copy paper carried in from the image forming apparatus, a jogger fence for aligning copy paper carried in the staple tray, and paper aligned on the staple tray. It has a stapler for stapling bundles. For example, a paper post-processing apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2-276691 has
A pair of jogger fences are configured to move from both side edges of the copy sheet to the center and move the copy sheet to the center. Further, the movement of the stapler for binding is performed by a drive unit different from the jogger fence.

[0003]

As described above, the sheet bundle aligning means in the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus includes a system in which a pair of jogger fences are moved from both side ends of the copy sheet to the center and the copy sheet is moved to the center. In this case, the number of components of the moving unit increases and the mass increases, so that the load applied to the driving unit increases. In addition, since there are many operation units that operate for each copy sheet, the operation sound is increased. Further, the conventional stapling apparatus has a single driving unit, and the stapler moves according to the sheet size and the stapling position mode. However, since the stapler moves separately from the movement of the jogger fence, the alignment position of the sheet bundle is changed. Deviation may occur. This may cause a problem that the binding position differs depending on the size of the copy sheet.

A first object of the present invention is to set a reference surface for sheet bundle alignment freely and to mount it on various image forming apparatuses having different copy sheet discharge standards. It is to provide a high paper post-processing device. A second object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus having a high binding position quality without a difference in a binding position for each sheet size. A third object of the present invention is to drive only the jogger fence for each of a plurality of discharged copy sheets, and as a result, a load applied to the drive unit can be reduced, and after a sheet having a low operation sound. It is to provide a processing device.

[0005]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus for storing, aligning, and binding a plurality of copy sheets discharged from a sheet discharge unit of an image forming apparatus, and a binding processing. In a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet bundle discharging device for discharging a bundle of sheets onto a discharge tray, the sheet bundle binding processing device includes a staple tray, and a reference surface of copy paper conveyed to the staple tray. Side fence, and a jogger fence that moves the copy paper to be carried in one sheet at a time in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction and presses and aligns the side fence with the side fence. Independently, the problem is solved by a first means which can be moved according to the size of the copy sheet.

[0006] The second problem is that in the first means,
The sheet bundle binding processing device has a stapler for binding a sheet bundle on a sheet bundle stacking tray, and the stapler is solved by a second unit provided integrally with the side fence.

[0007] The third problem is that, in the first means,
When the staple mode is selected, the jogger fence and the side fence move to a position a predetermined distance away from the widthwise side end surface of the copy paper discharged onto the staple tray in advance, and the copy paper is moved to the staple tray. This is achieved by the third solution in which only the jogger fence moves in the direction of the side fence when it is discharged upward, and the copy paper is pressed against the side fence to perform alignment.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a paper post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a swipe tray portion thereof, FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram near a paper inlet portion of a staple tray, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a transparent perspective view of the entire pull unit from the front side, and FIG. 5 is a transparent perspective view of the entire staple unit from the back side.

In FIG. 1, a sheet post-processing apparatus denoted by reference numeral 100 includes a sheet transport system (sheet bundle discharge device) denoted by reference numeral 200, a discharge tray denoted by reference numeral 300, and a reference numeral 40.
Stipple unit (paper binding device) indicated by number 0
And

Hereinafter, a specific configuration will be described together with its operation and operation. A copy sheet carried into the sheet post-processing apparatus 100 from a sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus (not shown) is conveyed between the upper and lower relay guide plates 202 and 201,
The sheet is conveyed between the conveyance guide plate 206 and the entrance guide plate 205 by the conveyance roller 203. When the non-staple mode is selected, the branch pawl 208 is normally located at the non-staple transport path direction position 208a, so that the copy sheet is transported between the vertical guide plate 211 and the transport guide plate 206 by the branch pawl 208. Conveying rollers 209 and 2
10. The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 300 by the sheet discharge roller 217. When the staple mode is selected, the leading edge of the copy sheet is detected by the entrance sensor 204, and at the same time,
The branch claw 208 at the non-staple transport path direction position 208a rotates to the staple transport path direction position 208b by the operation of the branch claw sonolide (not shown). Accordingly, the copy sheet is discharged onto the staple tray 401 along the side surface of the branch claw 208 by the transport roller 207. The side of the branch claw 208 located at the position 208b in the staple transport path direction is where the copy paper is
The angle is set so that the paper can be smoothly entered into the sheet receiving portions of the jogger fence 402 and the side fence 408 provided on the upper surface 01.

At the same time as the trailing edge of the copy sheet passes through the transport roller 207, the branch claw solenoid is turned off, and the branch claw 208 located at the staple transport path direction position 208b rotates to the non-staple transport path direction position 208a to close the staple transport path. . As a result, the copy paper once discharged onto the staple tray 401 does not return to the conveying roller 207 again, but the rear end of the copy paper falls downward along the guide member 409 by the operation of the beating roller 219, and the end fence Fits on 403.

The branching claw 208 located at the position 208b in the direction of the staple transport path is moved to the position 20
The timing of rotation to 8a is performed by the entrance sensor 204 detecting the rear end of the copy sheet. When the copy sheet falls on the end fence 403, the side where the jogger fence 402, which has been waiting at a position 10 mm away from the width of the copy sheet in advance, stops at a position 10 mm away from the end face of the copy sheet relative to the jogger fence 402. The paper is moved in the direction of the fence 408, and the copy paper is pressed against the side fence surface and aligned. An open / close discharge guide plate 212 having a discharge driven roller 213 is provided above the staple tray 401, and can be opened and closed by a drive motor 214, a gear 215, and a cylindrical cam 216.

When the staple mode is selected, the open / close discharge guide plate 212 operates to the release position. The distance from the end fence 403 to the tip of the staple tray 401 is 300 mm, and the distance from the end fence 403 to the paper discharge roller 217 is 80 mm.
Large-size copy paper (A3 portrait) is staple tray 4
In the case where the copy paper is ejected, the copy paper is ejected with the leading end of the copy paper protruding from the paper ejection roller 217, and is stacked. Since the distance from the transport roller 207 to the paper discharge roller 217 is 320 mm, when stacking copy paper longer than this in the transport direction, the leading edge of the copy paper jumps out of the paper discharge roller 217 and then falls and is stacked.

When the next copy sheet reaches the entrance sensor 204, the above-described series of operations is repeated again, and the above-described operation is sequentially repeated for each of a plurality of copy sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus. When a predetermined number of copy sheets are stacked and aligned on the staple tray 401 and subjected to binding processing by the stapler 400, the discharge belt 405 is rotated by driving the motor 406, and the discharge claw 404 fixed to the discharge belt 405. Lifts the trailing edge of the stack. When the sheet bundle is lifted to the vicinity of the leading end of the staple tray 401, the open / close discharge guide plate 212 closes, and the discharge rollers 21
The sheet bundle is conveyed by the drive of No. 7, and is discharged to the discharge tray 300. When the sheet bundle is completely discharged to the discharge tray 300, the open / close discharge guide plate 212 operates again to the release position,
The next series of copy sheets is stacked on the staple tray 401.

Here, the stipple unit shown in the 400s will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the jogger fence 402 and the side fence 408 move along a guide shaft 417 fixed to the staple tray 401 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction. The jogger fence 402 can be moved by a drive stepping motor 414 via a timing belt 415, and the side fence 408 is moved by a drive stepping motor 411 and a timing belt 412. 413 and 416 are timing belts 41
It is a pulley that spans 2,415. When the copy sheet is conveyed to the staple unit and the trailing edge of the copy sheet fits in the end fence 403 provided below the staple tray 401, as described above, the copy sheet is previously moved from the home position by 10 mm from the side in the width direction of the copy sheet. The jogger fence 402, which has moved to a distant position, also moves to a position 10 mm away from the copy paper side end surface,
It starts moving in the direction of the stopped side fence 408, advances 20 mm, and presses the copy paper side end surface against the reference surface of the side fence 408. Jogger fence 4
02 is retracted and again 10 mm from the copy paper side end face.
When the next copy sheet is discharged and settled in the end fence 403, the above operation is repeated. The above series of operations are repeated for a plurality of copy sheets, and when the sheet bundle is aligned, the side fence 40
The stapler 400 integrated with the fixing member 410 and the fixing member 410 operates to perform a closing process on the inner corner portion of the sheet bundle. When the closing process is performed on the sheet bundle, as described above, the ejection belt 405 rotates, the ejection claw 404 fixed to the ejection belt 405 lifts the rear end of the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is moved to the upper surface of the staple tray 401. And is discharged upward to the paper discharge tray 300.

In the above-described embodiment, a sheet bundle binding processing device that stores, aligns, and binds a plurality of copy sheets discharged from the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus,
A sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet bundle discharge device that discharges a bound sheet bundle onto the discharge tray 300,
The sheet bundle binding apparatus moves the staple tray 401, the side fence 408 serving as a reference surface of the copy sheet to be carried into the staple tray 401, and the copy sheet to be carried one by one in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. Jogger fence 4 to be pressed against side fence 408
02, and the side fence 408 and the jogger fence 402 can be independently moved by the respective driving units (the driving stepping motors 411 and 414) according to the size of the copy sheet, so that the sheet bundle is aligned. Since the jogger fence 402 and the side fence 408 can be independently moved by different driving units (the driving stepping motor 411 and the driving stepping motor 414), the reference surface of the sheet bundle alignment can be freely set, and the copy can be performed. It can be mounted on various image forming apparatuses having different sheet discharge standards, and a highly versatile sheet post-processing apparatus can be provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus has the stapler 400 that binds the sheet bundle on the staple tray 401, and the stapler 400 includes the side fence 4.
08, there is no difference in the binding position for each sheet size, and a sheet post-processing apparatus with good binding position quality can be provided. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the jogger fence 402 and the side fence 408 are located at a predetermined distance from the widthwise side end surface of the copy sheet discharged onto the staple tray 401 in advance when the staple mode is selected. When the copy paper is discharged onto the staple tray 401, only the jogger fence 402 is moved to the side fence 40.
Move the copy paper to the side fence 408 in eight directions.
The jogger fence 402 only needs to be driven for each of a plurality of ejected copy sheets in order to perform the operation of pressing and aligning the print paper, and as a result, the load on the drive unit is reduced and the operation sound is small. A sheet post-processing device can be provided.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the jogger fence and the side fence for aligning the sheet bundle can be independently moved by different drive units, so that the reference plane for sheet bundle alignment can be freely set. It can be set and can be mounted on various image forming apparatuses having different copy sheet discharge standards, and a highly versatile sheet post-processing apparatus can be provided. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the stapler is provided integrally with the side fence serving as a reference for aligning the sheet bundle, there is no difference in the binding position for each sheet size, and the sheet after the sheet has good binding position quality. A processing device can be provided. According to the third aspect of the present invention, when aligning the sheet bundle, only the jogger fence at one end of the copy sheet is moved and the copy sheet is pressed and aligned with the side fence. Only the jogger fence needs to be driven every time, and as a result,
It is possible to provide a paper post-processing device that requires less load on the drive unit and has low operation noise.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the staple tray portion.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram near a sheet entrance of a staple tray.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the entire staple unit as seen from the front side.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the entire staple unit as seen from the back side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 201 lower relay guide plate 202 upper relay guide plate 203 transport roller 204 entrance sensor 205 lower entrance guide plate 206 transport guide plate 207 transport roller 208 branching pawl 209, 210 transport roller 211 vertical guide plate 212 opening / closing discharge guide plate 214 drive motor 215 Gear 216 Cylindrical cam 217 Discharge roller 219 Beating roller 300 Discharge tray 400 Stipler 401 Stipple tray 402 Jogger fence 408 Side fence 411 Drive stepping motor 414 Drive stepping motor

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus configured to store and align a plurality of copy sheets discharged from a sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus and perform a binding process; and discharge a bound sheet bundle to a discharge tray. A sheet bundle discharging device having a sheet bundle discharging device, wherein the sheet bundle binding device includes a staple tray, a side fence serving as a reference surface of the copy sheet loaded into the staple tray, and a copy sheet loaded. A jogger fence that moves one by one in the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction and presses and aligns the side fence with the side fence. The side fence and the jogger fence are independently moved by individual drive units according to the size of the copy paper. A paper post-processing device characterized by being made possible. 2. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle binding processing device has a stapler that binds a sheet bundle on the staple tray, and the stapler is integrated with the side fence. A sheet post-processing device, which is provided. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jogger fence and the side fence are arranged in a width direction of the copy sheet discharged onto the staple tray in advance when a staple mode is selected. When the copy paper is moved to a position separated by a predetermined distance from the end face and the copy paper is discharged onto the staple tray, only the jogger fence moves in the direction of the side fence, and the copy paper is pressed against the side fence and aligned. A sheet post-processing device that performs an operation of causing the sheet to be processed.