JP3633737B2 - Post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a post- processing device in which a paper discharge tray moves up and down according to the number of sheets on the paper discharge tray, and an image forming apparatus including the post- processing device .
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of post-processing apparatus, a sheet discharge tray on which a sheet member such as recording paper is discharged and stacked is lowered from the home position in accordance with the stack amount of the sheet member, and the sheet member on the sheet discharge tray is removed. Then, it is configured to rise and return to the home position.
Conventionally, in this type of post-processing apparatus, if the sheet member falls on the rising sheet discharge tray while the sheet member on the sheet discharge tray is removed and the sheet discharge tray is raised during copying, the sheet processing unit falls apart. Therefore, the copying is interrupted while the paper discharge tray is raised. As a similar post-processing apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-243465, a sheet member that does not perform stapling and a sheet member that performs stapling are discharged onto different discharge trays. .
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional post-processing apparatus has a problem in that copy productivity is poor because copying is interrupted while the paper discharge tray is raised.
[0004]
The first problem of the present invention is that it is not necessary to interrupt the copying operation during the tray rising time associated with the removal of the sheet member from the tray during the copying operation, the copying operation can be continued, and the productivity can be prevented from being lowered. Another object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a stack failure.
[0005]
The second problem of the present invention is that the sheet member is discharged from the stipple before the tray completely returns to the home position, so that the sheet member can be discharged and discharged in a state where the tray has been lowered by the thickness of the sheet member in advance. Since the loading is resumed, it is an object to provide a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which the operation of the machine can be omitted as much as the tray is lowered from the top.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first problem includes: a discharge stacking unit that moves up and down; a transfer unit that transfers a sheet member to the discharge stacking unit; and a post-processing processing unit that is installed on a different path from the transfer unit. In the post-processing apparatus provided , the sheet stacking means is being lifted by removing the sheet member on the discharge stacking means in the non-post-processing mode in which processing by the post-processing processing means is not performed. This is solved by the first means in which the member is temporarily stacked on the post-processing means.
The first problem is that the sheet discharge tray is lowered from a predetermined position according to the number of stacked sheets on the sheet discharge tray, and the sheet discharge tray is moved when the sheet member on the sheet discharge tray is removed. The sheet stacking means for raising the sheet to the predetermined position, the first transport path for guiding the sheet member onto the sheet discharge tray without post-processing in the non-post-processing mode, and the second transport of the sheet member in the post-processing mode stack leading the road, post-processing and post-processing process means for guiding the sheet discharge tray by the sheet discharge tray is the by sheet member on said sheet ejection stack section in the non-post-processing mode is removed In the case of rising to the predetermined position, the problem is solved by a second means including a conveyance path switching means for switching from the first conveyance path to the second conveyance path.
The second problem is that the first means includes a detecting means for detecting a vertical movement distance of the discharge stacking means, and the post-processing is performed before the operation is completed when the discharge stacking means is raised. This is solved by a third means for conveying the temporarily stacked sheet members in the means to the paper discharge stack means.
The first and second problems are solved by a fourth means including a post-processing device of the first to third means.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present onset bright, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a coupling state between the copying machine and the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 1, the vertical movement mechanism of the paper discharge tray of Figure 3 Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a discharge tray moving distance sensor, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an initial state of the discharge tray, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a lowered state of the discharge sensor, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state where the sheet member is removed from the state shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the state where the sheet member is stacked. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the sheet member is removed from the state shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a conveyance path switching process when the paper discharge tray is rising in the non-post processing mode. Figures 12 and 12 show the stacking on the staple tray in the non-post-processing mode. The sheet member which is an explanatory view showing a process for discharging onto the discharge tray.
[0008]
Guides 201 and 202 of the post-processing apparatus (finisher) 10 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to a sheet discharge port of the copying machine main body 1 as shown in FIG. And are discharged onto the paper discharge tray 300. The sheet carried in through the guides 201 and 202 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 203 and detected by the sensor 204 and then conveyed between the conveyance guide plate 206 and the entrance guide plate 205.
[0009]
The sheet conveyed to the conveyance roller 207 is guided to the conveyance path 211 for the non-staple mode when the conveyance path switching claw 208 is at the position 208a in the figure, while the conveyance path switching claw 208 is at the position 208b in the figure. In some cases, the sheet is guided onto the staple tray 401 without entering the non-staple mode conveyance path 211.
The sheet guided to the conveyance path 211 for the non-staple mode is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 209 and 210 and discharged onto the discharge tray 300 by the discharge rollers 213 and 217. The transport roller 209 is driven by a motor (not shown) and a belt 221 wound around pulleys 219 and 220.
An open / close paper discharge guide plate 212 that rotatably supports the paper discharge roller 213 is rotatably provided above the staple tray 401. The open / close paper discharge guide plate 212 is a drive motor. 214, the gear 215, and the cylindrical cam 216 can be opened and closed. Reference numeral 218 denotes a paper discharge guide plate.
[0010]
When the stipple mode is selected, the switching claw 208 at the non-stipple conveyance path direction position 208a is detected by the entrance sensor 204 at the same time as the switching claw 208 is moved in the direction of the stipple conveyance path by the operation of the switching claw sonorad Rotates to position 208b. Accordingly, the copy sheet is discharged onto the staple tray 401 along the side surface of the switching claw 208 by the transport roller 207.
[0011]
The sheet guided onto the staple tray 401 once goes upward, and when the trailing edge passes the conveying roller 207, it falls along the staple tray 401 due to its own weight, and the trailing edge comes into contact with the stopper 403 and stops. . Therefore, by repeating this operation for each sheet, the trailing ends of the plurality of sheets are aligned by the stopper 403. In addition, a pair of jog fences 402 that can move in the sheet width direction are provided on both sides of the staple tray 401 (in the direction orthogonal to the drawing), and the jog fence 402 moves for each sheet so that the width direction of a plurality of sheets can be changed. Aligned. A stapler 400 is provided in the vicinity of the stopper 403, and a rear end of a predetermined number of sheets is bound by the stapler 400.
[0012]
An endless discharge belt 405 is provided along the staple tray 401. The discharge belt 405 is provided with a discharge claw 404 that is engaged with the rear end of the sheet on the staple tray 401 for discharge. The discharge belt 405 is moved in the counterclockwise direction by the discharge motor 406 and the transmission belt 407. Therefore, the sheet on the staple tray 401 is conveyed upward, and then the discharge rollers 213 and 217 described above are placed on the discharge tray 300. To be discharged. In the vicinity of the paper discharge tray 300, a paper discharge tray 300 and a sensor 301 with a filler for detecting a sheet are provided, and the paper discharge tray 300 is provided with a sheet sensor 302 for detecting a sheet thereon. ing.
[0013]
Next, the paper discharge tray driving mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the paper discharge tray 300 is fixed by an endless belt 312 via a bracket 303, and the belt 312 is wound around pulleys 311 and 314 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A gear 313 is coaxially assembled to the pulley 314, and the gear 313 meshes with a gear 316 assembled to the shaft of the paper discharge tray drive motor 315 shown in FIG. A slit disk 317 constituting a rotary encoder 318 for detecting the moving distance of the paper discharge tray 300 is also attached to the shaft of the motor 315.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 5, the paper discharge tray 300 is positioned at a home position for pressing the filler of the sensor with filler 301 in the initial state. Then, when copying is started in this initial state, the motor 315 is driven and the discharge tray 300 is lowered by a set distance to a position where the filler of the sensor with filler 301 is not pushed as shown in FIG. In this state, the sheets S are sequentially discharged onto the paper discharge tray 300. When the sheet S presses the filler of the sensor 301 with the filler as shown in FIG. 6B, the motor 315 is driven again, and the sheet S moves the filler of the sensor 301 with the filler as shown in FIG. The paper discharge tray 300 is lowered by a set distance until it is not pushed.
[0015]
By repeating this, the discharge tray 300 is gradually lowered when the sheets S are sequentially discharged onto the discharge tray 300. For example, when a large number of sheets S are discharged onto the discharge tray 300, the discharge tray is discharged. 300 is lowered to a low position as shown in FIG. 7, and when a small amount of sheets S is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 300, the paper discharge tray 300 is lowered to a position as shown in FIG. Also, in each state, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, when the sheet S on the paper discharge tray 300 is removed, the sensor 302 outputs a sheet non-detection signal, and the paper discharge tray 300 starts to rise. When it rises to the home position where the filler of the sensor with filler 301 is pushed, it stops.
[0016]
In such a configuration, in the non-staple (non-staple) mode, the conveyance path switching claw 208 is switched to the position 208a in the drawing, and the sheets S are sequentially discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 300 via the conveyance path 211 for the non-staple mode. In addition, the discharge tray 300 is gradually lowered as described above, and the lowering distance of the discharge tray 300 is detected by the rotary encoder 318. When the sheet S on the paper discharge tray 300 is removed during copying, the paper discharge tray 300 starts to rise as shown in FIG. 11, and the transport path switching claw 208 is shown in FIG. The sheet S is guided onto the staple tray 401 and stacked. In this case, since the non-staple mode is selected, the sheet S on the staple tray 401 is not bound by the stapler 400.
[0017]
At this time, the ascent distance of the discharge tray 300 is detected by the rotary encoder 318, and the sheet S does not fall apart even when the discharge tray 300 is lower than the home position where the filler of the sensor 301 with the filler is pressed. Then, the discharge belt 405 is driven, and the sheet S on the staple tray 401 is discharged onto the rising discharge tray 300. At this time, if copying is still in progress, the transport path switching claw 208 is switched to the position 208a in the drawing, and the next sheet S is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 300 via the transport path 211 for the non-staple mode. . Further, when the sheet S on the paper discharge tray 300 presses the filler of the sensor 301 with the filler, the lift of the paper discharge tray 300 stops, and then the sheet S does not press the filler of the sensor 301 with the filler by a set distance. Descend. Next, if the sheet S is being discharged, the discharge tray 300 is gradually lowered.
[0018]
In such an embodiment, the discharge stack unit (300) that moves up and down, the transfer unit that transfers the sheet S to the discharge stack unit (300), and the transfer unit are provided on different paths. In the post-processing apparatus provided with the post-processing processing means installed, since the sheet S is temporarily stacked on the post-processing processing means while the paper discharge stack means (300) is raised, the tray during the copying operation During the ascending time of the tray 300 associated with the removal of the sheet S from the sheet S, it is not necessary to interrupt the copying operation, and the copying operation can be continued, thereby preventing a decrease in productivity. Further, since the tray 300 is in a position suitable for discharging the sheet S, it is possible to prevent a stack failure.
[0019]
In the embodiment, the sheet discharge tray 300 is lowered from a predetermined position according to the number of stacked sheets on the sheet discharge tray 300, and the sheet S on the sheet discharge tray 300 is removed. A discharge stacking means (300) for raising the discharge tray 300 to a predetermined position, a first conveyance path 211 for guiding the sheet S onto the discharge tray 300 without post-processing in the non-post processing (non-stipple) mode, In the post-processing (stipple) mode, the sheet S is guided to the second conveyance path to be stacked, post-processed by a post-processing unit (401) that guides the sheet S onto the discharge tray 300, and the discharge tray 300 in the non-post-processing mode Since the transport path switching means (208) for switching from the first transport path 211 to the second transport path is provided, the same operational effects as the above-described effects can be obtained.
[0020]
In the embodiment, the detection unit (318) for detecting the vertical movement distance of the discharge stack unit (300) is provided, and when the discharge stack unit (300) is raised, the operation is not completed. In order to transport the temporarily stacked sheets S in the post-processing means (401) to the paper discharge stack means (300), the sheets S are discharged into the staple before the tray 300 returns to the home position. Thus, since the discharge and stacking of the sheet S is resumed in a state where the tray 300 has been lowered by the thickness of the sheet S in advance, the operation of the machine can be omitted as much as the tray is lowered from the top.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to interrupt the copying operation during the tray rising time associated with the removal of the sheet member from the tray during the copying operation, and the copying operation can be continued, thereby preventing a decrease in productivity. it can. Further, since the tray is at a position suitable for discharging the sheet member, it is possible to prevent stacking defects.
[0022]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet member is discharged in the state where the tray is lowered by the thickness of the sheet member in advance by discharging the sheet member in the staple before the tray returns to the home position. -Since loading is resumed, the operation of the machine can be omitted as much as the tray moves down from the top.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present onset bright.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a combined state of the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 1 and a copying machine.
3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a vertical movement mechanism of the paper discharge tray in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a discharge tray moving distance sensor.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an initial state of a paper discharge tray.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a lowered state of a paper discharge sensor.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a paper discharge tray on which a large number of sheets are stacked.
8 is an explanatory view showing a state where a sheet is removed from the state shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a paper discharge tray on which medium sheets are stacked.
10 is an explanatory view showing a state where a sheet is removed from the state shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a conveyance path switching process when the paper discharge tray is rising in the non-post-processing mode.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of discharging a sheet stacked on a staple tray onto a paper discharge tray in the non-post-processing mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
208 Conveying path switching claw 211 Conveying path for non-staple mode 300 Discharge tray 301 Sensor with filler 302 Sheet sensor 315 Discharge tray drive motor 318 Rotary encoder 400 Stapler 401 Staple tray 406 Discharge motor

Claims (4)

In a post-processing apparatus comprising: a discharge stacking unit that moves up and down; a transfer unit that transfers a sheet member to the discharge stacking unit; and a post-processing processing unit that is installed on a different path from the transfer unit ,
In the non-post-processing mode in which the processing by the post-processing processing unit is not performed, the sheet member is moved to the post-processing processing unit while the discharge stacking unit is being lifted by removing the sheet member on the discharge stacking unit. A post-processing device characterized by being temporarily stacked. The discharge tray is lowered from a predetermined position according to the number of stacked sheets on the discharge tray, and the discharge tray is raised to the predetermined position when the sheet member on the discharge tray is removed. Paper stack means;
A first conveyance path for guiding the sheet member onto the paper discharge tray without post-processing in the non-post-processing mode;
In a post-processing mode, a post-processing processing unit that guides and stacks the sheet member to the second transport path, and performs post-processing to guide the sheet member onto the paper discharge tray;
In the non-post-processing mode, when the discharge tray is being raised to the predetermined position due to the removal of the sheet member on the discharge stack unit, the transfer is switched from the first transfer path to the second transfer path. A post-processing apparatus comprising a path switching means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit that detects a vertical movement distance of the discharge stacking unit, and when the discharge stacking unit is raised, the discharge stacking unit is temporarily stacked in the post-processing unit before the operation is completed. A post-processing apparatus which conveys a sheet member to the paper discharge stack means. An image forming apparatus comprising the post-processing device according to claim 1.

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