JP4044557B2 - Paper post-processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper discharge tray of a paper post-processing apparatus that receives a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, in order to perform post-processing of sheet paper such as sorting or stapling of post-image-formed sheet paper, paper post-processing is performed on a paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus main body. Some devices are provided adjacent to each other. In such a sheet post-processing apparatus, sheet sheets discharged after finishing the processing are sequentially stacked on a sheet discharge tray.

  The sheet discharge tray is driven to be moved up and down by using a motor of a drive source, and moves up and down in accordance with the number of sheets waiting or the page order such as sorting.

The elevating mechanism receives a driving force that moves from a motor as a driving source to the position of the upper and lower final ends at a predetermined reduction ratio by a gear or a timing belt. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
After moving to the end by this driving force, the load applied to the end becomes a load on the motor while being reduced by the reduction ratio, but the motor torque is appropriate for the specifications of the tray. Therefore, there is no problem in normal use because it stays at the end position.
JP 2001-89909 A

  In the conventional drive capable of raising and lowering the discharge tray described above, it is predicted that the motor torque alone cannot be supported when a power failure or an unexpected external force is applied from the outside.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and prevents the discharge tray from falling when the power supply is suddenly interrupted or when an unexpected external force is applied to the discharge tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus that maintains the sheet.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention is driven by forward or reverse rotation of motor means, coupled with a discharge tray, and moved upward or downward, and this movement A first gear means that rotates by movement of the belt means, a second gear means that is a one-way clutch gear whose rotational direction is limited to one direction, and a shaft that is stressed by a spring body, and the first gear means Displaced between the second gear means, the respective gear means are coupled and rotated, the displacement is returned by the electromagnetic attracting force of the solenoid means by energization, and the coupling of the respective gear means is released. And a gear means, and the upward movement of the paper discharge tray coupled to the moving belt is driven by the motor means in the rotational direction limited by the second gear and coupled to the moving belt. Downward movement of the Kihaishi tray supplying an electric current to the solenoid means, is characterized in that to release the coupling of said second gear is driven by the motor hand stage.

Further, the paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention is driven by forward or reverse rotation of the motor means, coupled with the paper discharge tray, and moved upward or downward, and a moving belt means.
The first gear means that rotates by the movement of the moving belt means, the second gear means that is fixed and does not rotate, and the first gear means and the second gear means whose shaft core is stressed by a spring body. displaced between, and connected to the respective gear means, locks the rotation, the displacement is returned by the electromagnetic attracting force of the solenoid means by the energization, the third gear means being uncoupled respective gear means The movement of the discharge tray coupled to the moving belt is energized to the solenoid means, and the second gear is disconnected and driven by the motor means. It is.

  Further, in the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the sheet discharge tray is provided with an inclination angle θ in which the leading edge of the stacked sheets is higher than the trailing edge.

  According to the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, when the energization is suddenly interrupted or when an unexpected external force is applied to the sheet discharge tray, the sheet discharge tray is prevented from falling and a safe stop state is maintained. Therefore, when using the image forming apparatus, the user can use the sheet post-processing apparatus with a sense of security against an unexpected power failure or an external force applied to the sheet discharge tray.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the structure of the mechanism is simple and maintenance and adjustment can be easily performed in maintaining safety.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a paper post-processing apparatus 7 according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the main part of the paper post-processing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a rear side of a paper placed adjacent to an image forming apparatus 5 such as a copying machine. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the processing apparatus 7, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing main parts of the standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12.

  The paper post-processing device 7 includes a pair of entrance rollers 22 that take in the paper P, which is a sheet formed by the image forming device 5 and discharged from the pair of paper discharge rollers 6 into the paper post-processing device 7. The entrance roller 22 is driven by an entrance roller motor 26. A paper path ceiling 36 that guides the paper P to the pair of paper feed rollers 24 is provided between the entrance roller 22 and the standby tray 10. Below the standby tray 10 is disposed a processing tray 12 on which the sheets P dropped from the standby tray 10 are stacked.

  The processing tray 12 aligns and supports the stacked sheets while the sheets P are stapled by the stapler 14 that is a processing mechanism that performs post-processing. The stapler 14 can be slid by a staple driving unit 49, and is rotated and positioned in accordance with the staple direction to control the staple process. The paper sent to the processing tray 12 is subjected to alignment processing in the vertical direction (paper conveyance direction) and the horizontal direction. In the vertical alignment, the alignment lower rollers 38b and the paddle 44 align the sheets with the stopper 45 as a reference. When the sheet is fed to the processing tray 12, the vertical alignment upper roller 38a is opened by the vertical alignment upper roller motor 40 so as not to contact the vertical alignment lower roller 38b.

  The vertical and vertical alignment rollers 38 a and 38 b also serve as a bundle conveying roller that sandwiches the sheet bundle T after the stapling process and picks it up from the stapler 14. The upper vertical alignment roller 38a is driven by a vertical alignment upper roller motor 40, and the lower vertical alignment roller 38b is driven by a vertical alignment lower roller motor 42.

  A stopper 45 is provided at the end of the processing tray 12 on the side of the stapler 14 to abut the rear end of the paper P and regulate the rear end position. Near the center of the processing tray 12, there is a conveying belt 50 that carries the stapled and the sheet bundle T taken out from the stapler 14 by the vertical and vertical alignment rollers 38a and 38b to the first or second discharge trays 16 and 18. Provided. A feed claw 50 a that hooks the rear end of the sheet bundle T is attached to the transport belt 50.

  The standby tray 10 can supply the paper P to the processing tray 12 while being transported in the direction of the first or second paper discharge tray 16 or 18. The conveyance of the paper P in the direction of the paper discharge trays 16 and 18 is performed by bringing the standby tray roller 28 that aligns the paper P into contact with the paper P on the standby tray 10. The standby tray roller 28 is controlled to move up and down by a standby tray roller drive source 30 and is driven to rotate by a standby tray roller motor 32.

  The standby tray 10 is disposed so as to have an inclination angle θ1 in order to support the paper P in a state where the leading edge of the paper P is higher than the rear end. The first or second paper discharge tray 16 or 18 is lifted or lowered by the paper discharge tray driving unit 52 to select either one. The first or second paper discharge trays 16 and 18 are raised and lowered to substantially the same height as the standby tray 10 or the processing tray 12 when the paper P is stacked to improve the consistency of the paper P to be discharged. The first or second paper discharge trays 16 and 18 are arranged at an inclination angle θ2 to support the paper P with the leading edge of the paper P being higher than the trailing edge. In addition, the standby tray 10 includes a pair of tray members 10a and 10b, receives a sheet while being slid to the width of the sheet P, and supports both sides of the sheet P. The tray members 10a and 10b are provided with standby stoppers 10c and 10d for regulating the rear end of the paper P. The standby tray 10 is slid by the standby tray motor 34. During the period from the standby tray 10 to the processing tray 12, when the paper P on the standby tray 10 is dropped and supplied to the processing tray 12, the paper P is prevented from being disturbed in the lateral direction perpendicular to the transport direction. Lateral alignment plates 47a and 47b for lateral alignment are provided. The lateral alignment plates 47a and 47b are formed to be slidable so as to match the width of the paper P by a lateral alignment motor (not shown).

  Next, the raising / lowering moving mechanism part of the paper discharge tray of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a lifting / lowering mechanism unit of the paper discharge tray of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the configuration of the present embodiment is a sheet post-processing apparatus, in which a sheet discharge tray 70 on which a sheet sheet P discharged from a processing tray on which stapling is performed is placed with its end up and down. It is connected to the up and down moving belt 71 to be driven. The vertically moving belt 71 is hung on a pulley 74 having a common rotating shaft on which a timing belt 73 driven by a motor 72 is hung. In addition, a drive gear 75 is attached which shares the same rotating shaft on which the timing belt 73 is hung.

  Further, the transmission gear 76 is arranged to be coupled to each of the drive gear 75 and the one-way clutch gear 78 that can rotate only on one side disposed on the opposite side of the drive gear 75 with its axis pulled by a spring 77. Is done. In addition, a solenoid 79 is attached to the shaft of the transmission gear 76 from the opposite side of the spring 77 so that an electromagnetic force is applied by energization so as to extend the spring 77. A solenoid 79 is arranged so that the shaft core moves to a position where the gear 78 is not connected.

  Next, operation and operation will be described. First, operations and operations in normal use of the sheet post-processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  A case where the paper discharge tray 70 is moved upward will be described with reference to FIG. In response to an instruction signal from a paper discharge tray control unit (not shown), the motor 72 is driven to rotate forward, for example, and the energization to the solenoid 79 is turned off. By the normal rotation of the motor 72, the timing belt 73 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 82 to rotate the pulley 74 in the rotation direction 82a, and the drive gear 75 having a common rotation axis also rotates in the same rotation direction. In this case, since the energization to the solenoid 79 is turned off, the conduction gear 76 connects the drive gear 75 and the one-way clutch gear 78 by pulling the spring 77, and the rotation direction indicated by the arrows 84 and 85 respectively. Rotate. It should be noted that the rotational direction in which the one-way clutch gear 78 can rotate is initially set in this direction and is mounted and disposed. The drive gear 75, the transmission gear 76, and the one-way clutch gear 78 all rotate, and the rotation of the common shaft pulley 74 moves the discharge tray connecting side of the vertical movement belt 71 upward. It can move upward as indicated by arrow 81.

  Next, a case where the paper discharge tray 70 is moved downward will be described with reference to FIG. In the downward movement, in response to an instruction signal from a paper discharge tray control unit (not shown), the motor 72 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and energization of the solenoid 79 is turned on. Due to the reverse rotation of the motor 72, the timing belt 73 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 87 to rotate the pulley 74 in the rotation direction 77a, and the drive gear 75 having a common rotation axis also rotates in the same rotation direction. At this time, since energization to the solenoid 79 is turned on, the solenoid 79 is actuated, the spring 77 is extended, the conduction gear 76 is displaced in the direction of the arrow 88, and the drive gear 75 and the one-way clutch gear 78 are connected. Cut off. As a result, the pulley 74 that is not driven to rotate to the transmission gear 76 and the one-way clutch gear 78 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 87a, the discharge tray coupling side of the vertical movement belt 71 moves downward, and the discharge tray 70 is also moved. It can move downward as indicated by arrow 86.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the solenoid 79 that is not energized at all times other than being energized when the discharge tray 70 is moved downward is pulled out by the spring 77 to connect the drive gear 75, the transmission gear 76, and the one-way clutch gear 78. Therefore, the rotation of the one-way clutch gear 78 other than the rotational direction in which the one-way clutch gear 78 can rotate is locked and does not rotate, so that the paper discharge tray 70 does not move downward as indicated by the arrow 86.

  Next, the operation and operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 in the case of a power failure that suddenly turns off the power.

  When the power supply such as a power failure is cut off, the energization of the solenoid 79 is turned off, and the conduction gear 76 connects the drive gear 75 and the one-way clutch gear 78 by pulling in the spring 77. In this connected state, for example, even if the weight of the sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray 70 or an external force downward is applied in the direction of the arrow 91, the stress that rotates the pulley 74 in the rotation direction 91a is not reduced. Since the operation of the one-way clutch gear 78 connected to 76 is indicated by a broken-line arrow 95 that disables the rotation of the one-way clutch gear 78, the one-way clutch gear 78 is also restrained from rotating in the direction of the broken-line arrow 94. Accordingly, the unexpected movement of the paper discharge tray 70 in the downward direction of the arrow 91 is suppressed and remains at that position.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the solenoid 79 is energized only when the discharge tray 70 is lowered, the connection to the one-way clutch gear 78 is disconnected, and the rotation suppression is removed. The one-way clutch gear 78 prevents the discharge tray 70 from moving in the downward direction even when the power supply is suddenly cut off, such as an operation other than the operation when the lowering instruction signal is output. Can do.

  In addition, the structure is simple, and there is an advantage that a fall prevention mechanism can be constructed at a low cost without requiring complicated operation or control.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, which has the same function as that in the above-described embodiment, a discharge tray 70 is connected to a vertical movement belt 71, and the vertical movement belt 71 includes a motor 72. A timing belt 73 that is driven by the belt is hung on a pulley 74 having a common rotating shaft. In addition, a drive gear 75 is attached which shares the same rotating shaft on which the timing belt 73 is hung.

Further, the transmission gear 101 is arranged so that the shaft core is drawn by the spring 102 and coupled to the drive gear 75 and the non-rotating fixed gear 103 disposed on the opposite side of the drive gear 75. In addition, a solenoid 104 is attached to the shaft of the transmission gear 101 from the opposite side of the spring 102, and an electromagnetic force is applied by energization so as to extend the spring 102. The conduction gear 101 is connected to the drive gear 75 and the fixed gear when energized. The solenoid 104 is arranged so that the shaft core moves to a position where the connection 103 is not performed.

  Next, operations and operations in normal use of the sheet post-processing apparatus will be described.

  Only when the discharge tray 70 is moved upward or downward, as shown in FIG. 8, the solenoid 104 is energized by the instruction signal from the discharge tray control section, and is conducted against the pulling of the spring 102. The gear 101 is pulled toward the solenoid 104 indicated by the arrow 105 to disconnect the drive gear 75 and the fixed gear 103 from the conduction gear 101.

  After the disconnection, the timing belt 73 is driven by the forward or reverse instruction signal from the control unit to the motor 72 and is hooked on the pulley 74 so that the up-and-down moving belt 71 moves in the upward or downward direction. The paper tray 70 also moves in the upward or downward direction.

  On the other hand, when the upward or downward movement instruction signal is not output from the paper discharge tray control unit, the solenoid 104 is not energized, so that the conduction gear 101 is driven by the pulling of the spring 102, and the drive gear 75 and the fixed gear 103. The fixed gear 103 locks the rotation of any gear. With this rotation lock, the movement of the paper discharge tray 70 in the upward or downward direction is also locked.

  Next, the operation and operation of the present embodiment will be described in the case of a power failure where the power is cut off.

  When the power supply such as a power failure is cut off, the energization of the solenoid 104 is turned off, and the conduction gear 101 is connected to the drive gear 75 and the fixed gear 103 by the pulling of the spring 102. In this connected state, for example, even if the weight of the sheets stacked on the paper discharge tray 70 or an external force downward is applied in the direction of the arrow 107, the transmission gear 101 is connected to the stress that rotates the pulley 74. Therefore, the rotation is restrained. Accordingly, the unexpected movement of the paper discharge tray 20 downward in the direction of the arrow 51 is suppressed and remains at that position.

  According to this embodiment, the structure is very simple, no complicated operation or control is required, the fixed gear 103 is also inexpensive, and a fall prevention mechanism can be constructed at a lower cost.

The perspective view which shows the principal part of the paper post-processing apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3 is a top view showing a main part of the paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention. The schematic block diagram which shows the principal part of the standby tray and processing tray of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a lifting / lowering mechanism unit of a paper discharge tray of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the operating condition of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the condition at the time of the power failure etc. of one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows schematic structure of the other embodiment of this invention, and its operation condition.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Image forming apparatus 7 ... Paper post-processing apparatus 10 ... Standby tray 10a, 10b ... Tray member 10c, 10d ... Standby stopper 12 ... Processing tray 14 ... Stapler 16 ... First discharge tray 18 ... Second discharge tray 22 ... Entrance roller 24 ... Paper feed roller 28 ... Standby tray roller 36 ... Paper path ceiling 38a ... Upper vertical alignment roller 38b ... Lower vertical alignment roller 44 ... Paddle 45 ... Stopper 47a, 47b ... Horizontal alignment plate 50 ... Conveying belt 50a ... Feeding claw 70 ... Discharge tray 71 ... Vertical moving belt 72 ... Motor 73 ... Timing belt 74 ... Pulley 75 ... Driving gear 76, 101 ... Conduction gear 77,102 ... Spring 78 ... One-way clutch gear 79, 104 ... Solenoid 81,82 83, 86, 87, 88, 91, 92, 93, 105, 106 107 ... the arrow (direction of movement)
82a, 87a, 84, 85, 91a, 94, 95, 106a ... arrow (rotation direction)
103 ... fixed gear

Claims (3)

A movable belt means that is driven by forward rotation or reverse rotation of the motor means, moves the paper tray upward or downward, and moves upward or downward;
First gear means rotating by movement of the moving belt means;
A second gear means which is a one-way clutch gear whose rotational direction is limited to one direction;
The shaft core is displaced between the first gear means and the second gear means by the stress of the spring body, the gear means are coupled and rotated, and the displacement is caused by the electromagnetic adsorption force of the solenoid means by energization. And third gear means that is returned and uncoupled from the respective gear means,
The upward movement of the discharge tray coupled to the moving belt is driven by the motor means in the rotational direction limited by the second gear, and the downward movement of the discharge tray coupled to the moving belt. Energizing the solenoid means, releasing the coupling of the second gear, and driving by the motor means. A movable belt means that is driven by forward rotation or reverse rotation of the motor means, moves the paper tray upward or downward, and moves upward or downward;
First gear means rotating by movement of the moving belt means;
A second gear means which is fixed and does not rotate;
The shaft core is displaced between the first gear means and the second gear means due to the stress of the spring body, and is connected to the respective gear means to lock the rotation thereof. And the third gear means to which the displacement is returned and the connection of the respective gear means is released,
The paper post-processing apparatus is characterized in that the movement of the paper discharge tray coupled to the moving belt is driven by the motor means by energizing the solenoid means, releasing the connection of the second gear.   3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet discharge tray has an inclination angle [theta] in which a leading edge of stacked sheets is higher than a trailing edge thereof.

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