JPH0613387B2 - Sheet automatic stapler - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic sheet stapling apparatus, more specifically, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a ruler plate, a printing apparatus, a simple printing machine,
Used to attach other sheets (cut sheets, cards, sheets, etc.) to the sheet output part of the device that outputs one after another, and receives sheets that are sequentially output from the sheet output device, and the receiving sheet Automatically align each other (alignment of sheets with each other), then automatically staple the aligned sheet bundle, and further, automatically eject it.

This type of automatic sheet processing apparatus is effective in rationalizing office processing, and various proposals have already been made (for example, JP-A-50-99548 and JP-A-53-119047).
There are also commercial machines. However, the conventional device is a large, complicated, and high-priced device that is generally used in combination with a special or high-class specific sheet output device.For example, it cannot be easily installed and used in general-purpose copying machines. However, it lacked versatility.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, has versatility that can be widely combined and used for various existing seat output devices, and is highly reliable, compact in size and low in cost as a whole. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic sheet processing apparatus of this type.

More specifically, it is a device that uses a manual stapler (commonly called stapler) on the market, and the manual stapler is attached / detached so that the operator can automatically staple the sheet bundle or manually. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible and rational stapling device.

In order to achieve the above object, an automatic sheet stapling apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to at least a sheet collecting tray that receives a sheet output from a sheet output apparatus and each sheet that is sequentially discharged and accumulated in the tray. Sheet aligning means for aligning two right-angled sides with each other,
The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with stapling means for collectively binding the sheet bundle and stapling driving means for causing the stapling means to perform a binding operation at a predetermined timing, and the stapling means is detachable.

A detailed description will be given based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.
In the figure, 1 is the whole code of the automatic sheet processing apparatus of this example, 10
Reference numeral 0 indicates a seat output device, and reference numeral 200 indicates a pedestal in which the seat output device is stationary. The sheet output device 100 is a copying machine in this example. 101 is a sheet output port (sheet discharge port) formed horizontally on the left end face plate 102 of the ruler plate machine casing, and 103 is a sheet discharge pinch roller disposed inside the sheet output port 101 and in the vicinity of the output port. Is. The copy sheet subjected to image forming processing by an image forming process mechanism (not shown) built in the casing of the copying machine is discharged and conveyed by the sheet discharge pinch roller 103 and output from the output port 101 to the outside of the machine.

(1) Schematic configuration of automatic sheet processing apparatus 1 In the apparatus 1 of this example, sheet alignment is performed by an inclined tray 6 and first and second sheet alignment ruler plates 7 and 8 that are arranged at right angles to each other, and bookbinding is stapled. The device is configured so as to be stopped, and its general structure is such that the following members and mechanisms are assembled to the device shiyashi 2.

a sheet P output from the sheet output port 101 of the copying machine 100
A pair of upper and lower sheet guide plates 3 and 3b for receiving and guiding the sheet forward. Sheet discharge pinch rollers 4.5 arranged at the leading edge of the sheet guide plate c. Receiving the sheet sent from the pinch rollers. To do
Sheet collecting tray 6d arranged in a tilted posture The sheets discharged and accumulated in the tray one after another correspond to each other in cooperation with the tilted tray at right angles. The two sides are aligned in an aligned state. Arranged first and second sheet aligning ruler plates 7 and 8 e A tray swinging mechanism 9 f that supports the tray in a swingable manner and selectively shifts to the first and second inclined postures. A stapler mechanism 10g for collectively stapling (binding) the stacked sheet bundles (bookbinding), an electric circuit, a cable (signal transmission / reception line) connecting the electric circuit and the electric circuit on the copying machine 100 side, etc. (2) Device Shiyashi 2 (Fig. 2) The device 2 is a vertical back plate 2a having a size substantially extending over both the left end face plate 102 on the sheet output side of the copying machine 100 and the left end face plate 201 of the pedestal 200 on which the copying machine is installed. The vertical back plate part 2 Left and right side plate portions 2b and 2c protruding forward to the left and right side sides of the back plate, and a position slightly above the middle portion of the vertical back plate portion 2a, with the back plate extending from the left side of the back plate to the right side A horizontally elongated intermediate shelf plate portion 2d, a forward protruding arm member 2e formed in series with the shelf plate on the left end side of the intermediate shelf plate portion, and a horizontally elongated surface portion near the upper side of the vertical back plate portion 2a. A window hole 2g and a vertical screw insertion slot 2h formed in the four corners of the lower half surface of the vertical back plate 2a.
And so on.

The intermediate shelf board portion 2d and a series of left end side arm member portions 2e
In relation to the inclination of the tray, which will be described later, is generally arranged in a posture in which the vertical back plate portion 2a is inclined forward α to the front and inclined β to the right downward.

(3) Sheet guide plate 3.3 and sheet discharge pinch roller 4.5 (Fig. 1 ・ 3.4) The sheet guide plate 3.3 continues to receive the sheet P output from the sheet output port 101 of the copying machine 100. It is for receiving and guiding the leading edge of the sheet to the nip portion of the sheet discharge pinch rollers 4 and 5, and both ends are fixedly disposed between the left and right side plates 2b and 2c of the palm.

The sheet discharge pinch rollers 4 and 5 are the sheet guide plates 3
It is arranged on the front end side of 3 and serves to bite the sheet sent through the gap passage of the guide plate 3 and discharge it into the tray 6 described later. In this example, the lower roller 4 is a driving roller and the upper roller 5 is a driven pressing roller. The driving roller 4 is rotatably supported between the left and right side plates 2b and 2c of the palm and is mounted and supported outside the left side plate 2b of the palm. Three rotating shafts 11 are rotatably driven by the motor M1 and are fixedly supported along the length thereof at predetermined intervals. The driven roller 5 corresponding to each drive roller 41 is rotatably supported by a bearing on the tip end side of a support arm 12 made of a spring plate whose base is fixed to a stay 13 disposed on the left and right side plates 2b and 2c of the palm by screwing. The spring plate supporting arms 12 are constantly pressed against the upper surface of the driving roller 4 by the downward biasing force.

The passage formed by the upper and lower sheet guide plates 3 and 3 is preferably a small gap passage of about 1 to 2 mm in order to prevent flapping of the sheet between both guide plates. Further, the sheet guide plate is provided with a vent hole or a wire member so as to prevent the dew condensation of water vapor generated from the sheet passing between them and the sheet conveyance obstacle due to the dew condensation water as long as the sheet conveying property is not hindered.・ It is recommended to use a mesh member.

Sheet ejection pinch rollers 4.5 are sheet guide plates 3.3
In order to prevent the slack of the sheet between the sheets, the peripheral speed of rotation is made slightly faster than that of the sheet discharge pinch roller 103 on the copying machine 100 side, and the nip pressure is that of the roller 103 on the copying machine 100 side. It is set weaker than.

(1) Sheet collecting tray 6 and its swing mechanism 9. (First,
3 to 7) The tray 6 is such that the base is firmly held by the fixed support member 14 at a position slightly on the left side of the intermediate position of the shelf plate on the back surface of the intermediate shelves 2d, and then forward. The bearing member 16 is provided on the back surface of the shaft rod 15 which is arranged so as to be inclined (α) in the front upward direction.
It is connected and supported via the shaft rod 15 so as to be swingable left and right around the shaft rod 15. Thus, the tray 6 is provided with a shiyashi armband 2
The lug 2i formed on the e side and the tension spring 17 (FIGS. 1 and 5) stretched on the back side near the left side of the tray 6 constantly receive the pulling force and rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 15. The left side of the tray is contacted by the back surface of the left side of the tray on the upper surface of the coconut arm member 2e, and is always received in an inclined posture in which the front is inclined forward α and is inclined downward right β. To be done. Hereinafter, this posture state is referred to as a first posture. The forward ascending inclination angle α and the downward descending inclination angle β in the first posture of the tray 6 are set and designed in the ranges of, for example, 23 to 26 ° and 6 to 10 °, respectively.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a tray swing cam, which is a drive motor M2.
Via a link 84 that comes into contact with a pin 83 fixed to a tip cam 82 of a rotary shaft 81 (which is attached to a support member 80 at a position near the right end of the shelf plate on the back surface of the intermediate shelves 2d) Then, by rotating / stopping the motor M2, the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 is converted to the posture shown by the chain double-dashed line, and conversely, the posture is returned to the original posture.

That is, the motor M2 rotates from the standby position (Fig. 7 (a)) to perform a stapling operation (Fig. 7 (b)) described later, and then the pin 83 pushes down the link 84. Link 84
A pin 87 of the swinging cam 18 that rotates around a rotary shaft 85 fixed to the back surface of the shelf plate 2d and is fixed to the shear arm portion 2e (rotates around the rotary shaft 86 on the fixed support member 14 described above). Push the swing cam to the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line via (freedom). (FIG. 7 (c)) At this time, the tip of the cam 18 comes into contact with the rear surface of the left corner of the rear side of the tray and pushes it in the push-up direction, so that the tray 6 resists the tension spring 17 and rotates the shaft 15 around the shaft 15. It is rotated clockwise and is changed and held in the posture state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 5 which is inclined downward to the right at an angle β ′ larger than the downward inclination angle β in the first posture. Hereinafter, this posture state is referred to as a second posture.

Further, in this posture, the micro switch MS abutting on the circumferential portion of the cam 82 of the motor M2 is turned on, and the motor M2
Is stopped for a predetermined time T _O. Then, the motor M2 is further rotated to stop at the position where the micro switch M _S is turned off (FIG. 7 (a)), and waits until the next command. At this time, the link 84 is disengaged from the pin 83 and returned to the first posture by the tension spring 17.

In this embodiment, the tray swing mechanism 9 is the tray support rod 1 described above.
5, the tension spring 17, the oscillating cam 18, the pin 83, the link 84, the motor M2, the motor cam 82, and the like are constituent members of the entire mechanism.

(5) Sheet alignment ruler plates 7 and 8 (Figs. 1 to 6 and 11) The sheet alignment ruler plates 7 and 8 are discharged into the tray 6 in the first posture state and slide down in the tray due to the inclination of the tray. Right-angled double-fold on the sliding down side of the sheet, that is, in this example, the rear side P _B (FIG. 8) and the right side P _R of the sheet are received and sequentially discharged into the tray, and the accumulated sheets are aligned with each other. The ruler plate 7 on the side receiving the rear side P _B of the sheet is the first sheet aligning ruler plate, and the ruler plate 8 on the side receiving the right side P _R of the sheet is the second sheet aligning member. Use a ruler plate.

The first ruler plate 7 is attached and supported along the tip side of the intermediate shelves 2d via brackets 20 (Figs. 2 and 3), and the second ruler plate 8 is the right side shelves of shishia. Part 2f
The rear end of the ruler plate is cantileveredly attached to and supported by the bracket 21 via the bracket 21, and both ruler plates 7 and 8 are perpendicular to each other. The right corner on the rear side of the tray 6 is cut off in a square shape (Figs. 1 and 8). The right end of the first ruler plate 7 and the rear end of the second ruler plate 8 are cut off on the tray. The corresponding portions are not brought into association with each other, and that portion is used as the opening 22.

1 and the second ruler plates 7 and 8 each have a lower edge bent inward at a right angle to form narrow projecting edges 7a and 8a. Thus, the tray 6 in the first posture state is shown in FIG.
(a) and as shown in FIG. (b),僅小gap then Te sides 6 _B relative to the lower side narrow projecting edge 7a of the first ruler plate 7 d1
Corresponding position via the, also the right side 6 _R corresponding position via the僅小tray rotation allowing gap d2 with respect to the lower side narrow projecting edge 8a of the second ruler plate 8. At this time, a step W is formed on the upper surface 6'of the tray 6 so that the upper surfaces 7a 'and 8a' of the lower side narrow protruding edges 7a and 8b of the first and second ruler plates 7 and 8 are lower surfaces. The relationship is created.

(6) Paper retainer mechanism (Figs. 5 and 7) The paper retainer mechanism is composed of a paper retainer 23 provided on the front side of the intermediate shelves 2d and a drive unit assembled on the back side of the shelf 2d.

The paper presser 23 is a member 24a fixed to the surface of the shelf 2d,
Surface 2 that can rotate around 24b and contacts the tray surface
It has a surface 23d that comes into contact with 3a and the paper pressing link 25.
The drive unit uses a plunger 27 fixed to the back surface of the shelf 2d via a support member 26 as a drive source, and a link 25 uses the pin 27 on the support member 26 as a rotation axis to attract the plunger and the link 25 and the shelf. It rotates by the tensile force of the tension spring 28 between the plate portions 2d.

Here, from the copying machine 100 to the tray 6 of the automatic sheet processing apparatus 1.
Sheets sequentially discharged to the sheet are sequentially detected by the sheet sensor S (FIG. 3) to pass through the copying machine output port 101 on the trailing edge side or the sheet discharge ports 4 and 5 on the sheet automatic processing device side. Based on the detection signal, the plunger 27 is excited and attracted by the control circuit after a lapse of a predetermined delay time T required for the copy sheet discharged to the tray 6 to be completely aligned in the tray thereafter. The link 25 is rotated by this suction, and the paper retainer 23 drops on the paper surface on the tray accordingly (two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 (d)).
Furthermore the excitation stopped after a predetermined time T ₂ has elapsed, returns to the initial state by a tensile force of the tension spring 28 (Figure 7 (d) solid line). The dropping and returning of the paper presser 23 are repeatedly executed every time a copy sheet is output / discharged from the copying machine 100 side to the tray 6. By the fall of the paper presser 23, the curl of the trailing edge of the sheet is suppressed and corrected, and the matching between the sheets is improved.

(7) Stapler Mechanism (FIGS. 1, 5 to 7) The stapler mechanism 10 is composed of a stapler main body 29 which is detachable from the right side surface of the shelf board portion 2d and a drive mechanism portion provided on the shelf board portion 2d.

In this example, the stapler main body 29 is a general manual stapler (commonly called stapler) using a No. 10 U-shaped stapler. (The structure is public knowledge and will be omitted). Stapler 2
The attachment / detachment of 9 is performed from the cutout portion 30 of the right side plate portion 2c of the apparatus. The stapler 29 is fixed to the embossments 31a and 31b provided on the shelf 2d by holes 32a and 32b in the bottom plate of the stapler 29.
Are positioned by fitting, and are fixed by the magnetic force of the magnet Mg arranged on the back surface of the shelf 2d via the fixing member 33.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an L-shaped stapler pressing lever which has a lateral arm portion 34a and a downward arm portion 34b, and which can freely swing around a shaft 35. The tip end portion of the lateral arm portion 34a has a rear end portion of the stapler body 29. A rubber 36 that abuts on is adhered. The rubber 36 is for uniformly pressing the back surface of the stapler body 29. The lower side of the downward arm portion 34b is made to project from the slit hole 2j in the surface of the shelf plate portion 2d to the lower side of the shelf portion.

Reference numeral 36 is a staple link that swings around a shaft 35, and a long hole 37 is formed at the other end. In the elongated hole 37, a pin 38 fixed to the tip cam 82 of the drive motor M2 described above.
Has been inserted. Further, spring hooking pins 39 and 40 are attached to the central portion of the link 36 and the downward arm portion 34b of the push-down lever 34, respectively, and a tension spring 41 is stretched between them. The spring 41 has a length having a predetermined tension in a state where the pin 42 on the upper portion of the link 36 and one side of the downward arm portion 34b of the push-down lever 34 are in pressure contact with each other. It defines the positional relationship.

Figure 7 (a) is a stapler standby state, microswitch M _S is in a state of OFF, pressing lever 34 is disposed substantially in the top dead center of the swing. Further, the stapler 29 has its opening largely opened by its internal leaf spring (not shown).

When a stapling command is input from the copying machine 100 side to a control circuit (not shown) of the sheet automatic processing apparatus, based on the trailing edge detection signal of the copy sheet by the sensor S of the sheet conveying unit,
After the predetermined delay time T ₃ has passed, pressing operation of the stapler body 29 is made rotation drive of the motor M2 is started. When the opening of the stapler body is closed and the sheet bundle is pressed down, the tension spring 41 applies a force until the U-shaped needle can penetrate the sheet bundle (hereinafter referred to as a stapling force). When the stapling force corresponding to the number of sheets becomes, the sheet bundle is stapled by the spring force (FIG. 7 (b)). For normal copy paper, 2
It requires 12 Kgf of power with 0 sheets.

In the embodiment, the force charged by the spring is set to a maximum of 15 kgf at the stapling portion so that the entire device will not be damaged even in the unlikely event. After stapling, the motor M2 further rotates to perform the above-described tray swing, and then returns to the stapling standby position (FIG. 7 (a)).

Here, the stapler driving pin 38 and the tray swinging pin 83 fixed to the cam 82 of the shaft of the motor M2 are arranged such that the stapler main body opening is formed by the pin 38 after staple formation.
The tray is designed to swing after opening.

(8) Installation of the automatic sheet processing apparatus 1 in the copying machine 100 (first
The sheet automatic processing apparatus 1 is attached to the copying machine 100 as a sheet output apparatus in the following manner in the case of the apparatus of this example. First, a normal discharge sheet tray mounted so as to project outward to the sheet output port portion 101 on the left end face side of the copying machine 100 is delivered. Then, the fixing screws 202 at the four corners fixing the left end face plate 201 of the pedestal 200 on which the copying machine 100 is placed are temporarily removed, and the fixing screws 202 are fixed to the vertically elongated holes 2h at the four corners of the lower half face of the shiyashi vertical back plate 2a of the apparatus 1. The left end face plate 201 of the pedestal and the lower half face of the shiyashi back plate 2a of the apparatus 1 are fastened together with the pedestal body. In this case, using the vertically long hole 2h, the upper and lower positions of the apparatus 1 with respect to the copying machine 100 face the sheet output port 101 of the copying machine 100 with the opening 2g formed in the vertical sheave 2a of the apparatus 1 side. ,
The screws 202 are tightened by adjusting the positions so that the sheet receiving port sides of the upper and lower sheet guide plates 3 on the apparatus 1 side face the sheet discharge pinch roller 103 of the copying machine 100 side.

In addition to this, various mounting methods are conceivable, such as a pedestal mounted on an acryl rail extending in the sheet discharge direction, and a mechanism capable of easily performing a jam treatment of a copying machine.

Although not shown in the figure, the apparatus 1 has a cable (signal line) that connects the electric circuit on the side of the apparatus and the electric circuit on the side of the copying machine 100. Insert the tip plug of the cable into the outlet on the copying machine side. To connect both devices 1 and 100 electrically. This completes the mounting of the device 1 to the copying machine 100.

(9) Operation a Copy machine 100 copies N per copy and required number of copies M
And set the conditions to start copying. When the copying machine is operated, first copy sheets are output from the sheet output port 101 of the copying machine 100 one after another. The output sheet P is the device 1
Through the gap between the upper and lower guide plates 3 and 3, the sheet discharge pinch rollers 4 and 5 are sandwiched by the nip portions and fed to the tray 6 held in the first posture by the pinch rollers. And is discharged into the tray 6.

In the case of this example, the sheets are discharged from the copying machine 100 side to the tray 6 by a broken line R on the right side of the tray for all sheets of various sizes.
It is assumed that one-sided reference conveyance (right-side sheet reference conveyance) with -R (Fig. 11) as the reference line is performed.

The sheet P, which has been started to be sent out to the tray 6 side by the b-pinch rollers 4 and 5, is sent out for a certain length, and the sent-out sheet portion resists the strength of the waist due to its own weight to the third position.
As shown by the solid line in the figure, the tray 6 is bent downward to be in a descending state, and the tray 6 is inclined downward to the right. Therefore, the left-side corner portion P ₁ of the leading edge of the downward-curving sheet portion is first on the tray 6 surface (or 2 sheets). After the eye, it contacts the upper surface of the sheet already discharged into the tray. At this time, the sheet entry angle θ to the surface of the tray 4 is an acute angle.

c The sheet feeding force of the succeeding sheet P to the tray 6 side by the pinch rollers 4 and 5 causes the sheet leading end side to smoothly move the front rising slope of the tray 6 along the inclined face toward the tray leading end side. Ascending sliding movement advances the delivery of the sheet P into the tray.

Then, when the trailing edge of the sheet P passes through the nip portions of the pinch rollers 4 and 5 and is completely removed, the sheet P is entirely dropped into the tray 6 and discharged (solid line in FIG. 11).

e The sheet P dropped and discharged into the tray 6 is then directed toward the rear right corner of the tray 6 with a composite inclined surface of the tray 6 having a forward upward inclination, conversely a backward downward inclination, and a right downward inclination. A
It naturally slides down to (Fig. 8) by its own weight.

f The case of the sheet P in the present embodiment by sliding down the course of the direction A first right P _R of the sheet P is subjected to connexion position regulating abutment on the inner surface of the second sheet align limitation plate 8 (FIG. 1-dot chain line P'state).

g Then, the sheet P ″ slides down along the second ruler plate 8 toward the first ruler plate 7 in the direction B, and the rear side P _{B of the} sheet sticks to the inner surface of the first ruler plate 7. For this reason, the position is restricted (state P in FIG.

h, that is, the sheet P discharged into the tray 6 is the first and second ruler plates 7 which are right angles to each other, and the right side P _R and the rear side P _B, which are two right sides on the sliding down side, are the matching rulers. The tray 8 is placed in the positioning state of being received by the inner surface of the tray 8 and is accommodated in the tray 6. At this time, as described in the above item (6), the paper pressing mechanism once performs the suction / return operation of the plunger, so that the paper pressing of the ejected / aligned sheets into the tray 6 by the paper pressing 23 descending / returning can be performed. To be executed.

Thus, the second and subsequent output sheets are sequentially discharged / aligned / pressed into the tray 6 in the same process as the above items b to h, and are successively aligned and accumulated. The right corner on the rear side of the bundle of sheets aligned in the tray 6 projects from the opening 22 of the first and second alignment ruler plates 7 and 8 to the side of the intermediate shelves 2d of staples and receives the staple needle. It will be in the state located on the seat 39.

Then, when the last copy sheet of the first copy is output and discharged into the tray 6, and when it reaches the aligned state,
As described in section (6), the stapler drive mechanism pushes down the stapler main body, and as a result, all the sheet bundles in the tray are stapled into the right corner of the trailing edge side and batch stapled (the Figure 7 (b)).

After the k stapler mechanism staples the sheet bundle, the motor M2 further rotates, and as described in (4) above, the tray swing mechanism moves the tray from the first posture state to the right of the first posture state. Change to the second posture state with a large inclination. (At ON signal microswitch M _S, it stops the motor rotation). As a result, a gap opening is formed between the right side of the tray 6 and the lower edge of the second ruler plate 8, and a part of the stapled copy sheet bundle in the tray 6 moves rightward along the right slope of the tray. Then, it is automatically discharged and stored in the storage container (stacker) 43 arranged on the slide side of the gap opening, with the stapled side as the leading end. It is possible to prevent so-called loosening of each sheet by sliding down the stapled sheet bundle from the tray 6 to the stacker 43 side with the stapled side as the leading end.

The predetermined timer time T _O (usually about 1 second) required for completely discharging the bound sheet bundle in the tray after the tray 6 is changed to the second posture state
After a lapse of time, or after a sensor (not shown) provided at the entrance of the stacker 43 detects that the sheet bundle is discharged and stored on the stacker side, the rotation of the motor M2 is started again, and the tray 6 is restarted. After changing to the first posture state, the rotation of the motor M2 is stopped by the OFF signal of the micro switch M _S ,
Set to standby state.

m Next, copy sheets for the second copy are output one after another from the copying machine 100 side to the apparatus 1 side, and in the same manner as described above, automatic alignment, automatic bookbinding, and automatic ejection are performed for the second copy sheet. Thus, by the repeating cycle of the above items b to m, finally, the bound copy sheet bundles of the M portion are automatically adjusted and stored in the stacker 43.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the above sequence control.

(10) Other configurations, actions, modified examples, etc. a The right corner on the rear side of the tray 6 is cut out in a square shape as described in (5), and the cutout part is formed in the stapler body. The staple receiving portion (needle bending member) is located. Therefore, after stapling, when the tray 6 is rotated and the sheet bundle is slid onto the stacker 43, the end of the sheet bundle catches on the staple receiving portion, and even if the sheet bundle is tilted by a predetermined angle β ′, the sheet bundle does not move to the waist. Therefore, it is easy to cause an accident that the tray is stuck between the needle receiving portion.

Therefore, in the apparatus of this example, in order to eliminate the troubles of leaving the sheet bundle, which causes the above-mentioned causes, the tray 6 has a U-shaped drop having a ridge portion facing the tray sheet mounting surface. An insert member 90 is provided.

The dropping member 90 has a portion perpendicular to the tray sheet mounting surface located rearward of the sheet rear side position at the time of sheet alignment. (Figs. 3, 8). Further, the rear ruler plate 7 is provided with a notch 91 so as to escape this portion. The distance between the tray mounting surface and the facing ridge is set to be long enough to drop the sheet bundle from the needle receiving portion or the like toward the tray surface when the tray is changed to the second posture. During the swinging of the tray 6 to the second posture, the sheet bundle separates from the staple receiving portion and starts sliding (FIG. 6).

In such a dropping mechanism, the rear ruler plate 7 is integrated with the tray, and a mechanism is provided at one end of which a surface facing the sheet mounting surface is provided, or the sheet mounting is performed by a link configuration or the like in synchronization with the swing of the tray. A mechanism for pushing the surface downward may be used. That is, if a mechanism for forcibly dropping the sheet bundle downward is provided between the tray swing center and the staple receiving portion, it is possible to prevent the sheet bundle retention trouble.

b A stapler detector 93 is attached to the attachment / detachment portion of the stapler body.
Has been placed. (FIG. 11) A hole 92 is formed on the right rear side of the coconut shelf plate portion 2d (FIG. 2), and an actuator of a micro switch 93 fixedly provided on the back side of the shelf plate portion 2d is projected here. There is. When the stapler main body 29 is installed, the micro switch 93 is turned on and the stapler device status is displayed by a display status not shown. 2d of this actuator
The side protrusion length is set to about 1 mm, and the stapler is surely fitted to the embosses 31a and 31b and is displayed when the stapler is attached by suction of the magnet Mg.
It is also possible to control permission and prohibition of the stapler drive by this detection signal.

The sheet automatic stapling apparatus according to the present invention has the structure as described above, and by using a commercially available stapler as the stapling means, the operator can automatically and manually staple the sheet bundle, Needle replacement and needle jam maintenance can be performed just as easily as with ordinary disk work. In particular, if you forget the automatic stapling or if you just want to do stapling at all, you can remove the stapler and do it manually.

Furthermore, since no special stapling means is provided, the device cost is low and the device is compact.

Further, since the detection means for detecting the attachment / detachment of the stapling means is provided, it is possible to display the presence / absence of the stapling means or control the driving of the apparatus.

Further, by setting the attachment / detachment direction to be the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction of the copying machine which is the sheet output device, the operator can easily replace the stapling means from the copying machine operation panel side, that is, the copying machine front side.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat output device mounted on the side of the seat output port, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device chassis, and FIG. 3 is the device. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the same, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the same, FIG. 5 is a front view of the tray swing mechanism portion showing a stapled state, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the tray swing mechanism portion showing a tilted state of the tray. Fig. 7
FIGS. 8A to 8D are side views showing the stapling operation, and FIG.
9A and 9B are cross-sectional views of the first and second sheet alignment ruler plates, FIG. 10 is a flow chart for operating the apparatus, and FIG. 11 is a stapler attached It is a perspective view which shows the opened state. 1 is an automatic sheet processing device, 100 is a sheet output device such as a copying machine, 200 is a pedestal, 6 is a sheet collecting inclined tray, 7 and 8 are first and second sheet alignment ruler plates, and 9 is tray swinging. A mechanism 10, a stapler mechanism (bookbinding means),
18 is a cam, 29 is a stapler main body, 36 is a link, 4
1 is a tension spring, 82 is a motor cam, 83 is a pin, 84 is a link, M2 is a motor, 90 is a drop member, and 91 is a notch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sheet collecting tray for receiving a sheet output from a sheet output device, a sheet aligning unit for aligning the sheets sequentially discharged and accumulated in the tray, and a sheet bundle. In a sheet automatic stapling apparatus including a stapling means for binding and a stapling driving means for automatically causing the stapling means to perform a binding operation at a predetermined timing, the stapling means is manually stapled even when it is detached from the apparatus main body. An operable unit structure, wherein the staple means is fixed to the apparatus main body by a manual attachment force acting on the staple means, and the fixation of the staple means is released by a manual detaching force acting on the staple means, Magnet hand for fixing the stapling means For positioning the stapling means on the apparatus main body by a manual attachment force acting on the stapling means, and canceling the positioning of the stapling means by a manual detaching force acting on the stapling means. An automatic sheet stapling apparatus comprising: a fitting unit; and a detection unit that detects attachment / detachment of the stapling unit. 2. An automatic sheet stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment / detachment direction of the stapling means is a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction of the sheet output device.