JPH0679956B2 - Image forming apparatus including sheet post-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as a sorter, a collator, or a finisher used together with an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, a laser beam printer, and the like. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus connecting mechanism that is connected to and detachable from an image forming apparatus.

(B) Conventional technology Since most sheet processing apparatuses such as sorters, collators, and finishers are conventionally positioned as application wear, they are configured separately from the image forming apparatus main body, and if necessary, the image forming apparatus can be used. It must be positioned with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and must be easily separated from the main body of the image forming apparatus in order to deal with the jam of the sheet. Then, in response to such a request, for example, there is a sheet processing apparatus provided with a link mechanism. (Fifth
(Fig.) In the case of the type shown in Fig. 5, all the load of the sheet processing apparatus must be lifted by the force of the operator. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, there is a method of reducing the weight of the sheet processing apparatus and the rotational moment generated by the weight by incorporating a torsion spring in the A section. It is impossible for the operator to lift and release the sheet processing apparatus with a constant force depending on the size of the stacked sheets.

(C) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a first fulcrum provided in an image forming apparatus having a sheet discharge port and a sheet introduction port. A first link rotatably connected to a third fulcrum provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus, a second fulcrum provided in the image forming apparatus, and a fourth fulcrum provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus. A second link that is rotatably connected to and a second link that extends substantially parallel to the first link and at least one of the first link and the second link. A gas utilization shock absorber is provided as an urging member that opposes the rotational moment in the direction in which the sheet post-processing device side of the link separates from the image forming device, and the first and second links are connected. Image formation of sheet post-processing device by rotating upward The sheet post-processing apparatus is separated and supported by joining and supporting the sheet processing apparatus and moving and displacing the first and second links against the biasing member.

(D) Operation Based on the above-described configuration, the sheet post-processing device can be supported by the first and second links and can be connected to and detached from the image forming device without grounding the floor surface. By the upward rotation of the first and second links assisted by a gas utilization shock absorber arranged as a biasing member, the light-weight and smooth joint is made to the image forming apparatus, and it moves against the biasing member. The downward rotation of the displacing first and second links enables the first and second links to be separated from and supported by the image forming apparatus at an appropriate speed.

(E) Example An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Sheet processing device connection mechanism (hereinafter, sorter connection mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 1, it is provided across a sorter S and a copying machine M main body having a function of automatically classifying discharged sheets, and the sorter S and the sheet discharging part B of the copying machine M main body are provided. It is a mechanism to connect. The transfer sheet A, which has been image-processed by the copying machine M, passes through the main body sheet transport guide 1 and the discharge roller 2 and is sent to the sheet transport guide 3 of the sorter S, and is transferred to the multiple bin 5 by the sorter S discharge roller 4 Loading processing is performed.

A hook handle 6 is provided on an upper portion of the sorter S, and a hook plate 9 that engages with the hook handle 6 is provided on an upper side plate 8 of the copying machine M facing the hook handle 6. A coupling mechanism substrate 11 is fixedly mounted on the lower side plate 10 of the copying machine M, and a fulcrum 1 is provided on the upper portion of the coupling mechanism substrate 11 and a fulcrum 2 is provided on the lower portion thereof. Further, a sorter-side upper support piece 12 and a lower support piece 13 are fixedly provided on the side surface of the sorter S. An upper link 14 is rotatably connected to the upper fulcrum 1 of the connecting mechanism substrate 11 by a pin 15, and a pin 16 is rotatably connected to the sorter S-side upper support piece 12. The lower fulcrum 2 of the connection mechanism substrate 11 has the lower link 17 as a pin.
18 and rotatably connected to the lower part 13 of the sorter S side by a pin 20. Fulcrum 1, fulcrum 2
Since the sorter-side upper support piece 12 (fulcrum 3) and the sorter-side lower support piece 13 (fulcrum 4) are rotatably connected by the upper link 14 and the lower link 17, respectively, the parallel crank mechanism moves and displaces. Alternatively, it has a pseudo-parallel crank mechanism.

At the pin 22 of the lower link 17 and the side portion 21 of the side surface of the sorter S, a gas utilization shock absorber 23 having specifications in consideration of the weight and rotation moment of the sorter S is arranged.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the copying machine M and the sorter S are connected and supported to perform image processing and sheet classification.

The gas utilization shock absorber 23 is in a state in which it is extended to the maximum or almost maximum, and the pin on the side support piece 21 of the sorter S in FIG.
The sorter S is held by the copying machine M in a state where the force F applied to the pin 24 and the pin 22 is 0 or nearly 0.

Jam processing at the first part B of the discharge sheet and the copying machine M
When the sorter S is separated from the torso (FIGS. 3 and 4), the upper and lower links 14 and 17 supporting the sorter S and the fulcrums 1
・ Sorter S to prevent sudden rotation of 2 ・ 3 ・ 4
Since the specifications of the gas utilization shock absorber 23 are determined so as to absorb the weight and the rotational moment due to the weight, the sorter S is not separated from the copying machine M rapidly. Further, in the case where the sorter S is held again in the copying machine M in FIGS. 4 to 3 and 2, a proper frictional characteristic action and an appropriate stepless operation are achieved depending on the specifications set in the gas utilization shock absorber. While being stopped, the sorter S is held by the copying machine M.

The above is the description of the embodiments according to the present invention.
It is not limited to this. For example, although the present embodiment is described as a connecting mechanism between the image forming apparatus and its sheet sorting apparatus, it can be effectively used as a connecting apparatus for other accessory devices such as a finisher, a collator, and a deck. It can also be used in the field of a jam release mechanism section of the image forming apparatus body (for example, a discharge port / paper feed port of the body). In addition, there is a degree of freedom in selecting the specifications of the gas utilization shock absorber, and operability according to each operation can be obtained.

(F) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet post-processing device is supported and connected to the image forming apparatus without being adhered to the floor surface. In addition, the sheet discharge port and the sheet introduction port can be contacted and separated without impairing the accurate positioning. Further, by providing a gas utilization shock absorber as an urging member so as to alleviate the movement / displacement of the link connecting the sheet post-processing apparatus to the image forming apparatus, the sheet post-processing apparatus can be lightly and smoothly mounted on the image forming apparatus. After joining, the sheet post-processing device can be separated from the image forming device at an appropriate speed, and a stepless stop can be obtained. As a result, the jam processing of the sheet can be easily performed. In the situation of a sheet jam,
This is because the distance between the sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus and the sheet introduction port of the sheet post-processing device can be appropriately selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sorter connecting mechanism according to the present embodiment, FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are views showing a state where a sorter and a copying machine body are separated from each other, and FIG. Example, FIG. 6 shows an example of connection by a link mechanism and a torsion spring. M ... Image forming apparatus (copying machine) S ... Sheet processing apparatus (sorter) 1 ... Main body sheet transport guide, 2 ... Discharge roller, 3 ... Sheet transport guide, 4 ... Sorter S discharge roller, 5 ... … Multiple bins, 6 …… Hook handle, 7 …… Pin, 8 …… Upper side plate, 9 …… Fook plate, 10 …… Lower side plate, 11 …… Coupling mechanism substrate, 12 …… Sorter side upper support piece, 13 ...... Sorter lower support piece, 14 ...... upper link, 15 ...... pin (fulcrum 1), 16 ...... pin (fulcrum 3), 17 ...... lower link, 18 ...... pin (fulcrum 2), 19 ...... Casters, 20 ... pins (fulcrum 4), 21 ... sorter side support pieces, 22 ... pins, 23 ... gas buffer, 24 ... pins.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a sheet discharge opening facing a sheet introduction opening, which connects a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet introduction opening so as to be contactable and separable, and a first fulcrum provided in the image forming apparatus. And a first link rotatably connected to a third fulcrum provided on the sheet post-processing apparatus, a second fulcrum provided on the image forming apparatus, and a fourth fulcrum provided on the sheet post-processing apparatus. The second link that is rotatably connected to the fulcrum, and at least one of the first link and the second link that engages with the fulcrum, and the fulcrum of the link on the sheet post-processing device side is the image forming apparatus. An urging member that opposes a rotational moment in a direction away from the urging member, wherein the urging member rotates the first and second links downward or upward to turn the sheet post-processing apparatus into an image forming apparatus. Away from or image form Characterized in that it is a gas available buffer machine having a frictional characteristics so as to enable stepless cessation of moderate in the course of joining the device, an image forming apparatus having the sheet post-processing apparatus.