JP2004244154A - Sheet treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a distance from a retreat position to a stapled position, to shorten a processing time in stapling, to dispense with no extension and enlargement of a movement mechanism of a stapler when an elongation paper sheet is discharged and conveyed to the processing tray and to realize a post-treatment device coping with the elongation paper by restricting the enlargement of the device as small as possible. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet treatment device enables the paper of elongation size to be aligned by retreating the stapler to a position not interfering with the paper within a movement range adjusted to a size carrying out stapling. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet stacking and aligning apparatus for aligning and stacking sheets, a sheet processing apparatus having the sheet stacking and aligning apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a sheet post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine, a copying machine, a printer, etc., as shown in FIG. There is an image forming apparatus system in which a sheet post-processing apparatus is provided between the printer unit 200 and the image reading unit 150 of the image forming apparatus main body. In this image forming apparatus system, the sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 200 is temporarily stacked on a processing tray 540 in the sheet post-processing apparatus 500, and the sheet S is subjected to post-sheet alignment such as alignment and binding processing. Perform processing. Thereafter, the bundle is discharged to the stack tray 581 having the inclined stacking surface as shown in FIG.
[0003]
Further, as another post-processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, a binding process performed by the post-processing apparatus depends on a sheet size and an image direction of a sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus, a mode set by a user, and the like. In some cases, a stapler for performing binding is moved to change the binding position.
[0004]
On the other hand, in an image processing apparatus, in order to eliminate a margin around a sheet material on which an image is formed, after forming an image on the sheet material, a blank portion of the sheet material is cut. As the sheet material, a sheet material called “grown paper” having a size larger than that of a normal sheet material is used.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If an image is to be formed on the stretched paper by the image forming apparatus, the width of the paper path of the image forming apparatus must be larger than that of the stretched paper, resulting in an increase in the size of the apparatus.
[0006]
Also in the sheet post-processing apparatus, the processing tray is enlarged in order to load the stretched paper, and furthermore, the moving range of the stapler is increased for the stretched paper that does not need to be stapled. I will.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize a reduction in the size of an apparatus while coping with stretch paper.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the configuration of the present invention includes a processing tray for temporarily stacking sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus, a discharging unit for discharging sheets to the processing tray, and a processing tray. Post-processing means for performing post-processing on a predetermined position of the temporarily stacked sheet bundle, post-processing mode determining means for determining a mode for post-processing the sheet bundle, and determination by the post-processing mode determining means. And a post-processing moving means for moving the post-processing means accordingly. When the post-processing mode determining means determines that post-processing is not to be performed, The moving means moves the post-processing means to a position within the sheet width of the sheet bundle primarily stacked on the processing tray.
[0009]
Further, the post-processing mode determining means includes at least a first moving position and a second moving position as the moving positions when it is determined that the post-processing is not executed, and the sheet size discharged to the processing tray is a predetermined value. If it is determined that the above is the case, the post-processing means moves to the second movement position.
[0010]
Further, the first movement position is a home position position.
[0011]
Further, the determining means determines the size of the sheet in the width direction.
[0012]
Further, the second movement position is a position where the sheet whose sheet size is equal to or larger than a predetermined value does not interfere.
[0013]
Further, the second movement position is between a post-processing position for performing post-processing on a sheet bundle when the post-processing mode is selected and the first movement position, and the sheet whose sheet size is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. Is controlled so as not to interfere.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body 200 equipped with a sheet processing apparatus 500 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheet processing apparatus 500, and FIG. It is.
[0016]
(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 1, an image-formed sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 200 is disposed above the image forming apparatus main body 200 and below the document reading apparatus 100, and temporarily serves as a processing tray 540. A sheet processing apparatus 500 that stacks the sheets S on the stack tray 504 disposed substantially horizontally after performing post-processing such as staple binding, alignment, and the like, will be described as an example. .
[0017]
However, according to the present invention, the sheet stacking aligner that aligns and stacks the image-formed sheets S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 200 on the stack tray 504 is directly connected to the image forming apparatus main body 200 without passing through the processing tray 540. This is also effective in a case where the sheet processing apparatus 500 is mounted outside the image forming apparatus main body 200.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 500 denotes a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 200, and an automatic document reading apparatus 100 is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 200. Although the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured by the image forming apparatus main body 200, the sheet processing apparatus 500, and the automatic document reading apparatus 100, the sheet processing apparatus 500 may not include the processing tray 540.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1, a document reading unit 150 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 200, and the automatic document reading apparatus 100 is mounted on the document reading unit 150. The automatic document reading apparatus 100 separates an original set upward, feeds the original one sheet at a time in order from the first page to the left, conveys the original onto a platen glass 102 via a curved path, and After reading, the sheet is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 112. The light of the lamp of the scanner unit 104 is applied to the document, and the reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105 and 106 and the lens 107 to read the document. The image of the document read by the image sensor 109 is subjected to image processing, sent to the exposure control unit 202, and emitted a laser beam.
[0020]
Next, the laser light is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror, and is again turned back by the reflecting mirror to irradiate the photosensitive drum 203 serving as an image forming means whose surface is uniformly charged, and the electrostatic latent image is formed. An image is formed. After the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 203 is developed by the developing device 205, it is transferred as a toner image onto a sheet S composed of paper, an OHP sheet, or the like.
[0021]
The sheet S is appropriately and selectively fed out of the sheet cassettes 231, 232, 233, and 234 by a pickup roller 238 constituting a sheet feeding unit, separated by a separating unit 237, and fed one by one. After the skew is corrected, the toner is sent to the transfer position in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 203, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 203 is transferred to the sheet S via the transfer belt 211.
[0022]
Thereafter, the sheet S is guided to the fixing roller pair 206, and the toner image transferred to the sheet S after being heated and pressed by the fixing roller pair 206 is permanently fixed. The upper fixing claw and the lower fixing claw are in contact with the fixing roller pair 206, respectively, whereby the sheet S is separated from the fixing roller pair 206.
[0023]
The separated sheet S is conveyed to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 200 by the main body side discharge roller pair 207, and is guided to the sheet processing apparatus 500 connected to the image forming apparatus main body 200.
[0024]
Next, the configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus 500 will be specifically described.
[0025]
In FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus 500 includes a processing tray 540 serving as sheet stacking means provided on the upstream side and a stack tray 504 provided substantially horizontally on the downstream side. The sheet S discharged from the roller pair 207 is post-processed by the processing tray 540 and is stacked on the stack tray 504. The post-processing mode performed in the processing tray 540 includes a sort mode for sorting a plurality of sets, a staple mode in which a plurality of sheets are bound by a staple unit 510, and the like. Is selected and set by the operation unit provided in. According to the setting of the operation unit, one-point stapling or one-point stapling before stapling at a corner portion of an image-formed sheet bundle, and two stapling in parallel along an end portion of the image-formed sheet bundle. It is also possible to select a staple binding position such as local binding, and the staple unit 510 moves to the actual staple binding position based on the settings such as the sheet size and the binding position.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 is discharged toward the stack tray 504 by a discharge unit 508 including a discharge roller 508a on the sheet processing apparatus 500 side and a discharge roller 508b driven by the discharge roller 508a. However, at the timing when the trailing end of the sheet S has passed the discharge unit 508, the trailing end of the sheet S is dropped onto the processing tray 540 by the swing roller 550, and is pinched by the swing roller 550 and the driven roller 571. .
[0027]
The stapler 510 is movable in the vertical direction shown in FIG. When the stapler 510 moves, the trailing end stopper 562 and the end of the sheet bundle serving as a reference for aligning the trailing end of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 540 actually pinch the sheet bundle and perform stapling. The stapler 510 passes between openings of the stapler 510.
[0028]
<Swing roller configuration>
The operation of the swing arm and the swing roller 550 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, the swing roller 550 is attached to a swing arm 551 that can swing vertically about a swing roller shaft 552. The drive from the swing arm drive motor 643 is transmitted to the swing arm shaft 553 via the swing cam 554. When the swing arm drive motor 643 rotates, the swing arm 551 is connected to the swing cam 554. It swings up and down about the swing roller shaft 552 integrally. The swing arm 551 is provided with a swing arm extension spring 555 for assisting upward swing.
[0030]
The oscillating roller 550 is connected to the oscillating roller drive motor 642 from the oscillating roller shaft 552 via an oscillating roller drive belt 556 and an oscillating roller driven pulley 557, and a drive signal from the finisher CPU 611 is used to drive the oscillating roller. When transmitted to the swing roller drive motor 642 via the motor driver 622, the swing roller 550 rotates.
[0031]
<Swing roller operation>
The home position of the oscillating roller 550 is set at an upper portion that does not come into contact with the sheet S discharged onto the processing tray 540 by the discharge unit 508 (FIG. 4A). When the sheet S is discharged from the discharge section 508, the swing arm 551 is driven by the swing arm drive motor 643 and rotates counterclockwise around the swing roller shaft 552, so that the swing roller 550 is rotated. The sheet S descends, and the trailing end of the sheet S is pressed by the swing roller 550, and the sheet trailing end is dropped into the processing tray 540 (FIG. 4B).
[0032]
The oscillating roller 550 forms a nip with the driven roller 571, and rotates counterclockwise under the drive of the oscillating roller drive motor 642, so that the rear end of the sheet S on the processing tray 540 returns to the return belt 560. The sheet S is pulled in along the lower guide 561 in the direction opposite to the previous conveying direction until the sheet S comes into contact with the sheet S (FIG. 4C). Thereafter, the swing roller 550 moves up to the home position again, and prepares for discharging the next sheet S (FIG. 4A).
[0033]
Next, the operation of the return belt will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0034]
The return belt 560 is supported vertically by the discharge roller shaft 509 and is normally set at a position where it comes into contact with the sheet S on the processing tray 540. A return belt 560, which is at least one or more sheet feed rotating members, is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet S abuts against the sheet rear end stopper 562. The return belt 560 is supported by the discharge roller 508a and the housing 563. The belt member 565 conveys the sheet S in the direction of the sheet rear end stopper 562 as the discharge roller shaft 509 rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 5A). ).
[0035]
Further, the return belt 560 is adapted to escape in the sheet thickness direction in accordance with the number of sheets S stacked on the processing tray 540 (FIG. 5B).
[0036]
As described above, the counter-clockwise rotation of the swing roller 550 and the return belt 560 causes the rear end of the sheet S to be positioned at the end of the processing tray 540, and to be a sheet receiving unit that receives the sheet S on the processing tray 540. The sheet S is sent to the rear end stopper 562, and the sheet S is aligned one by one in the sheet conveying direction.
[0037]
The alignment in the sheet width direction will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0038]
The front alignment plate 541 and the rear alignment plate 542 are driven by a front alignment motor 646 and a rear alignment motor 647, respectively, and move in a direction parallel to the discharge roller shaft 509.
[0039]
When the post-processing device is not in operation, the front alignment plate 541 and the rear alignment plate 542 stand by at positions where they detect the front alignment home position sensor 530 and the rear alignment home position sensor 531 (not shown). This position is called an alignment home position position, and is set to a position where the sheet does not hit the alignment plate when the sheet is conveyed.
[0040]
The alignment plates 541 and 542 move to a standby position corresponding to the size of the sheet before the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus. After the sheets S are aligned in the transport direction as described above, the alignment plates 541 and 542 are moved to alignment positions in the post-processing mode set before the start of the job, whereby alignment in the sheet width direction is performed.
[0041]
For example, in the case of the sort mode, when aligning the Nth sheet in the width direction, the front alignment plate 541 waits at the reference position, and the rear alignment plate 542 moves from the standby position to the sheet alignment position, thereby determining the front side as the reference. The sheet is discharged to the stack tray 504 by the operation described later. When aligning the (N + 1) th sheet, the rear aligning plate 542 waits at the reference position, and the front aligning plate 541 moves from the standby position to the sheet aligning position to perform alignment based on the rear side, and stacks. The sheet is discharged to the tray 504. Thus, the sheets can be stacked on the stack tray 504 in a sorted state each time the bundle is discharged.
[0042]
Of course, it is also possible to perform alignment based on the center position of the sheet. In that case, the alignment is performed by moving both of the alignment plates 541 and 542 from the standby position to the alignment position based on the center position.
[0043]
When the staple binding mode is selected, the above-described width alignment operation is performed at a position corresponding to the set staple binding position.
[0044]
Further, the difference between the alignment position of the N-th set and the alignment position of the (N + 1) -th set is an offset amount for identifying a division of the sheet bundle. It is also possible to increase the offset amount to make it easier to identify the division of the sheet bundle, or to easily take out the sheet bundle stacked on the stack tray at the division of the sheet bundle.
[0045]
When the offset amount is increased, as described in <Staple slide operation>, it is necessary to move the retreat position of the stapler in order to avoid interference between the sheet and the stapler, as in the case where the stretched paper is discharged. It becomes.
[0046]
When the staple binding mode is selected, the staple binding operation is subsequently performed. The stapler 510 performs a staple binding operation by driving a staple clinch motor 648 built in the stapler 510. The stapler 510 can be moved in the front-rear direction, that is, in the up-down direction shown in FIG.
[0047]
When the job is started, the stapler 510 moves to the actual staple binding position determined from the contents of the staple binding position set before the start of the job and the sheet size.
[0048]
Details of the slide operation of the stapler 510 will be described later.
[0049]
The stapler 510 performs a staple binding operation on the aligned sheet bundle S that has been subjected to the width direction alignment described above.
[0050]
<Bunch discharging means>
Next, the bundle discharging means will be described with reference to FIGS.
After the alignment in the sheet conveying direction, the alignment in the sheet width direction, and the staple binding operation, the swing roller 550 is driven by the swing arm drive motor 643 and abuts on the sheet bundle S about the swing roller shaft 552. After forming a nip with the driven roller 571, the sheet bundle S is rotated clockwise to convey and stop until the rear end of the sheet bundle S reaches near the upper end of the rear end alignment wall 570 (FIG. 6b). .
[0051]
Thereafter, the swing roller 550 separates from the sheet bundle S and returns to the home position (FIG. 6C). At the same time, the rear end alignment wall 570 swings around the cam swing rotation shaft 573 by the cam 572 located below the rear end alignment wall 570 in the direction opposite to the sheet conveyance.
[0052]
<Sheet trailing edge alignment>
Means for discharging the sheet bundle S on the processing tray 540 onto the stack tray 504, aligning and stacking the sheet bundle S will be described with reference to FIG. The rear end alignment wall 570 is urged by a spring 512, and swings about a swing rotation shaft 573 by contacting the cam 572 at the home position (FIGS. 3 and 7).
[0053]
In a state in which the rear end of the sheet bundle S discharged by the bundle discharge unit is in contact with the upper end of the rear end alignment wall 570 (FIG. 6B), the rear end alignment wall 570 is retracted upstream in the sheet conveyance direction (FIG. 6C). The rear end of the sheet bundle S is brought into contact with the slope of the rear end alignment wall 570 (FIG. 7A). In the process of returning the retracted rear end alignment wall 570 to the home position around the pivot axis of rotation, the rear end of the sheet bundle S is pressed horizontally by the rear end alignment wall 570 to align the rear end of the sheet bundle S. , The sheet bundle S is stacked on the stack tray 504 (FIGS. 7B and 7C).
[0054]
The sheet bundle placed on the stack tray 504 is pulled back by the sheet return member 583 to the rear end alignment wall side after the sheet bundle is discharged, and is pressed from the upper surface of the sheet bundle. The sheet return member 583 is a paddle-shaped member, and is configured to rotate around a paddle rotation shaft 590 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending in the rear end alignment wall. The sheet return member 583 makes one rotation counterclockwise each time the sheet bundle is discharged onto the stack tray 504, thereby pulling the discharged sheet bundle back toward the rear end alignment wall 570 each time and pressing the rear end of the sheet bundle. be able to.
[0055]
Note that the sheet return member 583 is held in a state as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B except during the sheet return operation, and presses the sheet. The position of the member at this time is detected by a paddle home position sensor 532 (not shown).
The stack tray 504 is configured to be able to move up and down by driving means (not shown) in order to keep the upper surface height of the stacked sheet bundle S constant.
[0056]
<Staple slide operation>
Next, the sliding operation of the stapler 510 that best illustrates the features of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9. FIG.
[0057]
FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the position of the A4-size sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray and the stapler 510. In the case of performing one-point binding on the front side, the sheet bundle is aligned and stacked at a position offset to the front side with respect to the center line, that is, a position offset downward in the drawing, and then the position 510- (d) in the drawing. Is bound. Further, in the case of performing one-back binding, the sheet bundle is aligned and stacked at a position offset from the center line, that is, at a position offset upward from the center line in the drawing, and then the sheet bundle 510- (a) in FIG. The binding process is performed at the position. When performing two-position binding, the position of the sheet bundle is not shown, but the sheets are aligned and stacked on the center reference without offset, and are bound at positions 510- (b) and 510- (c).
[0058]
A blank portion in the stapler 510 in the figure indicates an opening portion of the stapler 510, and a sheet can enter therein. Conversely, the shaded area is the area where paper cannot enter, and if the sheet enters this area, the sheet collides with a member constituting the stapler 510, and the end of the sheet may be bent or damaged. Trouble occurs.
[0059]
The position 510- (e) is the first retreat position of the stapler, and is the home position position. When the sheet post-processing apparatus does not operate, or when the sheet is not bound in a normal paper size, the sheet is retracted to this position. As long as a sheet of a normal paper size is handled, the sheet does not interfere with the stapler 510 at the first retreat position 510- (e).
In addition, a home position sensor is provided in the vicinity, and by detecting that the stapler is at this position, it serves as a reference for controlling the position of the stapler.
[0060]
FIG. 8B illustrates the positional relationship between the stretched size sheets stacked on the processing tray and the stapler 510. As one of the stretchable papers, there is one having a paper size of 450 mm in length and 320 mm in width. When a stretched sheet of this size is placed on the processing tray, the corner of the stretched sheet interferes with the stapler 510 at the first retreat position 510- (e) of the stapler 510. Therefore, when the stretched paper is stacked on the processing tray, it is moved to the position 510- (g) in the drawing as the second retreat position before the stretched paper is discharged to the processing tray.
[0061]
The position 510- (g) is located between the first retreat position 510- (e) and the position 510- (c), which is one of the two binding positions, and uses a moving means for changing the binding position. And there is no need to provide a new moving mechanism to move to the second retreat position.
[0062]
If the normal evacuation position is set to 510- (g), when the user tries to access the stapler 510 by opening the cover of the sheet post-processing apparatus, the user cannot access the stapler 510 unless the stapler 510 is moved to a position in front of the user. This causes the user to wait.
[0063]
The second retreat position 510- (g) can prevent interference between the sheet and the stapler even at the binding position 510- (c) of the two-point binding, but since the moving distance is long, it takes time to move. It must be detected earlier that the stretched paper is discharged to the processing tray. Therefore, the position of the second retreat position 510- (g) is preferably as close as possible to the first retreat position 510- (e).
[0064]
Further, as described above, in the case where the offset amount can be adjusted by adjusting the alignment position, if the offset amount is made larger than the predetermined value, not only when the stretched paper is discharged, but also when the paper is discharged, The stapler retreat position is moved to the second retreat position even when the standard size paper, for example, a sheet having a large size width, such as A4, is discharged. This is to prevent the corner portion of the sheet bundle moving toward the front side from interfering with the stapler 510 by increasing the offset amount.
[0065]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the evacuation operation of the stapler.
[0066]
After the job is started, the process proceeds to the next step (STEP 1). Next, it is determined whether the mode is the binding mode or the non-binding mode. If the mode is the binding mode, the stapler is moved to the designated binding position (STEP 2). If it is not the binding mode, it is determined whether or not the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus main body is a stretched sheet (STEP 3). If the sheet is not stretched, the sheet is moved to the first retreat position (STEP 5). For example, it moves to the second retreat position (STEP 4). Thereafter, when the job is completed (STEP 6), the process returns to STEP 1 to repeat the above operation.
[0067]
The effect of changing the retracted position of the stapler to 510- (g) when the paper is stretched in this manner is that if the retracted position of the stapler 510 is moved to the position of 510- (f), interference may occur. Is solved, but it is necessary to extend the mechanism for sliding the stapler in the front-back direction, and furthermore, the size of the cover for covering those mechanisms, that is, the device becomes large, Although this may lead to an increase in cost due to the increase in size, this can be prevented.
[0068]
(System block diagram)
Next, a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus of FIG.
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 12, the controller has a CPU circuit section 350. The CPU circuit section 350 includes a CPU 351, a ROM 352, and a RAM 353, and each of the blocks 320, 330, 340, and 340 is controlled by a control program stored in the ROM 352. 353, 360, 370, and 600 are generally controlled. The RAM 353 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control.
[0070]
The document feeder control section 360 controls the drive of the document feeder 100 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit section 350. The image reader control unit 370 performs drive control on the above-described scanner unit 104, image sensor 109, and the like, and transfers an analog image signal output from the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 330.
[0071]
After converting the analog image signal from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal, the image signal control unit 330 performs various processes, converts the digital signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 340. Further, the digital image signal input from the computer 310 via the external I / F 320 is subjected to various processes, and the digital image signal is converted into a video signal and output to the printer control unit 340. The processing operation of the image signal control unit 330 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 350. The printer control unit 340 drives the above-described laser scanner unit 202 based on the input video signal.
[0072]
The operation unit 353 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state, and the like, and outputs a key signal corresponding to operation of each key to the CPU circuit unit 350. At the same time, the corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 350.
[0073]
The sheet processing apparatus control section 600 is mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 500, and controls driving of the entire sheet processing apparatus by exchanging information with the CPU circuit section 350. The details of this control will be described later.
[0074]
(Sheet processing device block diagram)
Next, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus control unit 600 that controls the driving of the sheet processing apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the sheet post-processing apparatus control unit in FIG.
[0075]
As shown in FIG. 11, the sheet processing apparatus control unit 600 includes a CPU circuit unit 610 including a CPU 611, a ROM 612, a RAM 613, and the like. The CPU circuit section 610 communicates with the CPU circuit section 350 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side via the communication IC 614 to exchange data, and various programs stored in the ROM 612 based on instructions from the CPU circuit section 350. To control the driving of the sheet processing apparatus 500.
[0076]
When performing this drive control, detection signals from various sensors are taken into the CPU circuit section 610. The various sensors include an entrance sensor 521, a swing home position sensor 522, a swing snow home position sensor 523, a tray detection sensor 524, a paper surface detection sensor 525, a return belt retreat sensor 526, a staple slide home position sensor 527, and a staple clinch. There is a home position sensor 528. Drivers 621 to 630 of each motor are connected to the CPU circuit unit 610, and each driver drives the motor based on a signal from the CPU circuit unit 610.
[0077]
Here, as the motor, a pair of entrance conveyance rollers 520, a discharge motor 641 that is a driving source of the return belt 560, and a swing roller 550 attached to the tip of the swing arm 551 for the sheet conveyed by the entrance conveyance roller pair 520. The swing roller drive motor 642 serves both as a drive for returning the sheet and a drive for discharging the bundle of sheets processed on the processing tray 540 to the stack tray 504. The swing roller driving motor 642 swings to catch the rear end of the sheet discharged to the processing tray 540. A swing arm drive motor 643, which is a drive source for driving the moving arm 551 in the vertical direction, and a drive source for driving the rear end alignment wall 570 for aligning the rear end of the sheet bundle discharged onto the stack tray 504. A paddle which is a pressing member for pressing down the rear end of a bundle of sheets stacked on the stack tray 504 with a certain rear end aligning wall drive motor 644 A paddle motor 645 as a drive source of the 83, a front alignment motor 646, a rear alignment motor 647, a staple unit 510 as a drive source of an alignment plate for aligning the sheets stacked on the processing tray 540 in the sheet conveying direction in the vertical direction. Include a staple slide motor 649 as a drive source for driving the stack tray 504, a stack tray motor 650 as a drive source for the stack tray 504, and a staple clinch motor 648 as a drive source for stapling the stapler 510.
[0078]
The discharge motor 641, the swing roller drive motor 642, the swing arm drive motor 643, the rear end alignment wall drive motor 644, the paddle motor 645, the front alignment motor 646, the rear alignment motor 647, and the staple slide motor 649 are composed of stepping motors. By controlling the excitation pulse rate, the roller pair driven by each motor can be rotated at a constant speed or at a unique speed. Also, a paper ejection motor 641, a swing roller drive motor 642, a swing arm drive motor 643, a front alignment motor 646, a rear alignment motor 647, and a staple slide motor 649 are a paper ejection motor driver 621, a swing roller drive motor driver 622, respectively. The swing arm drive motor driver 623, the front alignment motor driver 626, the rear alignment motor driver 627, and the staple slide motor driver 629 can be driven in the forward and reverse rotation directions.
[0079]
The staple clinch motor M8 and the stack tray motor M10 are DC motors.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, by providing a plurality of evacuation positions when the stapling mode is not selected, the distance from the evacuation position to the stapling position can be shortened, and the processing time for performing stapling can be shortened. Further, when the stretched paper is discharged and conveyed to the processing tray, the stapler is moved to a second retreat position between the binding position and a first retreat position which is a retreat position for a normal paper size. There is no need to extend or increase the size of the moving mechanism, and the size and size of the apparatus can be kept to a minimum, and a love and post-processing apparatus compatible with stretchable paper can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheet stacking alignment device.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a mechanism for moving a swing roller and an alignment member provided on a processing tray.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of the swing roller.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the operation of the return belt.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a sheet bundle discharging operation.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the alignment operation of the rear end of the sheet bundle according to the embodiment.
FIG. 8 illustrates a positional relationship between a sheet placed on a processing tray and a stapler.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a retracting operation of the stapler.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overall configuration of a conventional sheet processing apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a sheet processing apparatus control unit according to the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the entire image forming apparatus system according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Document reading device 101 Document setting tray 102 Platen glass 104 Scanner unit 105 Mirror 106 Mirror 107 Lens 109 Image sensor 112 Output tray 150 Document reading unit 202 Exposure control unit 203 Photoconductor drum 205 Developing unit 206 Fixing roller pair 207 Main unit side discharge Roller 200 Image forming device 237 Separation means 238 Pickup roller 500 Sheet post-processing device 504 Stack tray 508 Discharge unit 508a Discharge roller 508b Discharge roller 509 Discharge roller shaft 510 Stapler 512 Rear end alignment wall disturbing spring 520 Paddle 521 Inlet sensor 522 Swing HP sensor 523 Snowboard HP sensor 524 Tray detection sensor 525 Paper surface detection sensor 526 Return belt retreat sensor 527 Slide HP sensor 528 Clinch HP Sensor 529 Processing tray paper detection sensor 530 Front alignment HP sensor 531 Rear alignment HP sensor 532 Paddle HP sensor 533 Stack tray paper detection sensor 534 Stack tray encoder clock sensor 535 Paper surface detection upper sensor 536 Paper surface detection lower sensor 537 Tray upper limit sensor 538 Tray lower limit Sensor 539 Front cover open / close detection sensor 540 Processing tray 541 Front alignment plate 542 Rear alignment plate 550 Swing roller 551 Swing arm 552 Swing roller shaft 553 Swing arm shaft 554 Swing cam 555 Swing arm extension spring 556 Swing roller Drive belt 557 Swing roller driven pulley 560 Return belt 561 Lower guide 562 Sheet rear end stopper 563 Housing 564 Return belt pulley 565 Belt 570 Rear end alignment wall 571 Driven roller 572 Cam 573 Swing Rotating shaft 574 pinion gear 575 rear-end aligning wall home position sensor 577 rack support rollers 578 rack gear 580 bundle discharge unit 581 stacks tray 582 gripper 583 sheet returning member (paddle)
585 Front end regulating plate 590 Paddle rotation shaft 644 Rear end alignment wall drive motor S sheet

Claims (6)

A processing tray for temporarily stacking the sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus, a discharge unit for discharging the sheets to the processing tray, and performing a post-processing on a predetermined position of the sheet bundle temporarily stacked on the processing tray Post-processing means, a post-processing mode determining means for determining a mode for post-processing the sheet bundle, and a post-processing movement for moving the post-processing means in accordance with the determination of the post-processing mode determining means. A sheet post-processing device comprising:
When the post-processing mode determining unit determines that post-processing is not to be performed, the post-processing moving unit moves the post-processing unit to a position within the sheet width of the sheet bundle primarily stacked on the processing tray. And a sheet post-processing device. The post-processing mode determining means includes at least a first moving position and a second moving position as the moving positions when it is determined that the post-processing is not executed, and the sheet size discharged to the processing tray is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that there is a sheet, the post-processing unit moves to a second movement position. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first movement position is a home position. 4. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said determination means determines a size of the sheet in a width direction. 5. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second movement position is a position at which the sheet whose sheet size is equal to or larger than a predetermined value does not interfere. When the second movement position is between a post-processing position where post-processing is performed on a sheet bundle when the post-processing mode is selected and the first movement position, and a sheet whose sheet size is equal to or larger than a predetermined value interferes with each other. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed at a position where the sheet is not to be processed.

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