JP2892851B2 - Recording paper post-processing apparatus and recording paper post-processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording paper post-processing apparatus and a recording paper post-processing method having functions such as sorting and storing recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus or stapling the recording paper. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image-recorded recording paper discharged onto a staple tray is aligned and stapled every predetermined number of sheets.
A recording paper post-processing apparatus and a recording paper post-processing method for discharging a stapled recording paper bundle (bookbinding) to a discharge tray are well known. By the way, the stapling apparatus has a limit in stapling ability, and when stapling a bundle of recording sheets of a predetermined number or more, there is a danger of causing a staple jam. For this reason, the operator has to always be aware of the number of originals when setting the originals in the automatic document feeder. In order to prevent the staple from jamming due to the staple processing exceeding the capability, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-116169
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-264, a technique is proposed in which when the number of sheets of recording paper loaded in the staple section reaches the allowable number of sheets to be bound, the succeeding sheet is discharged to the shift tray section by the switching means.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, there is a problem that the recording paper bundle of one job is discharged to a separate paper discharge tray, so that the recording paper bundle must be realigned.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and reduces the workability of the operator even when the recording paper with the number of staples or more is discharged, in other words, when the document with the number of staples or more is set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording paper post-processing apparatus and a recording paper post-processing method without any.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge mechanism for transporting and storing recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus as it is or aligned, and a staple for binding an end of the recording paper after aligning the recording paper. A mechanism section, a first transport path and a second transport path for transporting recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus to the discharge mechanism section and the stapling mechanism section, respectively, and the first transport path and the second transport path. In the recording sheet post-processing apparatus, the path switching means includes a path switching unit for selectively guiding the recording sheet to any one of the conveyance paths, and an entrance conveyance roller for feeding the recording sheet from the image forming apparatus to the path switching unit. Means for counting the number of sheets of recording paper provided upstream of the means, and when the number of sheets counted by the means for counting the number of recording sheets reaches the permissible number of staples in the stapling mechanism. If the job end signal is not output, control means for discharging the recording paper that has been discharged to the staple tray without stapling and discharging the succeeding paper in the same job to the same tray as the preceding recording paper without stapling. This is achieved by the first means provided. Further, the above object is achieved by a second means in the first means, wherein the control means further controls the discharge of the recording paper after the next job to another tray by switching the path. Further, the object is to provide a discharge mechanism for conveying and storing the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus as it is or aligned, a stapling mechanism for binding the recording paper, and binding an end thereof, and the image forming apparatus. A first transport path and a second transport path for transporting the recording paper discharged from the printer to the discharge mechanism section and the stapling mechanism section, respectively, and the recording is performed on one of the first transport path and the second transport path. A path switching means for selectively guiding the paper, and an inlet conveyance roller for feeding the recording paper from the image forming apparatus to the path switching means, and the number of sheets by a recording sheet number counting means provided upstream of the path switching means. If the job end signal is not output when the counting result reaches the staple allowable number of sheets in the stapling mechanism section, the discharged recording paper is stapled to the staple tray. With discharged without Puru, succeeding sheet in the same Jiyobu it is also achieved by the third means so as to discharge the same tray and the recording sheet of the prior without staples. Further, the object is to provide a discharge mechanism for conveying and storing recording paper discharged from an image forming apparatus as it is or aligned, a stapling mechanism for binding the recording paper and binding an end thereof, and the image forming apparatus. A first transport path and a second transport path for transporting the recording paper discharged from the printer to the discharge mechanism section and the stapling mechanism section, respectively, and the recording is performed on one of the first transport path and the second transport path. Route switching means for selectively guiding paper;
A recording sheet post-processing device including an inlet conveyance roller for feeding the recording sheet from the image forming apparatus to the path switching means; a recording sheet number counting means provided upstream of the path switching means; If the job end signal is not output when the counting result of the number of sheets by the counting means reaches the allowable number of staples in the stapling mechanism section, all the recording sheets in the same job are sent to the staple tray and then discharged without stapling. This is achieved by a fourth means provided with control means.

[0006]

According to the first and third means, the control means comprises: a recording sheet number counting means provided upstream of the path switching means; and a counting result of the recording sheet number counting means by the staple mechanism in the stapling mechanism. If the job end signal is not output when the allowable number of sheets is reached, the recording paper that has been discharged to the staple tray is discharged without stapling, and the succeeding paper in the same job is not stapled and the same recording paper as the previous recording paper To be discharged. According to the second means, the control means controls the discharge of the recording paper after the next job to another tray by switching the path. According to the fourth means, the control means includes a recording sheet number counting means provided on the upstream side of the path switching means, and a time when the counting result of the recording sheet number counting means reaches the staple allowable number in the stapling mechanism. If the job end signal has not been output in step 2, all the recording sheets in the same job are sent to the staple tray and then discharged without stapling.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The finisher shown in FIG. 2 is provided on a side of an image forming apparatus (not shown).
Shift sorting section I on the upper side and staple section II on the lower side
It is composed of First, on the transport path of the shift sorting section I, a plurality of transport rollers and a driven roller that follows the transport rollers are arranged. The rotation shaft of the first conveyance roller 101 is connected to the rotation shaft of the conveyance drive motor M1 via the first timing belt 104, thereby obtaining a driving force. The rotation shaft of the first conveyance roller 101 is also connected to the rotation shaft of another conveyance roller and the rotation shaft of the discharge roller 102, and further to the rotation shaft of the shifting brush 103 by a second timing belt (not shown). Drive these. In addition, an entrance sensor SN1 is provided immediately before the uppermost conveyance roller 101,
A discharge sensor SN2 is provided immediately before the discharge roller 102, and detects a leading end and a trailing end of the conveyed paper. A switching claw 105 is disposed downstream of the first transport roller 101, and a staple unit II and a shift sorter I tray, which will be described later in the transport direction, are operated by a driving solenoid 230 and a spring (not shown). 3, 4, and 5, near the discharge port, a paper-feeding brush 103 is disposed immediately below the discharge roller 102. The recording paper dropped on the discharge tray 107 is moved toward the abutting plate 106 by the rotation thereof and abuts against the abutting plate 106, whereby the trailing edge of the recording paper is aligned. In the shift drive mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4, the abutting plate 106 and the discharge tray 107 are formed with irregularities, and are configured to mesh with each other. As a result, the discharge tray 107 can be freely moved in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4) with respect to the abutment plate 106, and is interlocked with the abutment plate 106 in the front-rear direction (the horizontal direction of the plane of FIG. 4). And move. 5 and 6, the abutment plate 106 is provided on a main body side different from the discharge tray 107 via a bearing 111 so as to have an axial shift guide 11.
2 so as to be freely movable in the front-rear direction. 6, the abutment plate 106 is eccentrically connected to the crank 113 via an arm rod 115. The above crank 113
Are arranged in parallel with the central axis of the copying machine. Detachable bracket 11 vertically projecting from side plate 100
6, a gear train 114 is arranged.
The crank 113 is connected to the shift motor M2 via the. The crank 113 is driven by driving the shift motor M2, and the abutting plate 106 reciprocates in the front-rear direction by the eccentric rotation action. Therefore, the discharge tray 107 regulated in the front-rear direction with respect to the abutting plate 106 also reciprocates in the front-rear direction. The shift plate 106 is provided with two shift detection plates 118 projecting from the abutment plate 106 at intervals substantially equal to the amount of movement by the crank 113. The detection by the sensor 117 indicates that one step of the butting operation and the tray shift operation has been completed.

As shown in FIG. 7, a holding roller 108 is supported by a bracket 119 fixed to the abutment plate 106 so as to be vertically movable and rotatable. The upper surface of the stacked recording paper is pressed by its own weight. The recording paper falls under the holding roller 108 due to gravity and the conveying force of the paper-feeding brush 103, and is abutted against the abutting plate 106. The discharge tray 10 is pressed by the pressing force of the holding roller 108.
When the number 7 is shifted, the recording paper shift is prevented.
A paper surface detection sensor SN3 is arranged on the main body side so as to face the holding roller 108. When the position of the press roller 108 rises due to the accumulation of the recording paper, the paper surface detection sensor SN3 detects a part of the press roller supporting bracket 108a, whereby the paper surface or the upper surface of the discharge tray reaches a specified height. Know. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in the vertical movement mechanism, the discharge tray 107
It is fixed to the tray support 110. Tray support 1
Reference numeral 10 denotes a tray vertical moving table 1 via a bearing 110a.
09 is supported movably back and forth. Therefore, as described above, the shift operation by the abutment plate 106 can be performed by the tray up-and-down moving table 109. As also shown in FIG.
9 is fixed to the third timing belt 120. The third timing belt 120 includes the front and rear side plates 10.
0, each of which is provided integrally with each other, and each of which is wound around a vertical drive pulley 121 and a driven pulley 122. The vertical drive pulley 121 is fixed to a vertical drive shaft 123, both of which penetrate between the side plates, and the vertical drive shaft 123 has a gear 1 having a one-way clutch.
24 are attached. The one-way clutch is configured to transmit a force in a direction to lift the discharge tray 107 to the vertical drive shaft 123. The gear 124 is connected to a vertical drive motor M3 via a gear train, a worm wheel 125, a worm 126, and the like. A bearing 127 is attached to a side surface of the vertical movement support table 109. The bearing 127 is attached to the vertical guide rail 128 fixed to the side plate 100, and the rotation moment is caused by the weight of the vertical movement guide and the discharge tray. To prevent the output tray from falling down. With the configuration described above, the worm 1 is normally used.
The lowering of the discharge tray 107 is stopped by the holding force of 26 and the locking of the one-way clutch. When the vertical drive motor M3 is rotated in the upward direction of the discharge tray 107, the one-way clutch is locked, and the pulleys 121 and 122 are rotated.
07 rises. Move the vertical drive motor M3 to the discharge tray 1
07, the one-way clutch is in a free state, whereby the discharge tray 107
It moves downward due to its own weight.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, an upper limit sensor SN4 and a lower limit sensor SN5 are installed inside the timing belt 120 so as to face the discharge tray 107, and each of them detects the upper and lower detection plates 129. As a result, the upper and lower limits of the discharge tray 107 are detected. When the discharge tray 107 is lowered, the one-way clutch is in a free state, so that the driving force of the vertical drive motor M3 is not transmitted to the discharge tray 107, and when the discharge tray 107 is lowered, the discharge tray 107 is stopped by external force. This also prevents troubles such as overload of the motor or pinching of fingers due to idling of the vertical drive motor M3. When the copy operation is started, the shift motor M2 is driven, and the abutment plate 106 moves in the front-rear direction via the rod 115 by the crank 113 as the crank 113 rotates. Along with this, the discharge tray 107, which is supported to be able to move up and down and back and forth, moves in the front and rear direction so as to mesh with the unevenness of the butting plate 106, and the shift operation starts. And the shift sensor 117
However, when the other shift detection plate 118 that is different from the one detected before the start of the shift operation is detected, the shift motor M2 is stopped by the signal, and the shift operation is terminated. After the shift operation is completed, the vertical drive motor M3 rotates in the tray rising direction, and the discharge tray 1
07 is raised. After the start of vertical movement, presser roller 108
A part of the supporting bracket 108a is a paper surface detection sensor SN.
3, or when the upper limit sensor SN4 detects the upper / lower detection plate 129, the signal stops the vertical drive motor M3, and the lifting of the discharge tray 107 ends. When the paper surface detection sensor SN3 detects the support bracket 108a, the vertical drive motor M3
Is rotated in the tray lowering direction, and when the paper surface detection sensor SN3 stops detecting the support bracket 108a, the vertical drive motor M3 stops. The recording paper discharged from the main body is transported at the same linear speed as the discharge speed from the main body.
1 receives. Entrance sensor SN as recording paper is conveyed
When 1 detects the trailing edge of the recording paper, the linear velocity is amplified to a value greater than the main body discharging speed of the recording paper, and the linear velocity is increased a predetermined time after the trailing edge of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor SN1. To the main body discharge speed, and then the discharge tray 10
The discharge to 7 is performed. The recording paper discharged to the discharge tray 107 sneaks under the holding roller 108 by the gravity and the conveying force due to the rotation of the fur brush 103, and is abutted against the abutting plate 106 to perform rear end alignment. At this time, when the specified number of copies is discharged, the shift motor M2 is rotated by the signal to start the shift operation. When the one-step shift is completed, the shift motor M2
Stops. By this operation, the stacking position of the recording paper on the discharge tray 107 is changed, and the recording paper is sorted. When the final sheet is discharged after a series of copying operations is completed, the vertical drive motor M3 is rotated in a downward direction by the signal, and the operation is completed after the discharge tray 107 is lowered by a predetermined amount. . When a certain amount of recording paper is accumulated, the paper surface approaches the paper discharge port, and a part of the holding roller support bracket 108a is detected by the paper surface detection sensor SN3, the vertical drive motor M3 is rotated in the tray lowering direction by the signal. Then, the holding force of the worm 126 and the lock of the one-way clutch are released, and the discharge tray 1 is released.
07 descends by its own weight. When the discharge tray 107 is lowered, the paper surface is lowered, and when a part of the holding roller support bracket 108a is not detected by the paper surface detection sensor SN3, the vertical drive motor M3 is driven by the signal.
Stops, and the holding force of the worm 126 and the lock of the one-way clutch work to stop the discharge tray 107.
The discharge tray 107 descends, and the vertical movement drive motor M3 is stopped by a signal when the upper and lower detection plate 129 is detected by the lower limit sensor SN5.
07 is prevented from falling.

In the moving mechanism of the stapler in the stapling section II, the stapler S is fixed to the stapler base 31 as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIG. The stapler base 31 is movably engaged in a guide hole 30b of the stapler slider 30 via a guide pin 32 in the direction shown in FIG. Further, a shaft 44 is fixed to the back side of the stapler base 31, and the guide roller 34 is rotatably attached to the shaft 44. The upper part of the stapler slider 30 is provided with a guide rod 3 bridged between both side plates 41 and 42.
12 is slidably mounted in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
The guide roller 33 attached to the lower part of the abutment is in contact with the surface of the stay 43 on the main body side so as to roll,
Thereby, the stapler slider 30 is locked in the rotation direction. A guide cam 35 is fixed to the stay 43, and the guide roller 34 is in contact with a cam surface formed on the upper end side of the guide cam 35 so as to roll. This allows the stapler slider 30 to reciprocate in the direction shown in FIG. 11k. At this time, the central portion of the guide cam 35 is formed so as to be depressed downward, so that the stapler slider 30 can move along the central portion. A detection plate 30a is provided at the upper end of the stapler slider 30, and the detection plate 30a shields the detection portion of the home position sensor 40 provided on the main body side, so that the home position of the stapler S is adjusted. Syon (HP) is detected. The side plate 41 is provided with a stepping motor 39 for moving the stapler. The stapler slider 30 is fixed to a part of the belt 38 driven by the stepping motor 39. You can move back and forth. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the right and left sliders 7 and 8 are reciprocally movable in the jog fluence slot 9 bridged between the side plates 41 and 42 in the moving mechanism of the jog fuence. The right slider 7 and the left slider 8 are fixed to the right and left jigor fuences 5 and 6, respectively. These right and left joo-fuences 5 and 6 have a function of aligning the paper bundle in the stapling operation, and discharge the stapled paper bundle by extending from the vicinity of the discharge roller 3 to the vicinity of the discharge tray 53. It functions as a guide member at the time.
Rear end fences 6a and 5a are provided at the lower end portions of the right and left jyoga fences 5 and 6 for holding the lower end edge of the bundle of sheets during stapling. Belt 10 driven by motor 11
The left slider 8 and the right slider 7 are fixed in the middle of the slider. These left slider 8 and right slider 7
Are fixed to different sides of the belt 10, respectively, so that the left jyoga fuence 6 and the right jyoga fuence 5 reciprocate symmetrically in the left-right direction in FIG. A guide roller 15 is attached to the upper rear side of the left and right jyoga fuences 6 and 5, and the guide roller 15 is attached to both side plates 41 and 4.
The guide stay 16 is in contact with the guide stay 16 that extends over the upper part of the guide 2 so as to roll. The left slider 8 has a detection plate 8a
The home position (HP) of the two joo fuences 6 and 5 is detected by the detection plate 8a shielding the detection portion of the home position sensor 14 provided on the main body side. . As shown in FIG. 16, curl retainers 64 are provided at the lower ends of the left and right jyoga fluences 6 and 5, thereby suppressing buckling during loading on the staple tray. The curl retainer 64 is formed of an elastic member such as a polyester film.

In the discharge belt mechanism, FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 15, the drive shaft 24 is attached to the upper end portions of the both side plates 41 and 42 so as to span the drive shaft 24, and the drive pulley 18 is fixed substantially at the center of the drive shaft 24. I have. The drive pulley 18
A fixed pulley 19 is provided in a lower part of the endless discharge belt 1 between the pulleys 18 and 19.
7 has been bridged. An intermediate portion of the discharge belt 17 is hung on an idle pulley 47 and guided by a guide plate 25 disposed inside the belt so as to prevent bending and displacement. The side plate 4
1, a belt drive motor 22 is fixed, and a belt 23 is provided between a pulley 21 attached to an output shaft of the belt drive motor 22 and a pulley 20 attached to one end of the drive shaft 24. The belt drive force is transmitted over the belt. A projection-like claw 46 is provided in the middle of the surface of the discharge belt 17 so as to grip the sheet bundle from below. As shown in FIG. 2, a home position sensor 48 for detecting the position of the claw 46 is provided inside the discharge belt 17, and the home position of the claw 46 is detected by the home position sensor 48. HP) is detected. Conveying speed V ₂ such discharge belt 17 is set to such that slightly greater than = discharge line velocity V ₁ of the sheet discharge roller _{3 (V 2 ≧ V 1)} , by connexion of the following to The job bundle is prevented from being ejected together with the already bound bundle. Each mechanism of such a stapler is configured to form one unit, and is supported by guide rails 51 and 52 so that it can be pulled out to the near side. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge tray mechanism has a base of a paper discharge tray 53 fixed on a tray base 54. A guide roller 56 is rotatably attached to the tray table 54, and the guide roller 56 is engaged with a guide rail (not shown) to thereby form a paper discharge tray 53 together with the tray table 54.
Can move up and down. The tray table 54 is given an upward biasing force by a lift spring 55. Driving force is transmitted from the conveying motor 59 to the conveying rollers 60, 61, and 62 through a belt (not shown), and driving force is also transmitted to the discharge roller 3 from the conveying motor 59 by a belt (not shown). . Fur brushes 1a and 1b are attached to the rotating shaft 2 of the discharge roller 3, and the fur brushes 1a and 1b are driven to rotate in synchronization with the discharge roller 3. The bristle tips of the fur brushes 1a, 1b are in contact with the guide plates 26, 27. Guide plate 2
The protruding ribs 26a, 27a for holding the lower edge of the stapled sheet bundle are provided on the sheets 6, 27, and the protruding ribs 26b, 27b are formed so as to protrude to the front side. Therefore, the recording paper is bent back to the back side by the protruding ribs 26b and 27b and the pressing force of the bristle tips of the fur brushes 1a and 1b to be deformed in a wavy shape, thereby preventing the paper bundle from buckling. It has a certain waist.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16 in particular, the amount L of projection of the upper guide plate 67 of the paper discharge portion from the rotation center of the paper discharge roller 3 is set to be larger than the protrusion l of the paper being sent. In this case, the above-mentioned fur brush 1
Even if the recording paper does not fall below the a and 1b and enters between the upper guide plate 67 and the fur brushes 1a and 1b, the rear end of the recording paper is scraped down by the bristle tips of the fur brushes 1a and 1b. It has become so. Next, the processing operation of the recording paper will be described. First, a stapling operation is selected by a stapling key, an original (N sheets) is set on an original feeding table (RDH) (not shown), and the number of copies (K) is set to one.
When the copy button is pressed after inputting with the 0 key, a copy size signal is received from the copying machine main body, and it is determined whether or not the size is such that it can be inserted into the staple portion. In the case of a size that can be put in the staple portion, the claw 46 of the discharge belt 17 is home position (HP).
Is determined. If it is not at the home position, it is returned to the home position by the belt drive motor 22. Also, it is detected whether or not the stapler S is at the home position. If the home position has been detected, the stapler S moves to a predetermined location according to the size signal, and the home position must be detected. If
The stapler S moves until a home position is detected, and moves from the home position to a predetermined location according to a size signal. Also, it is detected whether or not the joga fuences 5 and 6 are in the home position (HP). If the home position is detected, the jog fuences 5 and 6 are moved to a predetermined location by the size signal, and the home position is detected. If no position is detected, the joga fluences 5 and 6 move until a home position is detected, and after the home position is detected, move to a predetermined position according to a size signal. The moving place at this time is amm on one side from the size width,
The position is 2 amm apart on both sides. When the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor SN1, the switching guide member 105 is switched to the staple tray by the switching solenoid 230, and guidance is performed.
When the trailing end of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor SN1, the recording paper is fed at a high speed. The switching solenoid 230 is turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time from the passage of the entrance sensor SN1, that is, the passage of time until the passage through the switching guide member 105. The recording paper is discharged to the staple tray by the discharge roller 3, and when the recording paper is being discharged, the upper guide plate 6 of the discharge section
The electric charge charged on the recording paper is removed by the static elimination brush 63 fixed at 7. The discharge rollers 3
A brim is provided, whereby the recording paper is bent in a wave shape and stiffened. When the trailing end of the recording sheet passes through the discharge roller 3, the rear end of the recording sheet is pushed down by the coaxial fur brushes 1a and 1b, and the trailing end fence 26a,
27a and the rear end fluences 5a and 6a provided on the yoga fluences 5 and 6, respectively. After a predetermined time has passed after passing through the lower sheet ejection sensor 50,
The normal and reverse rotations of the drive motors 11 of the joga fluences 5 and 6 which have been waiting until then are repeated once or twice, whereby the recording paper is aligned in the width direction, and after such paper alignment is performed, the standby position is set. Is returned to. This paper alignment operation is repeated for each recording sheet, and is performed until the end signal of one job is issued from the copying machine main body. Next, when the end signal of one job is issued and received from the copying machine main body, the above-described operation is executed again, and the recording paper bundle is pressed in the width direction by the joga fuences 5 and 6. Then, the drive motor 223 in the stapler S starts driving, and the recording paper bundle is bound. In this binding operation, it is determined whether or not one-point hitting is performed. In the case of one-point hitting, after the binding operation is completed, the joga fuences 5 and 6 are moved to positions slightly away from the paper bundle. In the case of two or more hits, the stapler is moved to a predetermined position by the stapler moving motor 39 and the binding operation is performed again. After the binding operation is performed, the joga fuences 5 and 6 are returned to positions where they have slightly escaped from the paper bundle. It is. At this time, the discharge belt 17 rotates in the direction of FIG. The drive motor 22 starts counting pulses from the home position of the pawl 46 and stops after counting the set number of pulses. The stop position of the claw 46 is near the highest point of the drive pulley 18 where the recording paper bundle is discharged. In this way, the recording paper bundle is discharged to the discharge tray 53 by the inertial force due to the constant speed movement of the claw 46, and thereafter, the discharge belt 17 rotates again in the same direction, and stops when the claw 46 detects the home position. stand by. Number of copies set last (k copies)
It is determined whether or not the operation has been completed. At the end, the joga fuences 5, 6 and the stapler S move to the home position, and when the operation has not been completed, the above-described operation is executed again. In such an apparatus, the up-down operation of the discharge tray 107 is performed at the time of turning on the power or at the time of the leading edge of the mode.
The CPU checks the output states of the lower limit sensor SN5 and the paper surface sensor SN3, and determines the current position of the discharge tray 107. If the upper limit sensor SN4 and the paper surface sensor SN3 are on, the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on, and the discharge tray 107 is lowered to the point where the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned off. If only the upper limit sensor SN4 is ON, nothing is performed.
When the upper limit sensor SN4, the lower limit sensor SN5, and the paper surface sensor SN3 are all off, the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on and the upper limit sensor SN4 or the paper surface sensor S
The discharge tray 107 is raised until N3 is turned on. When the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned on, the paper surface sensor S
It is lowered until N3 is turned off. When only the paper surface sensor SN3 is on, the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on, and the discharge tray 107 is lowered until the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned off. When the lower limit sensor SN5 and the paper surface sensor SN3 are ON, it is determined that the recording paper is full on the discharge tray 107, and a signal indicating that the paper is full is transmitted to the copying machine main body. Then, after the recording paper is removed, the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the discharge tray 107 is raised until the upper limit sensor SN4 or the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned on. Paper surface sensor SN
When 3 is turned on, the discharge tray 107 is lowered until the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned off.

When restarting in the same mode,
When the power is turned on, the same operation as when the mode is selected is performed in synchronization with the copy start signal of the main body. During copying and at the end of copying, when the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned on, the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on, and the discharge tray 107 is lowered until the paper surface sensor SN3 is turned off. When this operation is repeatedly performed and the lower limit sensor SN5 is turned on, a signal indicating that the recording paper is full in the discharge tray 107 is transmitted to the main body. When this operation is overlapped with the tray shift operation, the tray shift operation is prioritized. During the shift operation, the operation is in a standby state and is performed after the shift is completed. After the final paper has passed through the main body discharge sensor 215, a finish stop signal is transmitted. When this signal is received, the final paper is discharged to the discharge tray 107, and then the vertical drive motor M3 is turned on. The predetermined amount of discharge tray 107
And copy paper can be easily removed.
Next, when the power is turned on, the shift operation is not performed. When the shift or proof mode is selected and the mode signal is received, the shift motor M2 is turned on to move the discharge tray 107, and when the shift detection sensor 117 is turned on, the shift motor M2 is turned off. Is done. By this operation, the discharge tray 10
The paper remaining in 7 and the new job paper are sorted. Such an operation is in a standby state during the tray up-down operation, and is performed after the up-down operation is completed. In this way, even if recording paper remains on the discharge tray 107, the recording paper is pressed by the pressing roller 108, and the recording paper does not shift during shifting. At the time of copying and at the end of copying, the last sheet of the copy set is
5, a shift signal is transmitted. The finisher receives this signal, and the rear end of the last sheet passes over the sheet discharge sensor SN2. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the shift motor M2 is turned on.
The shift operation is started. When the shift detection sensor 117 is turned on, the shift motor M2 is turned off. The above operation has priority over the tray up / down operation. During the shift operation, the tray up / down operation is in a standby state, and the up / down operation is performed after the shift is completed.
This prevents the paper from being shifted due to the shift. When the restart is performed in the same mode, the shift operation is not performed at the start of copying, and the same operation as during the copying is performed during copying. Next, the joga fluence operation will be described. First, when the power is turned on and when the mode is selected, the output states of the jogger home position sensor 14 and the tray paper presence / absence sensor 205 are checked by the CPU, and the following operations are executed. If only the yoga home position sensor 14 is ON, nothing is performed. If the tray paper presence / absence sensor 205 is on, a signal indicating that recording paper remains on the staple tray is transmitted to the main body. When the jogger home position sensor 14 and the tray paper presence sensor 205 are off, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned on, and the jogger fences 5 and 6 move in the home position direction.
When the jogger home position sensor 14 is turned on, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned off. At the time of copying, at the end of copying, and at the time of restarting copying, if a paper size signal is received after the start of copying of the main body, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned on and the jogger fluences 5 and 6 move to a predetermined distance before the width of the paper. Stop at the position and wait. When a predetermined time elapses after the paper passes through the paper discharge sensor 50, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned on, the jog joists 5, 6 at the standby position move, the papers are aligned, and the paper returns to the standby position again. At this time, the jogger drive motor 11 repeats forward / reverse rotation once to several times, whereby the jogger fluences 5 and 6 execute the alignment operation in the paper width direction. Such an operation is performed every time the recording paper is discharged onto the staple tray. When the last sheet of the copy set passes through the main body ejection sensor 215, a staple signal is transmitted. Upon receiving this signal, the last sheet is ejected to the staple tray. The joga fuences 5 and 6 move to the holding positions and stop. When the stapling operation is completed, the joga fuences 5 and 6 move to positions slightly away from both ends in the width direction of the paper. Then, the recording paper bundle is discharged to the discharge tray 53 by the discharge belt 17. In this way, the paper is prevented from shifting during stapling, and the jogger fluences 5, 6 are used as guides in the width direction when the recording paper bundle is discharged.

The above operation is repeatedly performed for the number of copies, and when the final recording paper bundle is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 53, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned on, and the jog joe fluences 5 and 6 are home-positioned. Then, when the jogger home position sensor 14 is turned on, the jogger drive motor 11 is turned off. When the power of the stapler operation is turned on and when the mode is selected, the output states of the one-rotation sensor 210, the needle presence sensor 211, and the stapler home sensor 212 are checked by the CPU, and the following operations are executed. If the one-rotation sensor 210 is off and the tray ejection presence / absence sensor 205 is on, it is determined that a stapling failure has occurred, and a stapler abnormality signal is transmitted to the main body. When the staple presence sensor 211 is in the off state, a stapler staple absence signal is transmitted to the main body. When the stapler home sensor 40 is on, nothing is performed. When the stapler home sensor 40 is off and the one-rotation sensor 210 is on, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned on and the stapler S moves in the home position direction. Stapler home sensor 40
Is turned on, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned off. If the one-rotation sensor 210 is off, it is determined that a staple error or a jam has occurred, and the apparatus stands by in that state. When the one-rotation sensor 210 is turned on by artificial processing, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned on, the stapler moves in the home position direction, and the stapler moving motor 39 is turned off after the stapler home sensor 40 is turned on. I'm sorry. At the time of copying, at the end of copying, and at the time of restarting copying, when a paper size signal is received after the main body starts copying, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned on, and the stapler S is moved by a predetermined amount to a position corresponding to the paper size. Next, a staple ON signal is transmitted from the main body after the last paper of the copy set passes through the main body discharge sensor 215, and when the signal is received, the last paper is discharged onto the staple tray, and the jog fuences 5, 6 are recorded on the recording paper. When both ends in the width direction of the bundle are pressed, the staple motor 223 is turned on to perform the stapling operation. When the one-rotation sensor 210 is turned on, the staple motor 223 is turned off. In the case of the two-stapling mode, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned on, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned off when the stapler S moves a predetermined amount according to the paper size, and the stapling operation at the second position is performed. When such a stapling operation is repeatedly performed for the number of copies and the final bundle of recording sheets is stapled,
When the stapler moving motor 39 is turned on, the stapler S moves in the home position direction, and the stapler home sensor 40 is turned on, the stapler moving motor 39 is turned off.

Next, the operation of the discharge belt will be described. When the power is turned on and the mode is selected, the CPU checks the output state of the belt home sensor 48, the tray discharge sensor 205, and the rotation sensor 210, and performs the next operation. When the belt home sensor 48 is on and the tray discharge sensor 205 is off, nothing is performed. If both the belt home sensor 48 and the tray ejection sensor 205 are off, it is determined that the ejection belt 17 has not returned to the home position, the belt drive motor 22 is turned on, the ejection belt 17 is operated, and the belt Home sensor 48
Is turned on, the belt drive motor 22 is turned off. If the belt home sensor 48 is off and the tray discharge sensor 20
If the switch 5 is on, it is determined that a discharge failure has occurred, and a signal is sent to the copier body to remove the recording paper bundle on the staple tray. After the bundle of recording sheets is removed, the belt drive motor 22 is turned on to operate the discharge belt 17, and when the belt home sensor 48 is turned on, the belt drive motor 22 is turned off. At the time of copying and at the end of copying,
When the last sheet of the copy set is discharged onto the staple tray and the stapler S performs the binding operation of the bundle of recording sheets, the one-rotation sensor 210 is turned on and it is confirmed that the stapling has been performed normally. After that, the belt drive motor 2
2 is turned on, the discharge belt 17 is operated, the stapled recording paper bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray 53, and when the belt home sensor 48 is turned on, the belt drive motor 22 is turned off. Such an operation is repeated for the number of copies. In the shift tray system of the transport system, a finish start signal is transmitted when the copying machine body starts copying, and when the signal is received,
The transport motor 220 is turned on, and the low-speed operation is performed at the same speed as the main body linear speed. When the recording paper is discharged from the main body and the entrance sensor SN1 is turned on, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether or not the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor SN1 within a predetermined time, and the jam is detected. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor SN1 and the entrance sensor SN1 is turned off, the transport motor 220 is switched to high-speed operation, and the transport speed is increased. In addition, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether or not the leading end of the recording paper turns on the paper discharge sensor SN2 within a predetermined time to detect a jam. After a predetermined time has passed after passing through the entrance sensor SN1, the transport motor 220 is returned to the low-speed operation, and is ready for the next recording paper conveyance. When the paper discharge sensor SN2 detects the recording paper and turns on, a timer is set, and whether or not the recording paper passes within a predetermined time is monitored to detect a jam. By repeating such an operation, in the case of the shift tray mode, the shift signal is received, and the last sheet of the copy set is detected by the sheet discharge sensor SN.
After a predetermined time elapses after passing through 2, the shift OK signal is output, and the timing of performing the shift operation is measured. When the final recording paper is discharged from the main body, a finish stop signal is transmitted. The signal is received. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the final recording paper has passed the paper discharge sensor SN2, the conveyance motor 220 is turned off. Is done.

Next, in the staple tray system, when the copying machine main body starts copying, a finish start signal is transmitted. When the signal is received, the transport motor 220 is turned on, and the low speed operation is started at the main body linear speed. It is done at the same speed as. When the recording paper is discharged from the main body and the entrance sensor SN1 is turned on, the switching solenoid 230 and the lower conveyance motor 226 are turned on at a low speed to set a timer to determine whether the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor SN1 within a predetermined time. Monitoring is performed to detect the jam. When the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through the entrance sensor SN1 and the entrance sensor SN1 is turned off and a predetermined time has elapsed, the lower transport motor 226 is switched to high-speed operation, and the transport speed is increased. Further, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether or not the leading end of the recording paper turns on the lower discharge sensor 50 within a predetermined time, thereby performing the jam detection. When a predetermined time elapses after the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the entrance sensor SN1, the switching solenoid 230 is turned off. When the lower discharge sensor 50 detects the recording paper and turns on, a timer is set, and it is monitored whether the recording paper passes within a predetermined time to detect a jam. When a predetermined time elapses after the recording paper has passed the lower discharge sensor 50, the lower transport motor 226 is switched to low-speed operation. When such operations are repeated and a staple signal is received,
After a predetermined time has passed after the last sheet of the copy set has passed the lower sheet ejection sensor 50, the paper alignment operation by the jog fluence is performed, and then the timing at which the stapling operation is performed is measured. When the final recording paper is discharged from the main body, a finish stop signal is transmitted. When the signal is received, the final recording paper passes the paper discharge sensor 50,
After a predetermined time has elapsed, the transport motor 220 and the lower transport motor 226 are turned off. Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the CPU on the copying machine side and the CPU on the finisher side are connected by an optical fiber. In the shift tray section of the finisher, a transport motor 1002 is connected to the CPU 1000 via a servo control circuit 1001, and an up / down motor 1004 is connected via a forward / reverse driver circuit 1003. A shift motor 1006 is connected via 1005. Further, signals from various sensors and various switches 1007 are input to the CPU 1000. Furthermore, the CPU 1000 is connected to the staple unit via an interface (I / O) 1020 via a connector. And the above interface 1
020, the transport motor 1011 via the servo control circuit 1009, the discharge motor 1013 via the servo control circuit 1012, the jogger motor 1015 via the stepping control motor control circuit 1014, and the stepping control motor control. A stapler moving motor 1017 is connected via a circuit 1016, respectively. Further, the interface 1020 includes various sensors and various switches 1018.
Is input.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a part particularly related to the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the control contents. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes C on the post-processing device side.
PU and SN1 are entrance sensors, 108 is a staple unit (stapler S), 1013 is a discharge motor (belt drive motor 22), 230 is a switching solenoid, 103
0 is a main body CPU. Further, S ₁ is Jiyobuendo signal transmitted from the main body, S ₂ is the mode switching signal transmitted from the post-processing apparatus to switch the solenoid 230 side.

Next, the control operation will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is detected by the entrance sensor SN1 (S1), and the number of recording papers is counted for each job (S2 to S5). Next, the sheet is sent to the switching claw 105 by the conveying roller 101. Here, the path of the recording paper is switched by the switching claw 105 to the shift tray section or the staple section in the selection mode. Here, when the staple mode is selected, the sheet is conveyed to the staple tray by the switching claw 105 as described above. When the number of recording sheets counted by the signal of the entrance sensor SN1 becomes equal to the allowable number of sheets cu, that is, when the number reaches the allowable number of sheets (cu = 30) (Y in S6), the job end signal S _1. Is determined (Y in S7), that is, if the copy is completed with the limit of the allowable number of sheets, the binding operation is performed (S7).
8) The recording paper is discharged (discharged to the discharge tray 53) (S)
9). If there is no such Jiyobuendo signal S ₁ (Y in S7), first, releasing only 30 sheets of allowable number of sheets without staple (S10). On the other hand, when the number of recording sheets conveyed to the staple tray is not the allowable number of sheets (N in S6), it is determined whether or not the number is more than 30 (S1).
1). If the number is small (N in S11), the stapling process is naturally possible. If the job end signal S ₁ = is output (Y in S12), the stapling process is performed (S13), and then the recording paper is discharged (S14). . Shall apply in 30 sheets or less (Y in S11), if out Jiyobuendo signal S ₁ (Y at S15), to eject the recording paper after the next Jiyobu the discharge tray (shift tray) 107, mode switching signal S ₂ is output to the switching solenoid 230 (S
16).

[0019]

As described above, claims 1 to 4
According to the invention described above, even if the operator sets originals that are equal to or larger than the allowable number of sheets to be bound, all the recording sheets of one job are set to one.
Since the discharge is performed at the location, the workability of the operator can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram according to a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view showing an overall configuration of a finisher to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a discharge unit to a discharge tray.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view showing a tray fitted state in the tray shift swing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory plan view showing a drive system of a tray shift swing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view illustrating a drive system of a tray shift swing mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view illustrating a paper ejection holding mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory side view of a paper ejection tray raising / lowering mechanism.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a paper ejection tray raising / lowering mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating a schematic structure of a paper discharge processing system.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory front view showing a schematic configuration of a staple unit.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory bottom view illustrating a schematic configuration of a staple unit.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory side view showing a mounting structure of the stapler.

FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of a discharge device.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged side view illustrating a staple discharge unit.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a control system for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Stapler 53 Discharge tray 105 Switching claw 107 Discharge tray 230 Switching solenoid 1000 CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yukitaka Nakazato 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Osuga 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 72 Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichi Fujii 2-28-24 Izumi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Inside Yokotabir Ricoh Elemex Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-60-205466 (JP, A) JP-A-63-26663 (JP, A) JP-A-63-116169 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37/00-37/06 B42C 1/12 G03G 15/00 108-114 G03G 15/00 309

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A discharge mechanism for transporting and storing the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus as it is or aligned;
A stapling mechanism that binds the edges of the recording paper after aligning the recording paper; and a first conveyance path and a first conveyance path that convey the recording paper ejected from the image forming apparatus to each of the ejection mechanism and the stapling mechanism. A second conveyance path, a path switching unit for selectively guiding the recording sheet to one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, and an entrance conveyance for feeding the recording sheet from the image forming apparatus to the path switching unit. In a recording paper post-processing apparatus provided with rollers, the number of recording paper sheets counting means provided upstream of the path switching means, and the number of sheets counted by the recording paper sheet number counting means reaches the allowable number of staples in the stapling mechanism. If the job end signal has not been output at the point in time when the recording paper has been ejected to the staple tray without being stapled,
Control means for discharging the succeeding paper in the same job to the same tray as the preceding recording paper without stapling. 2. The recording paper post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control means further controls the recording paper after the next job to be discharged to another tray by switching a path. . 3. A discharge mechanism for conveying and storing the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus as it is or aligned,
A stapling mechanism that binds the edges of the recording paper after aligning the recording paper; and a first conveyance path and a first conveyance path that convey the recording paper ejected from the image forming apparatus to each of the ejection mechanism and the stapling mechanism. A second conveyance path, a path switching unit for selectively guiding the recording sheet to one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, and an entrance conveyance for feeding the recording sheet from the image forming apparatus to the path switching unit. If a job end signal has not been output when the number of sheets counted by the recording sheet number counting means provided upstream of the path switching means has reached the allowable number of staples in the staple mechanism, the sheet has been discharged to the staple tray. And discharges the next sheet of paper in the same job onto the same tray as the previous sheet without stapling. Recording paper post-processing method, characterized in that there was Unishi. 4. A discharge mechanism for transporting and storing recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus as it is or aligned,
A stapling mechanism that binds the edges of the recording paper after aligning the recording paper; and a first conveyance path and a first conveyance path that convey the recording paper ejected from the image forming apparatus to each of the ejection mechanism and the stapling mechanism. A second conveyance path, a path switching unit for selectively guiding the recording sheet to one of the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, and an entrance conveyance for feeding the recording sheet from the image forming apparatus to the path switching unit. In a recording paper post-processing apparatus provided with rollers, the number of recording paper sheets counting means provided upstream of the path switching means, and the number of sheets counted by the recording paper sheet number counting means reaches the allowable number of staples in the stapling mechanism. If the job end signal is not output at the time when the recording is performed, control is performed so that all recording paper in the same job is sent to the staple tray and then discharged without stapling. Recording paper post-processing apparatus is characterized in that a stage.