JP2001048412A - Sheet storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To load and store sheets on a loading tray in the state of restraining collapse of sheets by shifting a sheet on a binding device so that a bound sheet is put on the loading tray with a binding region thereof shifted to the outside of a sheet which is not bound. SOLUTION: A push back position in shifting a sheet by a registration reference member and a pushed back position of a sheet when the sheet is not bound, are set as a third position Q3. In the case where a sheet is bound, a sheet push- back position is taken as a first position Q1 only when the push-back position of the sheet located immediately before is a second position Q2, and in the other cases, it is taken as the second position Q2. Accordingly, in the case where sheets not bond and sheets stapled with staples STP are mixed on the sheet loading tray 12, stapled STP regions of the bound sheets are shifted to the outside of sheets S not bound.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet accommodating sheet ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine in which two or more of them are combined, and other sheet processing apparatuses. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet storage apparatus for storing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer or other sheet processing apparatuses usually includes a stacking tray for storing discharged sheets. . Furthermore, before stacking and storing the sheets on the stacking tray, the sheet processing apparatus may include a binding processing device that collects a plurality of sheets and performs a binding process at, for example, one corner of the sheet. Such binding processing is usually stapling.

[0003]

However, in the conventional sheet storage apparatus, when sheets bound and unbound are mixed and stored on the stacking tray, all the sheets are entirely vertically overlapped. It was housed mixedly in a state. Therefore, when the stacking capacity of the sheets increases, only the portion where the stapled portions overlap vertically becomes bulky upward, and as a result, the stacked sheets partially shift laterally and the stacking capacity of the sheets is increased. There is a problem that the state collapses from a desired correct state. In particular, there is a problem in that if a sheet that has not been subjected to a binding process is laterally displaced and collapsed, it takes time to rearrange the sheet.

[0004] Further, even in the case where only the sheets subjected to the binding processing are stacked and stored on the stacking tray, all the sheets are stacked and housed in a state where they are entirely vertically stacked, so that the stacking capacity of the sheets is increased. Then, only the portion where the bound portion overlaps vertically becomes bulky upward, and as a result, the stacked sheets are partially laterally displaced and the stacked and stored state of the sheets is distorted from a desired correct state. There was a problem.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a sheet storage apparatus that can transfer sheets discharged from a sheet storage apparatus to a stacking tray after performing sheet binding processing or without performing sheet binding processing and stack and store the sheets on the stacking tray. In the apparatus, even when the bound sheets are stacked on the stacking tray, in a state where the collapse of the accommodated sheets is suppressed,
In particular, the present invention provides a sheet storage device capable of stacking and storing sheets on a stacking tray in a state where the sheets to be stapled and unstitched sheets are mixed and stored on the stacking tray while suppressing collapse of the stored sheets. That is the task.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a stacking tray for stacking and storing sheets, and a method for once receiving sheets discharged from a sheet processing apparatus and performing sheet binding processing, or A binding processing device that transfers the sheets to the stacking tray without performing the binding process; and a sheet shift device provided for the binding processing device. The sheet shift device performs a binding process on the stacking tray. In a case where the bound sheets and the unbound sheets are mixed and accommodated, the bound sheets of the bound sheets are shifted to the outside of the unbound sheets and are placed on the stacking tray. The present invention further provides a sheet storage device for performing a shift process of a sheet on the binding processing device.

According to this sheet storage apparatus, the sheet discharged from the sheet processing apparatus is once received by the binding processing apparatus, and is subjected to the binding processing or without being subjected to the binding processing. It is delivered on the loading tray. In this way, the sheets are stacked and stored on the stacking tray. In a case where a sheet subjected to the binding process and a sheet not subjected to the binding process are mixed and accommodated on the stacking tray, the sheet shift device does not perform the binding process on the binding-processed portion of the sheet subjected to the binding process. The sheet shift processing is performed so that the sheet is placed on the stacking tray so as to be shifted to the outside of the sheet. Thus,
The sheets are stacked and accommodated on the stacking tray such that the binding processing portion of the bound sheet is located outside the unbound binding sheet, and the binding processing portion overlaps with the unbound binding sheet and the binding processing portion The problem that the only part that overlaps the upper and lower parts becomes extremely bulky is avoided, and the collapse of the sheets on the stacking tray is suppressed accordingly. Is suppressed.

In the case where the sheets that have been bound on the stacking tray are stacked and accommodated vertically adjacent to each other, the sheet shift device may be used to bind the vertically bound sheets that have been stitched adjacent to each other on the stacking tray. The shift processing of the sheet on the binding processing device may be performed so that the binding processing portions of the sheet do not overlap each other. This suppresses sheet collapse even when only sheets that have been bound on the stacking tray are stacked and stored.

In any case, as the binding processing device, a sheet receiving position above the stacking tray for receiving a sheet discharged from the sheet processing device, and a sheet retracted from the sheet receiving position to place the sheet on the stacking tray by its own weight. A processing tray that can be moved between a retreat position for moving and passing over the sheet, and provided for the sheet binding process at the sheet receiving position, and a binding process for performing a binding process on a sheet on the processing tray at the sheet receiving position. It includes a processing device and an alignment device that aligns a sheet discharged from the sheet processing device with the binding processing device, and the alignment device also serves as the sheet shift device.

In a case where a sheet bound and a sheet not bound are mixed and stored on the stacking tray, the bound portion of the bound sheet is located outside of the unbound sheet. In performing the shift processing of the sheets on the binding processing apparatus so that the sheets are shifted and placed on the stacking tray, for example, a control unit that causes the sheet shift apparatus to execute such sheet shift processing can be provided. In that case, the control unit, when the sheets bound on the stacking tray are stacked and accommodated vertically next to each other, the sheet of the sheets bound vertically adjacent on the stacking tray is The sheet shift device may be configured to execute a shift process of a sheet on the binding processing device so that the binding processing portions do not overlap each other.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example of a sheet storage apparatus according to the present invention and an example of a sheet processing apparatus to which the apparatus is connected. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing the internal structure of the sheet storage device according to the present invention from the side.

The sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a digital copying machine 9, and a printing section 91 and a printing section 9 for forming an image on a sheet by electrophotography according to image information.
An image reading unit 92 provided above the image reading unit 1 and reading a document image; an openable and closable automatic document feeder 93 mounted on a document mounting glass (not shown) of the image reading unit 92;
A sheet supply unit 94 and the like below the print unit 91 are provided.

In the copying machine 9, a document is set on the automatic document feeder 93 and sent to a document placing glass, or the apparatus 93 is opened and a document is set directly on the document placing glass. The image of the original set on the original placing glass is read by the image reading unit 92. The image information thus read is sent to the print unit 91. The printing section 91 forms an image corresponding to the document image on the sheet sent from the sheet supply section 94 by the electrophotographic method known per se based on the sent image information.

The sheet on which an image has been formed in this way is
The sheet is discharged from the copying machine 9 to the sheet storage device SA according to the present invention. The sheet processing apparatus to which the sheet accommodating apparatus of the present invention is connected and used is not limited to a copying machine, and a printer, a facsimile machine for forming an image by transmitting image information from a separately prepared image reading apparatus, a computer or the like Machine, or a multifunction machine combining one or more of them.

The sheet storage device SA has the following. (1) a loading tray (sheet loading tray) 12 for loading sheets discharged from the copying machine 9 (see FIG. 2 and the like);
(2) a binding processing device A (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for temporarily receiving a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 and passing it to a stacking tray; (3) a sheet provided for the binding processing device A (4) a sheet holding device E (see FIG. 4) for holding a sheet on the binding device A, and (5) a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9. G (see FIG. 2 and the like) for guiding the sheet to the sheet binding device A, the mail bin device F, or the tray T.

The components (1) to (5) will be described below. (1) Sheet Loading Tray 12 (See FIGS. 1 to 3 and the Like) As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet loading tray 12 is provided in the sheet storage case CA so as to be able to move up and down. And a drive device 121 including a transmission device for transmitting the motor power to the tray 12 to raise and lower the tray.
Is set to move to a predetermined height position at a predetermined timing. The motor M2 operates based on an instruction from a control device CONT (see FIG. 7) for controlling the operation of the sheet storage device.

The control device CONT includes a computer, and a control device C on the copying machine side for controlling the operation of the copying machine 9.
When the sheet processing apparatus is a printer, the apparatus includes means capable of communicating with the ONT 'and a computer connected to the printer or the like. An operation panel PAN of the copying machine is connected to the control unit CONT 'of the copying machine. The operation panel PAN has a print key for instructing the start of copying, a numeric keypad for setting the number of copies, and selection of a sheet size to be used. A key, a key for instructing which of the binding processing device A, the upper sheet stacking tray T, and the mail bin device F of the sheet storage device SA to store the copied sheets; and a sheet storage device SA for the copied sheets. A key or the like is provided for instructing whether or not the sheet is to be stored after the alignment processing and / or the sheet binding processing. The sheet storage device S in the information input on the operation panel PAN
Necessary items related to the operation control of A are the control device CONT.
Is also transmitted and input.

The stacking tray 12 is provided with a case CA in the sheet discharging direction to prevent the sheets stacked thereon from falling off.
It is inclined upward toward the tip of the tray, which moves away from the tray. In other words, the downstream end is located above the upstream end in the sheet discharge direction. The length of the tray 12 from the case CA to the front end is set to a length capable of supporting the entire sheet.

Although the loading tray 12 is inclined as described above, the degree of the inclination depends on the material of the upper surface of the tray, the degree of unevenness, and the like.
The sheet placed on top is aligned with the sheet discharging direction.
4 (see FIG. 3). (2) A binding processing device A (FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, etc.) which once receives a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9, performs a sheet binding process, and transfers the sheet to the sheet stacking tray 12. The binding processing apparatus A includes, but is not limited to, a processing tray 11 and a sheet binding processor (here, a stapler D) as shown in FIGS.

The processing tray 11 includes a sheet receiving position P1 (see FIG. 3 and the like) for receiving the sheet S discharged from the sheet processing apparatus (the copying machine 9 in this example) and a retreat position P2 (see FIG. 3) retracted from the position P1. 3), and is provided at a position P1 for sheet alignment processing and sheet binding processing as necessary. The processing tray 11 is installed in a substantially horizontal posture in the main body case CA of the sheet storage device SA, and moves between the positions P1 and P2 along a guide (not shown) in a sheet discharging direction (hereinafter referred to as a sheet discharging direction) from the copying machine 9. , "Sheet discharge direction X").

A rack 111 is provided on the lower surface of the side of the processing tray 11.
Are fixedly provided, and the pinion gear 112 is engaged with this. The pinion gear 112 is rotatably supported by the case CA. The gear 112 is connected to a shaft of a motor M1 that can be driven in a normal or reverse direction via a clutch 113 having a predetermined play. Thus, by operating the motor M1 at a predetermined timing, the processing tray 11 is located at the sheet receiving position P1 or the retreat position P2.

More specifically, when the processing tray 11 is retracted from the sheet receiving position P1 to the retracted position P2, the motor M1 is started to operate in the direction for that.
With a slight delay, the clutch 113 engages and the processing tray 11
Begins to retreat. Further, when the motor M1 is started to move in the direction for the movement from the retreat position P2 to the sheet receiving position P1, the clutch 113 is engaged after a short time, thereby moving the processing tray 11 to the position P1. It's getting started. The reason why the clutch 113 has play as described above will become clear later.

As shown in FIG. 7, the motor M1 operates based on an instruction from the control unit CONT for controlling the operation of the sheet storage apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the front side, the processing tray 11 has an uneven upper surface for receiving a sheet. Here, it is formed in a wave shape. This is to reduce the frictional resistance between the upper surface of the processing tray and the sheet when the sheet is moved on the processing tray in a direction crossing the sheet discharge direction (in this case, a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharging direction) in performing the sheet alignment as described later. is there.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A switch actuating member 116 is provided at the front end of the lower part 1 so as to be able to move up and down at the center of the lower surface side, and a detection unit (here, mechanical detection switches SW1 and SW2) is provided for the member. Is provided. When the tip of the activation member 116 is pushed up by a predetermined amount, the switch SW1 is turned on.
Is activated, and if it is further pushed up, the switch SW
2 operates.

A switch SW1 is a switch for stopping the stacking tray 12 to be stopped at a predetermined sheet receiving position, and a switch SW2 is a lift inhibition switch (safety switch) for inhibiting the stacking tray 12 from further rising. The switches SW1 and SW2 are connected to the control device CONT for controlling the lifting and lowering of the loading tray 12. These constitute each example of a stacking tray height position adjusting device and a stacking tray elevation inhibiting device.

A stapler is an example of the sheet binding device. The stapler D includes a sheet aligning portion 412A having a sheet aligning gap 412a. As shown in FIG. 6, the stapler D has a main body 41 formed in the form of a block, and a handle 42 extending upward. The stapler D can be integrally fitted and fixed to the stapler mounting space of the sheet storage device case CA from above the sheet storage device SA by holding the handle 42, and can be pulled out upward from that state. . It is usually placed in a mounted state. 4 and 6, reference numeral 415 denotes a mounting portion to the case CA, and reference numeral 414 denotes an electric plug connected to an electric connector on the case CA side. The stapler D is also a controller CO
Operates based on NT support.

Sheet loading tray 12 and processing tray 11
The sheet alignment reference portion 13 that regulates the position of the rear end (upstream end) of the sheet discharged on the processing tray 11 in the sheet discharging direction and the sheet discharge of the sheet placed on the stacking tray 12 End in the direction (upstream end)
(See FIGS. 2 to 4 and the like).

The alignment reference portion 13 is in the form of a standing wall extending along the front surface of the case CA that crosses the sheet discharging direction, and extends vertically above the rear end of the processing tray 11 disposed at the sheet receiving position. . Matching reference part 14 is also case C
A is a form of a standing wall along the front surface crossing the sheet discharge direction of A, is installed on the same surface as the alignment reference portion 13, and extends vertically below the processing tray 11. Loading tray 12
The alignment reference portion 14 extends to a position slightly lower than the rear end of the upper surface of the stacking tray 12 arranged at a position for receiving sheets from the processing tray 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the alignment reference section 14 is a sheet side (here, the rear end side of the sheet) moving device 15.
It is composed of That is, the sheet side moving device 15 includes the endless belt 153 wound around the upper and lower pulleys 151 and 152 to form a part of the alignment reference portion 14. The driven pulley 114 is connected to the lower pulley 152 via a one-way clutch 154.
A drive pulley 115 is provided on one shaft.
An endless belt 116 'is wound around the pulleys 114 and 115.

Thus, when the processing tray 11 retreats from the sheet receiving position P1 to the retreat position P2 by the operation of the motor M1, the one-way clutch 154 does not engage, and
The belt 153 does not rotate, and only the processing tray 11 moves to the retreat position P2. However, when the processing tray 11 is sent from the retreat position P2 to the sheet receiving position P1 by operation in the opposite direction of the motor M1, the operation of the motor M1 is performed. At the same time as the start, the clutch 154 is engaged, and the endless belt 153
The rotation starts in the counterclockwise direction CCW, and after a short time, the processing tray 11 starts moving to the position P1. (3) Sheet aligning device and sheet shift device B provided for the binding processing device A (see FIGS. 2, 4, 8, 9 and the like) The sheet shift device B has been discharged from the copying machine 9. The sheet is moved to a predetermined position (here, a predetermined alignment reference position) along the sheet processing tray 11 of the binding processing apparatus A. As shown in FIG.
And a sorting and feeding device C.

The alignment feeding device 2 includes a first feeding device (here, a first alignment feeding device for sheet alignment) 21 and a second feeding device 21.
Feed device (here, a second alignment feed device for sheet alignment) 22. The first alignment feeding device 21 moves the sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 onto the processing tray 11 of the binding processing device A disposed at the position P1 along the processing tray 11 while being in contact with one end of the sheet. Alignment feed member 21 for moving toward a later-described alignment reference position Q0
1 and a drive 212 for driving the feed member in such a manner
And

The feed member 211 is located on one side of the tray at an initial position of the sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 to the sheet binding apparatus A, that is, an initial position on the processing tray 11 of the binding apparatus A. Is a member having a home position, and is formed of a plate here, and the sheet can be pushed and moved on the plate surface. Feeding member 2
Reference numeral 11 is reciprocally supported along a guide shaft 213 extending in a direction Y perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction.

The drive unit 212 includes a motor M3 and a transmission for transmitting the power of the motor to the feed member 211. By the operation of the motor M3, the feed member 211 moves the home position P3 at a predetermined timing to a second position to be described later.
The sheet is reciprocated between a sheet takeover position P4 according to the sheet size for taking over the sheet to the feeding member 221. Further, an operation for a sorting process described later is performed.

The motor M3 operates based on an instruction from the control unit CONT. The second alignment feeding device 22 includes:
A second alignment feeding member 221 that takes over the sheet sent by the first feeding device 21 and rotates while contacting the sheet surface to move the sheet to the alignment reference position is included. As the second feeding member 221, for example, various types that can contact and rotate the sheet and convey the sheet, such as an elastic roller whose surface portion is made of an elastic material, can be used.
Here, a rotating paddle in which a plurality of flexible paddles made of an elastic material are protruded radially around a rotating shaft in order to stably and reliably convey a sheet. The first feeder includes a rotary paddle 221 and a rotary paddle drive motor M
4. Includes a rotary paddle lifting drive (see FIG. 7) and the like.

The rotary paddle 221 is disposed at a position on the processing tray 11 shifted from the sheet initial position toward the alignment reference position Q0. That is, when a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 is placed over the sheet stacking tray 12 and the sheet processing tray 11, the sheet is arranged at a position where the sheet does not collide. Thus, the sheet storage of the sheet storage device SA can be efficiently performed.

The sorting and feeding device C includes an alignment reference member 31 and a driving device 32 thereof.
Are supported reciprocally along a guide shaft 213 extending in a direction Y perpendicular to the sheet discharging direction. Here, the member is formed of a plate body, and the sheet can be abutted and aligned on the plate surface, and the sheet can be aligned on the plate surface from an initial position corresponding to the alignment reference position Q0 to a first position Q1 described later. Alternatively, it can be pushed to the second position Q2 or the third position Q3.

The driving device 32 includes a motor M5 and a transmission for transmitting the power of the motor to the member 31. The member 31 moves the home position (alignment reference position) Q0 and the first position Q at a predetermined timing during the operation of the motor M5.
1, the reciprocating drive between the second position Q2 and the third position Q3.

Further, the first position Q1 and the second position Q2
Is a position for placing a sheet on which the binding process has been performed, and a third position Q3 is for placing a sheet on which the binding process has not been performed on the sheet stacking tray 12. The first position Q1 is the position closest to the matching reference position Q0, the second position Q2 is a position slightly closer to the center than the first position Q1, and the third position Q3 is the initial position P3 of the first feed member 211 most. (See FIG. 5).

The return position of the bound sheet will be further described. When the preceding sheet is not yet stacked on the sheet stacking tray 12, or the uppermost layer of the preceding sheet on the tray 12 is bound. When there is no sheet, the sheet bound on the processing tray 11 is pushed to the position Q2. When the uppermost layer of the preceding sheet on the sheet stacking tray 12 is a bound sheet, the sheets bound on the processing tray 11 are not overlapped with each other on the tray 12 so that the bound portions are not overlapped. It is pushed to the position Q1 or Q2. The sheet not subjected to the binding process is pushed to the position Q3.

The motor M5 operates based on an instruction from the control unit CONT. (4) A sheet holding device E for holding a sheet on the binding processing device A, more specifically, a sheet on the processing tray 11 in the device A (see FIG. 4). The sheet holding device E is, as shown in FIG. Stacking tray 12 and the binding processing device A
And a plurality (four in this case) of pressing members 51 for pressing the rear end of the sheet (the upstream end in the sheet discharging direction X) placed on the processing tray 11 toward the tray 11.

Each holding member 51 is supported by a horizontal rod 52 extending in the sheet alignment feed direction. Both ends of the rod 52 are rotatably connected to one end of a pair of parallel arms 53 by a shaft 54. Each arm 53 has a portion slightly closer to one end than the other end is rotatably connected to a fixed position member (not shown) by a shaft 55. Right side as viewed from the front side (Fig. 4
The shaft 55 on the other end side of the arm 53 is fixed to the arm 53 and connected to a gear 571 via a torque limiter 56 that works in both forward and reverse rotation directions. The worm gear 572 driven by the possible motor M6 is engaged.

By operating the motor M6 at a predetermined timing, a link mechanism including a pair of arms 53, a horizontal rod 52, and the like is driven, whereby the pressing member 51 is moved to the raised and retracted position P5 indicated by a solid line in FIG. , And can be moved up and down between a sheet holding position where the sheet moves down and holds the sheet. At the position P5, the right arm 53 comes into contact with the upper limit stopper 530. In addition, at the position P5, each of the pressing members 51 takes a horizontal posture with one end portion abutting against a stopper (not shown).

The motor M6 is also connected to the control unit CONT, and is operated based on an instruction from the control unit CONT. As shown in FIG. 4, a guide member 61 is provided for guiding the leading end of the sheet, which is moved toward the alignment reference position Q0Q0 by the alignment feeding device 2, to the gap of the alignment section. Here, the matching portion is the matching portion 412A of the stapler D, and the gap is the matching portion 412A.
4A, a gap 4 for inserting a portion to be bound of the sheet (here, a rear end corner portion in the front end portion in the sheet moving direction).
12a.

In this case, the guide member 61 is a lever-shaped member, which also serves as a sheet pressing member, and is arranged from the upstream side of the aligning section 412A of the stapler D in the moving direction Y of the sheet on the processing tray 11 by the aligning and feeding device B. It faces the matching portion gap 412a. The guide member / pressing member 61 has its upstream end in the alignment feeding direction Y of the sheet connected and supported by a shaft 611 to a fixed position member (not shown), whereby the end 612 on the alignment portion side (downstream side) is connected. It can be swung up and down.

An apparatus 62 for urging the guide member 61 in the sheet pressing direction is also provided. The urging device 62 moves the guide member 61 in the sheet pressing direction with the two rods 621 and 622 connected to the arm 53 on the left side in FIG. 4 constituting a link mechanism for moving the pressing member 51 up and down. And a torsion coil spring 623 for biasing.

One end of the longer rod 621 is pivotally connected to the other end (upper end in the figure) of the arm 53 and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of the shorter rod 622 by a pin. Have been. The other end of the rod 622 is rotatably connected and supported by a fixed position member (not shown) around a shaft 624. The spring 623 is provided between the rod 622 and the guide member / pressing member 61, and the guide member / pressing member 61 is provided.
Is always urged in the sheet pressing direction.

As shown by the solid line in FIG.
Is retracted to the retreat position P5, the guide member 61
Is a state in which the rods 621 and 622 of the urging device 62 are moved leftward and downward in FIG. 4 by the left arm 53 of the link mechanism for lifting and lowering the pressing member 51, so that the spring 623 exerts a strong spring force. Put in. The guide member 61 is strongly urged in the sheet pressing direction by this spring. When the sheet tip corner is already inserted into the alignment portion gap 412a, the guide member / pressing member 6
1, the sheet is pressed so that the curl is extended, even when that part of the sheet is curled, thereby clearing the space above the sheet in the alignment gap 412a with the next sheet. Can be slightly increased so as to be easily accepted. Also,
By the pressing, the binding process by the staple of the sheet can be easily and accurately performed.

Further, in order to align the sheets discharged from the copying machine 9 and placed on the processing tray 11, when the pressing member 51 presses the rear end, that is, the pressing member 51 takes the sheet pressing position. When the urging device 62
Are moved rightward and upward in FIG. 4 by the left arm 53 of the link mechanism for lifting and lowering the pressing member 51, the spring 623 is set to have a weak spring force, and The sheet pressing force is weakened, and the sheet fed in alignment is guided to the gap 412a by the member without any trouble.

Since the pressing member 51 of the sheet pressing device E performs the sheet pressing operation for each sheet, the guide / pressing member 61 also performs the sheet guiding / pressing (pressing) operation for each sheet. (5) A transport device G for guiding the sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 to the binding device A, the mail bin device F, or the tray T (see FIG. 2). The transport device G is provided in the main body case CA of the sheet storage device SA. The first transport path 71 receives a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 and guides the sheet to the sheet stacking tray 12 and the binding device A, which are the first storage unit. Roller 7 for retraction
2 and a pair of rollers 7 provided at the outlet for discharging the sheet
3 is provided. Further, a second conveyance path 74 for guiding the sheet to the mail bin device F from the middle of the first conveyance path 71 and a third conveyance path 75 for guiding the sheet to the upper tray T are provided.

An intermediate conveyance roller pair is also provided at an appropriate position in these conveyance paths. A sheet conveyance direction switching claw 76 is provided for the second conveyance path 74, and a sheet conveyance direction is provided for the third conveyance path 75. Direction switching claws 77 are provided, respectively. Each switching claw is urged by a spring (not shown) and is normally set to a position where the sheet is fed through the first conveyance path 71. FIG. 2 shows such a claw position state. The switching claw 76 is driven by the solenoid SOL1 being turned on, whereby the sheet can be guided to the second conveyance path 74. The switching claw 77 is connected to the solenoid SOL2
When the sheet is turned on, the sheet can be guided to the third conveyance path 75.

The rollers 72, 73 and the like are driven by a transfer device drive motor M7 which is operated based on an instruction from the control device CONT.
(See FIG. 7). Immediately downstream of the sheet receiving pair rollers 73, a punch unit U for punching a hole in the sheet as required, and a scrap receiver Ur below the punch unit U are provided. The solenoids SOL1 and SOL2 and the punch unit U are respectively connected to the control unit CONT, and are turned on at predetermined timing based on an instruction from the control unit CONT as needed.

The second transport path 74 penetrates the retreat area of the processing tray 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a member 741 having a sheet passing hole h is provided in a part of the area including the retreat position of the processing tray 11, and is provided at a rear end of the processing tray 11 by a spring 742. Are linked. When the processing tray 11 is located at the sheet receiving position P1, the member 741 is pulled by a spring 742 and moved so that its hole h is located in the second transport path 74. The contact is fixed. Processing tray 11
Is retracted to the retreat position P2, it is pushed through the spring 742 and retreats by a necessary minimum amount along a guide (not shown). When the sheet is guided to the mail bin F, the processing tray 11 may be arranged at the sheet receiving position P1.

The mail bin device F is provided with five-stage bins 101 so that sheets discharged from the copying machine 9 can be stored in predetermined bins corresponding to distribution destinations and the like. Also, for each of the other bins 101 except for the lowermost bin, the solenoid SO
A sheet discharge switching claw 102 driven by L is provided. Sheet transport path 1 common to five bins 101
03 is also provided.

Each solenoid SOL is connected to the control device CONT. Based on an instruction from the control device CONT, the switching claw 102 corresponding to the bin 101 from which the sheet is to be discharged is set to the sheet discharge position. Is set to the sheet discharge position, the solenoid SOL is turned on. In any of the upper four stages, when the solenoid SOL is off, the claw 102 is set to the sheet non-discharge position. When discharging sheets to the lowermost bin 102, all solenoids SOL are turned off.

The upper tray T (see FIGS. 1 and 2) installed above the sheet stacking tray 12 is provided above the tray 12 only for storing sheets. Next, the operation of the entire sheet storage device SA described above will be described.

First, a case will be described in which a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 via a sheet conveying device G to be described later is stored in the sheet stacking tray 12 via the binding processing device A. The use of the sheet stacking tray 12 and the binding processing apparatus A is designated on the copier operation panel PAN connected to the copier controller CONT '. Initially, the processing tray 11 is disposed at the sheet receiving position P1, and the sensor S1
(See FIG. 3)
Reference numeral 2 is detected by a sensor S2 (see FIG. 3) mounted on the lower surface of the processing tray 11, and is arranged and stopped at an initial lower evacuation position which is lowered a predetermined distance from a position where the ascent is stopped.

Further, the first alignment feed member 211 is disposed at the home position P3, is detected and stopped by the sensor S3 (see FIG. 4), and the second alignment feed member (rotary paddle) 221 is lifted and stopped. are doing. Also, the alignment reference position Q where the alignment reference member 31 is the home position.
0, and is stopped by being detected by the sensor S4 (see FIG. 4).

Further, in the sheet pressing device E, the pressing member 51 is disposed at the evacuation position P5, and the arm 53 supporting the pressing member comes into contact with the stopper 530 and stops (see FIG. 4). In the sheet conveying device G, a first conveying path 71 is secured. Copier 9 to 1
Sheets S discharged one by one are guided to the first transport path 71,
The sheets are fed one by one onto the sheet processing tray 11 and the sheet stacking tray 12 of the binding processing apparatus A. A sheet passing sensor S7 (FIG. 3)
This is used for sheet discharge and detection of the number of discharged sheets.

When the first single sheet S is discharged onto the binding device A, as shown in FIG. 8A, the sheet is moved to the rear end (upstream end) S in the sheet discharge direction. _Three
And a small portion subsequent thereto is placed on the processing tray 11, and the remaining portion S ₄ protruding from the processing tray 11 is placed on the stacking tray 12. Thus, the sheet S is in the loading tray 1
2 and at an initial position on the processing tray 11. After a predetermined time, the pressing member 51 of the sheet pressing device E descends toward the sheet pressing position based on the instruction of the control device CONT, and the rear end portion S _{3 of the} sheet is moved to the processing tray 11.
Hold down. As a result, even when the rear end of the sheet is curled, the sheet is extended, and a smooth and accurate alignment process can be performed. Further, the rotary paddle 221 descends to the sheet feeding position and starts rotating.

While the pressing member 51 is pressing the rear end S ₃ of the sheet S, the first alignment feeding member 211 is fed in the alignment direction, whereby the member 211 moves the sheet S to the alignment reference member 31 and the stapler. D is moved toward the matching portion gap 412a. The feed member 211 is a control device CON.
Based on the instruction from T, when the sheet 211 reaches the sheet feeding handover position P4 (for example, the position P4 shown in FIG. 4) corresponding to the sheet size, the member 211 returns to the home position P3.

The sheet S is continuously fed by the rotary paddle 211 and is brought into contact with and aligned with the alignment reference member 31. The pressing member 51 returns to the raised and retracted position after the sheets are aligned (after the time required for completing the sheet alignment) based on the instruction of the control device CONT, and the right arm 53 is moved to the stopper 530 (see FIG. 4). After the contact, the pressing member drive motor M6 stops.

For the last sheet of the predetermined number of sheets, the first alignment feeding member 211 places the sheet P '() between the sheet and the alignment reference member 31 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit CONT based on the size of the sheet. 8B) and stops, and stands by at that position for the subsequent sorting process (sheet shift process). When the alignment of the last sheet is completed in this way, the rotary paddle 221 also moves up and retreats, and the paddle drive motor M4 stops.

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, a predetermined number of sheets are stored in the processing tray 11 and the sheet stacking tray 1.
When the stapling process is performed on the stapler D, if the stapling process is performed on the stapler D, the binding process is performed again. If there is no designation, after the sheet alignment is completed, the alignment reference member 3
1 transfers the sheet to a predetermined position Q1 on the stacking tray 12 and the processing tray 11 based on an instruction from the control unit CONT.
Push back to either position Q2 or Q3 (see FIG. 5). At this time, the first alignment feeding member 211 is located on the opposite side of the sheet, retreats toward the home position P3 with the sheet, and is stopped by being detected by the sensor S3. As described above, since the sheet moves while being sandwiched between the alignment reference member 31 and the feed member 211, problems such as disturbance in the posture of the sheet and unevenness of the sheet bundle are avoided.

After the sheet has been moved to the predetermined position,
As shown in (A), the processing tray 11 is controlled by the control device CON.
In accordance with the instruction of T, the sheet bundle retreats to the retreat position P2, whereby the sheet bundle falls by its own weight onto the stacking tray 12, and the alignment reference member 31 returns to the alignment reference position Q0, where it is detected by the sensor S4 and stopped. Which of the positions Q1, Q2, and Q3 the aligned sheet is pushed back by the alignment reference member 31 depends on whether the aligned sheet has not been subjected to the binding process or has been subjected to the binding process. come. This will be described later.

Here, the operation of the stacking tray 12 will be described. After the stacking tray 12 starts a predetermined sheet processing operation (here, after the image forming operation in the copying machine 9 starts),
While the processing tray 11 is still at the sheet receiving position P1, the ascending operation is started by an instruction from the control device CONT, and the ascending to the sheet stacking position. When the stacking tray 12 reaches the sheet stacking position, the switch actuating member 116 provided on the processing tray 11 is pushed by the stacking tray 12 to rotate, whereby the switch SW1 is operated and the stacking tray drive motor M2 stops. . If the loading tray 12 is further raised and the trays 11 and 12 may be damaged, or if there is a risk that the sheets are already loaded on the tray 12 and may be damaged, further rotation of the switch activation member 116 is performed. Operates the switch SW2, thereby stopping the motor M2 and prohibiting the loading tray 12 from rising.

After the height position of the stacking tray 12 has been adjusted to the predetermined sheet stacking position in this manner, FIG.
As shown in (A), the processing tray 11 is retracted to the retreat position P2 and stopped. By the retreat operation of the processing tray 11, the sheet rear end S ₃ on the processing tray 11 is moved to the stacking tray 12.
It falls and moves under its own weight. At this time, the sheet is short and moves a fixed distance, so that the disturbance of the posture of the sheet, the irregularity, and the like are suppressed accordingly, and the sheet loading state on the loading tray 12 is stabilized.

[0067] Note that when moving the sheet on the processing tray 11 to stack tray 12, the pressing member 51 is lowered again, pressing the sheet trailing edge portion S ₃ to the tray side. As a result, the sheets can be stacked more smoothly on the loading tray 12.
Can be moved to The pressing member 51 then moves up and away to prepare for the next sheet alignment. Although the stacking tray 12 is inclined as described above, the degree of the inclination is such that the sheet placed on the stacking tray 12 slides toward the alignment reference portion 14 (see FIG. 3) in the sheet discharging direction. Since the sheet is set so as to be hard to be caught, the sheet is prevented from being caught on the alignment reference portion 14 by that much.
From the storage tray 12 to the loading tray 12.

After the processing tray 11 retreats to the retreat position P2, the loading tray 12 moves down to a retreat position below a predetermined fixed distance based on an instruction from the control unit CONT. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9B, the processing tray 11 is again placed at the sheet receiving position P1, the loading tray 12 is raised to the sheet loading position, and the loading tray 12 and the processing tray 11 are moved in the same manner as described above. After discharging the sheet and performing the alignment processing or the alignment and binding processing as shown in FIG. 9C, the sheet is shifted to one of the predetermined positions Q1, Q2 and Q3 designated by the control unit CONT. Then, the processing tray 11 is retracted and placed on the stacking tray 12.

By repeating this, the sheets can be stacked and stored on the stacking tray 12. The loading tray 12
When the tray 12 is raised to the sheet stacking position in a state where the sheets are preliminarily placed thereon, the position of the preliminarily placed sheets is returned from the alignment position by the sorting and feeding device C. Because of the position, the upper surface of the stacking tray 12 may fall below the alignment reference position on the alignment reference position side of the preceding sheet stored on the stacking tray 12. Therefore, a side tray for supporting the end of the sheet to be aligned with the alignment reference position on the alignment reference position side may be provided. Here, although not shown in other drawings, FIG. 8 and FIG. As shown, such side tray 1
6 is provided.

With respect to the predetermined push-back position at the time of the sheet shift processing by the alignment reference member 31, if the aligned sheet has not been subjected to the binding processing, the position at which the sheet is pushed back is the third position Q3. If the aligned sheet is subjected to the binding processing, the sheet push-back position is the first position Q1 only when the immediately preceding sheet push-back position is the second position Q2, otherwise, The position becomes the second position Q2.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, when the unbound sheets S and the staple STP-bound sheets S are mixed on the sheet stacking tray 12, the bound sheets S The staple STP portion is shifted to the outside of the sheet S that has not been subjected to the binding processing, and the positions Q1 and Q2 of the staple STP portions of the vertically bound sheets that have been subjected to the binding processing do not overlap with each other.
Assigned to Q2. Thus, sheets can be stacked and stored on the tray 12 in a state in which the stored sheets are prevented from collapsing.

The sheet transport direction switching claw 7 in the transport device G is designated by the operation panel of the copying machine.
The position of 6 or 77 can be switched to use the mail bin device F or the upper tray T. Next, a sheet storage device SA 'according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the sheet storage device SA ′ from the side.

The sheet accommodating device SA 'is a sheet accommodating device having the same configuration and operation as the sheet accommodating device SA except for the sheet binding device A', and the sheet accommodating device SA described with reference to FIG. Sheet loading tray 12,
The sheet aligning and sheet shifting apparatus B, the sheet pressing apparatus E, the mail bin apparatus F, the upper tray T, the transport apparatus G, and the like are provided as they are, and operate in the same manner as the apparatus SA. The same components as those of the device SA, parts, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the device SA.

Hereinafter, the sheet binding apparatus A 'will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 10, the sheet binding apparatus A ′ receives a sheet discharged from the copying machine 9 and moves between a sheet receiving position for fully supporting the lower surface of the sheet and a retracted position retracted from the position. It has a processing tray 10 that can move between sheets and is provided for alignment at the sheet A receiving position, and a sheet binding processor (here, a stapler D).

The processing tray 10 includes a first small tray 8 and a second small tray 11, which can be retracted in different directions. Here, the second small tray 11 is the same tray as the processing tray 11 in the sheet storage device SA, and has the same operation and function. Stapler D is also device SA
It is the same as that in.

The first small tray 8 includes a plurality of divided trays 81.
These divided trays 81 are stored in a stacked state when they are in the retracted position. The loading tray 12 is the same as the loading tray 12 in the sheet storage device SA, and has the same operation and function. The first small tray 8 will be further described. The small tray 8 is a so-called auxiliary processing tray, and the divided trays 81 constituting the small tray 8 are described.
Are separate, but parallel, four-step guide rails 821 that are inclined upward from the upstream side to the downstream side in the sheet discharge direction X.
Along 822, 823, 824, it is possible to move from the respective sheet receiving position to the retracted position. The guide rails are formed on the left and right inner side surfaces when viewed from the front side of the tray support frame 83 projecting from the main body case CA, and FIG. 10 shows only the left guide rail when viewed from the front side. The split tray 81 is moved by the driving device 84 between the sheet receiving position and the retracted position at a predetermined timing.

When the retracted position is set, the divided trays 81 are arranged so as to rise to the downstream side in the sheet discharging direction X and overlap in FIG. When the sheet binding apparatus A ′ is used, the first small tray 8 and the first small tray 11
Is located at the sheet receiving position and receives the entire sheet discharged from the copying machine 9. The first sheet alignment feeding device 211 and the second alignment feeding device 221 send the received sheets to the alignment reference position Q0, and when a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated, the stapling process by the staple D is performed on the copier-side operation panel PAN. If specified,
After the predetermined number of sheets are bound, and when there is no designation of the binding processing, the sheets are aligned on the first small tray 8 and the second small tray 11 in the same manner as described above after the sheet alignment is completed. Is shifted to a predetermined position Q1, Q2 or Q3. Then, the first small tray 8 and the first small tray 11 are moved to the retreat position, and the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking tray 12.

When the sheet binding processing apparatus A ′ is used, the sheet on the processing tray 10 does not interfere with the sheet previously placed on the sheet stacking tray 12 during the sheet discharging, aligning, and shifting processes. There is an advantage that separation is unlikely to occur.

[0079]

According to the present invention, the sheet discharged from the sheet storage device can be transferred to the stacking tray after the sheet binding process or without the sheet binding process, and can be stacked and stored on the stacking tray. A sheet storage device,
Even in the case where the bound sheets are stacked on the stacking tray, in a state where the collapse of the accommodated sheets is suppressed,
In particular, the present invention provides a sheet storage device capable of stacking and storing sheets on a stacking tray in a state where the sheets to be stapled and unstitched sheets are mixed and stored on the stacking tray while suppressing collapse of the stored sheets. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example of a sheet storage apparatus according to the present invention and an example of a sheet processing apparatus to which the apparatus is connected.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the sheet storage device shown in FIG. 1 from a side.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a processing tray and a peripheral portion thereof.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a sheet binding device, a sheet alignment device and a sheet shift device, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet shift processing position in a sheet binding processing apparatus and sheet stacking accommodation on a sheet stacking tray.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stapler.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the sheet storage device.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are views showing a part of a sheet processing process by the sheet storage device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are diagrams showing a part of a sheet processing step by the sheet storage device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an internal structure of a modification of the sheet storage device shown in FIG. 1 from a side.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 9 copying machine (one example of sheet processing apparatus) 91 printing section 92 image reading section 93 automatic document feeder 94 sheet supply section SA sheet storage device CA body case of sheet storage device X sheet discharge direction Y sheet alignment feed direction S sheet S ₁ Rear edge of sheet S ₂ Side edge of sheet S ₃ Rear edge of sheet S ₄ Remaining sheet 12 Stacking tray 121 Drive A Binding device 11 Processing tray 116 Switch activation member SW1, SW2 Detection switch P1 Sheet receiving position P2 Evacuation position M1 Processing tray drive motor CONT control device CONT 'Copy machine side control device PAN Copy machine operation panel M2 Loading tray drive motor 13, 14 Sheet alignment reference unit 16 Side tray B Sheet shift device 2 Alignment feeder 21 First alignment Feeding device 211 First alignment feeding member 2 Reference Signs List 12 drive device 213 guide shaft M3 motor P3 home position P4 sheet takeover position 22 second alignment feeder 221 rotary paddle (second feed member) M4 motor C third feeder (sorting feeder) Q0 alignment reference position Q1 1 position Q2 Second position of sorting Q3 Third position of sorting 31 Matching reference member 32 Drive M5 Motor D Stapler 41 Main body 42 Handle 414 Electric plug 415 Mounting part E Sheet pressing device 51 Pressing member 52 Horizontal rod 53 Arm 54, 55 Shaft 56 Torque limiter 571 Gear 572 Worm gear M6 Motor P5 Ascending / retracting position 530 Upper limit stopper 61 Sheet guide member / sheet pressing member 611 Shaft 612 Alignment portion side (downstream side) end 62 Biasing device 621, 622 Rod 63 plan Member 631 Axis 64 Guide member moving device F Mail bin device T Upper tray G Sheet transport device 101 Bin SOL solenoid 102 Sheet discharge switching claw 103 Common sheet transport path 71 First transport path 72 Roller 73 for receiving and pulling in sheet 73 Sheet Roller pair for discharging 74 Second transport path 741 Member having sheet passing hole h 742 Spring 75 Third transport path 76, 77 Sheet transport direction switching claw SOL1, SOL2 solenoid M7 Motor SA 'Sheet storage device A' Binding process Apparatus 10 Processing tray 8 First small tray 81 Split tray 821 to 824 Guide rail 83 Tray support frame S1 to S7 Sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F054 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 AC05 BA02 BB05 BB07 BF03 BF07 BF12 BF24 BH05 BH08 BH25 BJ04 BJ11 3F107 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 AC04 BA02 CB15 CB51 CD05 DA15

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stacking tray for stacking and storing sheets, and a binding process for receiving a sheet discharged from a sheet processing device and performing a sheet binding process or passing the sheet to the stacking tray without performing the sheet binding process. And a sheet shift device provided for the binding processing device, wherein the sheet shift device is configured to store a sheet that has been bound and a sheet that has not been bound on the stacking tray. The shift processing of the sheets on the binding processing device is performed so that the binding processing portion of the bound sheets is shifted to the outside of the sheets not subjected to the binding processing and is placed on the stacking tray. Characteristic sheet storage device. 2. The sheet shift device according to claim 1, wherein when the sheets bound on the stacking tray are stacked and accommodated vertically one above the other, the sheets bound vertically adjacent on the stacking tray are stacked. 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein a shift process of the sheets on the binding processing device is performed so that binding processing portions of the sheets do not overlap each other. 3. The binding device according to claim 2, wherein the binding device receives a sheet discharged from the sheet processing device, and receives a sheet at a position above the stacking tray, and retreats from the sheet receiving position to place the sheet on the stacking tray by its own weight. A processing tray that can be moved between a retreat position for moving and passing the sheet, and is provided for the sheet binding process at the sheet receiving position, and a binding process for performing binding processing on sheets on the processing tray at the sheet receiving position 3. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a container and an alignment device that aligns a sheet discharged from the sheet processing device with the binding device, wherein the alignment device also functions as the sheet shift device. apparatus.