JP2002200594A - Punching device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a punching device capable of eliminating a paper jam in a non punching process, and improving reliability in carrying a paper sheet. SOLUTION: The punching device includes a side end part detecting sensor 17 for detecting a side end part position parallel to a carrying direction of a paper sheet S, and punches a center of the paper sheet by moving a punching means 10 in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the paper sheet S. The side end part detecting sensor 17 is provided so as to move along a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the paper sheet, and in a non punching process the side end part detecting sensor 17 is moved and waited so as to locate on an inner side or an outer side of a side end part position parallel to the carrying direction of the paper sheet and the paper sheet is passed through before a tip end of the paper sheet reaches the side end part detecting sensor 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a punching apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to recording and forming an image by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine thereof. The present invention relates to a perforation processing apparatus for perforating a sheet to form a punch hole for binding to a file, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine thereof, work efficiency is improved by combining a punching processing apparatus for forming a punch hole for binding to a file with the image forming apparatus. Is being improved.

In this punching process, it is important that the punch holes are always positioned at the same position on each sheet so that the positions of the punch holes are not deviated and the alignment is good when the sheets are filed. It is. However, the perforation position is slightly different for each sheet due to the occurrence of bending at the time of conveyance of each sheet or the occurrence of a deviation in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of each sheet. Even if the edges of the processed paper are aligned, the positions of the punch holes are not aligned,
There is a problem that the file cannot be filed at one time, or even if the file is filed, the edges of the paper are irregular and the appearance is poor.

Therefore, conventionally, a punching means is provided so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and a side for detecting a side end position parallel to the sheet conveying direction of the sheet introduced into the punching means. An edge detection sensor (optical sensor) is provided,
The side edge detection sensor is moved in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction to detect the side edge position of the sheet, and the punching means is moved to the center of the sheet based on the detection information to perform the punching process. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1998)
279170).

[0005]

The side edge detecting sensor for detecting the side edge position of the sheet is transported in advance to the punching means in order to quickly detect the side edge position of the sheet. It is desirable to be located near the side edge of the incoming paper and to wait.

However, if the side edge detection sensor is located near the side edge of the sheet and is on standby, the paper jam (jam) may occur particularly during non-perforation processing in which the side edge detection sensor does not move. There is a problem that it easily occurs. Usually, a guide plate is provided so as to sandwich the sheet transport path from above and below in order to smoothly guide the sheet to the punching means, and the side end detection sensor is provided with the sensor light on the guide plate. Although the light is projected toward the paper through the sensor hole, if the side edge detection sensor is located near the side edge of the paper, the sensor hole formed in the guide plate will also be near the side edge of the paper. This is because the leading edge of the sheet conveyed to the perforating means is easily caught in the sensor hole.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a perforation processing apparatus which eliminates the occurrence of paper jam during non-perforation processing and improves the reliability of paper conveyance.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a perforation processing apparatus which eliminates the occurrence of paper jam during non-perforation processing and improves the reliability of paper conveyance. .

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a punching means having a side edge detecting sensor for detecting a side edge position parallel to a sheet conveying direction. In a perforation processing device that moves the paper in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction to perform a perforation process in the center of the paper, the side edge detection sensor is provided so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. During the non-perforation process, before the leading end of the sheet reaches the side end detection sensor, the side end detection sensor is positioned inside or outside the side end position parallel to the sheet conveyance direction. Wherein the sheet is passed while being moved to a standby state.

The invention according to claim 2 is the perforation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side end detection sensor is movably provided together with the perforation means.

The invention according to claim 3 is the perforation processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the side edge detection sensors are provided in accordance with the width of the sheet to be perforated. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the perforation processing apparatus according to the first, second or third aspect, wherein the side end detection sensor is a reflection type or transmission type optical sensor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus for recording and forming an image on a sheet, and discharging means for discharging the sheet on which the image has been formed from the image recording means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet ejected by the ejection unit; and a punching process performed by the punching apparatus according to claim 1.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, wherein A is an image forming apparatus main body, B is an image reading apparatus, and C is a punching processing apparatus.

The image forming apparatus main body A includes a charging unit 2, an image exposing unit (writing unit) 3, a developing unit 4, a transferring unit 5A, a discharging unit 5B, and a separating unit around a photosensitive member 1 as a rotating image carrier. After the nail 5C and the cleaning unit 6 are arranged, and the surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 2, laser beam scanning based on image data read from a document by the laser beam of the image exposure unit 3 is performed. A latent image is formed by performing the process, and the latent image is reversely developed by the developing unit 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 1.

On the other hand, the sheet S, which is the transfer sheet fed from the sheet storage means 7A, is sent to the transfer position. At the transfer position, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet S by the transfer unit 5A. Thereafter, the electric charge on the back surface of the paper S is erased by the charge removing means 5B, separated from the photoreceptor 1 by the separation claw 5C, conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 7B, and subsequently heated and fixed by the fixing means 8, and then discharged by the paper discharge roller 7C. Is discharged.

When forming an image on both sides of the sheet S,
The sheet S heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8 is branched from a normal sheet discharge path by a conveyance path switching guide member 7D, is switched back in a reverse conveyance 7E, is turned over, and is conveyed to a transfer position. After being transferred, separated, and fixed, the sheet is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 7C. Sheet S discharged from image forming apparatus main body A by discharge roller 7C
Is sent to a perforation processing device C disposed adjacent to the image forming apparatus main body A.

On the other hand, the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after the image processing is removed by the cleaning means 6 downstream of the separation claw 5C, and the surface is prepared for the next image formation.

An image reading device B provided with an automatic document feeder of a document moving exposure type reading system is installed above the image forming device main body A.

The punching device C receives the paper discharged from the paper discharge roller 7C of the main body A of the image forming apparatus, and forms a punch hole at the rear end side in the transport direction for forming a punch hole for binding to a file. Means 10, a first transport path 20 for transporting and ejecting a sheet having a punched hole formed by the punching means 10 over a short distance, and a second transport path 30 for transporting and ejecting a sheet over a long distance. The one transport path 20 and the second transport path 30 are selectively switched by operating the switching guide member 40.

A punch dust receiver 50 for accommodating punch dust is provided below the punching means 10.

The details of the perforating means 10 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the perforating means 10, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.

The punching means 10 is arranged along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet S is transported, and is capable of moving an appropriate number of punch blades 11 (shown by arrows in FIG. 3). And a die 12 disposed below the punch blade 11 so as to be opposed to each other with the conveyance path P of the sheet S interposed therebetween.

Above the punch blade 11, a rotating shaft 13 that is rotated by a driving force of a driving means (not shown) along the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sheet S is conveyed is also provided on the casing 1.
4 and the rotary shaft 13 has a punch blade 11
A cam 13a is provided so as to contact the upper end of the cam 13a.
The punch blade 11 is urged by an urging means (not shown) so that the upper end thereof comes into contact with the cam 13a. As a result, the rotation of the rotating shaft 13 causes the cam 13 to rotate.
a slides on the upper end of the punch blade 11, and the cam 13
When the sheet S conveyed along the conveyance path P is temporarily stopped by the discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A, the punch blade 11 is moved downward by pressing the punch blade 11 toward the die 12 by the action of a. A punch hole is formed on the end side.

An upper guide plate 15a is provided below the punch blade 11 along the upper side of the transport path P for the sheet S.
The lower guide plate 1 is provided on the die 12 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the sheet S.
5b, and the upper guide plate 15a and the lower guide plate 15b are opposed to each other so as to sandwich the transport path P from above and below, so that the paper S is smoothly guided to the transport path P.

In the punching means 10, the punch blade 1
1, die 12, rotating shaft 13, and respective guide plates 15a, 15
b is integrally formed in the same casing 14,
A rack gear 14 a is attached to one end of the casing 14. The rack gear 14a meshes with a pinion gear 16a provided on the drive motor 16, and when the drive motor 16 is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions, the driving force is transmitted to the casing 14 via the pinion gear 16a and the rack gear 14a. Accordingly, the entire perforating means 10 can be moved in a direction (the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet S.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper side edge detecting means for detecting a side edge position parallel to the transport direction of the paper S. The paper-side end detecting means 17 includes reflection-type optical sensors S1 to S5. A plurality of the paper-side edge detection means 17 are provided along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper S so as to correspond to paper widths of various sizes to be punched. (5 in the illustrated example) is the upper guide plate 15a
Attached to. Therefore, when the entire punching means 10 is moved for detecting a sheet side edge described later, the amount of movement can be reduced, and the efficiency of the punching process is improved.

The paper-side end detecting means 17 includes a drive motor 1
6 can be moved together with the perforating means 10 by driving the same. As a result, even if the size (length in the width direction) of the sheet changes, the punch blade 11 is arranged at the center position of the sheet width.
In the present embodiment, each of the sensors S1 to S5 is
Although an ideal position of the paper S of various sizes, that is, a mode in which the paper S is set to be located at a position 5 mm inside the one side end at a position without deviation, is shown, the present invention is not limited to this.
What is necessary is just to arrange | position at the inside vicinity position or the outside vicinity position of one side edge part of each paper size. The number of sensors is
It is not necessary to support all paper sizes that can be processed by the apparatus, and the number can be smaller than that, and at least one can function.

The upper guide plate 15a has sensors S1 to S
5, an opening 15c is formed corresponding to each sensor S.
Reference numerals 1 to S5 project light to the lower guide plate 15b through the opening 15c, and detect the side end of the sheet S based on the intensity of the reflected light. That is, the perforation means 10 is
Move in the direction of the arrow, the sheet side end detecting means 17 (any of the sensors S1 to S5) corresponding to the size of the sheet S provided on the upper guide plate 15a is moved to one side end of the sheet S. Traverses from inside to outside (or from outside to inside), and it is possible to detect the side end position of the sheet S based on the intensity of the reflected light at this time.

As described above, by fixing the direction in which the sheet side edge detecting means 17 crosses one side edge of the sheet S from the inside to the outside (or from the outside to the inside), it is possible to reduce the detection error. There are advantages. In other words, when detecting the side end position with the same detecting means, if there is a mixture of crossing from inside to outside and crossing from outside to inside, there will be a difference in the detection position. Although there is a problem that it is easy, this embodiment can solve this problem.

Further, the sheet side edge detecting means 17 can detect the trailing edge of the sheet S by detecting the passage of the trailing edge of the sheet S conveyed along the conveying path P. The detection of the rear end of the sheet S is performed by a plurality of sensors S1 to S1.
It is preferable to use the innermost sensor S5 among S5. Since the innermost sensor S5 is close to the center of the sheet S, when the sheet S is bent, there is an advantage that the displacement of the punch hole from the rear end of the sheet S in the transport direction of the sheet S can be reduced. Also, it is possible to perform the trailing edge detection commonly for all the paper sizes.

Further, the paper side edge detecting means 17
By detecting the passage of the leading end of the sheet S conveyed on the conveying path P, the leading end of the sheet S can be detected. A separate sensor may be provided as the paper leading edge detecting means of the present invention, but it is preferable to use the sensor S5 as the sensor because the cost is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4, a registration roller pair 60 is disposed downstream of the perforating means 10. This pair of registration rollers 60 is disposed at the entrance side of the pair of registration rollers 60 by abutting the leading end of the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A and passing through the conveyance path P of the punching means 10 therebetween. Upper guide plate 61a and lower guide plate 61b
During this time, the sheet S is bent by the conveying force of the sheet discharging roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the conveying bend is corrected. The registration roller pair 60 is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). However, at least when the sheet S is conveyed to the perforating means 10, the registration motor pair is stopped by stopping the drive motor so that the leading end of the sheet S It comes to end. When the leading end of the sheet S abuts, the transport bending of the sheet S is corrected.

The switching guide member 40 includes a pair of registration rollers 60.
The sheet S transported by the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 is displaced by the operation of a solenoid (not shown) in a short distance according to the size of the sheet S. The function is such that the transport path is switched to the first transport path 20 for transporting and discharging the second transport path 30 for transporting and discharging over a long distance. When the punching process is not performed on the sheet S,
The sheet S is quickly discharged from the first transport path 20.

Next, the punching operation of the punching apparatus C will be described.

When the sheet S on which a predetermined image has been recorded and formed in the image forming apparatus main body A is discharged to the perforation processing device C by the discharge roller 7C, the leading end of the sheet S is moved to the upper guide plate 15a and the lower guide plate. 15b, the transport path P of the punching means 10 which is located at a predetermined reference position and waits.
Will be guided to. The sheet S guided to the conveyance path P collides with the stopped registration roller pair 60 disposed on the downstream side of the perforation unit 10, and after the conveyance bend is corrected, the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 starts. The sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance path 20 or the second conveyance path 30.

On the other hand, when the passage of the leading end of the sheet S guided to the conveying path P is detected by the innermost sensor S5 of the sheet side end detecting means 17 (FIG. 5), after a predetermined time (conveyance straightening). Later), the paper S
Is transported, the drive motor 16 is driven, and a sensor corresponding to the size of the sheet S (here, as an example of the case where the size of the sheet S is the A3 size,
Until the outermost sensor S1) detects the side end of the sheet S, the entire punching means 10 is moved so that the sensor S1 moves from the inside to the outside of the sheet S (FIG. 6). In FIG. 5, the sensor S5 functioning as the sheet leading end detecting means is used to switch the algorithm for detecting the sheet before the movement of the entire perforating means 10 is started. Prepare for detection.

When the side edge of the sheet S is detected by a sensor (here, the sensor S1) corresponding to the size of the sheet S, the drive motor 16 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the sensor S1 is again turned on. Until the sensor S1 is detected, the entire punching means 10 is moved so that the sensor S1 moves from the outside to the inside of the sheet S (FIG. 7). Thereby, the side end position of the sheet S is detected.

After the detection of the side edge position of the sheet S, the CPU (not shown) calculates the amount of movement from the side edge position so that the center of the punch blade 11 of the perforating means 10 comes to the center of the sheet S. The punching means 10 is moved by controlling the drive motor 16 to position the center of the punch blade 11 at the center of the sheet S (FIG. 8).

Next, after the sensor S5 provided to detect the trailing edge of the sheet S detects the trailing edge of the sheet S, after the sheet S is conveyed by a predetermined distance, the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 is stopped to stop the sheet S. Is temporarily stopped, the punch blade 11 is moved downward at a predetermined timing, and a hole is punched at a predetermined position of the sheet S (FIG. 9). Thereby, a punch hole can be accurately formed at the center position of the sheet S.

The sheet S in which the punch holes are formed is conveyed again by the rotation of the registration roller pair 60 and is discharged from the punching device C.

On the other hand, when the non-perforation processing mode is selected by the setting operation on the image forming apparatus main body A side, the driving motor 16 is previously rotated before the leading end of the sheet S reaches the side end detecting means 17. The perforating means 10 is moved toward the inside or outside of the sheet S, and any of the sensors S1 to S5 of the side end detecting means 17 provided on the perforating means 10 detects the side end of the conveyed sheet S. (FIG. 10).

As a result, the sheet S is supplied to the side edge detecting means 17.
When passing below, the side edge parallel to the transport direction is
Because it does not pass immediately below any of the sensors S1 to S5,
Passing directly under the sensor holes 15c respectively opened in the upper guide plate 15a corresponding to the sensors S1 to S5 is avoided,
The sheet S can be conveyed and discharged from the punching unit 10 without causing a situation in which the tip corner Sa of the sheet S is caught in the sensor hole 15c, and the reliability of sheet conveyance can be improved.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, all the sensors S1 to S5 (side end detecting means 17
The perforating means 10 is moved to a standby state by moving the perforating means 10 so that the entirety is positioned inside the paper S.
Alternatively, the perforating means 10 may be moved to a standby state so that all of the steps S5 to S5 (the entire side edge detecting means 17) are located outside the sheet S.

When the side edge detecting means 17 comprises a plurality of sensors S1 to S5 as shown in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. Even if the perforating means 10 is moved to a standby state by moving the perforating means 10 so that the portion is located between any of the sensors S1 to S5, the tip corner of the sheet S is
The paper S can be conveyed and discharged from the perforating means 10 without passing through the area immediately below c, without the risk of occurrence of a jam.

In the above description, the sheet side edge detecting means 17
Although the example using the reflection type optical sensor was shown, it is not limited to this. For example, a light receiving unit is arranged on the lower guide plate 15b, and light from the light emitting unit arranged on the upper guide plate 15a is
A transmissive optical sensor that detects the side edge position of the sheet S by receiving light with the light receiving unit of the lower guide plate 15b across the transport path P may be used.

Further, the image forming apparatus applies, for example, stapling to the sheet S discharged from the punching processing apparatus C.
A post-processing device for further performing post-processing such as sorting may be provided.

[0049]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a perforation processing apparatus which eliminates the occurrence of paper jam during non-perforation processing and improves the reliability of paper conveyance.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus provided with a perforation processing apparatus which eliminates the occurrence of paper jam during non-perforation processing and improves the reliability of paper conveyance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a punching means.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a punching means.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the main configuration of the punching device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a punching operation by the punching means.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation during non-perforation processing by the perforation means.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation during non-perforation processing by the perforation means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Image forming apparatus main body B: Image reading apparatus C: Perforation processing apparatus 10: Perforation means 11: Punch blade 12: Die 13: Rotating shaft 13a: Cam 14: Casing 15a: Upper guide plate 15b: Lower guide plate 15c: Sensor Hole 16: Drive motor 16a: Pinion gear 17: Side end position detection means 20: First transport path 30: Second transport path 40: Switching guide member 50: Punch dust receiver 60: Registration roller pair

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masanobu Kono 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation In-house (72) Inventor Hideyo Ohashi 1-9-4 Higashi-Tokorozawa Wada, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 201 (72) Inventor Himi Wazai 873-10 Terao, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama Prefecture (72) Inventor: Yu Goto 3-30-16-102, Fujimidai, Nerima-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor: Yuki Nagaoka 1-228-2, Tenjincho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo 404 Hanakoganei (72) Inventor Kazuaki Fukuda 3-10-13 Yoshida Shinmachi, Kawagoe-shi, Saitama F-term (reference) 3C060 AA02 AB01 BA01 BC01 BC30 BD01 BE07 3F108 GA02 GA03 GA04 GB07

Claims (5)

[Claims] A side edge detection sensor for detecting a side edge position parallel to a sheet conveying direction, wherein a punching means is moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction to perform a hole punching process at the center of the sheet; In such a perforation processing apparatus, the side edge detection sensor is provided so as to be movable along a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, and during non-perforation processing, the sheet leading edge reaches the side edge detection sensor. A perforation processing apparatus, wherein the side edge detection sensor is moved to a standby position such that the side edge detection sensor is positioned inside or outside a side edge position parallel to the sheet conveyance direction, and the sheet is passed therethrough. . 2. A perforation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said side end detection sensor is provided so as to be movable together with perforation means. 3. A perforation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said side edge detection sensors are provided in accordance with a width of a sheet to be perforated. 4. The perforation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side end detection sensor is a reflection type or transmission type optical sensor. 5. An image recording means for recording and forming an image on a sheet, and a discharge means for discharging the sheet on which the image is recorded and formed from the image recording means. An image forming apparatus, wherein a punching process is performed by the punching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.