JP2014148387A - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device retracting a sheet matching mechanism located inside a sheet holding part from the inside of the sheet holding part in accordance with detachment operation of the sheet holding part.SOLUTION: The sheet processing device includes housing means, matching means and shifting means. The housing means houses a cassette for housing sheets. The matching means applies a load toward a sheet holding face of the cassette on the sheet shifting to the cassette. The shifting means shifts in a direction perpendicular to the shifting direction of the cassette to make the matching means shift between an operation position and a retracting position when the cassette is shifted for setting the cassette to the housing means and drawing the cassette from the housing means.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet processing apparatus that processes a sheet that has been erased by an erasing apparatus that erases the color of an image visualized by a visualization material, that is, a color material.

  There is an erasing device that erases the color of an image by making the color emitted by the colorant non-visualized and reuses the sheet.

  The erasing device heats the developed color material to reduce the effect of the developer on the color developing compound (pigment precursor compound) that develops color under the action of the color developing material. Cancel the condition. For this reason, it is known that curling (thermal curling) occurs in the sheet by heating to eliminate the color development state.

JP 2004-323124 A

  The erased sheet erased by the erasing device may be uneven at the edge of the sheet due to the influence of thermal curl. Accordingly, when setting a sheet on the sheet feeding mechanism of the image forming apparatus used for reusing a decolored sheet, it may take more time than a new sheet.

  For this reason, there is a sheet alignment mechanism that is required because the decolored sheet holding unit (cassette) that holds the decolored sheet holds the decolored sheet such as curling suppression that reduces the influence of thermal curl. To position.

  However, when removing the erased sheet holding unit from the sheet processing apparatus, an operation different from the removal operation such as retracting the sheet alignment mechanism to a position that does not affect the removal of the erased sheet holding unit is required. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus that retracts a sheet aligning mechanism positioned inside a sheet holding unit that holds a sheet from the inside of the sheet holding unit together with an operation of removing the sheet sheet holding unit.

  In the embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus includes a storage unit, an alignment unit, and a moving unit. The storage means stores a cassette for storing sheets. The aligning means applies a load toward the sheet holding surface of the cassette to the sheet moving to the cassette. The moving means moves the aligning means by moving in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the cassette when the cassette is moved to attach the cassette to the accommodating means and to pull out the cassette from the accommodating means. It moves between the position and the retracted position.

An example of the erasing apparatus of an embodiment is shown. An example of the principal part (block) of the erasing apparatus of embodiment is shown. An example of the erasing sheet holding part of the erasing apparatus of the embodiment is shown. An example of the erasing sheet holding part of the erasing apparatus of the embodiment is shown. An example of the erasing sheet holding part of the erasing apparatus of the embodiment is shown. An example of the erasing sheet holding part of the erasing apparatus of the embodiment is shown. An example of operation | movement of the erasing sheet holding | maintenance part of the erasing apparatus of embodiment is shown. An example of the comparative example of operation | movement of the erasing sheet holding | maintenance part of the erasing apparatus of embodiment is shown. An example of operation | movement of the erasing sheet holding | maintenance part of the erasing apparatus of embodiment is shown.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 includes at least a paper feeding unit 10, an erasing unit 20, a reading unit 30, a conveyance unit 40, a erasing device control unit 50, and a paper discharging unit (erasable sheet holding unit) 60. Including. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining main units of the erasing apparatus 101 as a unit. FIG. 1 shows the erasing apparatus 101 transporting a sheet (paper) and storing it in a erasable sheet holding unit (stock). It is the schematic explaining centering on.

  A sheet feeding unit 10 receives a sheet (paper) before erasing having an image (coloring material) to be erased (sheet is set), a sheet erasing holding unit (hereinafter referred to as a sheet feeding cassette) 11, A conveyance path 41 (conveyance section 40) for guiding the pre-decoloring sheet held by the paper feed cassette 11 to the erasing section 20 described in detail later, and a propulsion that enables conveyance (movement) of the sheet before decolorization by the conveyance path 41 It includes at least a paper feed roller 12, a conveyance roller 13, and a conveyance roller 14 that apply a force (conveyance force) to the uncolored sheet.

  The conveyance path 41 is connected to a conveyance path 42 (conveyance section 40) that is partially shared by the reading unit 30 described in detail later.

  The conveyance path 42 (conveyance unit 40) is a sheet before erasing guided to the erasing unit 20 or an image color is erased in the erasing unit 20 (coloring of the coloring material is erased), and a sheet after erasing (hereinafter referred to as erasing). Guided sheet) is guided to an erasable sheet holding unit (hereinafter referred to as a paper discharge unit) 60. The conveyance path 42 includes at least conveyance rollers 33 and 34 that apply a propulsive force that enables conveyance of the sheet through the conveyance path 42 to each of the pre-decolored sheet and the decolored sheet.

  The erasing unit 20 divides the pre-decoloring sheet from the conveyance path 42 toward the decoloring device 21 based on the reading result by the reading unit 30 described below, and before the decoloring that the branching unit 22 branches. Conveying path 47 (conveying unit 40) for guiding the sheet to the erasing apparatus 21, conveying rollers 23 to 25 for providing the driving force to the erasing apparatus 21 so that the sheet before erasing can be conveyed to the erasing apparatus 21, and the erasing apparatus 21 includes at least conveying rollers 26 to 28 that guide the decolored sheet after erasing by 21 to the conveying path 42. For example, the erasing device 21 applies a predetermined temperature to a sheet passing through a nip region defined by one roller and an endless belt, or between two rollers arranged so that the axes defining the rotation center are substantially parallel to each other. Applying the above decoloring temperature (heat), reducing the effectiveness of the developer to the color developing compound (pigment precursor compound) that develops color under the action of the developer, eliminating the colored state and erasing To color. The decoloring temperature (heat) is provided by, for example, a heater lamp incorporated in the roller or an IH (induction heating) heater that generates induction heat on the metal layer of the belt or the metal surface of the roller.

  The reading unit 30 includes at least first and second image sensors 31 and 32 that detect that a sheet passing through the conveyance path 42 is a pre-decolored sheet. The first and second image sensors 31 and 32 are, for example, a reflection density sensor or a dielectric constant measurement sensor, and detect the presence / absence of images on both sides of the sheet passing through the conveyance path 42.

  Note that the first and second image sensors 31 and 32 of the reading unit 30 are, for example, CMOS sensors, and acquire image information of a sheet passing through the conveyance path 42. The storage device 36 holds image information acquired by the image sensors 31 and 32. The image information held by the storage device 36 passes through the page memory 35 after A-D (analog-digital) conversion, and is in page units.

  The conveyance path 42 is connected to a conveyance path 43 that guides the decolored sheet branched by the branching device 22 to the paper discharge unit 60.

  The conveyance path 43 (conveyance unit 40) includes at least the paper discharge branching device 16 and the conveyance roller 15, and the decolored sheet that the branching device 22 branches is used as the first decolored sheet holding unit of the paper discharge unit 60. It is guided to either 61 (hereinafter referred to as a reuse paper cassette) 61 or a second decolored sheet holding portion (hereinafter referred to as a stocker) 62. The decolored sheets accommodated in the reuse paper cassette 61 are guided by the conveyance roller 63 and the conveyance path 44 (conveyance unit 40). Further, the decolored sheets stored in the stocker 62 are guided by the transport rollers 63 to 65 and the transport paths 45 and 46 (each transport section 40).

  A predetermined position where a sheet can be supplied to the conveyance path 42, for example, a conveyance path 41 that conveys a sheet supplied by the sheet feeding cassette 11 or a decolored sheet after decoloring by the decoloring device 21 is conveyed. The manual sheet feeding unit 17 that supplies the pre-decoloring sheet to the erasing device 21, that is, the erasing unit 20 without passing through the sheet feeding cassette 11, at a position upstream of the conveyance path 42 of the conveyance path 47 that conveys the sheet to the sheet. The manual feed path 48 including the feed roller 18 is connected.

  The control unit 50 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53, and an input / output (I / O) port. 54, an operation unit 55, a discharge motor driving unit (driver) 56, a conveyance path switching control unit (branch unit driving unit) 57, a temperature control unit 58, a power supply unit 59, and the like.

  A main control device (CPU) 51 controls the operation of each unit in accordance with an operation program stored in the ROM 52.

  The ROM 52 holds an operation program for operating the erasing apparatus 21, a reference value used for comparison with the detection results by the first and second image sensors 31 and 32, and the like.

  The RAM 53 is input through the I / O port 54, for example, the detection results by the first and second image sensors 31 and 32, and the predetermined positions of the transport paths 41 to 48 (the transport unit 40) that are input through the input / output port 54. It accepts input from the JAM sensor prepared in the above, and temporarily holds data at the time of execution of the processing routine according to the instruction input (operation information) by the operation unit 55.

  For example, the I / O port 54 converts the detection results from the first and second image sensors 31 and 32 into a format that can be processed by the CPU (main control unit) 51. The I / O port 54 also converts an instruction input from the operation unit 55 so that the CPU 51 can process it. The I / O port 54 also contributes to receiving various control elements included in the paper discharge unit 60, for example, a control instruction to a motor and a branching device, and a detection value detected by an arbitrary sensor.

  The operation unit 55 receives an input of a control instruction from a user, for example, and outputs a control command corresponding to the control instruction so that the CPU 51 can read it.

  The paper discharge unit 60 passes a decolored sheet that has passed through the conveyance path 43 described with reference to FIG. 1 through a branching unit 16 to a reuse paper cassette (first decolored sheet holding unit) 61 or a stocker (second decolored sheet). To one of the finished sheet holding portions) 62.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the reuse paper cassette 61 includes a housing 161, a stacking tray 162, a fulcrum 163 that supports the stacking tray 162, and the like. The reuse paper cassette 61 can be moved in a direction (arrow C direction and arrow D direction in FIG. 5) perpendicular to the stacking direction of sheets (erased) held by the stacking tray 162, for example, and the paper discharge unit 60 ( It can be removed from the erasing device 101).

  The stacking tray 162 includes a stopper 162b that extends in a predetermined direction in which an angle formed by the paper table 162a and the paper table 162a is constant, for example, a direction orthogonal thereto. The stopper 162b may be configured integrally with the paper table 162a or may be configured by connecting two members. The side (sheet input end side) far from the stopper 162b of the sheet table 162a is urged upward (sheet input end side) by a spring member 162c positioned between the housing 161 and the sheet base 162a.

  The stacking tray 162 is connected to the housing 161 at a fulcrum 163. The fulcrum 163 is one end of the stopper 162b of the stacking tray 162, and is located at a position far from the side where the sheet is conveyed and the side where the sheet is conveyed (sheet input end).

  In a state where the reuse paper cassette 61 is set at the operating position of the paper discharge unit 60, the alignment roller 164 and the alignment restraining plate 165 are positioned at predetermined positions in the housing 161.

  The alignment roller 164 aligns the sheet moving on the paper tray 162a of the stacking tray 162 in the conveyance direction. The alignment roller 164 includes a fulcrum 164a, a roller body 164b, a roller body support material 164c, and a guide lever 164e. The alignment roller 164 applies a load in the gravitational direction toward the sheet on the sheet table 162a with the fulcrum 164a as the rotation center. The roller body 164b is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction such as a sponge, and is driven by a paper discharge motor 69 (see FIG. 2). The roller body support member 164c supports the roller body 164b at a predetermined position with respect to the fulcrum 164a. The guide lever 164e is positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the roller body support member 164c with the fulcrum 164a as the center of rotation.

  The alignment restraining plate 165 restrains the sheet in the direction of the sheet table 162a in order to reduce the influence of the (thermal) curl of the sheet aligned in the conveyance direction on the sheet table 162a on the stacking tray 162, for example, the warping of the end portion. . The alignment restraining plate 165 includes a fulcrum 165a, a restraining plate body 165b, a pad portion 165c, a joint (fulcrum) portion 165d, and a cam shaft (guide lever) 165e. The alignment restraining plate 165 applies a load in the gravity direction to the leading end portion of the sheet on the sheet table 162a with the pad portion 165c with the fulcrum 165a as the rotation center. The pad portion 165c will be described later with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (c). When the angle formed with the joint portion 165d is changed, the leading edge of the sheet on the paper table 162a is warped. Deter. The guide lever (cam shaft) 165e is positioned at a predetermined angle with the roller body support member 165c with the fulcrum 165a as the center of rotation.

  The alignment roller 164 and the alignment suppression plate 165 are positioned at predetermined positions of the structure of the paper discharge unit 60 (or the main body structure of the erasing device 101) in consideration of removal of the reuse paper cassette 61 from the paper discharge unit 60. .

  The alignment roller 164 and the alignment restraining plate 165 move to the operation position shown in FIG. 6A and the retracted position shown in FIG. That is, the alignment roller is moved by the movement of the slide plate 167 moving in the directions indicated by the arrows A and B shown in FIG. 164 and the alignment restraining plate 165 are located at the operating position or the retracted position. The slide plate 167 is located at a predetermined position of the erasing device 101, for example, a structure that forms the outer shape of the main body structure or the paper discharge unit 60. The joint portion 165d of the alignment restraining plate 165 and the restraining plate main body 165b have a detent so that the angle formed by the joint portion 165d and the restraining plate main body 165b does not exceed 180 degrees. 6B can prevent the pad portion 163c located at the retracted position shown in FIG. 6B from coming into contact with the housing 161 (reuse paper cassette 61) when the reuse paper cassette 61 is mounted and pulled out.

  The slide plate 167 has a slide plate slide portion 167a on which a slide plate slide protrusion 161a located at a predetermined position of the housing 161 of the reuse paper cassette 61 shown in FIG. 5 acts. The slide plate slide portion 167a converts the movement in the arrow C direction (detachment operation) and the movement in the arrow D direction (mounting operation) of the housing 161 (the slide plate slide protrusion 161a) into movement in the arrow A direction and the arrow B direction. To do.

  The slide plate 167 transmits the position change of the slide plate slide protrusion 161 a of the housing 161 of the reuse paper cassette 61 to the guide lever 164 e of the alignment roller 164 and the guide lever 165 e of the alignment suppression plate 165. That is, by the (drawing) operation of the reuse paper cassette 61 in the direction of arrow C, the force of the slide plate slide protrusion 161a applied to the slide plate slide portion 167a disappears, and the slide plate 167 slides in the direction of arrow A. Further, the slide plate 167 slides in the arrow B direction by the force applied from the slide plate slide protrusion 161a to the slide plate slide portion 167a by the (attachment) operation of the reuse paper cassette 61 in the arrow D direction.

  That is, when a force in the direction of arrow A is applied to the slide plate 167, the guide lever 164e of the alignment roller 164 is moved by the cam portion 167b of the slide plate 167 from the free fall position due to gravity in the direction of arrow G shown in FIG. Move to a predetermined position (retracted position). Similarly, the guide lever 164e of the alignment roller 164 is moved from the free fall position due to gravity in the arrow G direction shown in FIG. 4 to a predetermined position (retracted position) in the arrow E direction by the cam portion 167b of the slide plate 167. In order to ensure the movement of the slide plate 167 in the direction of arrow A, that is, the free fall of the alignment roller 164 and the alignment restraining plate 165 in the direction of arrow G, for example, a spring member 168 or the like is used to connect the slide plate 167 to the arrow A. A directional load may be applied. Further, the guide pins 169a and 169b that guide the movement of the slide plate 167 may be provided with an inclination that facilitates the movement of the slide plate 167 in the arrow A direction. That is, it is preferable that the line segment connecting the guide pins 169a and 169b is non-horizontal and the guide pin 169a is positioned relatively lower than the guide pin 169b.

  Accordingly, the sheet aligning mechanism, that is, the alignment roller 164 and the alignment restraining plate 165 which are necessary for holding the decolored sheet when the reuse paper cassette 61 is pulled out from the paper discharge unit 60 or attached to the paper discharge unit 60 are provided. The evacuation operation or the setting operation is not necessary.

  In the following, for the toner on a sheet holding a visible image (toner image) using a decolorable toner, the color exhibited by the toner is erased and stored in either the reuse paper cassette 61 or the stocker 62 Is briefly described.

  The sheet held by the paper feed cassette 11 (or the manual feed unit 17) moves from the transport path 41 (or the transport path 48) to the transport path 42, and a toner image is detected by at least one of the first and second image sensors 31 and 32. When the presence of (image) is detected, the image is moved to the erasing device 21 via the conveyance path 47.

  A sheet in which the color erased by the toner is erased by the decoloring device 21 is set in the reuse paper cassette 61 or the stocker 62 through the conveyance paths 42 and 43, and the determination result (setting) held in the RAM 53. In accordance with the path set by the branching device 16 and the transport roller 63 switched according to the above, the paper moves to either the reuse paper cassette 61 or the stocker 62.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of the sheet that is moved in the stacking tray 162 by the alignment roller 164. The leading end of the sheet contacts the stopper 162b so that the end on the stopper 162b side is aligned. Thus, the sheets are sequentially deposited on the paper table 162.

  Note that the paper table 162a of the paper table 162 is biased upward (on the paper discharge roller 164 side) by a spring 162c. Further, the effect of curling (thermal curling) that may occur at the leading edge of the sheet deposited on the paper table 162 is reduced by the alignment restraining plate 165.

  Accordingly, the decolored sheet held by the reused paper cassette 61 is aligned by the collision (butting) of the leading end with the stopper 162b, and the paper table 162a and the stopper 162b of the paper table 162 with the fulcrum 163 as the rotation center. Due to the alignment by (slow) turning, the front end position is aligned (stacked) on the paper table 162.

  This is centered on the leading edge 1163 of the paper base 1162a as shown in the comparative example shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) (reference number 1160 is assigned for identification). The variation 1169 of the leading end of the sheet, which often occurs when only the sheet base 1162a is movable (the stopper 1162b is fixed to the housing 1161), is not substantially generated.

  FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C show an example of the function of the alignment restraining plate 165.

  The alignment restraining plate 165 has a configuration in which the pad portion 165c is connected to the main body 165b by a joint (fulcrum) portion 165d and the end 165a opposite to the joint portion 165d of the main body 165b is supported as a rotation fulcrum.

  As shown in FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C, the main body 165b of the alignment restraining plate 165 and the pad portion 165c according to the amount of the decolored sheet held by the paper base 162a of the reuse paper cassette 61. The angles a, b, or c formed by each of the angles a (FIG. 9A), b (FIG. 9B), or c (FIG. 9C) are indicated by the action of the joint portion 165d. To change.

  As a result, the angle formed between the pad portion 165c and the decolored sheet (held by the paper table 162a) is maintained substantially constant. Therefore, even when the leading edge of the decolored sheet (on the stopper 162b side) is curled, the positional deviation in the conveying direction of the leading edge of each decolored sheet is aligned by the stopper 162b, and the leading edge due to the curl It can be accommodated (in a reuse paper cassette) in a state in which the deviation (unevenness) is reduced.

  According to the embodiments described above, in the image erasing material, that is, the color erasing device that erases the color of the image visualized by the color material, and the sheet processing device that processes the color erased by the color erasing device, the edge of the sheet It is possible to prevent the parts from becoming uneven. The operation of retracting or setting the sheet alignment mechanism, that is, the alignment roller and the alignment suppression plate, which is necessary because the decolored sheet is held becomes unnecessary.

  Therefore, convenience at the time of reuse of the erased sheet is improved.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Erasing part, 21 ... Erasing apparatus, 40 ... Conveying part, 50 ... Control part (main control apparatus), 60 ... Paper discharge part (erasable sheet holding part), 61 ... Reuse paper cassette, 161 ... Housing, 161a ... slide plate slide protrusion 162 ... stacking tray 162a ... paper tray 162b ... stopper, 163 ... fulcrum, 164 ... alignment roller, 164a ... fulcrum, 164e ... guide lever, 165 ... alignment restraining plate, 165a ... fulcrum, 165b ... Holding plate main body, 165c, pad portion, 165e, guide lever, 167, slide plate, 167a, slide plate slide portion, 167b, 167c, slide plate cam portion.

Claims (5)

Storage means for storing a cassette for storing sheets;
Alignment means for applying a load toward the sheet holding surface of the cassette to the sheet moving to the cassette;
When the cassette is moved to attach the cassette to the accommodating means and to pull out the cassette from the accommodating means, the alignment means is moved in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the cassette to move the aligning means to an operating position and a retracted position. A moving means for moving between
A sheet processing apparatus comprising:   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit converts a force when the cassette is moved into a force used to move the moving unit from the operating position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the operating position.   The alignment unit includes a conveying unit that guides the sheet to the cassette and a pressing unit that presses the sheet, and moves from the operation position to the retraction position in conjunction with the pulling operation of the cassette. 1 or 2 sheet processing apparatus. The cassette includes a bottom portion and a stopper member, and further includes a stacking portion that holds the sheet,
The sheet processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stacking portion rotates around another end portion different from an end portion connected to the stacking portion bottom surface portion of the stopper member according to the amount of the sheet. apparatus. Further comprising a decoloring part for decoloring the color of the color material constituting the image,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is located downstream of the conveyance path of the decoloring unit.

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