JP3127686B2 - Sheet processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for aligning and binding recording sheets discharged from an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a sheet processing apparatus in which a stapler performs a stapling operation. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus provided with a sheet conveyance device having a function of carrying in a sheet and carrying out a stapled sheet from a side opposite to the carry-in side. The sheet processing apparatus having the above function is used, for example, when a recording sheet is saddle stitched by a stapler and then conveyed to a folding position for folding the saddle stitch sheet into two.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a sheet processing apparatus having the above functions, the following technique (J01) is conventionally known. (J01) (Technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-221149) This publication describes a sheet processing apparatus, which is aligned with a compile tray C that can move up and down as shown in FIG. After performing the binding operation on the plurality of sheets S with the stapler U, the stapler U is moved and retracted from the binding position. Thereafter, the compile tray C is lowered to a sheet discharge position (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8), and then the bound sheets S are discharged to a bound sheet storage unit (stack tray) T.

[0003]

The prior art (J0)
1) has the following problems. (J011) A mechanism for moving the compile tray C up and down is required. (J012) After the stapling operation on the compile tray C is completed, the time required for the stapler moving operation + the time required for the tray lowering operation is required until the stapling sheet S is discharged from the compile tray C, and the processing takes time. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has the following (O0
The contents described in 1) shall be the subject. (O01) To stapled sheets can be quickly discharged from the compile tray after the stapling operation without providing a compile tray moving mechanism.

[0005]

Next, the present invention devised to solve the above-mentioned problems will be described. Elements of the present invention are used to facilitate correspondence with elements of the embodiments described later. , The reference numerals of the elements of the embodiment are enclosed in parentheses. The reason why the present invention is described in correspondence with the reference numerals of the embodiments described below is to facilitate understanding of the present invention and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first application of the present application
The sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a staple driving section (26) for driving staples on a plurality of stacked sheets (S).
a), a stapler (26) having a needle bending portion (26b) for bending a staple needle penetrating the plurality of sheets (S), and a plurality of sheets (S) at a position where the stapler (26) performs a stapling operation. ), And a sheet conveying device having a function of carrying out the stapled sheet (S) from a position opposite to the carry-in side, the sheet processing device having the following requirements. (Y01) The stapling section (2) of the stapler (26)
6A) and the needle bending portion (26b) are separately formed. (Y02) The needle driving portion (26a) and the needle bending portion (26b) are respectively provided between the sheet loading side and the sheet discharging side. It is connected to sheet guides (20a, 20b) which are arranged facing each other at a predetermined interval so as to form a sheet passage. (Y03) The staple driving portion (26a) and the staple bending portion (26b) are simultaneously moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (S) while being arranged opposite to each other with the sheet passage interposed therebetween. Stapler position control means for controlling their positions.

In the sheet processing apparatus according to the second invention of the present application, a staple driving portion (26a) for driving staples into a plurality of stacked sheets (S) and a plurality of sheets (S) penetrating therethrough. A stapler (26) having a needle bending portion (26b) for bending the staples, and a plurality of sheets (S) are carried into a position where the stapler (26) performs a stapling operation, and the stapled sheets (S) are removed. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a sheet conveying device having a function of unloading from a position on the opposite side of the carry-in side; and a sheet processing device having the following requirements: (Y01) Needles of the stapler (26) Launching part (2
6A) and the needle bending portion (26b) are separately formed. (Y02) The needle driving portion (26a) and the needle bending portion (26b) are respectively provided between the sheet loading side and the sheet discharging side. It is connected to sheet guides (20a, 20b) which are arranged facing each other at a predetermined interval so as to form a sheet passage. (Y04) The needle driving section (26a) is movable 1
(Y05) the needle punching part (26a) is fixedly arranged at a plurality of needle bending parts (26b) installation locations corresponding to the staple working positions. Stapler position control means for moving the sheet (S) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (S) in a plane opposed to the staple folding portion (26b) to move the sheet (S) to a position facing the staple folding portion (26b).

(Embodiment 1 of the present invention) Embodiment 1 of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the first or second invention has the following requirement (Y011): The sheet guide (20a, 20b) connected to one of the needle driving section (26a) and the needle bending section (26b) has a sheet between the sheet guides (20a, 20b) opposed thereto. The stopper (46) that can appear and disappear in the passage is supported.

[0009]

Next, the operation of the present invention having the above-mentioned features will be described. The stapler (26) of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application having the above-described features is provided with a staple driving portion (26a) for binding a plurality of stacked sheets (S) with staples and a staple bending. The part (26b) is formed separately. The sheet guides (20a, 20b) connected to the staple driving portion (26a) and the staple bending portion (26b) respectively have a predetermined shape so as to form a sheet passage between the sheet carry-in side and the sheet carry-out side. Are arranged facing each other at intervals of. The stapler position control means is arranged such that the stapling section (26a) and the stapling section (26b) of the stapler (26) connected to the sheet guide (20a, 20b) face each other with the sheet path interposed therebetween. In this state, the sheet (S) is simultaneously moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the positions thereof are positioned and held at a predetermined stapling work position. The sheet conveying device conveys a plurality of sheets (S) from the sheet loading side to a position where the stapler (26) performs a stapling operation. The stapling section (26a) and the stapling section (26b) of the stapler moved to a predetermined position by the stapler position control means bind the plurality of sheets (S) conveyed to the stapling operation position.

In the case where the sheet (S) is bound at two positions, the stapler position control means places the stapling section (26a) and the stapling section (26b) of the stapler (26) between the sheet path. The sheet (S) is simultaneously moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (S) while being positioned so as to face each other, and their positions are positioned and held at the next stapling work position. Then, the stapler (2)
6) The needle driving section (26a) and the needle bending section (2)
According to 6b), a binding operation (stapling operation) at the second position of the sheet (S) is performed. The sheet conveying device conveys the sheet (S) stapled by the stapler (26) from the stapling work position through the sheet discharge path. After performing staple work, without having to retract the staples or move the compile tray up and down,
Since the sheet (S) can be discharged, the bound sheet (S) can be discharged quickly.

The sheet processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-described features is a staple driving section (26a) and a staple bending section (26a) for binding a plurality of stacked sheets (S) with staples. 26b) are configured separately. Then, the sheet guides (20a, 20a, 20a, 26b) connected to the needle driving portion (26a) and the needle bending portion (26b), respectively.
20b) are arranged opposite to each other at a predetermined interval so as to form a sheet passage between the sheet carry-in side and the sheet carry-out side. In addition, one staple driving portion (26a) is movably disposed, and one staple bending portion (26b) includes a plurality of staple bending portions (26b) corresponding to the staple working position.
It is arranged in a fixed state at each installation location.

The stapler position control means moves the staple driving portion (26a) in a plane perpendicular to the staple bending portion (26b) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (S). The plurality of needle bending portions (26b)
Needle bending portion (26) arranged in one of the installation locations
b). In this state, the sheet conveying device sequentially conveys the plurality of sheets (S) from the sheet carry-in side to the staple working position. The plurality of sheets (S) conveyed to this stapling work position are stapled (26).
The stapling section (26a) and the bending section (26b) oppose each other. Next, the stapler position control means moves the staple driving section (26a) in a plane perpendicular to the staple bending section (26b) in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet (S), The needle bending part (26b) arranged at the place where the other needle bending part (26b) is installed is opposed to the needle bending part (26b). Then, a stapling operation is performed at that location, and the sheet (S) is bound.
After finishing the stapling operation at a necessary place, the sheet conveying device unloads the sheet (S) stapled by the stapler (26) from the stapling operation position through the sheet unloading path. After performing the stapling operation, the sheet (S) can be discharged without retreating the staples or moving the compile tray up and down, so that the stapled sheet (S) can be discharged quickly. Can be.

(Operation of the First Embodiment of the Present Invention) The first embodiment of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the sheet guide connected to one of the staple driving portion (26a) and the staple bending portion (26b). The (20a, 20b) supports a stopper (46) that can come and go in the sheet passage between the other sheet guide (20a, 20b) opposed thereto. The sheet (S) can be positioned by projecting the stopper (46) into the sheet passage, and the sheet (S) can be passed by retracting the stopper (46) from the sheet passage. it can.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of a state where is connected to a copying machine. FIG.
FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram of a staple working position according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2B is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a side sectional view (sectional view taken along the line IIB-IIB in FIG. 2A). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a drive mechanism of the driven roll 21b and the sheet aligning roll 21c of the discharge roll 21 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the stapler position control means of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a stopper for stopping the sheet at the stapling work position in the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the stopper shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a state in which the stopper is held at a non-operation position, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a state in which the stopper is held at an operation position. is there.

In FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus U is connected to a copying machine main body F. On a surface of the sheet processing apparatus U connected to the copying machine F (one side surface of the sheet processing apparatus), a sheet carry-in port 1 for carrying a recording sheet S copied by the copying machine F is arranged. Further, the sheet processing apparatus U
Is a sheet discharge port 2 on a surface opposite to the sheet carry-in port 1,
And a stack tray 3 for storing sheets discharged from the sheet discharge port 2.

The recording sheet S conveyed from the sheet entrance 1 is conveyed to either the lower first conveying path 6 or the upper second conveying path 7 by switching the sheet conveying path switching member 4. It is conveyed by rollers 8. The transport roller 8 includes a driving roller 8a and a driven roller 8b. A transport roller 9 is disposed at a leading end of the first transport path 6. The transport roller 9 includes a driving roller 9a and a driven roller 9b.

The second transport path 7 is provided with a transport roller 11 at the tip thereof, and the transport roller 11 includes a drive roller 11a and a driven roller 11b.
A transport roller 12 is provided in the middle of the second transport path 7, and the transport roller 12 includes a driving roller 12a and a driven roller 12b.

A compile tray C, in which a plurality of sheets are aligned and accommodated, is placed horizontally at the destinations of the first transport path 6 and the second transport path 7 in order to perform stapling work (sheet binding work). On the other hand, they are arranged at a gentle inclination. The compile tray C includes the first transport path 6 and the second transport path 7.
And a sheet support plate 13 for placing a sheet carried in from the printer and carrying the sheet into the staple working position. The sheet support plate 13 forms a sheet carry-in path for carrying the sheet to the staple working position. The outer end of the sheet support plate 13 is arranged adjacent to the inner end of the stack tray 3.

A pair of upper and lower sheet guides 15 and 16 (see FIG. 2B) are disposed at a position separated from the inner end of the sheet support plate 13 by a predetermined distance, and the sheet guides 15 and 16 are separated from the sheet support plate 13. A stopper 17 for positioning the edge of the sheet is provided on the side edge (the left edge in FIG. 1).
(See FIG. 1). Said sheet guide 1
Conveying rollers 18 are arranged adjacent to the edge of the sheet support plate 13 near the sheet support plate 13. The transport roller 18 includes a driving roller 18a and a driven roller 18b. Between the stopper 17 and the conveying roller 18, another stopper 19 which can be protruded and retracted in a sheet passage formed between the pair of upper and lower sheet guides 15 and 16.
Is provided. The protrusion of the stopper 19 into and out of the sheet passage formed between the pair of upper and lower sheet guides 15 and 16 is performed by a solenoid (not shown).

The stoppers 17, 19 are members for positioning the sheet when the sheet is saddle-stitched by a stapler described later. The stopper 17 is used for positioning a large-sized sheet (for example, A3 vertical sheet), and the stopper 19 is used for positioning a small-sized sheet (for example, B4 vertical sheet). A pair of upper and lower sheet guides 20b and 20a (see FIGS. 2B and 4) are arranged between the sheet support plate 13 and the transport roller 18. The space between the lower sheet guide 20a and the upper sheet guide 20b forms a sheet passage for passing the sheet from the sheet support plate 13 to the transport roller 18.
The compile tray C is constituted by the elements indicated by the reference numerals 13 to 20b, a tamper (not shown) for aligning sheets (a member for aligning the position in the sheet width direction), and the like.

At the outer end of the sheet support plate 13, a drive roller 21a (see FIGS. 1 and 2B) of a discharge roller 21 is disposed adjacent to the inner end of the stack tray 3. A driven roller 9b disposed at the tip of the first transport path 6
(See FIGS. 1, 2B, and 3) are fixed to a rotating shaft 22 rotatably supported by the frame F1 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, a gear 2 is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 22.
2a is fixed. Further, a discharge roller support arm 23 is supported on the rotating shaft 22 so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotating shaft 22. A rotation shaft 24 is rotatably supported at the tip of the discharge roller support arm 23. Rotary axis 2
4 is a driven roller 21 that can contact the driving roller 21
b is fixed. The discharge roller 21 is formed by the driven roller 21b and the drive roller 21a (see FIGS. 1 and 2B).
(See FIG. 2B).

In FIG. 3, a sheet aligning paddle 21c is fixed to the rotating shaft 24, and a gear 24a meshing with the gear 22a is mounted via a clutch 24b. The clutch 24b is normally off, and when it is off, the rotating shaft 24 and the gear 24a are connected so as to rotate integrally. When the clutch 24b is on, the relative rotation between the rotating shaft 24 and the gear 24a is free (free).
State. The sheet aligning paddle 21c includes a cylindrical portion having a smaller radius than the driven roller 21b and a plurality of elastic sheets extending radially from the cylindrical portion. The outer edge of the elastic sheet is
1b is disposed outside the outer peripheral surface.

In the above configuration, when the driving roller 9a rotates, the driven roller 9b in contact therewith rotates,
At this time, the gears 22a and 24a rotate. Then Figure 3
If the clutch 24b is off, the rotating shaft 24 rotates together with the gear 24a, so that the driven roller 21b and the sheet aligning paddle 21c fixed to the rotating shaft 24 also rotate integrally. At this time, the discharge roller support arm 23 is rotatably connected to the rotating shafts 22, 24. The discharge roller support arm 23
The periphery of the rotary shaft 22 is formed in a semicircular shape, and a gear is formed on a peripheral surface thereof. This gear meshes with an output gear 25a fixed to the output shaft of the motor 25.

Accordingly, in FIG.
When rotated in one direction, the discharge roller support arm 23
As shown in FIG.
2B (position distant from the sheet support plate 13) to a position shown in FIG. 2B (position close to the sheet support plate 13). At a position shown in FIG. 2B (a position where the driven roller 21b is separated from the sheet on the sheet support plate 13 but is in contact with the sheet aligning paddle 21c), the clutch 24b is turned off.
When the driving roller 9a rotates in the FF state (the rotating shaft 24 and the gear 24a are connected), as can be seen from FIG.
The sheet aligning paddle 21c rotates together with the driven roller 9b, the rotating shaft 22, the gears 22a and 24a, and the rotating shaft 24. At this time, the sheet alignment paddle 21c rotates so as to move the sheet S to the left in FIG. 2B and perform sheet alignment.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the stapler 26
The needle punching portion 26a and the needle bending portion 26b are configured separately. The needle driving portion 26a is connected to the lower sheet guide 20a, and the needle bending portion 26b is connected to the upper sheet guide 20b. The needle driving portion 26a is supported by a pair of rod-shaped guides 27, 27 (see FIG. 2B) so as to be movable in the directions of arrows Y1-Y2 in FIG. 2A. The needle bent portion 26b is formed by a pair of rod-shaped guides 28, 28 (see FIG. 2B) in FIGS.
Are supported so as to be movable in the directions of arrows Y1-Y2.

In FIG. 4, timing belts 29 and 30 are connected to the downstream end (the downstream end in the sheet conveying direction X) of the needle driving section 26a and the downstream end of the needle bending section 26b, respectively. I have. The timing belt 29 includes a timing pulley 32 fixed to a rotatable pulley shaft 31 and a rotating roller 33 a of a tensioner 33.
And are supported by. In addition, the timing belt 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a timing pulley 34 fixed to the rotatable pulley shaft 31 and a rotation roller 35 of a tensioner 35.
Supported by a. The pulley shaft 31 is driven to rotate by a drive motor 36 and a reduction gear 37. When the pulley shaft 31 is rotated, the needle driving portion 26a connected to the lower sheet guide 20a and the needle bending portion 26b connected to the upper sheet guide 20b are simultaneously moved in the Y1-Y2 direction. Has become.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, stopper upper and lower holes 41 are formed in the upper sheet guide 20b on both sides of the needle bending portion 26b. The lower sheet guide 20a also has a stopper access hole 42 (see FIG. 6) at a position corresponding to the stopper access hole 41. 5 and 6, the upper surface of the upper sheet guide 20b is provided with a bracket 4 outside the stopper access hole 41.
3, 43 (see FIG. 5) are fixed. The stopper support shaft 44 is rotatably supported by these brackets 43. A pair of stoppers 46, 46 are fixed to the stopper support shaft 44. Each of the stoppers 46 swings with the rotation of the stopper support shaft 44, and their distal ends can be moved downward and in through the respective stopper entrance / exit holes 41. Stopper 4
6 is provided with a spring locking portion 46a. A coil-shaped tension spring 47 is provided between the spring locking portion 46a and the upper sheet guide 20b. The distal end of the stopper 46 is normally held by the tension spring 47 so as to protrude from the stopper access hole 41 into the lower sheet passage.

An arm 48 is rotatably supported on the stopper support shaft 44. An intermediate portion of the arm 48 is provided with a pin 49 which can be engaged with the stopper 46.
One end of a link 51 is rotatably connected to the free end of the link 8. The other end of the link 51 is connected to an operating member 53 which moves forward and backward by a solenoid 52. As shown in FIG. 6A, the stopper 46 is usually provided by the tension spring 47.
Is held at a position where its tip protrudes from the stopper access hole 41 into the sheet passage. In a state where the locking portion 46a of the stopper 46 is pulled by the tension spring 47, the pin 49 engaging with the intermediate portion of the stopper 46 and the arm 48 supporting the pin 49 are pushed leftward in FIG. 6A. I have. 6A, the arm 48 pushed to the left rotates clockwise and its free end causes the link 5 to move.
1 and the operating member 53 of the solenoid 52 are pulled to the left. The connecting portion of the link 51 with the arm abuts on a solenoid stopper 54, so that the operating member 53 of the solenoid 52 does not move further leftward. In this state, the operating member 53 has advanced (projected from the solenoid 52).

When the solenoid 52 operates and the operating member 53 moves backward (moves rightward in FIG. 6A), the arm 48 rotates counterclockwise. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, the stopper 46 that engages with the pin 49 supported by the arm 48 swings counterclockwise, and its tip is located above the stopper access hole 41 of the upper sheet guide 20b. Is stored in. In this state, the upper sheet guide 20
The sheet can freely pass through the sheet path formed between the sheet guide b and the lower sheet guide 20a.

The pair of upper and lower sheet guides 15, 16
(See FIG. 2B). A sheet passage formed by the stopper 19 shown in FIG.
9 (left side of FIG. 9), a branch path 56 leading to the lower sheet set folding section is connected. A sheet conveyance path switching member 57 is disposed at a connection portion of the branch path 56.
The branch path 56 is used when a saddle-stitched sheet set composed of a plurality of sheets stapled by the stapler 26 is transported to a lower sheet set folding section.
The sheet set folding portion 58 connected to the downstream side of the branch path 56 has stoppers 61 and 62 for positioning and stopping the saddle stitched sheet set carried in from the branch path 56 in accordance with the size of the sheet. I have. The stopper 61 is used when the sheet size is large (for example, A
3) and is fixedly arranged. When the sheet size is small (for example, B4
) Is disposed so that it can enter and exit the sheet set passage.

In correspondence with the position of the saddle-stitched portion of the saddle-stitched sheet set stopped by the stopper 61 or 62, a pair of center-folding belt devices 63, 64 and the center-folding belt devices 63, 64 are provided. A folding plate 66 that presses the saddle stitch portion while folding the saddle stitch portion between them
And are arranged. The folding plate 66 is always held at a position (retracted position) outside the path of the saddle stitched sheet set by the return spring 67, but is advanced by the rotation of the eccentric cam 68, and the saddle stitched sheet set is moved to the center folding belt device. It is configured to be pushed between 63 and 64. The saddle stitched sheet set folded by the center folding belt devices 63 and 64 passes through a sheet set discharge path 69,
The sheet is conveyed to the center folded sheet discharge roller 71. The center-folded sheet discharge roller 71 includes a driving roller 71a and a driven roller 71b, and discharges the center-folded sheet set to the center-folded sheet tray 72.

(Operation of the First Embodiment) Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. When the plurality of recording sheets S are to be edge-bound, the sheet transport path switching member 4 is held at the position shown in FIG. And the discharge roller support arm 23 is
As shown in FIG. 1, it is held at a position away from the sheet support plate 13. The stopper 46 is held at the position shown in FIG. 6A. The stapler 26 is moved to the center position in the Y1-Y2 direction (the width direction of the recording sheet S) shown in FIGS. 2A and 4 by the drive motor 36 (see FIG. 4). In this state, the sheet entrance 1
The recording sheet S carried in from is transported by the first transport path 6 on the lower side by the sheet transport path switching member 4.
The recording sheet S conveyed from the conveying roller 9 at the leading end of the first conveying path 6 is a sheet supporting plate 13 of the compile tray C constituted by the reference numerals 13 to 20b and the like.
Fall on.

When the recording sheet S falls on the sheet support plate 13 after passing through the transport roller 9, the motor 2
5 (see FIG. 3), the discharge roller support arm 23 is rotated and moved to the position shown in FIG. 2B (the position where the sheet aligning paddle 21c contacts the sheet and the driven roller 21b does not contact the sheet). In this state, the transfer roller 9
When the drive roller 9a is rotated, the sheet aligning paddle 2
1c is rotated clockwise in FIG.
The upper recording sheet S is moved to the left. The recording sheet S is positioned in contact with the stoppers 46, 46 arranged on both sides of the stapler 26 arranged at the center in the width direction. Thus, the position of the recording sheet S conveyed to the sheet support plate 13 in the conveying direction is positioned at the position of the stopper 46. Further, the position in the width direction of the recording sheet S is determined by a sheet aligning tamper (not shown).

As described above, the required number of recording sheets S
Is a predetermined position of the compile tray C (edge binding work position)
Then, the drive motor 36 is driven to move the stapler 26 in the Y1-Y2 direction (the width direction of the recording sheet). Then, the stapler 26 is moved to a predetermined edge binding position, and then an edge binding operation (stapling operation) is performed. When the sheet S is carried in with the stapler 26 being arranged at the edge binding position in advance, the edge binding operation is performed without moving the stapler 26. The stopper 46
When the positioning of the recording sheets S is performed in the above, the edges of those recording sheets are bound, so the binding operation in this case is the edge binding operation. When there are a plurality of binding positions, the stapler 26 is moved to the next binding position to perform the binding operation.

In this manner, a plurality of recording sheets S are stapled by the stapler 26 to form an end stapled sheet set. The end-stitched sheet set is discharged from the sheet discharge port 2 in FIG. The discharge is performed as follows. 2B, the driven roller 21b of the discharge roller 21 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the sheet set, and the sheet set is sandwiched between the drive roller 21a and the driven roller 21b of the discharge roller 21. In this state, the drive roller 21 a is driven to discharge the end-stitched sheet set from the sheet discharge port 2 to the stack tray 3. As can be seen from the above description, after performing the stapling operation, the sheet can be discharged without retreating the staples or moving the compile tray up and down, so that the stapled sheets can be discharged quickly. It can be carried out.

Next, for example, when a plurality of B4 size recording sheets S are saddle-stitched and folded in the middle, the recording sheets conveyed from the sheet entrance 1 are conveyed to the second conveyance path 7. Then, the sheet conveying path switching member 4 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. Then, the discharge roller support arm 23 is held at a position away from the sheet support plate 13 as shown in FIG. The stopper 4
6 is held at the retracted position shown in FIG. 6B, and the stopper 19 is projected into the sheet passage between the sheet guides 15 and 16. Also, the stopper 62 is projected into the sheet passage. The stapler 26 is moved by the drive motor 36 to a central position in the Y1-Y2 direction (the width direction of the recording sheet S) shown in FIGS. 2A and 4. In this state, the recording sheet S carried in from the sheet carry-in port 1 is moved by the sheet conveying path switching member 4.
It is transported by the upper second transport path 7. Then, the recording sheet S conveyed from the conveying roller 11 at the leading end of the second conveying path 7 is conveyed onto the sheet support plate 13 of the compile tray C constituted by the symbols 13 to 20b and the like.

The recording sheet S is conveyed by the conveying rollers 11 and slides on the sheet support plate 13 or on the sheet placed thereon, and the sheet guides 20a, 20b
The sheet passes through the sheet path therebetween and reaches the transport roller 18. The transport roller 18 transports the recording sheet S further downstream.
The recording sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 18 is positioned in contact with the stopper 19. In this manner, the position of the recording sheet S conveyed from the conveyance roller 11 in the second conveyance path 7 in the conveyance direction is positioned at the position of the stopper 19. Further, the position in the width direction of the recording sheet S is determined by a sheet aligning tamper (not shown).

As described above, when the required number of B4 size recording sheets S are positioned at the predetermined position of the compile tray C (the saddle stitching operation position determined by the stopper 19), the stapling is performed by the stapler 26. . If the saddle stitching position is different from the current position of the stapler 26, the drive motor 36 is driven to move the stapler 26 in the Y1-Y2 direction (the width direction of the recording sheet). Then, after moving the stapler 26 to a predetermined saddle stitching position, the saddle stitching operation (stapling operation) is performed. When there are a plurality of saddle stitching positions, the stapler 26 is moved to the next saddle stitching position to perform the saddle stitching operation.

In this way, a plurality of recording sheets S are saddle-stitched by the stapler 26 to form a saddle-stitched sheet set. The saddle stitched sheet set passes through the sheet path between the sheet guides 20a and 20b, and is conveyed from the branch path 56 in FIG. 1 to the sheet set folding section 58. This transfer is performed as follows. The stopper 19
Is retracted from the sheet path, and the sheet transport path switching member 57 is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 1 to guide the saddle stitched sheet set to the branch path 56. When the transport roller 18 is driven in this state,
The saddle stitched sheet set is conveyed from the branch path 56 to a sheet set folding section 58. In this case, after performing the stapling operation, the sheet can be discharged from the compile tray C without retreating the staples or moving the compile tray C up and down. Discharge from C can be performed promptly.

The position of the sheet set is stopped by the stopper 62 of the sheet set folding section 58. The saddle stitching portion of this sheet set is arranged to face the contact portion of the center folding belt devices 63, 64. By rotating the eccentric cam 68 in this state, the folding plate 66
When the sheet set is advanced, the saddle stitch portion of the sheet set is pushed between the center folding belt devices 63 and 64 while being center-folded by the front end of the center folding plate 66. The sheet set thus folded (center-folded sheet set) is conveyed to a center-folded sheet set discharge roller 71 through a center-folded sheet set discharge path 69 and further discharged to a center-folded sheet tray 72.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
7A is a perspective view of a main part, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG. 7A. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points, but has the same configuration as the first embodiment in other points. (S01) The rod-shaped guides 27 and 28 of the first embodiment.
In place of guides 27 'and 28' having guide grooves 27a 'and 28a' shown in FIG. 7B. (S02) The guide grooves 27 are respectively formed in the needle driving portions 26a and the needle bending portions 26b of the stepper 26.
a ', 28a' is provided with a guided portion 26c to be fitted. (S03) The timing belts 29 and 30 of the first embodiment.
In that timing belts 29 'and 30' are used in place of the above. (S04) The drive mechanism of the timing belts 29 ', 30' is configured as shown in FIG. 7A.

7A and 7B, the needle driving section 26
Timing belts 29 'and 30' are connected to a and the needle bending portion 26b, respectively. The timing belt 29 'is supported by a timing pulley 32' fixed to a rotatable pulley shaft 31 'and a rotating roller 33a' of a tensioner 33 '. Further, the timing belt 30 ′ comprises a timing pulley 34 ′ fixed to the rotatable pulley shaft 31 ″ and a tensioner 3 ′.
5 'is supported by the rotating roller 35a'.
The pulley shaft 31 'is adapted to be rotationally driven by a drive motor and a reduction gear (not shown), and a gear 38 is fixed. The gear 38 is connected to the pulley shaft 3
The gear 39 is fixed to the gear 1 ".
When the pulley shaft 31 'is rotated, the gears 38 and 39 and the pulley shaft 31 "are rotated. Then, the needle driving portion 26a connected to the lower sheet guide 20a (not shown) similar to the first embodiment. And a needle bending portion 2 connected to an upper sheet guide 20b (not shown) similar to that of the first embodiment.
6b simultaneously moves in the Y1-Y2 direction. The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has the same operation as the first embodiment.

(Modifications) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but falls within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. Thus, various changes can be made. Modified embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified below.

(H01) In the first or second embodiment, it is possible to provide a plurality of needle bending portions 26b and to fix them. In this case, the needle driving section 26
Only a is configured to be movable. (H02) The present invention can be applied to a sheet processing apparatus provided with only one of them instead of the sheet processing apparatus provided with both the edge binding processing and the saddle binding processing.

[0045]

The sheet processing apparatus of the present invention has the following effects. (O01) The bound sheets can be quickly discharged from the compile tray after the stapling operation without providing a compile tray moving mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a state in which a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is connected to a copying machine.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a staple working position according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a side sectional view (of FIG. 2A).
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a driving mechanism of a driven roll 21b of a discharge roll 21 and a sheet aligning roll 21c.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a stapler position control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a stopper for stopping a sheet at the stapler working position.

6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the stopper shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 6A is a view showing a state where the stopper is held at an operation position; FIG. 6B is a state where the stopper is held at a non-operation position; FIG.

7 is an explanatory view of a main part of a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the main part, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG. 7A. .

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a conventional sheet processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

S: sheet 20a, 20b: sheet guide, 26: stapler, 26
a: Needle driving section, 26b: Needle bending section, 46: Stopper,

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 37/04 B42C 1/12 G03G 15/00 534

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A stapler having a stapling section for striking staples on a plurality of stacked sheets, and a stapler bending section for bending a staple stuck through the plurality of sheets; and a stapler at a position where the stapler performs stapling work A sheet processing apparatus having a function of carrying in a plurality of sheets and carrying out a stapled sheet from a position opposite to the carry-in side and a position opposite to the carry-in side, wherein the sheet processing apparatus has the following requirements. (Y01) the stapling section and the stapling section of the stapler are separately formed; and (Y02) the stapling section and the stapling section are respectively the sheet loading side and the sheet unloading section. The sheet guide is connected to a sheet guide disposed at a predetermined interval so as to form a sheet passage between the sheet guide and the sheet guide. (Y03) While the needle hammering section and the needle bending section are arranged to face each other with the sheet passage interposed therebetween,
Stapler position control means for simultaneously moving the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and controlling the position thereof. 2. A stapler having a staple driving unit for punching staples on a plurality of stacked sheets, and a stapler bending unit for bending a staple needle penetrating the plurality of sheets; A sheet processing apparatus having a function of carrying in a plurality of sheets and carrying out a stapled sheet from a position opposite to the carry-in side and a position opposite to the carry-in side, wherein the sheet processing apparatus has the following requirements. (Y01) the stapling section and the stapling section of the stapler are separately formed; and (Y02) the stapling section and the stapling section are respectively the sheet loading side and the sheet unloading section. The sheet guide is connected to a sheet guide disposed at a predetermined interval so as to form a sheet passage between the sheet guide and the sheet guide. (Y04) one of the needle punching portions is movably disposed, and the needle bending portion is fixedly disposed at each of a plurality of needle bending portion installation locations corresponding to the staple working position; (Y05) the needle punching Stapler position control means for moving a portion in a plane perpendicular to the needle bending portion in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction to a position facing each of the needle bending portions.