JP4203955B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus, and more particularly to a configuration for preventing a positional deviation of a sheet bundle that is discharged after being processed.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a laser printer, a facsimile, and a composite device thereof, a sheet that performs a process such as a binding process on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body. Some have a processing device.

  As such a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet stacking operation for transporting a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body to a sheet processing unit, and stacking and aligning the discharged sheet in the sheet processing unit, and a sheet In some cases, processing such as stapling is performed.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, such a sheet processing apparatus discharges a sheet bundle from the processing tray 602 to the inclined stack tray 601 of the main body outside 600 by the bundle discharge unit 650 after processing the sheet. In this case, the sheet bundle can be aligned in one direction by its own weight due to the inclination of the stack tray 601 (see Patent Document 1).

  As another sheet processing apparatus, after an image-formed sheet is stored in the stacking unit, the sheet bundle is moved to a bundle, and thereafter, the sheet bundle is subjected to processing such as binding processing, and then the bundle is again bundled. An apparatus that moves and accommodates in a loading means is known (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-284425 A JP-A-7-257811

  However, in such a conventional sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus, when stacking sheet bundles on the inclined stack tray 601, the sheet bundles can be aligned by the inclination of the stack tray 601. When the sheet bundle is discharged to a substantially horizontal stack tray, the sheet bundle cannot be aligned due to its own weight drop. For this reason, depending on the inertial force and the condition of the sheet bundle, the position of the sheet bundle loaded on the stack tray after being discharged is not constant, and the stackability is deteriorated.

  In particular, in an unbound sheet bundle, the alignment in the sheet bundle is also easily shifted, and once shifted, it cannot be aligned again. That is, when discharging a sheet bundle to a substantially horizontal stack tray, it is difficult to stack the sheet bundle in an aligned state.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of improving the stackability of sheets with a simple configuration and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus. It is what.

  The present invention is provided with a first sheet stacking unit for stacking sheets to be processed and a downstream of the first sheet stacking unit in the sheet conveying direction, and after being processed on the first sheet stacking unit, the sheet is discharged. A sheet processing apparatus including a second sheet stacking unit configured to stack the sheet bundle, and after the processing of the sheet bundle is finished, the sheet bundle on the processed first sheet stacking unit is held. A sheet bundle discharging unit that moves in the direction of the second sheet stacking unit and discharges the sheet bundle to the second sheet stacking unit; and a second sheet stacking unit side end of the first sheet stacking unit. A sheet bundle rear end abutting member provided so as to be capable of appearing and retracting, and an abutting member moving means for projecting the sheet bundle rear end abutting member from the second sheet stacking means side end of the first sheet stacking means; With The sheet bundle discharging means moves to a position for discharging the sheet bundle and then releases the holding of the sheet bundle, and the abutting member moving means moves to a position for the sheet bundle discharging means to discharge the sheet bundle. After that, the sheet bundle trailing edge abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharging means, and the sheet bundle released from being held by the sheet bundle discharging means when the sheet bundle discharging means returns to the position before the movement. It is characterized by striking the rear end of the head.

  In the invention, it is preferable that the sheet bundle discharge unit includes a sheet bundle holding unit that holds the processed sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle holding unit moves to a position where the sheet bundle discharge unit discharges the sheet bundle. The holding of the sheet bundle by the means is released.

  In the present invention, the abutting member moving means is a solenoid.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the abutting member moving means is a pressing member that moves with the movement of the sheet bundle discharging means and presses the sheet bundle rear end abutting member in the protruding direction. It is.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the image forming unit includes an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet, and the sheet processing device according to any one of the above that processes the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, after the sheet bundle discharging means has moved to a position for discharging the sheet bundle, the holding of the sheet bundle is released, and the abutting member moving means is configured such that the sheet bundle discharging means removes the sheet bundle. After moving to the discharge position, the sheet bundle trailing edge abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharge means, and the sheet bundle holding means is held when the sheet bundle discharge means returns to the position before the movement. Control means for controlling the rear end of the released sheet bundle to abut is provided, and the control means is provided in the sheet processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus main body.

  According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a first sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets to be processed by the image forming unit, and a sheet of the first sheet stacking unit A second sheet stacking unit that is provided downstream in the conveying direction and that is processed on the first sheet stacking unit and then stacks the sheet bundle to be discharged; and after the processing of the sheet bundle is completed, the processed A sheet bundle discharging means for moving in the direction of the second sheet stacking means while holding the sheet bundle on the first sheet stacking means, and discharging the sheet bundle to the second sheet stacking means; A sheet bundle rear end abutting member provided at a second sheet stacking means side end portion of the sheet stacking means, and the sheet bundle rear end abutting member provided in the second sheet stacking means side end portion. Sheet stacking side end The abutting member moving means for projecting from the sheet bundle and the sheet bundle discharging means release the holding of the sheet bundle after moving to a position for discharging the sheet bundle, and the abutting member moving means is configured to release the sheet bundle discharging means. After the sheet bundle moves to the position for discharging the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle rear end abutting member is protruded on the upstream side of the sheet bundle discharge means, and the sheet bundle is returned when the sheet bundle discharge means returns to the position before the movement. Control means for controlling the sheet bundle so as to abut against the rear end of the sheet bundle released from being held by the discharging means.

  According to the present invention, after the sheet bundle discharging means has moved to the position for discharging the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle trailing edge abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharging means, and the sheet bundle discharging means is in the position before the movement. By returning the sheet bundle rear end abutting member to the rear end of the sheet bundle released from being held by the sheet bundle discharging means, the sheet bundle falling position can always be made constant. Thereby, the sheet bundle can be aligned on the stack tray with a simple configuration, and the stackability of the sheets can be improved.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which A is an image forming apparatus, 500 is an image forming apparatus main body, and 300 is an image. An automatic document feeder (ADF) 400 provided on the upper surface of the forming apparatus main body 500 is a sheet processing apparatus that processes sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus A.

  In the figure, reference numeral 120 denotes a reader unit (image input device) that converts a document into image data, and 200 includes a plurality of types of sheet cassettes 204 and 205, and the image data is converted into a visible image on the sheet by a print command. It is a printer unit which is an image forming unit to output.

  In the image forming apparatus A configured as described above, when an original image is read to form an image, first, the originals stacked on the automatic original feeder (ADF) 300 are sequentially placed on the platen glass one by one. It is carried on the surface 102.

  Next, when the document is conveyed to a predetermined position on the glass surface 102 in this way, the lamp 103 of the reader unit 120 is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. Then, the reflected light from the original is input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 through the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108, and electrical processing such as photoelectric conversion is performed in the CCD image sensor unit 109, and normal digital processing is performed. Is given.

  Next, the image signal subjected to the electrical processing in this manner is converted into a modulated optical signal by the exposure control unit 201 of the printer unit 200, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 202. Then, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 202 by the irradiation light, and the latent image is developed by the developing device 203. As a result, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 202.

  Next, the sheet S is conveyed from the sheet cassettes 204 and 205 in synchronization with the leading edge of the toner image, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer unit 206. Thereafter, the toner image transferred to the sheet S is fixed by the fixing unit 207. After the toner image is fixed in this way, the sheet S is discharged from the paper discharge unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus.

  Then, the sheet S output from the paper discharge unit 208 is conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 400, and processing such as sorting and binding is performed in accordance with an operation mode designated in advance by the sheet processing apparatus 400.

  When outputting sequentially read images on both sides of one sheet S, first, the direction switching member 209 is once switched in the solid line direction in the drawing for the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed on one side by the fixing unit 207. Then, the direction switching member 217 is switched to the solid line direction, and the direction switching member 213 is switched to the solid line direction, so that the sheet is conveyed to the reverse path 212 via the path 218.

  Next, after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the direction switching member 213, the direction switching member 213 is switched to the broken line direction, and the rotation direction of the roller 211 is reversed to guide the sheet to the path 210, and then to the transfer unit 206. The sheet is conveyed to form an image on the back surface of the sheet S.

  On the other hand, the sheet processing apparatus 400 has a stapling function that is a binding operation by a stapling unit in addition to a sorting operation for sorting sheets, and is sequentially discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 500 as shown in FIG. A processing tray 410 for processing the sheet S and a stack tray 421 for finally stacking a sheet bundle processed on the processing tray 410 are provided, and a sheet bundle corresponding to the number of documents is displayed on the processing tray. The sheet is formed and discharged to the stack tray 421 for each sheet bundle.

  In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a sheet receiving unit that receives the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 500. The sheet S received by the sheet receiving unit 401 is detected by the entrance sensor 403, and then the conveyance roller. 405 and the offset roller 407, and then discharged onto the processing tray 410 as shown in FIG. The sheets S stacked on the processing tray 410 in this way are detected by a sheet bundle discharge sensor 415 shown in FIG.

  Here, the offset roller 407 is held up and down by an offset roller arm 406 that can move up and down about a shaft 406 a shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and when the sheet S is discharged to the processing tray 410. The sheet S is moved upward via the offset roller arm 406, whereby the sheet S is discharged onto the processing tray 410 without being obstructed by the offset roller 407.

  The offset roller arm 406 can be moved up and down by a pickup solenoid 433 with a shaft 406a as a fulcrum. That is, the offset roller 407 moves up and down when the pickup solenoid 433 is turned on / off.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the offset roller 407 is driven via belts 431a and 431b by a conveyance motor 431 that drives the conveyance roller 405. When the conveyance motor 431 rotates, the conveyance motor 431 is driven. Rotate in the transport direction or in the opposite direction of the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as reverse rotation) by an amount corresponding to the amount of rotation.

  In the present embodiment, when the sheet bundle discharge sensor 415 detects a sheet, the pickup solenoid 433 is turned off, whereby the offset roller 407 is lowered by its own weight and landed on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet rotates in the sheet conveying direction for a predetermined time, and reverses when the predetermined time elapses.

  By reversing in this way, the trailing edge of the sheet is brought into contact with the sheet trailing edge stopper 411 provided at the upstream end of the processing tray 410 in the conveying direction so as to align the sheet S in the conveying direction. ing.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 416 denotes a positioning wall serving as an alignment position reference at the end of the sheet in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction), and 420 is disposed near the positioning wall of the processing tray 410. This is a stapler unit that performs a stapling process on a sheet bundle formed on the processing tray 410. The offset roller 407 is moved in the width direction via the rack and pinion by driving the offset motor 432, and close to the positioning wall 416. Can be done.

  When the offset roller 407 approaches the positioning wall 416 in this way, the sheet that is abutted against the sheet trailing edge stopper 411 and aligned in the conveyance direction moves to the positioning wall 416 by the frictional force of the offset roller 407. Thus, positioning in the width direction is performed. After the sheet S hits the positioning wall 416, the offset roller 407 moves and stops while sliding on the sheet.

  By providing such an offset roller 407, the sheet discharged onto the processing tray 410 is conveyed to the stack tray side by the offset roller 407 rotating in the sheet conveying direction as shown in FIG. 6B, the sheet is returned to the sheet trailing edge stopper 411 by the reverse rotation of the offset roller 407, and then the trailing edge is brought into contact with the trailing edge stopper 411 for alignment.

  In FIG. 6 and FIGS. 7 and 8 to be described later, unlike FIG. 4 described above, the offset roller 407 is described as having a configuration arranged inside the offset roller arm 406. This difference in configuration is merely a difference in design, and there is no difference in function and operation from the configuration shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, the offset roller 407 is moved to the positioning wall side along the shaft 406a while being grounded to the sheet S, so that the end in the width direction of the sheet S is positioned. The sheet S is pressed against the wall 416 and the sheet S is aligned in the width direction.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 412 denotes a sheet clamp member that is a sheet bundle holding unit that presses the rear end portion of the aligned sheet S from above by a biasing force by a biasing unit (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, after the offset roller 407 is lifted by the pickup solenoid 433, the aligned sheet S is moved by the sheet clamp member 412 as shown in FIG. 7B. It can be pressed from above. As a result, the sheet S previously discharged to the processing tray 410 can be held at a predetermined position without being affected by the subsequent feeding by the sequentially fed sheets S. .

  The sheet clamp member 412 rotates upward as shown in FIG. 8A so that the sheet S can be received when the offset roller 407 is reversely rotated, and is offset to align the ends. When the sheet S moves in the width direction together with the roller 407, the sheet S is rotated upward as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 413 denotes a sheet bundle discharge member which is a sheet bundle discharge unit for discharging the processed sheet bundle to the stack tray 421. The sheet bundle discharge member 413 rotatably holds the sheet clamp member 412. At the same time, the aligned sheet bundle, or the aligned sheet bundle after being aligned, is held on the downstream side of the processing tray 410 as shown in FIG. It moves in the direction of a stack tray 421 which is another sheet stacking means.

  Further, after this, when the leading end of the processing tray 410, which is the sheet discharge position indicated by the solid line in the figure, is reached, the holding of the sheet bundle SA by the sheet clamp member 412 on the stack tray 421 is released, and the sheet bundle SA is stacked. The paper is discharged to the tray 421.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet bundle discharge member 413 has a position at which the sheet is discharged to the stack tray 421 and a trailing end stopper when power is transmitted through the rack and pinion by the sheet bundle discharge motor 430. It can move back and forth to the home position near 411. The sheet bundle discharge member 413 is normally fixed at the home position by excitation of the sheet bundle discharge motor 430.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 434 denotes a clamp solenoid for rotating the sheet clamp member 412. This clamp solenoid 434 is used when the offset roller 407 stops rotating after conveying the sheet and when the offset roller 407 moves in the width direction. When moving, the sheet clamp member 412 is turned on, and the sheet clamp member 412 is rotated upward via a release lever portion 412 a provided on the lever 434 a and the sheet clamp member 412.

  In this embodiment, after the sheet S is moved in the width direction, the offset roller 407 is reversely rotated again to complete the alignment operation in order to correct the deviation in the sheet conveyance direction. High-precision matching is achieved. When the specified number of sheets have been aligned, the clamp solenoid 434 closes the sheet clamp member 412 to hold the sheet bundle.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the sheet processing apparatus 400 having such a configuration, and 100 is a CPU. Here, the CPU 100 has a ROM 110 therein, and reads out and executes a program stored in the ROM 110 corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14 to be described later to control each unit.

  Further, the CPU 100 has a built-in RAM 120 in which work data and input data are stored, and the CPU 100 performs control based on data stored in the RAM 120. Furthermore, sensors such as the inlet sensor 403 are connected to the input port of the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 is connected to the output port according to a program for executing the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14 stored in the ROM 110 based on the state of these sensors. A load such as a connected transport motor is controlled.

  In addition, the CPU 100 includes a serial interface unit (I / O) 130, which transmits and receives control data to and from the image forming apparatus main body 500 (control unit thereof), and also transmits an image via the serial interface unit (I / O) 130. Each unit is controlled based on control data sent from the forming apparatus main body 500 (control unit thereof).

  Since the image forming apparatus main body 500 knows the size of the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge unit 208, the control unit of the sheet processing apparatus 400 performs serial communication with the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body 500 to perform processing. The size of the sheet inserted on the tray 410 can be grasped.

  Therefore, each time the sheet S is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 500, the control unit (CPU 100) of the sheet processing apparatus 400 grasps the size of the sheet S and controls the offset motor 432 so that the offset roller 407 in the width direction is controlled. The movement amount can be controlled to be a movement amount according to the sheet size. As a result, the offset roller 407 moves by an amount corresponding to the size of the sheet discharged onto the processing tray 410, and the side edge of the sheet S can be reliably pressed against the positioning wall 416.

  In this embodiment, since the sheet bundle stacked on the stack tray 421 constitutes a part of the processing tray 410, when the sheet bundle SA is discharged from the processing tray 410, the stack tray 421 is discharged. Is lowered by a stack tray raising / lowering motor (see FIG. 10) until the uppermost surface of the stacked sheet bundle substantially coincides with the processing tray 410.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, a sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 is provided at the discharge end portion (stack tray side end portion) of the processing tray 410 so as to appear and retract. Here, the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 protrudes from the processing tray 410 to the upstream side of the sheet bundle discharge member 413 when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 reaches the sheet bundle discharge position shown in FIG. ing.

  Then, after the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 418 protrudes in this way, the sheet clamp member 412 is opened, and when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 moves in the direction returning to the home position in this state, the sheet bundle discharge member until then. The rear end of the sheet bundle SA held at 413 comes into contact with the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 protruding from the discharge end portion of the processing tray 410 and falls. Here, by bringing the sheet bundle SA into contact with the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 and dropping it, the sheet bundle falling position can be made constant, and the sheet bundle on the stack tray is aligned. Can be made.

  In FIG. 11, reference numeral 437 denotes an abutting solenoid which is an abutting member moving means for causing the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 to move in and out. The CPU 100 causes the sheet bundle discharging member 413 to be moved by a sensor (not shown). When it is detected that the bundle discharging position has been reached, the abutting solenoid 437 is turned on.

  When the abutting solenoid 437 is turned on in this way, the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 projects through the link member 436 as shown in FIG. When the abutting solenoid 437 is off, the abutting member 435 is retracted below the processing tray 410 so as not to hinder sheet conveyance as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, reference numeral 410a denotes a locking portion formed on the top surface of the front end of the processing tray 410. When the sheet bundle discharge member 413 reaches the sheet bundle discharge position and returns to the home position, this locking portion is shown. When the lower end of the release lever portion 412a of the sheet clamp member 412 comes into contact with 410a, the sheet clamp member 412 rotates upward.

  Here, when the sheet clamp member 412 rotates upward in this manner, the nipping of the sheet bundle is released, and as a result, when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 moves in the direction to return to the home position, the rear end of the sheet bundle SA protrudes. When the sheet bundle abuts against the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435, the sheet bundle SA falls.

  Then, after the sheet bundle discharging member 413 has moved to the position for discharging the sheet bundle SA in this way, the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 is protruded, and the sheet clamp is returned when the sheet bundle discharging member 413 returns to the position before the movement. By causing the sheet bundle SA to abut the rear end of which the holding by the member 412 is released, the sheet bundle falling position can always be made constant.

  Thus, when the sheet bundle SA is placed on the substantially horizontal stack tray 421, misalignment due to the inertial force of the sheet bundle SA can be prevented, and misalignment between the sheet bundles can be prevented. The stackability of the sheet bundle SA can be improved.

  Next, the sheet processing operation of the sheet processing apparatus 400 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  First, when an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus main body 500 is started, the CPU 100 (see FIG. 10) of the sheet processing apparatus 400 checks whether or not a sheet discharge signal is received from the image forming apparatus main body 500 (S100). ). If a sheet discharge signal is received (Y in S100), the pickup solenoid 433 is turned on (S110), and the offset roller 407 supported by the offset roller arm 406 is pulled up.

  Next, the conveyance motor 431 is turned on (S120), so that the conveyance roller 405 installed in the middle of the sheet discharge path can convey the sheet in the same direction as the sheet discharge direction of the image forming apparatus main body 500. Here, the leading edge of the first sheet passes through the inlet sensor 403 and turns on the inlet sensor 403 (Y in S130). Thereafter, the sheet reaches the conveying roller 405 and power is transmitted from the conveying roller 405 to the sheet. Then, when the sheet is separated from the paper discharge unit 208 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 500 (Y in S140), the delivery of the sheet is completed.

  Next, while the sheet is conveyed to the processing tray 410 by the conveying roller 405, the pickup solenoid 433 is turned off before the sheet is completely removed from the conveying roller 405 (S150), and the offset roller 407 is landed on the sheet by its own weight. Let Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6A, the sheet S is conveyed to a predetermined position by the offset roller 407 (S160). When the sheet S is conveyed to a predetermined position (Y in S160), the rotation of the conveyance motor 431 is stopped (S170), and the conveyance of the sheet S is stopped.

  Next, when the rotation of the offset roller 407 stops, the clamp solenoid 434 is turned on (S180), and the sheet clamp member 412 installed in the vicinity of the rear end stopper 411 is opened as shown in FIG. 6B. . Thereafter, the conveyance motor 431 is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction, the sheet S is pulled back by the offset roller 407 (S190), and the trailing edge of the sheet is abutted against the trailing edge stopper 411.

  Note that the rotation amount of the offset roller 407 when the trailing edge of the sheet abuts against the trailing edge stopper 411 takes into account the skew of the sheet S that is generated when the sheet S is fed from the image forming apparatus main body 500, and conveys the sheet S. It is rotated so that it can be transported slightly more than the distance from the point of stopping and switching back to the rear end stopper 411.

  Next, the sheet size to be discharged is checked based on the size information from the image forming apparatus main body 500 (S200), and the offset movement amount according to the size of the discharged sheet S, that is, the sheet S discharged onto the processing tray 410 is checked. The movement distance in the width direction of the sheet S necessary for pressing the sheet to the positioning wall 416 is calculated (S210).

  Thereafter, the offset roller 407 is offset to the positioning wall 416 via the rack and pinion by the offset motor 432 as shown in FIG. 6C (S220). Here, when the offset roller 407 moves in this way, the sheet S in contact with the offset roller 407 moves together with the offset roller 407 in the direction of the positioning wall 416 by the frictional force of the offset roller 407. At this time, the sheet clamp member 412 is rotated upward as shown in FIG. 8B so as not to be a load of movement of the sheet S.

  Next, after the offset roller 407 abuts the sheet S against the positioning wall 416, the offset roller 407 slides slightly on the sheet S and stops. Thereafter, in order to correct the misalignment in the transport direction after the offset movement, an alignment operation is performed in which the offset roller 407 is reversed again and the sheet S is pulled back (S230). Alignment is complete.

  Next, when the alignment of the first sheet S is completed as described above, the pickup solenoid 433 is turned on (S240), and the offset roller 407 is lifted as shown in FIG. Turn off (S250). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the sheet clamp member 412 is closed and the aligned sheet S is held and held. As a result, the first discharged sheet S is discharged next. It is possible to prevent the sheet from being carried by the used sheet.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the offset roller 407 is moved back to the home position via the rack and pinion by the offset motor 432 in a lifted state (S260).

  It is checked whether or not the sheet S stored on the processing tray 410 is the last sheet corresponding to the last page of the copy original (S270), and the final sheet is based on the information sent from the image forming apparatus main body 500. When it is determined that the sheet is not S (N in S270), the process returns to S100 and the next sheet discharge signal sent from the image forming apparatus main body 500 is received, and until the final sheet S is stored in the processing tray 410, Repeat the flow.

  Thus, each time the sheet S is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 500, the control unit (CPU) of the sheet processing apparatus 400 grasps the size of the sheet S and calculates an offset movement amount suitable for the sheet S. Thus, the sheet S in contact with the offset roller 407 is subjected to an alignment process based on the calculated movement amount and is aligned with the positioning wall 416.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the sheet is the final sheet (Y in S270), a sheet bundle corresponding to the copy document is formed on the processing tray 410, so whether the stapling process is selected next. If it is selected (Y in S280), the stapling unit 420 is driven to execute the stapling process (S290).

  Next, when the stapling process is not selected (N in S280), or after the stapling process is completed, the sheet bundle discharging member 413 is replaced with the sheet bundle discharging motor 430 and the sheet bundle SA as shown in FIG. The sheet bundle SA is advanced in the direction of the stack tray 421 while being grasped by the sheet clamp member 412, and the sheet bundle SA is discharged and moved (S300).

  Next, when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 reaches the sheet bundle discharge position, the abutting solenoid 437 is turned on (S305), thereby the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 via the link member 436 as shown in FIG. Protrudes upstream of the sheet bundle discharging member 413.

  Thereafter, when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 moves in the direction to return to the home position, the lower end of the release lever portion 412a of the sheet clamp member 412 is a locking portion (concave portion) 410a ( The sheet clamp member 412 that has been in contact with the sheet bundle SA and grips the sheet bundle SA is rotated upward to release (hold) the sheet bundle SA.

  Thereby, when the sheet bundle discharge member 413 is further moved thereafter, the released sheet bundle SA is brought into contact with the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 and dropped. Here, by bringing the sheet bundle SA into contact with the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 and dropping it, the sheet bundle falling position can be made constant, and the sheet bundle on the stack tray is aligned. Can be made.

  Next, the stack tray 421 is moved (lowered) in accordance with the discharge operation of the sheet bundle SA (S310), and then the sheet bundle discharge member 413 is returned to the home position (S320).

  Thereafter, the conveyance motor 431 is stopped to stop the rotation of the conveyance roller 405 and the offset roller 407 (S330), the pickup solenoid 433 is turned off (S340), and the offset roller 407 is lowered to complete a series of processing. To do.

  In this embodiment, a fixed stapler disposed near the positioning wall 416 is used to bind the sheet bundle. However, when a movable stapler is used, another portion of the sheet bundle is used. It is also possible to staple the plurality of locations.

  In this embodiment, the offset roller 407, which is a roller member, is used to align the sheet S. However, instead of the roller member, the member itself moves in the conveyance direction to convey the sheet. The same effect can be obtained by using a sheet orthogonal direction moving unit that moves in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction to move the sheet.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the CPU performs control while reading the program written on the RAM (or ROM 110) storing the program corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14, but the processing on the control program is performed. The same effect can be obtained even if the hardware is configured.

  By the way, in the description so far, the case where the butting solenoid 437 is used as the butting member moving means for causing the sheet bundle rear end butting member 435 to appear and retract has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a pressing member 440 that presses the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 in the projecting direction as an abutting member moving means is provided at the front end of the sheet bundle discharging member 413, and the sheet bundle discharging member 413 moves. Accordingly, the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 may be protruded by pressing the rotating member 441 provided with the sheet bundle rear end abutting member 435 at the rotating end.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure which shows a mode that a sheet | seat is discharged on the processing tray of the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the drive mechanism of the offset roller of the said sheet processing apparatus, and a conveyance roller. The figure explaining the drive mechanism of the offset roller of the said sheet processing apparatus, a conveyance roller, a sheet bundle discharge member, and a sheet clamp member. FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of the offset roller and the accompanying sheet movement. FIG. 9 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the offset roller and the accompanying sheet movement. The figure explaining operation | movement of the said sheet clamp member. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the sheet bundle discharge member discharges a sheet bundle to a stack tray. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure which shows the state before a sheet | seat is discharged on the processing tray of the said sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state when the sheet bundle discharge member moves to a position where the sheet bundle is discharged to a stack tray. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a part of the sheet processing operation of the sheet processing apparatus. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the remaining part of the sheet processing operation of the sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the other structure of the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the structure of the conventional sheet processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

200 Printer unit 400 Sheet processing device 407 Offset roller 410 Processing tray 410a Locking unit 411 Sheet rear end stopper 412 Sheet clamp member 412a Sheet clamp member release lever unit 420 Stapler unit 421 Stack tray 435 Sheet bundle rear end abutting member 437 Contact solenoid 440 Press member 441 Rotating member 500 Image forming apparatus main body A Image forming apparatus S Sheet SA Sheet bundle

Claims (7)

A first sheet stacking unit that stacks sheets to be processed; and a sheet bundle that is provided downstream of the first sheet stacking unit in the sheet conveying direction and processed on the first sheet stacking unit and then discharged. A sheet processing apparatus including a second sheet stacking unit for stacking;
After the processing of the sheet bundle is completed, the sheet bundle is moved in the direction of the second sheet stacking means while holding the processed sheet bundle on the first sheet stacking means, and the sheet bundle is moved to the second sheet. Sheet bundle discharging means for discharging to the stacking means;
A sheet bundle rear end abutting member provided so as to be capable of appearing and retracting at an end of the first sheet stacking unit on the second sheet stacking unit side;
An abutting member moving means for projecting the sheet bundle rear end abutting member from the second sheet stacking means side end of the first sheet stacking means;
With
The sheet bundle discharging means moves to a position for discharging the sheet bundle and then releases the holding of the sheet bundle, and the abutting member moving means moves to a position for the sheet bundle discharging means to discharge the sheet bundle. After that, the sheet bundle trailing end abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharging means, and the sheet bundle released from being held by the sheet bundle discharging means when the sheet bundle discharging means returns to the position before the movement. A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the sheet processing apparatus hits the rear end of the sheet.   The sheet bundle discharging means includes a sheet bundle holding means for holding the processed sheet bundle, and after the sheet bundle discharging means has moved to a position for discharging the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle holding means The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding is released.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abutting member moving unit is a solenoid.   3. The pressing member moving means is a pressing member that moves in accordance with the movement of the sheet bundle discharging means and presses the sheet bundle rear end abutting member in a protruding direction. Sheet processing equipment   An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 that processes the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. Image forming apparatus. The sheet bundle discharging means moves to a position for discharging the sheet bundle and then releases the holding of the sheet bundle, and the abutting member moving means moves to a position for the sheet bundle discharging means to discharge the sheet bundle. After that, the sheet bundle trailing edge abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharging means, and the sheet bundle released from being held by the sheet bundle discharging means when the sheet bundle discharging means returns to the position before the movement. Comprising a control means for controlling so as to abut against the rear end,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is provided in the sheet processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A first sheet stacking unit configured to stack sheets to be processed by the image forming unit; and a sheet discharge direction downstream of the first sheet stacking unit, processed after being processed on the first sheet stacking unit, and then discharged Second sheet stacking means for stacking sheet bundles to be
After the processing of the sheet bundle is completed, the sheet bundle is moved in the direction of the second sheet stacking means while holding the processed sheet bundle on the first sheet stacking means, and the sheet bundle is moved to the second sheet. Sheet bundle discharging means for discharging to the stacking means;
A sheet bundle rear end abutting member provided so as to be capable of appearing and retracting at an end of the first sheet stacking unit on the second sheet stacking unit side;
An abutting member moving means for projecting the sheet bundle rear end abutting member from the second sheet stacking means side end of the first sheet stacking means;
The sheet bundle discharging means moves to a position for discharging the sheet bundle and then releases the holding of the sheet bundle, and the abutting member moving means moves to a position for the sheet bundle discharging means to discharge the sheet bundle. After that, the sheet bundle trailing end abutting member is protruded upstream of the sheet bundle discharging means, and the sheet bundle released from being held by the sheet bundle discharging means when the sheet bundle discharging means returns to the position before the movement. Control means for controlling so as to abut against the rear end;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images