JPH06211415A - Paper sheets post-treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate inclined feeding of discharge paper sheets so as to improve stacking performance by transferring a frame of an after treatment means and changing a position of a stapler plate toward a paper discharge roller in an offset mode (regular paper discharge mode). CONSTITUTION:A paper sheets after treatment device 1 is provided with at least a post-treatment device 3 which adjusts paper sheets fed from a post- treatment conveyance path so as to bind into a book by staple treatment. In this case, the post-treatment means 3 allows a width draw plate to adjust paper sheets stacked on a staple plate 6 in the width direction and allows a paddler 8 and a stopper 9 to adjust them in the conveying direction. In the downward position of the plate 6, an extrusion member 10 gets mobile. And plural sheets of adjusted paper are bound by a stapler 11. In offset mode (regular paper discharge mode), a frame 25 for the post-treatment means 3 is transferred so as to change the position of the plate 6 in relation to respective paper discharge roller 12a, 12b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer and a facsimile.
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as binding or punching with a plurality of copied sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine for copying an image of an original onto a sheet is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-1443.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 70-70, there is one provided with a sheet post-processing device for binding a plurality of sheets. Such a sheet post-processing device aligns and stacks copied sheets conveyed from the machine body side on the staple plate, then binds them with staples by a built-in stapler to perform bookbinding, and this bookbinding is performed. The ejected paper is sandwiched between the ejection rollers and ejected onto the ejection tray.

In the staple mode using the stapler, the upper and lower discharge rollers are not pressurizing each other, and when the conveyed copied sheet leaves the sheet discharge roller located upstream of the discharge roller, the sheet is transferred to the sheet. Then, the sheet falls down and is stacked on the stapling plate provided in the finisher portion with an inclination. At this time, a rubber blade (padler) rotates above the sheet as a conveyance assisting means to the trailing edge stopper of the sheet, rubbing the upper surface of the sheet and assisting the conveyance. The lateral alignment of the sheets on the staple plate is performed by an alignment plate (jogger). By repeating the above operation, a predetermined number of copied sheets are stacked on the staple plate and stapled by the stapler,
After that, the bound sheets are discharged onto the discharge tray by the push plate and the discharge rollers.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional paper post-processing apparatus such as a copying machine, it is necessary to open and close the final paper exit when switching between the normal paper output mode (offset mode) and the staple mode. There is a risk that your hand will be caught when you take out the copied paper, or the paper output unit will be damaged when you drop an object. Also, the discharge roller for the final output is a place that greatly affects the stacking performance of the paper during normal output, but since the discharge roller and the paper guide are movable, the horizontal alignment plate spacing and output of the paper It was difficult to suppress variations in the pressing force of the rollers, and skew feeding of paper easily occurred, which adversely affected stacking performance. In addition, a sheet whose curl is curled at the time of sheet ejection in the staple mode may hit the ejection roller and cause a jam.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention has a staple plate for stacking conveyed sheets and a sheet on the staple plate in the width direction. Aligned width plates, paddles and stoppers for aligning the sheets on the staple plate in the transport direction, an extrusion member provided on an extrusion belt movable below the staple plate, and stacked on the staple plate. A post-processing unit having a stapler for binding a plurality of sheets is configured in a frame, and the frame is moved in the offset mode and the staple mode to change the position of the staple plate with respect to the paper output roller. To do.

Further, the conveyed sheet is sandwiched between the pair of sheet ejection rollers in the offset mode and ejected to the ejection tray. In the staple mode, the sheet is straddled over the sheet ejection rollers. The stapling plate position is changed so that the sheets are stacked in the stack.

[0007]

With the above-described structure of the present invention, it is possible to improve the stacking performance by eliminating the oblique feeding of the sheets to the discharge tray.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the case where the sheet post-processing apparatus is applied to a copying machine as an image forming apparatus is illustrated.

The paper post-processing apparatus 1 includes a post-processing conveyance path 2 for conveying the paper conveyed from the copying machine main body in the apparatus 1.
And a post-processing unit 3 for aligning the sheets and performing bookbinding processing with staples, a discharge tray unit 4 for placing the sheets discharged from the apparatus 1, and the like.

The post-processing conveying path 2 is composed of a single straight path, and an inlet 2a for carrying in a sheet conveyed from the copying machine main body is formed on the upstream side and an outlet 2b is formed on the downstream side. A pair of paper discharge rollers 5a and 5b are provided at the carry-out port 2b.

The post-processing means 3 includes a stapling plate 6 on which the sheets conveyed from the outlet 2b of the post-treatment conveying path 2 via a pair of paper discharge rollers 5a and 5b are stacked, and on the stapling plate 6. Paper 7 for aligning the sheets in the width direction, the paddler 8 and the stopper 9 for aligning the sheets on the staple plate 6 in the conveying direction, and the extrusion provided on the extrusion belt that is movable below the staple plate 6. It comprises a member 10 and a stapler 11 for binding a plurality of sheets stacked on the staple plate 6.

The discharge tray means 4 comprises a pair of paper output rollers 12a and 12b and a discharge tray 13.

Details of the individual members of the post-processing means 3 are as follows. That is, the upper end of the stapling plate 6 is formed on the outer surface of the apparatus 1 and the sheet exit port 14 is formed.
Is arranged on the lower rollers 12b of the paper output rollers 12a and 12b arranged in the vicinity of, and is arranged at a lower position of the post-processing conveyance path 2 in a state where the lower end side is inclined downward as compared with the upper end side. Then, the sheets to be bound (stapled) are loaded. The staple plate 6 includes:
A paper detection switch (not shown) is provided so that the presence or absence of paper on the stapling plate 6 can be detected.

The width plate 7 is a staple plate 6.
Of the stapling plate 6 and is disposed substantially at the center of the stapling plate 6 so as to be movable back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG.
The upper sheet is aligned in the width direction. The paddler 8 is arranged with its blades in contact with the lower end surface of the stapling plate 6 and is rotatably provided in the arrow direction so that the sheets on the stapling plate 6 are aligned in the transport direction. It is supposed to do. A stopper 9 is provided on the lower end side of the stapling plate 6 and the rear end of the sheets stacked on the stopper 9 is positioned to assist the alignment by the paddler 8 in the sheet conveying direction. It is like this. The extruded member 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes an extrusion belt 1 wound between belt supporting rollers 15a and 15b located below the staple plate 6.
6 is projected to a required position of 6 through a gap of the stapling plate 6 and is fixed so as to be normally arranged behind the stopper 9 and the bound paper is extruded from the stapling plate 6 to the paper exit 14. As described above, a motor (not shown) is connected to the belt supporting roller 15a or the belt supporting roller 15b so that the belt supporting roller 15a or the belt supporting roller 15b can move back and forth in the conveying direction.

The discharge tray means 4 comprises a discharge tray 13
The tray elevating unit 17 is driven in the vertical direction. The tray elevating unit 17 includes a belt 19 provided vertically on the inner surface of the tray back plate 18, and a belt supporting roller 2 for supporting the belt 19.
0, 21, a pulley 22 provided on a drive shaft of a tray lifting motor (not shown), and a belt 23 wound between the belt supporting roller 21 and the belt 22. A tray shift unit 24 is connected to the belt 19,
The pulley 22 is driven by the tray lifting motor, and the belt 23
The discharge tray 13 is moved up and down by the movement of the trays 19 and 19.

The staple plate 6, the width plate 7,
The post-processing means 3 including the paddler 8, the stopper 9, the extruding member 10 and the stapler 11 is arranged in the apparatus 1 in the front and rear direction.
That is, for example, plate-like frames 25 juxtaposed in the front-rear direction in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction are configured to function as members, and the lower end of the frame 25 is fixed to the fixed shaft 2.
A plate moving means is provided which is pivotally attached at 6 and moves the upper end of the frame 25 about the fixed shaft 26 in two steps within a minute range.

An eccentric cam 28 that contacts the lower flat portion 27 of the frame 25 as one means of the plate moving means.
And the post-processing means 3 is provided by the rotation of the eccentric cam 28.
Due to its own weight, the other end of the frame 25 rotates up and down, and therefore the staple plate 6 also moves up and down. Further, as another means of the plate moving means, a solenoid 30 is attached to the upper end 29 of the frame 25.
And the frame 2 is operated by the operation of the solenoid 30.
5 rotates up and down, and the stapling plate 6 also moves up and down.

A case where the copying machine main body is in the offset mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus having the above-described structure will be described with reference to FIG. Although illustration of the frame 25 of the post-processing means 3 and the eccentric cam 28 or the solenoid 30 of the plate moving means described in FIG. 1 is omitted, the minor axis portion of the eccentric cam 28 is changed to the frame 25 by the signal in the offset mode.
Is in contact with the lower flat portion 27 of the sheet or the state in which the current supplied to the solenoid 30 is OFF, the upper end of the stapling plate 6 is at the output roller 12
It is located at a position between a and 12b.

Then, the copied sheet 31 discharged through the post-processing conveying path 2 is sandwiched between the sheet discharge rollers 5a and 5b and conveyed, and the leading end of the sheet 31 is discharged rollers 12a and 12b.
The sheet 31 is sandwiched between the sheet 31b and
When the rear end of the sheet 31 separates from the discharge rollers 12a and 12b, the sheet 31 falls by its own weight and is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 13.

Next, a case where the copying machine body is in the offset mode will be described with reference to FIG. Although illustration of the frame 25 of the post-processing means 3 and the eccentric cam 28 or the solenoid 30 of the plate moving means described with reference to FIG. 1 is omitted, the eccentric cam 28 is rotationally driven by a signal in the stable mode, and the diameter portion thereafter. Is in contact with the lower flat portion 27 of the frame 25, or the current supplied to the solenoid 30 is turned on, and the upper end of the frame 25 is moved to the solenoid 30.
In this case, the stapling plate 6 is at a position where the upper end of the stapling plate 6 faces the paper output roller 12a.

Therefore, the copied sheet 31 'discharged through the post-processing conveying path 2 is sandwiched between the sheet discharging rollers 5a and 5b and conveyed, and the sheet 31' is discharged from the leading end of the sheet discharging roller 1a.
When the trailing edge of the sheet 31 'leaves the sheet discharge rollers 5a and 5b after being conveyed by sliding on the upper surface of the sheet 2a, the conveying force is lost and the sheet falls by its own weight and is stacked on the stapling plate 6.
The sheet 31 'on the stapling plate 6 is judged to be discharged, and the sheet 31' on the stapling plate 6 is judged.
Are aligned in the width direction by the width plate 7.

Next, when the number of processed sheets matches the number of staples, the number of processed sheets is cleared, and then the paper on the staple plate 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow of the paddler 8 and the above-mentioned output roller 12a is not processed. By the rotation in the opposite direction, the stopper 9 aligns the sheet in the conveying direction, and the staples of the stapler 11 bind the sheets to perform a staple process.

Next, the bookbinding paper that has been stapled as described above is discharged onto the discharge tray 13 of the extrusion member 10.
The sheet is discharged from the staple plate 6 to the discharge tray 13 by the movement in the direction and the rotation of the paper output roller 12a. Then, after the discharge tray 13 is adjusted, when the apparatus 1 receives the operation end from the copying machine main body, the end processing is performed and the staple mode is ended.

[0024]

Since the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, the staple plate can be switched by switching between the normal mode and the staple mode without opening and closing the sheet outlet of the apparatus. When moving up and down and in the staple mode, a relatively large step is formed between the sheet stacking surface of the discharge tray 13 and the sheet stacking surface of the stapling plate, and the user pinches his / her hand when removing the bound paper from the discharge tray. There is no danger and it is possible to prevent skewed feeding of paper and obtain good loading performance. Further, it is possible to prevent the paper with the leading end curled upward from causing jamming and damaging the paper output port by biting fruit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a sheet post-processing device of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an outline of a sheet post-processing device in an offset mode of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an outline of a sheet post-processing device in a staple mode of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper Post-Processing Device 2 Post-Processing Conveying Paths 5a, 5b Paper Ejecting Roller 6 Staple Plate 9 Stopper 10 Extruding Member 11 Stapler 12a, 12b Paper Ejecting Roller 13 Ejecting Tray 25 Frame 28 Eccentric Cam 30 Solenoid

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A staple plate for stacking conveyed sheets, a width plate for aligning sheets on the staple plate in the width direction, and a paddler and a stopper for aligning sheets on the staple plate in the conveying direction. A post-processing unit having a pushing member provided on an pushing belt movable below the stapling plate and a stapler for binding a plurality of sheets stacked on the stapling plate is configured in a frame, and in the offset mode. A sheet post-processing apparatus characterized in that the frame is moved to change the position of the stapling plate with respect to a paper output roller. 2. The conveyed sheet is sandwiched between the pair of sheet ejection rollers at the time of offset and ejected to an ejection tray, and in a staple mode, the sheet is straddled over an upper roller of the sheet ejection roller to a staple plate. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the stapling plate is changed so that the sheets are stacked. 3. The frame, wherein a lower end portion of the frame is pivotally attached by a fixed shaft, an eccentric cam is provided in contact with a flat portion of the frame, and the frame is rotated up and down by the rotation of the eccentric cam. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2. 4. A lower end of the frame is fixed and pivotally fixed to the frame, a solenoid is disposed at an upper end of the frame, and the frame is rotated up and down by the operation of the solenoid. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2.