JPH10279170A - Sheet hole drilling device and sheet post-processing device and picture image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase post-processing speed without increasing a size of a motor which moves a detection means at a sheet side end and its price by setting a detection start position of the detection means at the sheet side end to an end part position which is parallel with the direction of conveyance of sheet which corresponds to a sheet size. SOLUTION: The detection of a detection sensor 81 which detects positional deviation (horizontal register) of sheet in the orthogonal direction to the direction of sheet conveyance is started at a position which corresponds to a size of sheet. When the horizontal register detection sensor 81 is turned ON, the horizontal register detection sensor 81 and a hole drilling means 60 are moved in the arrow (f) direction, and when the horizontal register detection sensor 81 is turned OFF, they are moved in the arrow (e) direction. Then, it is possible to reduce a travel amount of the horizontal register detection sensor 81 even when the horizontal register of sheet is in any direction of the arrow (e), (f) directions to stop and drill a hole at a position where a side end part of sheet is detected. Consequently, hole drilling positions by means of the hole drilling means 60 can be aligned in a side end part of sheet without increasing a size of a hole drilling means travel motor 75 and its price.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet which is provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser beam printer, or the like, and which perforates a sheet formed by the image forming apparatus with a binding hole for binding to a file. The present invention relates to a punching device and a sheet post-processing device that performs post-processing such as a sheet bundle binding process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG.
352. A user can set a sheet P of a desired size in each of the sheet cassettes 351 and 352, and can select a sheet P to be used for image formation on an operation panel (not shown).

The sheet P is fed from the sheet cassettes 351 and 352 one by one to the photosensitive drum 312 by respective pickup rollers 313. Actually, the sheet P is not always transported straight in the advancing direction due to variations in the transport speed due to abrasion, the alignment of the roller pairs, and the sliding resistance between the sheet P and the guide plate for guiding the sheet P. May be conveyed in a skewed state.

The photosensitive drum 31 is placed on the skewed sheet P.
2 When the toner image formed on the sheet P is transferred, the image is skewed or shifted with respect to the sheet P and transferred. To prevent this, usually, in this type of image forming apparatus 300, a pair of registration rollers 314 and 315 for correcting skew of the sheet P is provided.

When the leading end of the sheet P fed from the sheet cassettes 351 and 352 reaches the nip portion of the pair of registration rollers 314 and 315, the registration rollers 314 and 315 are controlled to be stopped. . And sheet P
The pair of registration rollers 316, 317 disposed upstream of the pair of registration rollers 314, 315 continues to rotate for a predetermined time while the leading end of the sheet P remains in contact with the nip portion of the pair of registration rollers 314, 315. Is transported.

[0006] As a result, the sheet P whose leading end is abutted against the pair of registration rollers 314 and 315 while stopped is
A pair of registration rollers is transported by the pair of registration rollers 316 and 317 to form a loop, and the leading edge of the sheet P is stopped to return straight due to the stiffness of the sheet P.
It hits the nip portion of 314 and 315 and is strung. Due to this abutting action, the leading end of the sheet P follows the nip portion of the pair of registration rollers 314 and 315. As a result,
The skew of the sheet P is corrected.

However, after such a series of operations, the leading end of the sheet P is moved to the pair of registration rollers 314 and 315.
To correct the skew of the sheet P, a position shift of the sheet P in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction (hereinafter, referred to as “lateral registration shift”) occurs. There is a possibility that the relative position (position in the width direction) with respect to the image formed thereon is shifted.

Further, even if the sheet P is not skewed, the lateral registration may not be possible due to the play of the member which regulates the width direction of the sheet P in the sheet cassettes 351 and 352 and the variation in the width direction size of the sheet P itself. Misalignment will occur.

On the other hand, since the sheet P on which an image is formed in the image forming apparatus 300 is often used and stored by binding to a file, a sheet punching apparatus for punching a file P into the sheet P is provided with an image forming apparatus. The sheet P on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 300 is pierced by a sheet piercing apparatus and discharged outside the apparatus, thereby increasing the efficiency of office work. .

[0010] As such a sheet punching apparatus, there are a sheet punching apparatus in which a plurality of image-formed sheets P are stacked and held together in the order of supply, and a sheet punching apparatus in which image-formed sheets P are punched one by one during conveyance. is there.

However, as described above, since the sheet P on which an image has been formed has a lateral registration error, in a sheet punching apparatus that punches the sheets P one by one while the sheet P is being conveyed, the sheet P is punched for each sheet. Even if the positions of the holes are different and the ends of the sheet P bundle are aligned when a plurality of sheets are filed, the holes cannot be arranged at the same time because the hole positions are not uniform, and the end of the sheet P bundle after the file is irregular is not good appearance. There was a disadvantage.

Also, in a sheet punching apparatus for holding and punching a plurality of sheets P collectively, if the ends of the sheets P are aligned by the aligning means when holding a plurality of sheets together, the problem of lateral registration misalignment may occur. However, the provision of the alignment means increases the size of the apparatus, and the time required for the alignment operation is added to the time required for punching the sheet P bundle, and the post-processing speed decreases. is there.

[0013] In order to make it possible to align the hole positions with respect to the edge of the sheet P so that the sheet P can be pierced without lowering the post-processing speed, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a method for controlling the edge of the sheet P to be transported. Has been proposed, and the punching position of the punching means can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction based on the detected edge position information of the sheet P. When a sheet P is conveyed, the sensor is conveyed when a sensor serving as a detection unit is detected at a position outside a sheet conveyance area of a size of the sheet P to be conveyed. It is configured to approach the sheet P in a direction perpendicular to the direction and detect a side end of the sheet P.

[0014]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the sensor for detecting the end parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet P is moved from outside the conveying area of the sheet P, the lateral registration deviation of the sheet P is reduced. If the sensor is shifted to the opposite side from the standby position, the moving distance of the sensor becomes longer, the time required for the movement becomes longer, and the post-processing speed is reduced. In order to solve this, if the motor for moving the sensor is enlarged or made expensive for the purpose of increasing the moving speed of the sensor, there is a problem that the device becomes large and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and
The purpose is to align the perforation position with respect to the sheet edge without reducing the post-processing speed without increasing the size and cost of the moving motor that moves the sheet side edge detection means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet punching apparatus, a sheet post-processing apparatus having the same, and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration according to the present invention comprises a sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet, and a punching means for punching a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means. A sheet-side edge detection unit disposed near the perforation unit and configured to detect an end parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit; and A first moving unit that moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet, and the perforating unit is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction based on position information of an end parallel to the sheet conveying direction detected by the sheet side edge detecting unit. In the sheet punching device having the second moving means for moving, the detection start position of the sheet side edge detecting means is set to an end position parallel to the sheet conveying direction corresponding to the sheet size. A sheet punching device, characterized in that was boss.

According to the present invention, as described above, the detection start position of the sheet side edge detecting means is set to an end position parallel to the sheet conveying direction corresponding to the sheet size, so that the sheet side edge detecting means is provided. The moving distance of the sheet side edge detecting means can be shortened.
Unlike the conventional example, it is not necessary to increase the size of the moving motor for moving the sheet side end detecting means or make it expensive, and the post-processing speed can be improved.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a sheet punching apparatus according to the present invention, a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with the same, and a sheet punching apparatus equipped with a punch as an example of an image forming apparatus provided with the same, and a stapler provided therein One embodiment in which the sheet post-processing apparatus is provided so as to be connected to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be specifically described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet punching device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the sheet trailing end stopper of the tray, FIG. 4 is a view showing the moving mechanism of the stapler viewed from the direction A in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a view viewed from the direction B in FIG. 3, and FIG. Guide, post-processing tray,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory side sectional view showing the structure of the haunting tray and the stack tray. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a moving mechanism of an alignment member provided on the post-processing tray, viewed from the direction C in FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a stack tray moving mechanism. FIG. 10 is a layout view of a sensor for detecting the height of the stack tray. FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams of a puncher constituting a sheet punching device according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a puncher constituting a sheet punching device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are a puncher and a lateral registration sensor according to a first embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a moving mechanism of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 21 illustrates the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus in the staple sort mode, and FIGS. 22A to 22C illustrate the sheet processing operation on the post-processing tray in the staple sort mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus. FIG. 23, FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 are views showing the operation in the sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.
25 is a front view showing a state of a sheet bundle sorted and placed on a stack tray, FIGS. 26 and 27 are plan views showing an operation of aligning sheets on a post-processing tray by an alignment member, and FIG. 28 is an alignment member. FIG. 29 is a front view showing the operation of aligning the sheets on the post-processing tray according to FIG. 29, FIG. 29 is a plan view showing the operation of aligning the sheets on the post-processing tray by the alignment member, and FIGS. FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the sheet punching device according to the present invention, and FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a punch mode in the first embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a sheet post-processing apparatus (finisher) according to the present invention connected to an image forming apparatus 300. Inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, a punch serving as a sheet punching apparatus according to the present invention is provided. A unit 50 and a staple unit 100 serving as a sheet bundle binding device are provided. A recirculating document feeder (RDF) 305 is mounted above the image forming apparatus 300.

The image forming apparatus 300 includes, as shown in FIG.
The document is automatically sent by the circulating document feeder 305, and the image is read by the image reading unit 306. Then, a signal is sent to the laser oscillator in accordance with the image information read by the controller (not shown), and a laser beam is emitted.

Next, the laser light is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror 309, and is further turned back by the reflection mirror 310 to irradiate the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 312 serving as image forming means having a uniformly charged surface. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 312 is developed by a developing unit 311 and then transferred as a toner image onto a sheet P composed of paper, an OHP sheet, or the like.

The sheet P is selectively fed out of the sheet cassettes 351 and 352 by a pickup roller 313 constituting a sheet feeding means as appropriate, separated by a separating means 307 and fed one by one. 317, the skew is corrected by the pair of registration rollers 314, 315, and the rotation of the photoconductor drum 312 is synchronized with the rotation of the photoconductor drum 312 so that the transfer between the photoconductor drum 312 and the transfer device opposed thereto is performed. Conveyed in between. At this time, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 312 is transferred to the sheet P by the operation of the transfer device.

Thereafter, the sheet P is transferred to the fixing roller pair 301, 30.
The toner image transferred to the sheet P after being heated and pressed by the fixing roller pair 301 and 302 is permanently fixed. The fixing roller pair 301 and 302 are in contact with a fixing upper separating claw 303 and a fixing lower separating claw 304, respectively, whereby the sheet P is separated from the fixing roller pair 301 and 302.

The separated sheet P is conveyed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 300 by the discharge roller pair 399, and is guided to the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 connected to the image forming apparatus 300.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 399 denotes a pair of discharge rollers of the image forming apparatus 300, and reference numeral 2 denotes a pair of entrance rollers of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1. The sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 by the discharge roller pair 399 of the image forming apparatus 300 is delivered by the entrance roller pair 2 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and guided into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a conveying roller pair serving as sheet conveying means for guiding the sheet P conveyed by the inlet roller pair 2 to a punch unit 50 serving as a sheet punching device according to the present invention.
A sheet detection sensor 31 detects the sheet P conveyed by the entrance roller pair 2. The punch unit 50 of the present embodiment is configured to make a hole near the rear end of the conveyed sheet P.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a buffer roller composed of a large-diameter transport roller capable of stacking and winding a plurality of sheets P and transporting the sheet P as a bundle of sheets. The buffer roller 5 and the transport roller 12 pressed against the buffer roller 5 are pressed. , 13, and 14, the sheet P is nipped and conveyed.

Reference numerals 10 and 11 denote switching flappers. The switching flapper 11 switches between a non-sort path 21 and a sort path 22. The switching flapper 10 switches between a sort path 22 and a buffer path 23 for temporarily storing sheets P. Do.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a pair of conveying rollers provided in the sort path 22, and reference numeral 130 denotes a post-processing tray serving as a sheet placing means. The post-processing tray 130 is configured as an intermediate tray for temporarily accumulating the sheets P, and performing alignment and stapling. Reference numeral 7 denotes a discharge roller pair serving as a sheet discharge means for discharging the sheet P onto the post-processing tray 130.

Reference numeral 150 denotes a swing guide.
0 is at the closed position, the bundle discharge roller 180b rotatably supported by the swing guide 150 and the bundle discharge roller 180a rotatably supported by the post-processing tray 130 cooperate with the post-processing tray 130. The upper sheet P is conveyed in a bundle and the stack tray 20
0 Discharge the bundle on top.

Next, a staple unit serving as a post-processing means
100 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, a stapler 101 is fixed to a moving table 103 via a holder 102. Shaft rotatably supported on the moving table 103
Rollers 106 and 107 are rotatably assembled to 104, respectively. The rollers 106 and 107 are fitted to hole-shaped rails 108a, 108b and 108c formed on a fixed base 108.

The rollers 106 and 107 are both rails of a fixed base 108.
Flanges 106a, 107a larger than holes 108a, 108b, 108c
On the other hand, there are three support rollers below the moving table 103.
109 are provided. As a result, the movable table 103 supporting the stapler 101 does not come off the rails 108a, 108b, and 108c, and is fixed along the rails 108a, 108b, and 108c.
8 can be moved on.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rails 108a, 108b and 108c are branched from the middle on the near side (lower side in FIG. 4) and the far side (upper side in FIG. 4) of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, and are parallel. And two rails 108a, 108b and rails 108a, 108c. Due to the shape of the rails 108a, 108b and 108c, when the stapler 101 is located on the near side (the lower side in FIG. 4), the rollers 106
Are fitted on the rail 108b side, and the roller 107 is fitted on the rail 108a side, so that the stapler 101 is inclined (see position 120) as shown in the lower side of FIG.

When the stapler 101 is located at the center, both the rollers 106 and 107 are fitted on the rail 108a and are parallel to the rear end of the sheet P (see position 121). Further, when the stapler 101 is located on the back side (upper side in FIG. 4), the roller 106 is on the rail 108a side, and the roller 107 is on the rail 108a.
As shown in the upper part of FIG. 4, the stapler 101 is inclined in the direction opposite to the front side (see the position 122) as shown in the upper part of FIG.

After the two rollers 106 and 107 have been fitted to the two parallel rails 108a and 108b and 108c, respectively, they are moved while maintaining their postures.
When the direction of the stapler 101 is changed at the branch point between the stapler 101 and the rails 108b and 108c, a cam (not shown) acts to
The orientation of 101 is changed.

Next, the moving mechanism of the stapler 101 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pinion gear 106b and a belt pulley 106c are coaxially fixed to a shaft 104 of one roller 106 of the moving table 103.
Is connected to a drive shaft of a motor 110 fixed to the upper part of the moving table 103 via a belt 105 stretched over the belt pulley 106c.

On the other hand, rails 108a,
A rack gear 114 is provided along 108b and 108c, and the pinion gear 106b meshes with the rack gear 114. Then, when the motor 110 rotates forward and backward, the pinion gear 106b moves along the rack gear 114, thereby moving the moving table 103 together with the stapler 101 in the vertical direction in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIGS.
The shaft 111 extending in the direction of the lower surface of 103
2 are provided. In order to avoid collision between the rear end stopper 131 of the post-processing tray 130 and the stapler 101, the rear end stopper 131 is rotated by the stopper lowering roller 112 and retracted. .

The staple unit 100 is provided with a sensor for detecting the home position of the stapler 101. Normally, the stapler 101 stands by at the home position (in this embodiment, the position 121 shown in FIG. 4). .

Next, the rear end stopper 131 for supporting the rear end of the sheet P placed on the post-processing tray 130 will be described with reference to FIGS. The rear end stopper 131 is a support surface that stands upright with respect to the sheet mounting surface of the post-processing tray 130.
131a, which has a support surface 131a that supports the rear end of the sheet P;
The post processing tray 130 has a pin 131b for fitting and swinging in a round hole provided in the post-processing tray 130, and a pin 131c for fitting with a connecting link 133 described later.

The link mechanism for rotating and retracting the rear end stopper 131 is provided by a stopper lowering roller 11 attached to the movable base 103.
2 has a main surface 13a having a cam surface 132a against which it is pressed.
2 and a connecting link 133 for connecting a pin 132b provided at the upper end of the main link 132 and a pin 131c of the rear end stopper 131.
It is composed of

The main link 132 is configured to be swingable around a shaft 134 fixed to a frame (not shown) as a fulcrum, and the lower end of the main link 132 is connected to the main link 132 around the shaft 134 in FIG. A tension spring 135 is provided for urging in the clockwise direction, while the main link 132 is locked and positioned by the abutment plate 136. It is configured to keep the posture standing upright with respect to the tray 130.

Then, a mobile platform on which the stapler 101 is mounted
When the 103 is moved, as shown by a broken line in FIG.
On the cam surface 132a of the main link 132 connected via 133,
A stopper depressing roller 112 provided on the moving table 103 abuts to rotate and push down the main link 132 about the shaft 134, and the rear end stopper 131 is pulled via the connecting link 133 and does not interfere with the stapler 101. It is turned up and retracts.

A plurality of stopper falling rollers 112 are provided so that the rear end stopper 131 holds the retracted position while the stapler 101 is moving. In this embodiment, three stopper falling rollers 112 are provided as shown in FIG.

Then, a holder for supporting the stapler 101
A stapler stopper 113 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) having a support surface having the same shape as the support surface 131a of the rear end stopper 131 is provided on both side surfaces of the stapler 101. The rear end stopper 13 is parallel to
1 stapler stopper 113
Supports the rear end of the sheet P.

Next, the configuration of the post-processing tray unit 129 will be described with reference to FIGS. The post-processing tray unit 129 is disposed between a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet P from the image forming apparatus 300 and a stack tray 200 that receives and stores the sheet P bundle post-processed by the post-processing tray 130.

The post-processing tray unit 129 includes a post-processing tray 130, a rear end stopper 131, an aligning means 140, a swing guide 150, a pull-in paddle 160, a retreat tray 170,
It has a bundle discharge roller pair 180a, 180b.

The post-processing tray 130 is, as shown in FIG.
This is an inclined tray in which the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction (left side in FIG. 6) is upward and the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction (right side in FIG. 6) is downward, and the above-mentioned rear end stopper 131 is provided at the lower end. ing.

The sheet P discharged by the discharge roller pair 7
The sheet P slides on the post-processing tray 130 by its own weight and the action of the pull-in paddle 160 described later until the rear end of the sheet P comes into contact with the rear end stopper 131.

A bundle discharge roller 180a is provided at the upper end of the post-processing tray 130, and a bundle discharge roller 180b is provided on the swing guide 150, which will be described later, to contact the bundle discharge roller 180a. And can be rotated forward and backward.

Next, the matching means 140 will be described with reference to FIGS. The aligning means 140 is configured such that the front and rear aligning members 141 and 142 can be independently moved in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Aligning surfaces 141a, 14a that abut on the side edges of sheet P and regulate it while standing on processing tray 130.
2a, supporting surfaces 141b and 142b which bend vertically from the alignment surfaces 141a and 142a and support the lower surface of the sheet P, and rack gears 141c and 142c extending in the width direction of the post-processing tray 130 are provided.

The alignment members 141 and 142 are respectively provided in the post-processing tray 13.
0 is supported by a guide 145 extending in the width direction,
The alignment surfaces 141a and 142a are assembled so that the rack gears 141c and 142c are arranged above the post-processing tray 130 and the rack gears 141c and 142c are arranged below the post-processing tray 130.

Each of the rack gears 141c, 142c is meshed with a separate pinion gear 143, 144. The pinion gears 143, 144 are connected to motors 146, 147 via pulleys, belts and the like (not shown). I have.

As a result, the pinion gears 143, 144 are rotated by the forward and reverse rotation of the motors 146, 147, and the pinion gears 143 are rotated.
, 144 are moved, and the alignment members 141, 142 move in the width direction of the sheet P.

Each of the alignment members 141 and 142 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position. Normally, the alignment members 141 and 142 are waiting at the home position. In the present embodiment, the matching members 141, 14
In the home position of 2, the front alignment member is the frontmost side,
The rear-side alignment member is set at the innermost side.

The swing guide 150 rotatably supports the bundle discharge roller 180b on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (left side in FIG. 6), and the swing support shaft 151 on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (right side in FIG. 6). It is supported so that it can swing around.

The swing guide 150 is normally in an open state in which the bundle discharge rollers 180a and 180b are separated from each other when the sheet P is discharged to the post-processing tray 130 as shown by the solid line in FIG. The sheet P does not hinder the discharge, drop, and alignment operation to the post-processing tray 130.
When the bundle of sheets P is discharged from the stacking tray 200 to the stack tray 200, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
0b moves to the closed state where it is pressed against.

As shown in FIG. 6, a rotary cam 152 is provided at a position corresponding to the side surface of the swing guide 150, and the rotary cam 152 rotates to abut the side surface of the swing guide 150,
When the side surface is pushed up, the swing guide 150 moves to the swing fulcrum shaft 15.
The swing guide 150 is opened while swinging about the center 1 and the rotating cam 152 is rotated by 180 ° from this state and separated from the side surface of the swing guide 150, whereby the swing guide 150 is closed.

The rotation of the rotary cam 152 is driven by a motor 153 connected via a drive system (not shown). The swing guide 150 is in a home position when closed, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the home position is provided.

Next, the pull-in paddle 160 will be described with reference to FIG. The retraction paddle 160 is fixed to a paddle shaft 161. The paddle shaft 161 is rotatably supported on the front and rear side plates. Paddle shaft 161 is motor 16
2, and when driven by the motor 162, the retractable paddle 160 rotates integrally with the paddle shaft 161 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

The length of the pull-in paddle 160 in the sheet conveying direction when rotating about the paddle shaft 161 is set slightly longer than the distance to reach the post-processing tray 130, and the home position of the pull-in paddle 160 is set. Is set at a position (solid line position in FIG. 6) where the sheet does not come into contact with the sheet P discharged onto the post-processing tray 130 by the discharge roller pair 7.

In this state, when the discharge of the sheet P is completed and the sheet P lands on the post-processing tray 130, the draw-in paddle 160 is driven by the motor 162 to rotate the paddle shaft 161 counterclockwise in FIG. The sheet P is rotated in the rotation direction, and the sheet P is pulled in until it comes into contact with the rear end stopper 131. Thereafter, after waiting for a predetermined time, the pull-in paddle 160 stops at the home position, and prepares for discharging the next sheet P.

Next, the haunting tray 170 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The hammer tray 170 is a bundle discharge roller 180a.
6 and moves back and forth in the direction of arrow a (sheet conveying direction) in FIG. 6 while substantially along the inclination of the post-processing tray 130. In the protruding state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, the tip of the retreat tray 170 overlaps the stack tray 200 side, and in the retracted state shown by the solid line in FIG.
Evacuate to the right of

The length of the retractable tray 170 in the sheet conveying direction is set so that the center of gravity of the sheet P discharged to the post-processing tray 130 does not exceed the leading end position in the protruding state. As shown in FIG.
1 is supported by the rail 172 fixed to
172 along the sheet discharge direction.

A rotating link that rotates about a shaft 174
173 is engaged with a groove 175 provided on the lower surface of the haunting tray 170, and the rotation of the rotating link 173 causes the haunting tray 170 to rotate.
Performs the forward / backward operation as described above. The rotation link 173 is driven by a motor via a drive mechanism (not shown).
176. The home position of the retreat tray 170 is set to the retreat position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, and the home position is detected by a sensor (not shown).

Next, the stack tray 200 and the sample tray
The configuration of 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2
Stack tray 200 and sample tray 201
The stack tray 200 disposed below is selectively used when receiving a copy output, a printer output, etc., and the sample tray 201 disposed above is used as a sample tray. It is selected and used when receiving output, interrupt output, output when the stacking amount in the stack tray 200 overflows, function sorting output, job mixed output, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 9, both of the two trays 200 and 201 have independent stepping motors 202 so that they can run independently in the vertical direction. It is attached to a rack 210 which also serves as a roller receiver attached vertically. Further, the play on the front side and the back side of the trays 200 and 201 is regulated by the regulating member 215.

The configuration of the trays 200 and 201 is such that a stepping motor 202 is mounted on each tray base plate 211, and the rotational driving force from a pulley 216 press-fitted on the output shaft of the stepping motor 202 is transmitted by a timing belt 212. The power is transmitted to the pulley 203.

A shaft 213 connected to the pulley 203 by a parallel pin
Transmits a rotational driving force to a ratchet gear 205 connected to the shaft 213 by a parallel pin, and the ratchet gear 205 is urged to an idler gear 204 by a spring 206. As a result, the ratchet gear 205 meshes with the idler gear 204 to transmit the rotational driving force.

The trays 200 and 201 are racked at the near side and the far side.
The idler gear 204 is meshed with one of a pair of gears 207 fixed to both ends of a shaft 208 so that a uniform driving force is transmitted to the shaft 210. 209 meshes with the gear portion of the rack 210.

The trays 200 and 201 are fixed up and down on one side.
Racks 21 in which rollers 214 arranged individually also serve as roller receivers
0, and is rotatably movable along the rack 210. Each tray 200, 201
Is mounted on the tray base plate 211 to form a tray unit.

With the above-described configuration, the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 include the stepping motor 202, the pulley 216, the timing belt 212, the pulley 203, the shaft 213,
Ratchet gear 205, idler gear 204, gear 207, shaft
The rack 21 is integrated with the drive transmission mechanism such as 208 and the gear 209.
It moves vertically independently along 0.

Further, the ratchet gear is used to prevent the driving system from being damaged by foreign matter when the trays 200 and 201 are lowered.
205 is a spring 206 when a torque exceeding a predetermined torque is applied only when the trays 200 and 201 move in the lifting direction.
The spring 206 is displaced against the pressing force of (1) and idles.

When the idling is performed, a sensor 217 for immediately stopping the driving of the stepping motor 202 detects a slit incorporated in the idler gear 204. This sensor 217 is normally used also as step-out detection of the stepping motor 202.

When the swing guide 150 is in the closed position so as to be able to traverse the post-processing tray 130 having the opening up and down, the swing guide 150 is located on one of the trays 200 and 201 on the mounting wall of the sheet P. The trays 200 and 201 can move up and down only when a sensor (not shown) detects that the swing guide 150 is in the closed position.

The sensor 219 shown in FIG. 9 is an area detecting sensor, and stops the trays 200 and 201 from rising too much.
The flag of the area from the upper limit sensor 219a to the sheet surface detection sensor 221 for the post-processing tray 130 is detected. A sensor 219b for detecting the position of the sheet surface when the number of sheets P stacked on the sample tray 201 is 1,000 is detected by the non-sorting sheet surface detection sensor 220 so that the stacked amount of the sheet P is 100.
It is arranged at a position corresponding to 0 sheets, and serves to limit the stacking amount of sheets P on the sample tray 201 by height.

The sensor 219c limits the stacking amount of the sheet P when the sample tray 201 receives the sheet P from the post-processing tray 130 by the height. 221, the stacking amount of the sheets P is arranged at a position corresponding to 1000 sheets.

The sensor 219d limits the stacking amount of the sheets P when the stack tray 200 receives the sheets P from the post-processing tray 130 by the height.
The stacking amount of the sheet P from the sheet surface detection sensor 221 for 130 is arranged at a position corresponding to 2000 sheets.

The sensor 219e is a lower limit sensor for preventing the stack tray 200 from being lowered too much. Of the above sensors,
Only the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 221 are light transmission sensors arranged on the near side and the back side. Each tray 200, 201
Is provided with a sheet presence / absence detection sensor 222.

As a method for detecting the sheet surface, a tray is provided from below the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 221 until the sheet P covers the optical axis of the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 221.
Tray 2 is the initial state when 200 and 201 are raised.
After the sheets P are stacked on the trays 200 and 201, the optical axes of the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 221 appear until the trays 200 and 201 appear.
And then, again, the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 22
The operation of raising the trays 200 and 201 is repeated until the sheet P covers the first optical axis.

Next, the configuration of the punch unit 50 serving as a sheet punching device, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. The punch unit 50 serves as a sheet-side end detecting unit for detecting an end (sheet-side end) parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet P conveyed by the punching unit 60 and the conveying roller pair 3 serving as the sheet conveying unit. And a lateral registration detecting means 80.

A punch 61 and a die 62 are pivotally supported by the casing 63 on the punching means 60, and gears 64 and 65 fixed to one ends of the support shafts 72 and 73 of the punch 61 and the die 62 mesh with each other. A gear 74 provided on the output shaft of the punch drive motor 66 meshes with the gear 65. The punch 61 and the die 62 are configured to be rotatable in synchronization with the directions of arrows b and c in FIGS. 11 and 12 by the rotation of the punch drive motor 66.

Normally, it is at the home position shown in FIG. Then, after the sheet detection sensor 31 disposed on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “upstream side”) with respect to the conveyance roller pair 3 detects the rear end of the sheet P, the punch driving motor 66 11, the punch 61 and the die 62 rotate in the directions of arrows b and c in FIG. 11 respectively, and as shown in FIG. The sheet P engages with a die hole 62a provided in the sheet 62 and pierces the sheet P being conveyed.

At this time, a support shaft 72 between the punch 61 and the die 62,
By matching the rotation speed around the center 73 with the rotation speed of the conveying roller pair 3, it is possible to perforate the sheet P being conveyed.

Next, the structure of the moving means for moving the perforating means 60 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction will be described. Figure
In FIGS. 11 and 12, reference numeral 67 denotes a pair of guides for moving the punching means 60 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet P conveyance direction (the direction of arrow d in FIGS. 11 and 12).
The roller rotates in contact with the roller. The roller 68 is caulked to a casing 63 by a roller shaft 69.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, 63a is a casing.
A pinion gear provided on a drive shaft of a punching means moving motor 75 shown in FIG.
It is in mesh with 70. Reference numeral 71 denotes a punching means initial position detection sensor having a light receiving portion 71 a provided in parallel with the sheet P conveyance direction, and is attached to the casing 63.

For this reason, the perforating means 60 can be moved in a direction (arrows e and f directions in FIGS. 14 and 15) orthogonal to the sheet P conveying direction by driving the perforating means moving motor 75. By moving the perforation means initial position detection sensor 71 in the direction of arrow f in FIGS. 14 and 15, the perforation means initial position defining section 52 provided on the main body frame of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 can be detected by the light receiving section 71a.

Here, the initial position of the punching means is the reference position of the sheet P. In the present embodiment, the lateral registration detecting means
80 is engaged with the perforation means 60 and is integrally attached. The lateral registration detecting means 80 has a light receiving portion 81a provided in parallel with the sheet P conveyance direction, and a lateral registration detection sensor 81 for detecting a side end which is an end parallel to the sheet P conveyance direction. It is attached to the tip of the arm 82.

Next, a description will be given of a moving means for moving the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 serving as the sheet side end detecting means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. The sensor arm 82 has a rack gear 82 a formed in a part thereof, and is meshed with a pinion gear 83 provided on a drive shaft of a lateral registration moving motor 85 attached to the casing 63.

The light receiving section 81 is provided at the rear end of the sensor arm 82.
A horizontal registration initial position detection sensor 84 having a light receiving section 84a provided in parallel with the horizontal axis a is mounted.

Therefore, when the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven, the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 and the lateral registration initial position detecting sensor 84 are in a direction perpendicular to the sheet P conveying direction.
It is configured to be movable in the directions of arrows e and f in FIG. 14 and FIG.

The horizontal registration initial position detecting sensor 84 is shown in FIG.
15 by moving in the direction of arrow f in FIG.
84a. Also, the horizontal registration detection sensor 81 is
The lateral registration detection sensor 81 can be set at a position corresponding to the size of the selected sheet P by moving in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 14 and FIG.

Here, when detecting the side end of the sheet P, after the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P, the detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started at a predetermined timing, and the lateral registration detection is performed. When the sensor 81 is ON, the lateral registration detection sensor
When the light receiving portion 81a of 81 is blocked by the sheet P,
The control unit 4 shown in FIG. 33 drives the perforation means moving motor 75 to integrally form the perforation means 60 and the lateral registration detection sensor 81 in FIGS.
15 moves in the direction of arrow f, and the light receiving section of the lateral registration detection sensor 81
When 81a is no longer blocked by the side edges of sheet P, sheet P
It stops when it recognizes that the side edge of is detected.

When the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is OFF and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is not blocked by the sheet P, the control section 4 drives the punching means moving motor 75, and the punching means moves. The lateral registration detection sensor 60 is moved integrally in the direction of arrow e in FIGS.
When the light receiving portion 81a of 81 is blocked by the side edge of the sheet P, it recognizes that the side edge of the sheet P has been detected and stops.

With the above configuration, the positions of the punching by the punching means 60 can be aligned with reference to the side end of the sheet P.

Next, the flow of the sheet P in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation when the user specifies the non-sort mode with the operation unit (not shown) of the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described.
The user sets a document on the circulating document feeder 305, turns on a start key (not shown), an image is formed on the sheet P in the image forming apparatus 300, and as shown in FIG. The pair P, the conveying roller pair 3 and the buffer roller 5 rotate, and the sheet P output from the discharge roller pair 399 of the image forming apparatus 300 is guided to the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and conveyed.

The switching flapper 11 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 16 by the action of a solenoid (not shown), and conveys the sheet P to the non-sort path 21. When the sensor 33 detects the trailing end of the sheet P, the discharge roller pair 9 rotates at a speed suitable for mounting on the sample tray 201, and discharges and mounts the sheet P on the sample tray 201.

Next, the operation when the user specifies the staple sort mode will be described. The user sets a document on the recirculating document feeder 305, turns on a start key (not shown), an image is formed on the sheet P in the image forming apparatus 300, and as shown in FIG.
The sheet P output from the discharge roller pair 399 of the image forming apparatus 300 is guided to the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and conveyed.

At this time, the switching flappers 10 and 11 are stopped at the positions shown in FIG.
The sheets P conveyed by 12 and 13 are switched by the flapper 11
Is discharged to the post-processing tray 130 by the buffer roller 5, the transport roller 14, the transport roller pair 6, and the discharge roller pair 7.

At this time, since the retractable tray 170 is at the protruding position, when the sheet P is discharged by the discharge roller pair 7, the leading end of the sheet P is prevented from hanging down and a return failure is prevented. This improves the alignment of the sheet P above.

The discharged sheet P starts to move to the rear end stopper 131 by its own weight, and in addition, the pull-in paddle 160 stopped at the home position rotates counterclockwise in FIG. The movement of the sheet P in the direction of the rear end stopper 131 is promoted.

When the rear end of the sheet P is securely brought into contact with the rear end stopper 131 and stopped, the rotation of the pull-in paddle 160 is also stopped, and the alignment members 141 and 142 described later are moved to the rear end stopper 13.
1 Align the sheet P discharged above.

When all the sheets P of the first set of the sheet P bundle have been discharged onto the post-processing tray 130 and aligned, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 18, the swing guide 150 descends, the bundle discharge roller 180b contacts the sheet P bundle, and the stapler 101 staples the sheet P bundle.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, the _first sheet P ₁ constituting the second bundle of sheets P discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus 300 is buffered by the rotation of the switching flapper 10 as shown in FIG. It is guided by the path 23 and is wound around the buffer roller 5, and stops when a predetermined distance has passed from the sensor 32.

Then, the succeeding second sheet P_TwoBut
As shown in FIG. 19, after a predetermined distance from the
Thus, the buffer roller 5 rotates, and similarly, the second sheet
To P _TwoIs also led to the buffer path 23 and the first sheet P₁
The second sheet P than_TwoIs ahead by a predetermined distance
As shown in Figure 20, buffer roller
5 and stop at a predetermined position.

On the other hand, the bundle of sheets P on the post-processing tray 130 is discharged onto the stack tray 200 as shown in FIG. At this time, the retreat tray 170 is moved to the home position in order to drop the sheet P bundle onto the stack tray 200.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21, the third sheet P
_{When 3} reaches the predetermined position, the buffer roller 5 rotates, and similarly, the sheet P ₃ is overlapped so as to precede the _second sheet P ₂ by a predetermined distance. And
The switching flapper 10 is turned to the position shown in FIG. 21 to sort the _first sheet P ₁ , the second sheet P _2, and the third sheet P ₃ in a state where the three sheet P bundles are stacked. Transport to 22.

As shown in FIG. 22A, the swing guide 150
The bundle of three sheets P is received by the pair of bundle discharge rollers 180a and 180b while the sheet P is lowered, and as shown in FIG.
When the trailing end of the bundle passes through the discharge roller pair 7, the bundle discharge roller pair 18
0a and 180b are reversed, and the rear end of the sheet P bundle is
Prior to contacting the sheet 1, the swing guide 150 is raised, and the bundle discharge roller 180b is separated from the sheet P bundle, as shown in FIG.

The fourth and subsequent sheets P are discharged onto the post-processing tray 130 through the sort path 22 in the same manner as the above-described operation of the first set of sheet P bundles. Further, the third and subsequent sheets P bundles are sequentially stacked on the stack tray 200 for the set number of copies by performing the same operation as the above-described second sheet P bundles, and the operation ends.

Here, the return angle of the sheet P bundle of the bundle discharge roller pair 180a, 180b is arranged to be larger than the angle of the post-processing tray 130 with respect to the horizontal. This is to prevent the buckling of the sheet P by aligning the bundle of three stacked sheets P with the root of the rear end stopper 131 when the bundle of sheets P abuts on the rear end stopper 131, and to align the curled sheet P. It is easy to do. Further, a contact force absorbing member may be attached to the rear end stopper 131 so that the sheet P abutted against the rear end stopper 131 is not rebounded.

In the superimposition of the plurality of sheets P, each sheet P is offset in the sheet conveying direction, and the second sheet P ₂ is located downstream of the _first sheet P ₁ in the sheet conveying direction. (Hereinafter simply referred to as "downstream")
Offset, the sheet P ₃ of the third sheet is offset to the downstream side of the second sheet P _2.

The offset amount of each sheet P and the swing guide
The rising timing of 150 is related to the moving time of the sheet P bundle by the sheet P bundle return speed of the pair of bundle discharge rollers 180a and 180b. This is determined by the processing capacity of the image forming apparatus 300. In the present embodiment, the conveying speed of the sheet P is 75
0 [mm / s], the offset amount is about 20 [mm], and the sheet P bundle return speed by the bundle discharge roller pair 180a, 180b is 500 [mm].
/ s], the separation position of the bundle discharge roller 180b is the sheet P
₁ is in contact with the rear end stopper 131.
m] is set to the timing reached before.

Next, the sort mode will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user transfers a document to the recirculating document feeder 30.
Set to 5, specify the sort mode on the operation unit (not shown), and turn on the start key (not shown). The inlet roller pair 2 and the transport roller pair 3 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 rotate as shown in FIG. 23 similarly to the above-described staple sort mode, and the sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 300 is placed on the post-processing tray 130. Load.

The aligning means 140 stacks a small number of sheets on the post-processing tray 130 while aligning the sheets P on the post-processing tray 130, and then, as shown in FIG. The bundle of sheets P is conveyed. The next sheet P is sent to the buffer path 23 by the switching flapper 10.
The sheet P is wound around the buffer roller 5 in the same manner as in the staple sort mode, and is discharged onto the post-processing tray 130 after the sheet P bundle has been discharged.

It is desirable that the number of the minority bundles to be discharged is 10 or less by experiments. The number of sheets is set so as to satisfy {the number of original sheets ≧ the number of sheets to be discharged ≦ 10 sheets}. Therefore, if the number of sheets to be discharged at the time of forming a program is set to five, and the number of documents is four, the sheets are discharged at a time in four sheets. When the number of documents is 5 or more,
For example, in the case of 14 sheets, “5 sheets” + “5 sheets” + “4
Each sheet is aligned, and bundles are discharged.

When all the bundles of the first set of sheets P have been discharged, the alignment member 141 on the front side moves together with the alignment member 142 on the back side, and the alignment position of the second copy is shifted from the alignment position of the first copy. To offset. Details of this operation will be described later. The second set is aligned at the offset position, and a small number of sheets are discharged in bundles like the first set. When the second copy is over,
The alignment member 141 on the near side and the alignment member 142 on the back side return to the position where the first copy has been aligned, and align the third copy. In this way, as shown in FIG. 25, all the set number of copies are completed while shifting the sheet P bundle.

Here, the alignment means 140 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described. First, the post-processing tray
When there is no sheet P on the top, that is, when the first sheet P bundle (three sheets) of the job is ejected, the front and back alignment members waiting at the home position
141 and 142 move to positions PS11 and PS21 shown in FIG.
26).

As described above, the bundle of three sheets P has the rear end at the rear end stopper 131 and the lower surface at the alignment members 141 and 142.
When supported by the support surfaces 141b, 142b, the alignment members 141, 14
2 moves to the positions PS12 and PS22 shown in FIG. 27 and moves the sheet P bundle to the first alignment position 190 for alignment (FIG. 27).
reference).

Thereafter, the aligning member 141 on the front side moves to the position PS11 and waits for the next sheet P to be discharged, and when the discharge of the sheet P is completed, moves to the position PS12 again and transfers the sheet P to the first position. Alignment is performed at one alignment position 190. At this time,
The rear alignment member 142 continues to stop at the position PS22 and serves as a reference. The above operation is continued until the last sheet P of the sheet P bundle.

Since the aligning operation is performed as described above, the side end of the moving sheet P as shown in FIG.
There is no buckling by colliding with the end of the support surface 142b of the 142.

The sheet bundle of the first copy after the alignment is completed is stapled by the stapler 101 as necessary, discharged as described above, and transferred to the stack tray 200.

Subsequently, the second bundle of sheets P (three sheets) is discharged onto the post-processing tray 130. At this time, the alignment member 141 is used.
, 142 are the positions PS11, P shown in FIG.
At S21, the alignment position is the second alignment position 1 shown in FIG.
Go to 91. The second alignment position 191 is the first alignment position 1
90 is located a predetermined amount L on the back side (see FIG. 29).

Thereafter, the sheets P are stacked on the stack tray 200 while alternately changing the alignment position for each sheet P bundle, and the sorting and stacking of the offset amount L becomes possible (see FIG. 25).

The offset amount L may be changed in the sort mode or the staple mode. For example, in the staple mode, an amount L (about 15 mm) that can prevent the staples of the adjacent sheet P bundle from overlapping after stacking. )age,
In the sort mode, the identification of the sheet P bundle can be visually confirmed,
By setting the amount L (approximately 20 mm to 30 mm) to prevent the mixed loading, the alignment movement distance in the staple mode is reduced, and the post-processing speed can be improved.

In the stapling mode, the stapler 101 is in standby at a desired clinch position with respect to the aligned bundle of sheets P, and staples when the discharge of the last sheet P of the bundle of sheets is completed. The alignment position changes by the offset amount L for each sheet P bundle, and the stapler 101 moves accordingly.

The stapler 101 is in the binding mode (FIG. 30).
-Two-position binding, back oblique binding, and front oblique binding shown in Fig. 32)
The configuration for changing the direction in accordance with is as described above. However, in the above configuration, there is a limit to the range in which the same stapling posture (horizontal and inclined states) can be maintained, and there are many types of sheets P to be stapled with different widths. On the other hand, there is a case where stapling cannot be performed at the same alignment position.
And the second alignment position 191 may be changed.

FIG. 30 shows the first and second alignment positions 190 and 191 in the two-position binding mode, FIG. 31 shows the rear oblique binding mode, and FIG. 32 shows the front and diagonal binding modes, respectively. First
The alignment position 190 and the solid line indicate the second alignment position 191.

At this time, if there is an alignment position on the near side from the discharge position of the sheet P bundle, the alignment member 142 on the back side
However, when the sheet P bundle is transferred to the near-side alignment member 141 serving as a reference for alignment and the alignment position is located on the back side of the sheet P bundle discharge position, the alignment operation is performed as described above.

As described above, by switching the alignment position according to the binding mode, the sheet P bundle can be moved to a position corresponding to the stapler 101.

Next, the operation of raising and lowering the stack tray 200 and the sample tray 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The trays 200 and 201 usually have the configuration shown in FIG.
Are waiting at the positions of the sheet surface detection sensors 220 and 221 shown in FIG. As described above, normally, sheets P copied or output to a printer are stacked on the stack tray 20.
0, it is possible to receive a bundle of sheets P that has been bound and post-processed by the stapler 101 or the like, or a bundle of sheets P that is discharged little by little in an unbound state, and a maximum of 2,000 sheets can be stacked. Detected by sensor 219d.

At this time, if the output of the copy or the printer is still continued, the stack tray 200 is lowered by a height equivalent to 1000 sheets from the position of the sensor 219d (the sensor of FIG. 10).
219d '). Subsequently, the sample tray 201 is lowered to the position of the sheet surface detection sensor 221 for the post-processing tray 130, and the reception of the sheet P is started again. At this time, a maximum of 2000 sample trays can be loaded on the sample tray 201, and this is detected by the sensor 219c.

After the completion of a job corresponding to 2,000 sheets or less, when the next job is started without removing the sheet P on the stack tray 200 or when interrupting during the current job, the post-processing operation can be performed. No, but non-sort pass 21
From the sample tray 201.

The mode for discharging the sample from the normal state onto the sample tray 201 using the non-sort path 21 is when only one copy is output for the sample without post-processing, or when the output is output to the sample tray 201 by function sorting. For example, when it is set.

Next, the punch mode will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 34, focusing on the operation sequence of the punch unit 50. First, in step S1 of FIG. 34, when the power of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 is turned on, step S2
, The perforation means moving motor 75 is driven, and the perforation means 60
Is moved in the directions of arrows e and f in FIGS. 14 and 15, so that the light receiving portion 71a of the perforation means initial position detection sensor 71 is moved.
Detects the perforation means initial position defining section 52 provided in the main body of the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and stops.

Similarly, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven to move the sensor arm 82 in the direction indicated by the arrow f in FIGS. 14 and 15, whereby the light receiving section 84 of the lateral registration initial position detecting sensor 84 is moved.
a detects the lateral registration initial position defining portion 63b provided on the casing 63 and stops. Here, an input wait state is set (step S3).

Next, when the user selects a punch use selection button (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 300 and presses a start button (not shown) (step S4), the sheet P is conveyed in the image forming apparatus 300. Image formation is performed (step S6).

At the same time, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven to move the sensor arm 82 in the direction of the arrow e in FIGS. 14 and 15, and the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is moved to a position corresponding to the size of the selected sheet P. (Step S5).

Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image has been formed is conveyed into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and the leading end of the sheet P passes through the sheet detecting sensor 31 (step S7). After a predetermined timing, the detection by the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started (step S
8) When the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is ON,
When the light receiving portion 81a is blocked by the sheet P, the punching means moving motor 75 is driven to integrally connect the punching means 60 and the lateral registration detection sensor 81 in the direction of the arrow f (outside) in FIGS.
(Step S9), and when the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is no longer blocked by the side edge of the sheet P,
Detecting that the sheet P is at the side end, the operation is stopped (step S11).

When the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is OFF and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is not blocked by the sheet P, the punching means moving motor 75 is driven to drive the punching means 60 and the lateral registration. 14 and FIG.
When the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the side edge of the sheet P, the side edge of the sheet P is detected and stopped (step S10). S11).

Thereafter, when the rear end of the sheet P passes through the sheet detection sensor 31, the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the rear end of the sheet P (step S12), and drives the punch drive motor 66 after a predetermined timing. As a result, the punch 61 and the die 62 rotate in the directions of arrows b and c in FIG.
Engages with a die hole 62a provided in the die 62 to pierce the sheet P being conveyed (step S13). After that,
The sheet P is discharged according to each of the above-described discharge processing modes, and the process ends.

As described above, the detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet P, and if the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is ON, the detection is performed in the direction of the arrow f in FIGS. 14 and 15. If the horizontal registration detection sensor 81 is OFF, the horizontal registration detection sensor 81 and the punching means 60 are moved in the directions indicated by arrows e in FIGS.
15 and stop at the position where the side edge of the sheet P is detected, and pierce the sheet P.
, The amount of movement of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 can be reduced.
It is possible to align the perforation position by the perforation means 60 with the side end of the sheet P without increasing the size of the sheet or making it expensive.

Further, since the lateral registration detecting means 80 is engaged with the perforating means 60 and is integrally attached thereto, the lateral registration detecting means 80 detects the side end of the sheet P of the same size which is continuously conveyed and performs perforation. By driving only the punching means moving motor 75, the punching position for the sheet P can be aligned with the side end of the sheet P. Therefore, power saving of the device can be achieved.

Next, the structure of a sheet punching device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure
35 and 36 are plan views showing the movement mechanism of the puncher and the lateral registration sensor of the second embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention, and FIG. 37 is a flowchart of the punch mode in the second embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention. It is. Note that the configuration of the control system of the sheet punching device of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the control system of the sheet punching device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 33, and has the same configuration as the other first embodiment. Those components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the punch unit 50 has a punching means 60 and a lateral registration detecting means 80 which are separately driven independently. In the present embodiment, the lateral registration detecting means 80 is independently disposed at a predetermined distance upstream of the perforating means 60 in the sheet conveying direction.

By driving the lateral registration moving motor 85, the lateral registration initial position detecting sensor 84 is driven by arrows e and f in FIGS.
In the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, the lateral registration initial position defining section 53 provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 can be detected by the light receiving section 84a, and the side end position of the sheet P can be detected by the light receiving section 81a. I have.

Here, when detecting the side end of the sheet P, after the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P, the detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started at a predetermined timing, and When the registration detection sensor 81 is ON and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the sheet P, the lateral registration movement motor 85 is driven to drive the lateral registration detection sensor 81.
Is moved in the direction of arrow f in FIGS. 35 and 36, and when the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is no longer interrupted by the side edge of the sheet P, it is detected as the side edge of the sheet P and stopped. .

When the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is OFF and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is not blocked by the sheet P, the lateral registration movement motor 85 is driven to activate the lateral registration detection sensor 81. When the light-receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the side edge of the sheet P, the side edge of the sheet P is detected and stops.

On the basis of the obtained position information of the side end of the sheet P, the control unit 4 shown in FIG.
Is driven to move the punching means 60 in the directions of arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36 to punch the sheet P at a predetermined position, so that the punching position can be aligned with the side end of the sheet P.

The operation sequence of the punch unit 50 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S21, when the power of the apparatus is turned on, in step S22, the punching means moving motor 75 is driven,
By moving the perforating means 60 in the directions indicated by arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36, the light receiving portion 71a of the perforating means initial position detecting sensor 71 is moved to the perforating means initial position defining section 52 provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1. Detect and stop.

Similarly, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is also driven to move the sensor arm 82 in the directions indicated by arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36, so that the light receiving portion 84a of the lateral registration initial position detecting sensor 84 causes the sheet post-processing. The horizontal registration initial position defining section 53 provided in the apparatus 1 is detected and stopped. Here, an input wait state is set (step S23).

Next, when the user selects a punch use selection button (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 300 and presses a start button (not shown) (step S24), conveyance of the sheet P is started in the image forming apparatus 300. Image formation is performed (step S26). At the same time, the lateral registration moving motor 85 drives to move the sensor arm 82 in the direction of arrow e in FIGS. 35 and 36, and moves the lateral registration detection sensor 81 to a position corresponding to the size of the selected sheet P ( Step S25).

Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image has been formed is conveyed into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, and when the leading end of the sheet P passes through the sheet detecting sensor 31, the sheet detecting sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P ( Step S27), detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started after a predetermined timing (step S27).
28), when the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is ON and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the sheet P, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven, and the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is driven.
Is moved in the direction of the arrow f (outside) in FIGS. 35 and 36 (step S29), and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is moved to the sheet P.
When the sheet P is no longer interrupted, the sheet P is detected and stopped (step S31).

In step S28, the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is turned off, and the light receiving section 81 of the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is turned off.
When a is not blocked by the sheet P, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven, and the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is turned on in FIGS.
Move in the direction of arrow e (inside) (step S30), and when the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the side edge of the sheet P, it recognizes that the side edge of the sheet P has been detected and stops. (Step S31).

As a result, since the position of the sheet P being conveyed can be recognized, the amount of lateral registration deviation of the sheet P is calculated by the control section 4 (step S32), and the punching means moving motor 75 is driven to drive the punching means 60. It moves to the position corresponding to the amount of lateral registration deviation in the directions of arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36 (step S33).

Thereafter, when the rear end of the sheet P passes through the sheet detection sensor 31, the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the rear end of the sheet P (step S34), and drives the punch drive motor 66 after a predetermined timing. As a result, the punch 61 and the die 62 rotate in the directions of arrows b and c in FIG.
Engages with a die hole 62a provided in the die 62, and pierces the rear end of the sheet P being conveyed (step S35).

In this embodiment, since the lateral registration detecting means 80 is arranged at a predetermined distance upstream of the perforating means 60 in the sheet conveying direction, the sheet detecting sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P. Thereafter, by driving the punch drive motor 66 at a predetermined timing, it is possible to pierce the leading end of the sheet P in a configuration similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 35 and 36.

The operation sequence of the punch unit 50 at that time will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S41, when the power of the apparatus is turned on, in step S42, the punching means moving motor 75 is driven, and the punching means 60 is moved in the directions indicated by arrows e and f in FIGS. Light receiving section of position detection sensor 71
71a detects the perforation means initial position defining section 52 provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and stops.

Similarly, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is also driven to move the sensor arm 82 in the direction of the arrow f in FIGS. 35 and 36, whereby the light receiving section 84 of the lateral registration initial position detecting sensor 84 is moved.
a detects the horizontal registration initial position defining unit 53 provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 and stops. Here, an input wait state is set (step S43).

Next, when the user selects a punch use selection button (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 300 and presses a start button (not shown) (step S44), conveyance of the sheet P is started in the image forming apparatus 300. Image formation is performed (step S46). At the same time, the lateral registration moving motor 85 drives to move the sensor arm 82 in the direction of arrow e in FIGS. 35 and 36, and moves the lateral registration detection sensor 81 to a position corresponding to the size of the selected sheet P ( Step S45).

Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image has been formed is conveyed into the sheet post-processing apparatus 1, and when the leading end of the sheet P passes through the sheet detecting sensor 31, the sheet detecting sensor 31 detects the leading end of the sheet P ( Step S47), detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started after a predetermined timing (step S47).
48) When the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is ON and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the sheet P, the lateral registration movement motor 85 is driven to drive the lateral registration detection sensor 81.
Is moved in the direction of the arrow f (outside) in FIGS. 35 and 36 (step S49), and the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is moved to the sheet P.
When the sheet P is no longer interrupted by the side edge, the sheet P is recognized as having been detected and stopped (step S51).

In step S48, the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is turned off, and the light receiving section 81 of the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 is turned off.
a is not interrupted by the sheet P, the lateral registration moving motor 85 is driven to drive the lateral registration detection sensor 81 to the position shown in FIGS.
(Step S50), and when the light receiving portion 81a of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is blocked by the side edge of the sheet P, it recognizes that the side edge of the sheet P has been detected and stops. (Step S51).

As a result, since the position of the sheet P being conveyed can be recognized, the lateral registration deviation amount of the sheet P is calculated in the control section 4 (step S52), and the punching means moving motor 75 is driven to drive the punching means 60. Move to the position corresponding to the amount of lateral registration deviation in the directions of arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36 (step S53).

Thereafter, the punch 61 and the dice 62 are driven by driving the punch drive motor 66 at a predetermined timing after the sheet detection sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the sheet P.
By rotating in the directions of arrows b and c of 11, the punch 61 engages with the die hole 62a provided in the die 62, and pierces the leading end of the sheet P being conveyed (step S54).

As described above, the detection of the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is started at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet P. If the lateral registration detection sensor 81 is ON, the detection is performed in the direction of arrow f in FIGS. In order to detect the side edge of the sheet P by moving the lateral registration detection sensor 81 in the direction of arrow e in FIGS.
Even if the displacement of the lateral registration of the sheet P is displaced in any of the directions indicated by arrows e and f in FIGS. 35 and 36, the moving amount of the lateral registration detecting sensor 81 can be reduced, and the size of the lateral registration moving motor 85 can be increased, , It is possible to obtain the position information of the side end of the sheet P.

According to the position information of the side end of the sheet P obtained by using the lateral registration detecting sensor 81, the punching means 60 is moved in the directions of arrows e and f in FIGS. There is no need to increase the size of the moving motor 75 or make it expensive, and the punching position for the sheet P can be aligned with the side end of the sheet P.

In this embodiment, since the lateral registration detecting means 80 is arranged at a predetermined distance upstream of the perforating means 60 in the sheet conveying direction, the sheet P can be perforated at both the leading edge and the trailing edge. And can easily adapt to the needs of the user when filing.

In each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which the sheet punching device is provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 has been described. However, the sheet punching device may be arranged inside the image forming apparatus 300. Further, the same effect as described above can be obtained even with the configuration of the sheet punching device alone.

In each of the above embodiments, the punching is performed on the sheet P being conveyed. However, the punching may be performed after the sheet P is stopped for a short time.

[0169]

Since the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, the end (sheet side end) parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyed sheet is detected, and the position information of the sheet side end is detected. By moving the punching position in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction based on the above, the punching position can be aligned with the sheet side end without lowering the image forming processing speed.

Further, since the detection start position for detecting the side edge of the conveyed sheet is set to the sheet side edge position corresponding to the sheet size, the sheet misregistration may be shifted in any direction. The amount of movement of the side edge detecting means can be shortened, and the motor and the like of the moving means for moving the sheet side edge detecting means need not be made large or expensive, so that the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a stapler and a sheet rear end stopper of a post-processing tray.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a moving mechanism of the stapler as viewed from a direction A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram viewed from a direction B in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory side sectional view showing a configuration of a swing guide, a post-processing tray, a retreat tray, and a stack tray.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a moving mechanism of an alignment member provided on a post-processing tray, as viewed from a direction C in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a configuration of a retreat tray.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a stack tray moving mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a layout diagram of a sensor that detects the height of a stack tray.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory side view illustrating an operation of a puncher included in the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory side view illustrating an operation of the puncher included in the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a puncher included in the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a moving mechanism of the puncher and the lateral registration sensor of the first embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a moving mechanism of a puncher and a lateral registration sensor of the sheet punching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a non-sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a staple sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a staple sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a staple sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a staple sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a staple sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIGS. 22A to 22C are diagrams illustrating a sheet processing operation on a post-processing tray in a staple sort mode of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an operation in a sort mode in the sheet post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 25 is a front view illustrating a state of a sheet bundle sorted and placed on a stack tray.

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating an operation of aligning a sheet on a post-processing tray by an alignment member.

FIG. 27 is a plan view illustrating an operation of aligning a sheet on a post-processing tray by an alignment member.

FIG. 28 is a front view illustrating an operation of aligning a sheet on a post-processing tray by an alignment member.

FIG. 29 is a plan view illustrating an operation of aligning a sheet on a post-processing tray by an alignment member.

FIG. 30 is a plan view illustrating stapling on a sheet on a post-processing tray.

FIG. 31 is a plan view illustrating stapling on a sheet on a post-processing tray.

FIG. 32 is a plan view illustrating stapling on a sheet on a post-processing tray.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a punch mode in the sheet punching device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a plan view illustrating a moving mechanism of a puncher and a lateral registration sensor in a sheet punching device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a plan view illustrating a moving mechanism of a puncher and a lateral registration sensor according to a second embodiment of the sheet punching device according to the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a punch mode in the sheet punching device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a configuration of another punch mode in the sheet punching device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sheet post-processing apparatus, 2 ... Inlet roller pair, 3 ... Transport roller pair, 4 ... Control part, 5 ... Buffer roller, 6 ... Transport roller pair, 7 ... Discharge roller pair, 9 ... Discharge roller pair, 10, 11
... Switching flapper, 12, 13, 14 ... Conveyance roller, 21 ... Non-sort path, 22 ... Sort path, 23 ... Buffer path, 31 ...
Sheet detection sensor, 32 ... sensor, 33 ... sensor, 50 ... punch unit, 52 ... punching means initial position defining part, 53 ...
Lateral registration initial position defining portion, 60: punching means, 61: punch, 62: die, 62a: die hole, 63: casing, 63
a: rack gear, 63b: lateral registration initial position defining part,
64, 65 ... gear, 66 ... punch drive motor, 67 ... guide part,
68 ... roller, 69 ... roller shaft, 70 ... pinion gear, 71 ... perforation means initial position detection sensor, 71a ... light receiving section, 72, 73 ...
Support shaft, 74: gear, 75: perforating means moving motor, 80: lateral registration detecting means, 81: lateral registration detecting sensor, 81a: light receiving section, 82:
Sensor arm, 82a: rack gear, 83: pinion gear,
84: horizontal registration initial position detection sensor, 84a: light receiving section,
85… Motor for horizontal registration, 100… Staple unit, 10
1… Stapler, 102… Holder, 103… Moving platform, 104…
Shaft, 105… belt, 106… roller, 106a… flange, 106b
... pinion gear, 106c ... belt pulley, 107 ... roller, 10
7a ... Flange, 108 ... Fixing base, 108a, 108b, 108c ... Rail, 109 ... Support roller, 110 ... Motor, 111 ... Shaft, 112 ...
Roller with stopper, 113… Stapler stopper, 114…
Rack gear, 120, 121, 122 ... Position, 129 ... Post-processing tray unit, 130 ... Post-processing tray, 131 ... Rear end stopper, 131a ... Support surface, 131b, 131c ... Pin, 132 ... Main link, 132a ... Cam surface, 132b ... Pin, 133 ... Link, 13
4 ... shaft, 135 ... tension spring, 136 ... butting plate, 140 ... alignment means, 141, 142 ... alignment member, 141a, 14
2a: alignment surface, 141b, 142b: support surface, 141c, 142c: rack gear, 143, 144 ... pinion gear, 145: guide, 146
, 147… motor, 150… swing guide, 151… swing fulcrum shaft, 152… rotating cam, 153… motor, 160… retractable paddle, 161… paddle shaft, 162… motor, 170… intrusion tray 171… frame 172… rail, 173… rotating link, 174… shaft, 175… groove, 176… motor, 180a, 180b…
Bundle discharge roller pair, 181, motor, 190, first alignment position,
191: second alignment position, 200: stack tray, 201: sample tray, 202: stepping motor, 203: pulley, 204: idler gear, 205: ratchet gear, 206
… Spring, 207… Gear, 208… Shaft, 209… Gear, 210… Rack, 211… Tray base plate, 212… Timing belt, 213… Shaft, 214… Roller, 215… Regulator, 216
... Pulley, 217 ... Sensor, 218 ... Sensor, 219 ... Sensor, 219a ... Upper limit sensor, 219b, 219c, 219d, 219d '... Sensor, 219e ... Lower limit sensor, 220, 221 ... Sheet surface detection sensor, 222 ... Sheet existence detection Sensor, 250 ... frame,
300: image forming apparatus, 301, 302: fixing roller pair, 303
.., Fixing original separating claw, 305 circulating document feeder, 306, image reading section, 307 separating means, 309
… Polygon mirror, 310… Reflection mirror, 311… Developer,
312… Photoconductor drum, 313… Pickup roller, 314
, 315 ... pair of registration rollers, 316, 317 ... upstream roller pair, 351, 352 ... sheet cassette, 399 ... discharge roller _{pair, P, P 1, P 2} P 3 ... seat, PS11, PS21 ... position,
PS12, PS22 ... Position

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet, a perforating means for perforating a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying means, and a conveying of a sheet disposed near the perforating means and conveyed by the sheet conveying means. Sheet-side edge detection means for detecting an edge parallel to the direction, first movement means for moving the sheet-side edge detection means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and detection by the sheet-side edge detection means A second moving means for moving the perforating means in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction based on position information of an end portion parallel to the conveyed sheet conveying direction, wherein the sheet side end detecting means Wherein the detection start position is set at an end position parallel to the sheet conveying direction corresponding to the sheet size. 2. When the sheet side edge detecting means detects the presence of a sheet at the time of starting the detection of the sheet side edge detecting means, the sheet side edge detecting means is moved in a direction of no sheet.
If the sheet side edge detection unit detects that there is no sheet at the time of the start of detection by the sheet side edge detection unit, the sheet side edge detection unit is moved in the direction of the presence of the sheet, and the sheet is conveyed by the sheet side edge detection unit. The sheet punching device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion parallel to the direction is detected. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first moving means is provided integrally with said second moving means.
Alternatively, the sheet punching device according to claim 2. 4. The sheet perforation according to claim 1, wherein the first moving means and the second moving means are separately driven so as to be independently driven. apparatus. 5. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: the sheet punching apparatus according to claim 1; and a post-processing unit configured to perform predetermined post-processing on a sheet punched by the sheet punching apparatus. Characteristic sheet post-processing equipment. 6. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed by a sheet feeding means in accordance with image information, and perforating a sheet on which an image is formed by said image forming means. An image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet punching device according to claim 1.